I’m not into the whole domain name scene/industry, but I’ve often used Network Solutions (NSI) when researching domain availability. Even though I don’t ultimately purchase domains from them, I like their interface and I trust that no one is hiding behind the entry box ready to steal my ideas. Or so I thought.
Yesterday, after I found a couple good domains via NSI I immediately went to my main registrar Namecheap – I don’t use NSI as they charge way too much – and added some funds in my account (I was running low), entered the domain names to purchase and then was floored to find out that they were suddenly taken.
I clicked the “whois” on both and to my amazement they had been registered by Network Solutions, starting Tuesday the 19th for one year and marked with the “status: clientHold”!
No f’ing way…
Obviously NSI snatched up and registered my domains right after I search for them. Those unethical, slimy bastards! Well, not quite.
After much anger and some digging (and a closer look at the front page of NSI’s web site) I found out that since the start of the year Network Solutions decided to hold or “reserve” any available dot com domains searched for by users on its site for four days (not the full year as listed in the whois, whew) before releasing them back to the public for normal purchase on a different registrar. Of course (and this is what NSI hopes) if you can’t wait the four days you’ll have to fork over top-dollar and pay NSI $35 bucks for the same freakin’ domain you can get for under $10 at most registrars.
What a bunch of garbage…
The company defends its new policy claiming that it is protecting the consumer by keeping those available domains safe during that four day period, allowing the consumer time, if needed, to make a decision on the purchase. They also say that it keeps a lid on “domain tasters”, something I won’t get into here.
NSI also argues that their policy prevents “front running”, that is the art of people who monitor public domain searches made on registrar sites in effort to register them before the consumer does, and then sell them to the consumer at a higher price or use them for other monetary gain.
Now that, I can somewhat understand. And I’ve actually heard of this happening but only some pretty shady registrar sites, and not on NSI. However, aren’t they now basically admitting that they have this problem of front running on their site, hence the need for “protection”? Sure sounds like it. And sounds like even more garbage and a way for NSI to make a quick buck.
And just a though, what if a malicious programmer was able to cull from the domain registry database all those NSI domains marked “clientHold”, again meaning they were recently searched on NSI, I’m really not sure if that’s even possible to do but if it is no telling how much damage could be done to the domaining landscape.
Bottom line is, unless you are already a client or you just like paying $35 for things that cost under $10, don’t use Network Solutions for your domain researching. Simple as that. I know I won’t be anymore. As for my domains I reckon I can wait it out…
I share your concerns as recent research shows that 100% of .com and .net that become available after previously being registered are immediately re-registered.
If this trend includes domains released from ‘Client Hold’ then you will go into to a landrush scenario for the domain if you decide not to register with NSI.
Ultimately the most sophisticated and fastest technology will register the domain. On this basis I imagine that domain tasters will secure the domain.
If you are lucky there will be limited or better still no traffic for the domain and you might be lucky to find the name dropped at a later date.
My advice is find a domain name provider that does not use this tactic and get a guarantee from them that their whois look up and availability searchers are secure.
While possibilities are always possible, the VeriSign COM/NET Registry will likely ensure that doesn’t happen, especially since they’re a publicly-trading company. The responsibilities of such are great, and the penalties for not doing their responsibilities are even greater.
Some registrars like Go Daddy consistently guarantee their searches are secure and they don’t sell their queries. But that hasn’t stopped some people from “losing out” domain names they don’t register on the spot, nor has it stopped others from still believing they’re conspiring to cheat them out.
While people can believe Network Solutions is “holding your domain name hostage”, can someone kindly explain how when: a) Network Solutions has no obligations to users, and b) users don’t “own” domain names until they’re registered to them and paid for? Or do people just find that conveniently easier to believe, even though it has no factual or logical basis other than pure emotion?
The best “advice” is to be ready to register the domain name on the spot. No registrar or provider on earth can guarantee that the domain name you saw available will remain that way by the time you finally get around to it.
And yes, just don’t use Network Solutions for searching domain names if you don’t agree with their policies. It’ll make your lives a whole lot easier.
From their policy: “A customer may phone Network Solutions customer support and request the domain name be released before the end of the reserve period.”
I was very angry when this happened to me. I searched using Netsol’s system because I thought I could get a domain from them for I felt I had $9/year — it’s actually $34/year and is only $9 if you take amny years at once.
Then I went to godaddy.com and found I had been locked out. afer hunting around the net for a while, I found this blog and the advice above — thank you. I called NetSol who unlocked the domain, which I registered at godaddy immediately. I will never use Network Solutions again, and will be transferring my other domains from them as soon as I can. I will aslo be telling everyone I know to avoid using the company. It’s a scummy way to do business, and their justification of their actions is pathetic.
I made a point of complaining to the NetSol operator about this immoral and unethical practice. I also made a complaint to the Better Business Bureau and urge any person with similar experiences to do the same.