I'm ready for a change of domain registrar

What should I look for? How to decide?

[Brando]

I am in process of changing my hosting company and think i want to change registrars as well.

<snip> A key need is the ability to make WHOIS information anonymous. Cost and reliability are also issues.

Thanks for your input!

[edited by: Webwork at 1:55 pm (utc) on Sep. 3, 2005]
[edit reason] <Per Charter please avoid specific registrar recommendations [/edit]

[Webwork]

Hello Brando and welcome to the Domain Forum. I think we all can give you guidance without having to get into discussion specific registrars.

Today's my 50th birthday so I'm going to take the day off (mostly) and allow my mates to provide the analysis.

Analysis? Yes. We're not about making endorsements or voting, as that simply invites spamming and self-promotion in forums. We're about teaching, sharing insights (not company specific bad experiences) and "how to".

So, ladies and gentlemen, is choosing a domain registrar simply about "today's special price", or is there more?

What do you all look for when deciding where to register 1 or 1,000 domains?

Price. Yes. What else matters?

[sdani]

There is a registrar who is mentioned on this site as good hosting company (in old days when posting names was allowed).

The registrar provides "custom DNS" service FREE with the domain registration and costs in teens per year.

I have that service, just because it makes my DNS management so much easier. I can specify round robin DNS too with it.

So, I think it is worth it.
{EDIT}I have tried DNS timing service of DNSstuff, and my DNS server is always rated A+.{EDIT}

[Leosghost]

A key need is the ability to make WHOIS information anonymous

there is more than one way to skin a cat ...there's a post somewhere here from digitalv about giving real info etc ..I tend to side with him ...Plus you can always set up a front company with anonymous directors or owners etc and let "it" buy all domains for you ..
Some companies are actually much more relaxed than they would appear about the real ID issue ..the number 4 or 5 world wide ( which is actually based where I am ) has domains registered to such individuals as " whatsit of your business" and whaddya need to know for " etc and their equivalents in English ..some are even registered to "expletives" living at "expletived" adresses ...( I know cos I did the whois and thought I'd never get that past the folks where I regged my domains ..in any language ) ..

Another point to think of when choosing a registering company is also is their policy and marketing consistant ..I am gradually moving over mine from a *dom reg /hosting company* with whom I was entirely satisfied and now to "myself" as reseller of a major system ( I was with them before as reseller but the off web life took over a while and I wasn't doing so much registration volume ...some of us like the boss ( mod ) of this forum have a problem to know when to stop registering ..;) ..we have had threads about such addiction here ...mostly the same posters ..insomniacs all of us ;)

Now that I'm back in the land and company of the "hey I just got a great idea" brigade ..

I'm again my own registrant (and no I'm not touting for business as per the rules ...if you land on one of my places you'll never know it was me ) ...
However ...I am currently auditioning girls for my next ad spot ..so ....;)

All of this to say that if you know how to do DNS work properly ( bad "pointing" can kill you faster than a backlink to a scraper in a "g" update )..you can often do a better job yourself for less ( depending on volume )...

I was also prompted to change by the fact that they *see between* decided that if you weren't renting one of their servers you can only renew existing domain names ..not register new ones ..they were /are very reasonably poriced ..but I need my fix ...often ...;)

If you are going to register or have more than a hundred or so names ..you can set up an "inc" anonymously in Nevada or wherever ..and let the shell company register for you with others ..thus preserving the anonimity ...or do it for yourself ...or both ..;)

edited by me speeling and spacing

[Leosghost]

Sorry should've been more clear there ."shell company" cost average = $750...divided by 100 dom names gives you $7.50 per name ..
pay to register anon ( as supplementary service )via whoever ..average cost = $9.00 each ..so with 100 domains it's cheaper to be discreet behind your "inc"...

Becoming your own registration company as reseller for one of the big boys is cheaper again ...

or do both ..

[moltar]

In Canada it'd be really easy to mask the domains. Register a business name (~ $80/year CAD) and get a mailbox (~ $100/year CAD), then you can use that info in whois. I'd imagine it's as easy in most of the developed countries.

[Leosghost]

moltar ..most of Europe requires that they can "whois" your business name ..and "whois" the owner of the mailbox ..if you can get one ..for example in France you must prove that you have sufficient volume of mail to need one and to give personal ID ..same applies to searching for "who owns the company" in UK..

And registering as a business in France costs around $1400.00 US equivalent with yearly very very high social security contributions even if you dont actually trade ..ie :make one red centime

[moltar]

Damn, that's really strict and expensive. I guess then it's not like that in most countries then.

[ritch_b]

Sorry guys, but all this talk of setting up front companies and the like, in order to essentially hide the WHOIS data, is pointless; there are a number of reputable registrars who offer an anonymous WHOIS service, which ranges from between $10 and $20, per domain, per year.

