International Domain Registration

August 11, 2006 4:11 PM

Domain filter - - > Help me find an international domain register that will sell me my last name for cheap and not some rate for a large business.

My last name has been taken by all of the normal ( .com .net .org .etc ) and I am wishing to set up a site for my family in the style of firstname.lastname.whatever. I have searched through a bunch of the registers but they seem to be set up for businesses and not individuals; I cannot spend $500 for a year. If anyone has any suggestions, I would be very thankful. I hope this post proves helpful for future seekers as well.

posted by Knigel to computers & internet (11 comments total)

You don't have to spend $500 a year. You're confused about some aspect of this, but it's hard to say what without more detail.

The dot-nu domains are cheap and probably your name's not taken. But it may be you're talking about hosting, not domain registration. Tell us more, please.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 4:25 PM on August 11, 2006

Which country are you interested in? That will make a difference to how much it costs and where you register it.

Just as an example, my .nz domains cost NZ$45 per year (about US$28) and I'm sure it's not the cheapest I can get them. I use an NZ based company for registering them but it can be done by companies based elsewhere. International tlds aren't as cheap as the more generic ones, but they certainly don't need to cost hundreds of dollars.

As for hosting, it's just the same no matter what tld you have. I've hosted mine in Australia, Canada and the US, all for the same package and cost as hosting a .com.
posted by shelleycat at 4:37 PM on August 11, 2006

I think the questioner's point is that, for example, doe.com is already taken, and he wants to buy doe.com from its current owners for a low price (where Doe is the questioner's surname). Good luck, but I doubt there's an easy answer to this.
posted by matthewr at 4:42 PM on August 11, 2006

.to are $50 per year from tonic.to.
posted by dobbs at 4:53 PM on August 11, 2006

Or I could have been talking nonsense.
posted by matthewr at 4:59 PM on August 11, 2006

I think the questioner's point is that, for example, doe.com is already taken, and he wants to buy doe.com from its current owners for a low price

Yeah I considered that too. That $500 figure sounds like a domain squatter/speculator trying to make a profit. But still "every year"? And what does he mean by an "international domain"?
posted by AmbroseChapel at 5:13 PM on August 11, 2006

I suspect that some of our participants aren't aware of the yearly fees that some CCTLD resellers charge.

.tv, for example, charges more for "cool" 2LDs, and I wouldn't be surprised to find that other resellers do as well. And yes, every year.
posted by baylink at 5:34 PM on August 11, 2006

I give another vote for .nu

The domain name I wanted wasn't available as .com or .org, and I liked the sound of .nu (Nu being an Egyptian sky goddess and all).

I've been with them for years now and haven't had any trouble. The cost to register a domain is $60 for two years.
posted by RoseovSharon at 6:06 PM on August 11, 2006

I suspect that some of our participants aren't aware of the yearly fees that some CCTLD resellers charge.

You mean like the fee to renew the registration every year? Because, you know, you buy the registration by the year. I thought all tld's did that? Can you buy some outright that never ever need renewing ever again? I'd jump at that for $500.
posted by shelleycat at 6:34 PM on August 11, 2006

I'm surprised no one has mention dot.tk

The domains are free as a url forward and only $20 to own the domain for two years. This is probably the cheapest country code option.
posted by BigBrownBear at 3:15 PM on August 12, 2006

I'm more baffled by this thread than ever. The OP has been back, marked two answers as Best seemingly at random, and still not explained exactly what they wanted.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 3:23 PM on August 12, 2006