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Tell HN: Never search for domains on Godaddy.com

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Re: Tell HN: Never search for domains on Godaddy.com

#511

Post by filmgirlcw »

jlgaddis wrote: post #466
rconti wrote: post #442

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I found it interesting that Ted mentions Namecheap searching .is. I have a .is domain through Isnic (actually just renewed yesterday), and I'm using 1984 for DNS because Isnic requires a domestic NS provider. But Ted's comment implies you can register .is through Namecheap. I wonder how/if they get around the Icelandic NS host problem.

I've had an .is domain for a few years now and wasn't aware of that requirement. DNS service for my .is domain is handled by AWS Route 53.

I think that there was a time when a smaller number of DNS providers was registered with ISNIC. As the gTLD has become more popular, more DNS providers have gone through that process.

Re: Tell HN: Never search for domains on Godaddy.com

#512

Post by tzs »

_nickwhite wrote: post #49

I learned this _years_ ago that Godaddy will steal your name for fun and profit. As the HN comments confirm, there are several shady outfits that do the same thing. For years, I've gone to ICANN directly to check domain name availability: https://lookup.icann.org/

That doesn't work for all TLDs. I just checked a .us domain and it says "No registry RDAP server was identified for this domain. Attempting lookup using WHOIS service", and then "Failed to perform lookup using WHOIS service: TLD_NOT_SUPPORTED".

Re: Tell HN: Never search for domains on Godaddy.com

#514

Post by Wintereise »

aerovistae wrote: post #124
mdorazio wrote: post #33

I had this happen as well in the past when researching domain names for a new product. Pro Tip: Stay the hell away from GoDaddy for everything. I've had the unfortunate task of managing a server hosted with them and it's been consistently awful (ex. I literally cannot upgrade PHP because the VPS doesn't support it and there is no upgrade path without spinning up an entirely new VPS on a different, and of course more…

Recommendations for superior alternatives? I'm an indifferent GoDaddy user but would be happy to switch to something else since I've never liked them as a company.

I've been using https://internetbs.net/ for the better part of a decade now.

They email me once a year that stuff is about to expire, I renew it.

I've never had to interact with them otherwise about anything, which in this case means they're clearly doing something right.

Re: Tell HN: Never search for domains on Godaddy.com

#515

Post by pschastain »

This is a topic that has come up before (i.e. HN thread from 2011: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2326790), and while GoDaddy continues to deny this practice (https://www.godaddy.com/community/Domain-Aftermarket/Is-Goda...) I tend to think that where there's smoke there's fire. Too many instances over the years to not be at least a bit suspicious.

[edit] spelling

Re: Tell HN: Never search for domains on Godaddy.com

#516

Post by davchana »

ted0 wrote: post #226

Ted from Namecheap here. I cannot speak to GoDaddy's practices. However, I can say that for Namecheap, this is not something we would ever even consider doing. In my experience though, lookups are more complex than most think. We are querying so many different sources to give you availability status, some of which are less reliable than others. For example, with smaller TLDs like .ai or .is, lookups may be less relia…

My experience with Namecheap, Dynadot, Godaddy, Hexonet is, in current times, I prefer Dynadot, then Namecheap, then Hexonet & never Godaddy.

I found Dynadot prices very competitive, Namecheap is not shoving ads but dns management is not easy, & is expensive. Hexonet offers way more tlds, have robust search, & retains domains in cart for months if you are not ready. Dynadot record manager is better. Hexonet is expensive.

Godaddy used to be my choice in around 2012-2016, but not any more.

Shameless plug, one of my total three blog posts is about my journey of Domains https://davinder.net/my-journey-with-domains/

Re: Tell HN: Never search for domains on Godaddy.com

#517

Post by EricE »

lordnacho wrote: post #267
ted0 wrote: post #226

Ted from Namecheap here. I cannot speak to GoDaddy's practices. However, I can say that for Namecheap, this is not something we would ever even consider doing. In my experience though, lookups are more complex than most think. We are querying so many different sources to give you availability status, some of which are less reliable than others. For example, with smaller TLDs like .ai or .is, lookups may be less relia…

Namecheap is so much better than godaddy. Interface : just give me the records. I don't want to buy more stuff. Somehow namecheap lets me but the same extras like email, without badgering me. Godaddy is just ads ads ads and interfaces to sell stuff to people who aren't tech savvy. Squatting: this definitely happens with godaddy, like the OP says. Never use them, it's a disgusting practice. I use namecheap for dozens…

Another very satisfied namecheap customer. It's so nice to not have to feel like you need to take a shower after visiting your DNS control panel.

Re: Tell HN: Never search for domains on Godaddy.com

#520

Post by SethKinast »

ted0 wrote: post #226

Ted from Namecheap here. I cannot speak to GoDaddy's practices. However, I can say that for Namecheap, this is not something we would ever even consider doing. In my experience though, lookups are more complex than most think. We are querying so many different sources to give you availability status, some of which are less reliable than others. For example, with smaller TLDs like .ai or .is, lookups may be less relia…

I used NameCheap for around 10 years, until they bungled up an order I made.

I renewed a .com for an additional 9 years. When the order processed, it turns out domains can only be extended out to a maximum of 10 years, and this domain was still a few years away from expiry.

The order didn't go through and I wasn't charged.

The next day I got an email from NameCheap saying that they had manually charged me $80ish, renewed the domain for 3 years, and put the rest in the NameCheap wallet. None of which I asked for.

I went back and forth a couple times with support saying they would cancel my domain if I wanted the money refunded, when all I wanted was for this transaction I didn't ask for to be undone.

After they "made an exception" I transferred everything to PorkBun, which works just as nicely.

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