GoDaddy.com and their "redemption period"

[control-z]

I registered a domain name with GoDaddy.com last year, their site was pretty dense but it cost less than $10. Unfortunately since I figured I would be paying for the low price with lots of ads/spam, I made the mistake of using my hotmail.com e-mail address, which I don’t check very often.

They had sent me renewal notices, but by the time I dug them out of all the copious amounts Hotmail spam, the domain had already expired. Ok, that’s fine, I’ll go renew it. Here’s where the problem lies. The domain is now in a “redemption period” and to renew it they want $90.19 ($80 redemption fee + $10.19 one year renewal). What the fuck? $90 to renew a domain name that initially cost less than $10 to register? Fuck that bit of extortion, I’ll just wait till it’s back on the market and re-register it under a different registrar.

So this pit is to say “Fuck you” to ridiculous redemption fees, and as a warning to others with domain names they’d like to hold onto, for Jeebus’s sake don’t let them expire.

[drachillix]

@control-z

So this pit is to say “Fuck you” to ridiculous redemption fees, and as a warning to others with domain names they’d like to hold onto, for Jeebus’s sake don’t let them expire.

Should have taken your own advice. If the domain was worth anything to you you would have kept better tabs on it. I get several hundred hits a day on my site and am fairly highly placed in local searches in my business. I would probably loose a few customers ($300-$500) a week if my page dropped.

[Br_er_Lapin]

How important is the site to you?

I just let my domain lapse accidentally as well, and receieved this email:

You are at risk of losing ownership and control of the domain name(s) or product(s) listed above.

RENEW NOW to ensure all of your products remain active and in your name!
https://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/myportal/default.asp?prog_id=GoDaddy&pg=fail&myid=6890642&isc=gdbb729
Log in to your account at GoDaddy.com.
Select the item(s) you wish to renew.
Follow the steps provided to complete the transaction.

Important Note: Expired domains will be held for a 30-day Redemption Period, during which time any associated Web site or email services may stop working. Retrieving the domain name during the Redemption Period will result in an $80 reactivation fee.

After the Redemption Period has ended, the domain may be released to the public and all related data – Web site files, emails, databases, etc. – may be removed from our server and no longer subject to recovery. To avoid future loss, select the Auto-Renew option in your Control Panel.

If you wish to cancel, please disregard this email. Remember, canceled domain names may be released for anyone to register and all related data – Web site files, emails, databases, etc. – will be removed from our server and is no longer subject to recovery.

It seems as though that after the 30 days, you (and I) can re-register the domain name for the normal price. In my case at least, it seems unlikely that anyone would bother to “steal” the domain name from me in that period of time, but your case may be different.

I also still have all my files etc hosted on another site (ie, before letting the domain expire, i could access the files via username.othersite.com OR domain.com – and they’re still available via username.othersite.com), so it’s not that big of a deal.

Is it the same scenario for you? How big a deal is it for you to not have domain.com for 30 days?

[Br_er_Lapin]

Also, who remembers when your own domain cost $70/year (and you had to register for two years at a time)?

[control-z]

This domain wasn’t a big deal to me, it’s not a moneymaker. It’s just the fee that pisses me off. If I was the one who registered the domain, why not let me renew it for the normal renewal price, or even twice as much. But not 8 times as much, that’s just gouging.

[fifty-six]

I use NameCheap. I love them. I have about 50 domains with them and a few with GoDaddy.

I have let a few at NameCheap slip into redemption period. It doesn’t cost me anything to get them back, just the normal renewal price. Plus there is not the 100 pages GoDaddy makes you click thourgh just to purchase a domain name.

[control-z]

@fifty-six

I use NameCheap. I love them. I have about 50 domains with them and a few with GoDaddy.

I have let a few at NameCheap slip into redemption period. It doesn’t cost me anything to get them back, just the normal renewal price. Plus there is not the 100 pages GoDaddy makes you click thourgh just to purchase a domain name.

Good, I think I’ll try to get my domain back through them, I don’t think the name is common enough that it will get snatched.

