Dealing with Network Solutions

Factual Questions
1

(I’m not sure if this is the right forum…)

As the author of a popular Windows IRC client, I’m trying to register a domain name to host it. The domain I want has already been registered, but it was due to expire last July. I’m still unable to register it.

The registrar is Network Solutions; I’ve contacted their email and phone support, but the form letter response and scripted answer both say the same thing: “Expiring does not mean what you think it means. The domain will be made available at an unspecified future date, when the computers randomly decide to delete it. We can’t help you because the computers control us.” (not in as many words, of course ;))

Obviously there’s someone with the authority to say “this domain should have been deleted while Clinton was still President… make it so!” I just have to find out who it is. Have any other Dopers found themselves in this situation? What’s the best course of action?

2

They’ve got this new sleazy option where you can reserve it for $39 or $49 when it opens up. Do a search for the domain name. If it’s taken you should get a pop-up giving you the option of reserving it. If that option doesn’t appear, maybe someone else has already reserved it.

Anyone know if Network Solutions is taking multiple reservations even though it can only sell one? Businesses nowadays are so sleazy nothing will surprise me.

3

Dealing with Network Solutions?
Carpet-bomb.

4

I believe you’re referring to SnapNames. I grudgingly paid the $49 to reserve it, and now it’s no longer available to be reserved on the site. Presumably that means it’s safe. $49 is a lot, but at least it’s better than the $500 I’d have to pay to get it back from any other squatters.

5

God damn do those Netsol bastards ever fellate leperous goat wang! I have a great horror story about trying to sell my domain (ronin.net) to someone. We finally got it done, but it took about 7 iterations of the transfer form (which means 7 visits to the local notary - thanks god it’s free since I have an account at that bank) and about a month. All this for something that could be done in two clicks over the web. ARRRRRRRRRRGH! Tac-nuke to Verisign HQ, stat!
-Ben