Renewing my domain name
May 24, 2005 12:30 PM Subscribe
Help! My domain name registration expires today, and I don't want to pay too much to renew it!
I registered my first domain name with register.com two years ago, and now it's time to renew. But register.com has jacked up the price. Can I switch to another registration service without losing the domain name, or am I screwed? What is the best (i.e., cheapest) way to renew?
I registered my first domain name with register.com two years ago, and now it's time to renew. But register.com has jacked up the price. Can I switch to another registration service without losing the domain name, or am I screwed? What is the best (i.e., cheapest) way to renew?
Response by poster: Thanks. Once I renew, how do I transfer it elsewhere?
posted by nyterrant at 12:42 PM on May 24, 2005
posted by nyterrant at 12:42 PM on May 24, 2005
nyterrant, just go to the registrar you want to switch to (I use godaddy.net) and follow their instructions for a transfer. Make sure that the email address on file for the domain at your current registrar is valid.
If your domain expires today (ie, not yesterday) it may not be too late. Give it a shot before you register with register.com.
posted by dobbs at 12:46 PM on May 24, 2005
If your domain expires today (ie, not yesterday) it may not be too late. Give it a shot before you register with register.com.
posted by dobbs at 12:46 PM on May 24, 2005
It's too late. The wheels of domain transfers turn slowly, and .com/.net/.org domain transfers have a built in delay of at least 4 days to allow the owner to deny the transfer in a potential takeover attempt. If your domain lapses in this interim period, the transfer will not go through until your domain no longer has an EXPIRED status, meaning you have to pay register.com. If you're really unlucky, register.com may not allow you to pay for the domain since it's in the middle of a transfer, leaving your domain in limbo, causing you to lose it forever. I wouldn't "give it a shot" -- it's much too risky. Pay up now and transfer your domain later.
posted by zsazsa at 12:58 PM on May 24, 2005
posted by zsazsa at 12:58 PM on May 24, 2005
zsazsa, that's not entirely true. A transfer can be completed in a very short time frame, depending on the registrars in question. Most registrars, however, put the name on lock at some point prior to expiration. Which will likely prevent this transfer from taking place. But, the perils you describe are valid in the right circumstances.
The thing that typically holds up transfers are domain registrants not responding to authorization emails. If they respond to the one from the gaining registrar, but not the followup from a losing registrar (assuming they send them out instead of auto-auth'ing them) then the transfer will fail.
Some losing registrars are set up to auto-authorize and these are the ones that usually take a while. Registrants still have to respond to the initial email from the gaining registrar, but because the losing registrar doesn't send out notices, the registrant may have to wait until the auto-auth period has passed.
If any of this doesn't make sense, let me know, I'll explain the whole process.
posted by FlamingBore at 1:08 PM on May 24, 2005
The thing that typically holds up transfers are domain registrants not responding to authorization emails. If they respond to the one from the gaining registrar, but not the followup from a losing registrar (assuming they send them out instead of auto-auth'ing them) then the transfer will fail.
Some losing registrars are set up to auto-authorize and these are the ones that usually take a while. Registrants still have to respond to the initial email from the gaining registrar, but because the losing registrar doesn't send out notices, the registrant may have to wait until the auto-auth period has passed.
If any of this doesn't make sense, let me know, I'll explain the whole process.
posted by FlamingBore at 1:08 PM on May 24, 2005
nyterrant, whatever new registrar you go to will have instructions on how to initiate a domain transfer. Typically you'll signup for an account and then indicate which domain it is you want to transfer. Then the admin contacts for that domain (you, we hope) will be contacted and asked to confirm the transfer. Also, be sure that there is no "lock/transfer guard/etc" on the domain with register.com or the transfer will be rejected. If this happens you'll need to start over the transfer process over.
FlamingBore, while it's technically possible to complete a transfer in this short period of time, it's highly unlikely and not worth the risk of loosing the domain name. Especially if the domain owner isn't familiar with the process.
posted by alana at 1:32 PM on May 24, 2005
FlamingBore, while it's technically possible to complete a transfer in this short period of time, it's highly unlikely and not worth the risk of loosing the domain name. Especially if the domain owner isn't familiar with the process.
posted by alana at 1:32 PM on May 24, 2005
It took WEEKS when I moved from Register.com. I would call them up and ask if they're running any specials you could get in on. Or call and bitch your ass off and hope they cut you a deal. Never know, you may get a year free. If there's anything I learned in the service industry (other than how to make the best margarita on the planet) it's he who complains most spends the least.
posted by sublivious at 1:52 PM on May 24, 2005
posted by sublivious at 1:52 PM on May 24, 2005
Response by poster: Thanks, everybody, great answers, all. Looks like I was a bit slow on the draw on this one. I'll renew for a year then transfer to someone less expensive.
posted by nyterrant at 3:03 PM on May 24, 2005
posted by nyterrant at 3:03 PM on May 24, 2005
FlamingBore, could you please do so? I'd like to get a detailed rundown, as I will be moving a domain in a while myself.
posted by ChrisR at 6:41 PM on May 24, 2005
posted by ChrisR at 6:41 PM on May 24, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
However, you waited too long. Renew for a year with register.com and then transfer it elsewhere. Consider the lost money an object lesson.
posted by alana at 12:34 PM on May 24, 2005