When I look at the Whois for my domain, I see the following:

Status: clientDeleteProhibited
Status: clientRenewProhibited
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Status: clientUpdateProhibited

Is that GoDaddy freezing the thing to basically extort $80 from me??

[cckerberos]

@control-z

Good, I think I’ll try to get my domain back through them, I don’t think the name is common enough that it will get snatched.

When I look at the Whois for my domain, I see the following:

Status: clientDeleteProhibited
Status: clientRenewProhibited
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Status: clientUpdateProhibited

Is that GoDaddy freezing the thing to basically extort $80 from me??

There’s a really good article about this here.

Contrary to popular belief, domains do not expire when they say they do. If the owner of a domain does not renew by the expiration date of the domain, the domain goes into “expired” status. For 40 days, the domain is in a grace period where all services are shut off, but the domain owner may still renew the domain for a standard renewal fee. If a domain enters this period, it is a good first indicator that it may not be renewed, but since the owner can re-register without penalty, it can also just be a sign of laziness or procrastination.

After 40 days are up, the domain’s status changes to “redemption period”. During this phase, all WhoIs information begins disappearing, and more importantly, it now costs the owner an additional fee to re-activate and re-register the domain. The fee is currently around $100, depending on your registrar. When a domain enters its redemption period, it’s a good bet the owner has decided not to renew.

Finally, after the redemption period, the domain’s status will change to “locked” as it enters the deletion phase. The deletion phase is 5 days long, and on the last day between 11am and 2pm Pacific time, the name will officially drop from the ICANN database and will be available for registration by anybody.

The entire process ends exactly 75 days after the listed expiration date. For an even more detailed explanation, read the article Inside a Drop Catcher’s War Room.

And of course this is even if they let it expire at all. I let a domain expire figuring more or less what you are, that I’d pick the domain back up with another company. My old company ultimately renewed the domain and kept it.

[control-z]

@cckerberos

There’s a really good article about this here.

And of course this is even if they let it expire at all. I let a domain expire figuring more or less what you are, that I’d pick the domain back up with another company. My old company ultimately renewed the domain and kept it.

For 40 days, the domain is in a grace period where all services are shut off, but the domain owner may still renew the domain for a standard renewal fee.

That ain’t so, at least with Godaddy. My domain has only been expired a couple weeks. They want an $80 redemption fee. I want them to go fuck themselves with their redemption fee.

[control-z]

Registrar: GODADDY.COM, INC.
Whois Server: whois.godaddy.com
Referral URL: http://registrar.godaddy.com
Name Server: NS55.DOMAINCONTROL.COM
Name Server: NS56.DOMAINCONTROL.COM
Status: clientDeleteProhibited
Status: clientRenewProhibited
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Status: clientUpdateProhibited
Updated Date: 25-oct-2007
Creation Date: 19-oct-2006
Expiration Date: 19-oct-2008

Hmm, that looks bad. Looks like GoDaddy renewed the domain name for another year. Does that mean they’re holding onto it to extract the fee from me? This is really some bullshit.

I’ve got one of my client’s domain names registered with Godaddy, think I need to get it out ASAP.

[Rico]

I’ve been using Tigertech.

For $75 per year you get your domain name AND a competitive hosting package.

And you own the name. They won’t screw you out of it.

Plus (and this happened to me earlier this year) if your client decides to cancel his web hosting, they will refund you all unused money from the year’s hosting package you’ve paid.

I like this company.

(Full Disclaimer: If you sign up using the above link, I get a [SIZE=1]small credit on one of my websites.)[/size]

[diggleblop]

Sorry, but you probably won’t get your name back. You will eventually type the name in your browser and a site with a bunch of links with web address’ that are similar to your old one will pop up. Godaddy usually sells old names to bidders so they can make even more money. Trust me, I’ve had about 500 names that have gone through this process. Just re-register it with .net or something.

[qubed]

@Br'er Lapin

In my case at least, it seems unlikely that anyone would bother to “steal” the domain name from me in that period of time, but your case may be different.

Depending on your domain, this is probably not true. There are lots and lots of people/companies that try to snap up domains when they expire. That, and as they people said above, the registrar may try and keep it too. Godaddy is a fairly slimey company.

