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A Step By Step Guide to Transfer Domains Out Of GoDaddy

blog.jeffepstein.me

31–40 of 110 posts

Re: A Step By Step Guide to Transfer Domains Out Of GoDaddy

#31

https://dnsimple.com/ has a 50% off special for transferring domains off of GoDaddy. They may not be the cheapest (it's $3 a month to host 10 domains + yearly cost for the domain registration), but they have fantastic support and are super simple to use.

In case you haven't seen it before, I wrote up a step-by-step guide earlier this year as well: http://blog.dnsimple.com/preparing-domains-godaddy-for-trans...

Note the tip at the end: you usually have to wait the full 5 day waiting period when transferring a domain out of GoDaddy because they let the domain auto ack at the end, however you can speed things up using the technique described in this help article on their site: http://help.godaddy.com/article/6040?locale=en

Copied here in case they remove it. :-)

To Accept or Decline a Transfer to Another Registrar Log in to your Account Manager. In the My Products section, click Domains/Domain Manager. From the Domains menu, select Pending Transfers. Select the domain name(s) you are transferring to another registrar, and then click Accept/Decline. Select one of the following: Accept — This option might speed up the pending transfer's completion. Decline — This option cancels the pending transfer, which causes it to fail. Click OK twice. We process your request within 30 minutes.

Re: A Step By Step Guide to Transfer Domains Out Of GoDaddy

#32
I just transferred my 47 domains out of GoDaddy. I've been meaning to do it for awhile --- primarily because the price keeps inching up and because I find their advertising and use of spokeswomen sort of distasteful.

Seeing Jillian Michael's face when I'm buying a domain or setting up DNS records for a client is pretty much the last thing I want to see.

I guess you could say SOPA was the last straw. Transferring 47 domains cost a pretty penny, but it feels really good to leave that circus behind.

I went with Namecheap, primarily because I've heard good things about them and this blog post made it easy. I like how simple and snappy their web site is. Much quicker and easier to use than Godaddy...and no Jillian Michaels staring me down.

Re: A Step By Step Guide to Transfer Domains Out Of GoDaddy

#33
post #5
post #4

This is a great step by step guide for transferring domains. Exactly what I needed (I tried earlier and quickly got lost!) I do have a question for anyone who could help: Can I transfer a domain which is set to expire in 2019? And, are there typically fees for transferring a domain?

It seems that the transfer adds a year thankfully and does not reset the clock

Nice. This is what I was worried about because I just renewed two domains with GD. I'm going to try to make time to do the transfer soon.

Re: A Step By Step Guide to Transfer Domains Out Of GoDaddy

#34

Note that you also have to disable domains-by-proxy (domain privacy) if you have it on any domains before they can be transferred.

This is also my understanding.

Which essentially means that you cannot transfer any domains out of GoDaddy without losing your anonymity.

Re: A Step By Step Guide to Transfer Domains Out Of GoDaddy

#35

As noted elsewhere, it's the hosting plans that they make their money from, and so that's what I'd aim to transfer. So I've got a two-part question: 1) How does one transfer all the DNS information, including the A and MX records (anything else I need?)? Is this all provider-specific? Or can they just port in the existing data? 2) When I'm ready, I'd want to set up a web site, and especially a mail server. Any recomm…

Some registrars support uploading zone files, at least Safenames (our current registrar, not the cheapest but good, simple UI:s and good customer service) does, and I believe that you can export the zone file from GoDaddy. So check if your new registrar supports importing entire zone files, if so the transfer of DNS should be trivial.

Re: A Step By Step Guide to Transfer Domains Out Of GoDaddy

#36
post #34

Note that you also have to disable domains-by-proxy (domain privacy) if you have it on any domains before they can be transferred.

This is also my understanding. Which essentially means that you cannot transfer any domains out of GoDaddy without losing your anonymity.

Purchase third party whois privacy. Whois privacy costs nothing to run, it's just a company saying they own the domain on your behalf, this opens you up to domain theft though, I don't understand why people use it. Set up a PO Box somewhere and use that.

Re: A Step By Step Guide to Transfer Domains Out Of GoDaddy

#38
post #26

As noted elsewhere, it's the hosting plans that they make their money from, and so that's what I'd aim to transfer. So I've got a two-part question: 1) How does one transfer all the DNS information, including the A and MX records (anything else I need?)? Is this all provider-specific? Or can they just port in the existing data? 2) When I'm ready, I'd want to set up a web site, and especially a mail server. Any recomm…

First, manage the dns with a third party dns service. Such as http://zoneedit.com/pricing.html or similar. Don't use the dns of the registrar. But if you are talking about moving over just dns servers (not the records that are in those dns servers) that is automatically ported over when you change registrars. But if the dns servers are the dns servers of the registrar that isn't what you want. Which is one of the rea…

First, manage the dns with a third party dns service.

This cannot be emphasized enough. Do not use your registrar's DNS. Do not use your registrar's hosting. Do not use your host's DNS.

The three elements -- domain registration, DNS, and web hosting -- should be segregated. That way, if you have problems with one, through chance, malice, or incompetence, you can exercise the other two items to work around the issue.

E.g.s:

If your web host is DDOSed, change the DNS entries to point to another host; minimizing downtime.

If your DNS servers are taken offline by legal action against the company that owns them, change the published servers at your registrar.

If your registrar goes bankrupt, your DNS and hosting will continue running smoothly while ICANN handles the domain management.

While you're at it, host your email somewhere different than your webhost. If you're account gets disabled because of a billing mistake, you want to get the email that tells you about it, right?

It's not even that expensive to implement these steps -- $25, maybe $50 per year. If you are at all serious about something on the Internet, spend the extra money!

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