If you don’t pay the extortion fee, don’t expect to get your domain back. If it’s a worthless domain, you may be lucky and get it back, but don’t count on it.

[control-z]

The domain name is sort of a nonsense word, it only gets 357 matches on Google.

I’m working right now on getting other domain names transferred OUT of Godaddy. Bitches.

[drachillix]

@alanak

Godaddy is a fairly slimey company.

Considering I as well as dozens of other computer saavy dopers use godaddy and will continue to reccomend them to others, slimy is hardly a word I would use. Allowing domains to expire is a big deal if you are a business and $80 is little shit up against the value of web exposure to many people.

Blaming godaddy for having a fee to reinstate your expired domain is hardly slimy, its called, business.

[control-z]

@drachillix

Considering I as well as dozens of other computer saavy dopers use godaddy and will continue to reccomend them to others, slimy is hardly a word I would use. Allowing domains to expire is a big deal if you are a business and $80 is little shit up against the value of web exposure to many people.

Blaming godaddy for having a fee to reinstate your expired domain is hardly slimy, its called, business.

Bullshit, if I can register the domain for $10 normally, why is it suddenly worth $90 after it expires? It’s price gouging and luckily the domain isn’t that big of a deal to me.

[ZipperJJ]

@control-z

Bullshit, if I can register the domain for $10 normally, why is it suddenly worth $90 after it expires? It’s price gouging and luckily the domain isn’t that big of a deal to me.

Starting 90 days before expiration, GoDaddy sends out renewal reminders. 90 days, 60 days, 30 days, 15 days, 10 days and 5 days I believe. I have a mail box full of these things.

It says in their Domain Registration Agreement what happens if you ignore these messages and don’t renew on time. You check a box that says you read the agreement when you buy your domain:

@GoDaddy

If you fail to renew your domain name, you agree that Go Daddy may, at its sole discretion, renew your expired domain name on your behalf. If Go Daddy decides to renew your expired domain name on your behalf you will have a Renewal Grace Period during which you may reimburse Go Daddy for the renewal and keep your domain name. The Renewal Grace Period is currently 12 days but subject to change under the terms of Section 2 of this Agreement. If you do not reimburse Go Daddy for the renewal during the Renewal Grace Period your domain name will be placed on Hold and flagged for deletion after which you will have a 30 day redemption period during which you may pay Go Daddy a Redemption fee and redeem your domain name. The Redemption fee is currently $80 USD and is subject to change under the terms of Section 2 of this agreement. If you do not redeem your domain name prior to the end of the 30 day redemption period Go Daddy may, at its sole discretion, delete your domain name or transfer it to another registrant on your behalf.

If your domain is deleted, the Registry also provides a 30 day Redemption Grace Period during which you may pay Go Daddy a redemption fee and redeem your domain name. The redemption fee is currently $80 USD and is subject to change under the terms of Section 2 of this agreement. If you do not redeem your domain name prior to the end of the Registry’s Redemption Grace Period the Registry will release your name and it will become available for registration on a first-come-first-served basis.

All registrars have a similar policy. For example, here is Rico’s Host’s policy:

@Tigertech

* 0-45 days: When a domain reaches its expiration date, the "registrar" — the company that the domain name is registered with — has up to 45 days to ask the "registry" — the central organization that assigns domain names — to delete it. (The registrar could delete it immediately if they wanted to, but most registrars delay it for about 40 days so their customers can easily renew the domain name.)

* 30 days: When the domain name has been deleted, the domain name enters the "Redemption Grace Period". During this 30 day period, the domain name will not work, but can still be renewed by the original owner by paying a fairly hefty recovery fee (often $100 or more).

* 5 days: After the "Redemption Grace Period" ends, the domain name enters the "Pending Delete" state. It stays in this state for five days, after which it is deleted and becomes immediately available for registration by anyone.

Here is Network Solutions’s:

@Network Solutions

If an expired domain name registration is not renewed as outlined above, absent extenuating circumstances, we will delete the domain name registration. Registry Operators may provide registrars with the ability to “redeem” a deleted domain name registration for a customer, and we, in turn, may (but are not obligated to) provide customers with an ability to redeem a particular domain name registration. Such a Redemption Grace Period (RGP) is not guaranteed and customers should renew their domain name registration services in advance of the domain name registration expiration date(s) to avoid deletion of domain name registration services. Currently, the Registry Operators provide an RGP for 30 days from the date of deletion. If we decide to provide the redemption service to a customer, we charge a fee of $150 to redeem and renew a domain name registration during the RGP. If the domain name registration is not redeemed by the expiration of the RGP, it is then placed on “Pending Delete” status for five additional days, after which it is deleted and the domain name character string is then once again available for registration.

It’s not a “slimy” practice by GoDaddy. It’s outlined right there. Other registrars do the same thing, as outlined in THEIR policies.

I have lost hours of my life trying to “get back” domain names for my clients who bought a domain name with an email address they can’t access, or don’t access, or that belongs to someone else. I have also fielded frantic calls from customers who are all shocked and surprised that their Web site is down and I need to get it back RIGHT NOW (they let their domain expire).

Valid email is the key to proper domain registration. If you don’t check that email address, it’s not valid enough.

You made a goof, and now according to GoDaddy’s terms, you’re gonna have to pay.

[control-z]

Nobody reads all the fine print before they register a domain name. Besides, that fine print can and probably will change after you pick a registrar. You still didn’t answer the question though, what makes the domain suddenly worth $90?

They don’t all do that; as fifty-six said:

I have let a few at NameCheap slip into redemption period. It doesn’t cost me anything to get them back, just the normal renewal price.

GoDaddy is semi-slimy from the start with celebrity spokesmodels and boob girl commercials and all the crap they try to throw at you, they’re like a pack of hyenas. But I can live with that for a good price. What I can’t stand is them holding my domain name hostage. If they want to charge my twice as much to renew in the redemption period fine. Not 8 times as much!

I’m not going to pay them, and I’m getting other domain names I’ve registered away from them too. In the long run this is going to cost them a lot more than the $80 redemption fee, but of course they’re just a big faceless company and really don’t care.

[ZipperJJ]

The thing about GoDaddy is that most people who are in the business of buying domains are very happy to put up with their ads and their product pushing for their very low prices and very good customer service.

Way back when, you had to go through Network Solutions and pay $35/yr for a domain name. If you slipped up and lost it, you had to pay an arm and a leg to get it back (up to $150). Their customer support was abhorrent (outsourced…or at least in-house guys with thick accents). You had to send them your first born child as proof that you existed to get anything done.

Then registrar control was released from Network Solutions and all of these crazy little registrars started popping up. Some of them charged $35/domain still, some more, some less. Some had the shittiest interfaces ever and non-existent support.

Then when the dust settled there was GoDaddy. This place that looked very professional. This place that gave you complete control over EVERYTHING. This place that sold domain names for gasp $7.95/year. Holy shit! That’s almost 80% less than what we’d BEEN paying! And their customer support was good!

So we all started slowly and hesitantly transferring our domains over to them. And they did not disappoint us. Sure, their checkout process was a little drawn-out but as with anything on the Internet, cheap + quality = more ads. We transferred over our domains and never looked back. They didn’t disappoint us like we thought they would (why not? Everyone else in the past did). We kept getting more features available to us. Lots of nice things. Everything was tight.

An $80 fee for ignoring their emails and wading through their long checkout process (which isn’t that long once you know how to do it) is nothing compared to being raped and abused by Network Solutions, or going with some fly-by-night registrar who runs off with your domains.

I have 111 domains with them and have been a customer since 2002. I have never had anything bad to say about them, only good things. I recommend them to everyone - even their hosting and shopping cart packages even though I have my OWN hosting company and shopping cart product.

Maybe it’s because I have a better frame of reference than you, but I have never once thought of GoDaddy as “slimy” or anything less than awesome.

[mhendo]

@ZipperJJ

The thing about GoDaddy is that most people who are in the business of buying domains are very happy to put up with their ads and their product pushing for their very low prices and very good customer service.

When you say “ads and product pushing,” you mean on their own website only, right?

If i get a domain and hosting with GoDaddy, they don’t get to put any ads on my site, do they?