These services tend only to apply to the main TLDs though, ie. COM, NET, ORG, BIZ and INFO, although individual registrars may vary in their coverage.

It's not only registrars who offer these services though; there are a several other organisations who offer anonymous WHOIS services, regardsless of who your chosen registrar is.

As for choosing a new registrar, everyone has their own preferences; I opted for an American registrar, despite being located in the UK, who offered excellent 24/7 e-mail and telephone support, competitive pricing and an excellent IT infrastructure. Don't let pricing be the overriding factor here though, as with many things in life, you tend to get what you pay for.

Oh, where's my manners? Welcome to WebmasterWorld Brando

[Leosghost]

Sorry guys, but all this talk of setting up front companies and the like, in order to essentially hide the WHOIS data, is pointless; there are a number of reputable registrars who offer an anonymous WHOIS service, which ranges from between $10 and $20, per domain, per year.

That is on top of the basic reg fee per domain name ....correct me if ....

My point ritch_b ..if you have 100 domain names... at on average $10.00 per name for "open" ( ie: anyone can see who , you are ) registration ..plus the usual supplement for anonymous registration of another $10.00 per domain name ..you arrive to $1000.00 ( approximatively... for basic domain name resigstration for top 3 tld ) plus another $10.00 average for the "anonymous service" ..so that makes $20.00 per domain name ..
OK .....for 100 names that is $2000.00...
If in that case ( alteranative scenario )...if you incorporate in a state which will allow you to "inc" anonymously at on average $750.00 including "expedited" etc etc ..and therefore you can then register via the "normal" proceedure "millions" ( if that is what you want ) of domain names..and all to this same $750.00 dollar corporation ..and all of this legally ...your outlay is $750.00 plus whatever the number of names you want at "standard rate"

So the math is ..100 x $10.00 plus per "anon" name $10.00 per name ..total = $2000.00
or via Nevada or elsewhere "inc" plus "anon" per 100 names = $750.00 ( for the anon campany ) ..one off payment ..plus recurrent per annum.. of less ..plus registration using company name ( which is untracable to you ) of $10.00 average..per annum ( I know you can get it for less ..I DO! ) ..of at worst 100 times $10.00 =$1000.00 total $1750.00...

BINGO YOU SAVED T LEAST $250..00

YOU SAVE! ..PLUS! NO ONE KNOWS WHO OWNS SQUAT ..! 'BOUT WHO U R...( depends what u consder important ) ..4 me 's numeric progresv..capitalistic SOB .."me" ( oTKQET).
.

I run nearly 700 names ( told yer I was addicted ;))..of my own ...plus .....those which I run for customers and friends ..and I 'm an artist sculptor ( one time hacker ) just "playing" at this stuff..plus I do it in more than one language ..( I make it that I have to renew 3800 permutations per annum ..without counting my misspellings .. ( + they don't all fall at once )..and if I include the "hyphenateds" on the long ones it is frightening or "interesting " take yer choice ...this is why I am now my own registrar ..so do the maths ..and learn DNS and "do yer own" ...

I pay approx $2.40 per name per annum ...inc company reg etc ..and I know if I could be bothered it could be lower but I have other priorities ...I live near the sea ...I like to walk on the beach..or cook etc ...the innernet isn't all there is ...

but I do like to have control ...for smaller quantities ..numbers of domaines etc ..relative to DNS etc ..I can recommend somewhere ..but only webwork can Ok the link ...if he want's ..if he says no... fine by me ..I like this place ..even if I get slapped on the wrist "souvent" .. I learned a great deal here in the fora ..thus ...I should not abuse Brett's hospitality ( his rug ) or the mods patience more than I can help ..; ) ..sometimes I merit a slap down ... 'n' get ..

learn DNS and you can do all of it yourself ...as far as registrations go at least ...

[Leosghost]

BIZ and INFO

Pron suffixes ..nothin against them as such but they come with associated intellectual baggage ..donc ..less instant "cred" ..
90% of the net is pron ..( my figures )..Be real ..the monkey is the monkey ..so ...but the association of these suffixes is pron ..so?...

I own some ....they are pron ...

[ritch_b]

If there are serious cost savings to be had, and going down a front company route is acceptable, then so be it; to each their own.

For me though, accurate and genuine WHOIS data is a must have; we aim operate a transparent business and it's important, not only to me but for my employer, that our contact data is correct. Yes, in some respects it's a pain, if only because you'll always end up with some unsolicited calls or mails from individuals or businesses who've scraped the WHOIS data; then again, even with information via a front company, this is still potentially a problem.

Yes, we have had occasions where we've tendered for work and, on acceptance, Customers have quite happily informed us that part of their background and history checking involved looking up the WHOIS record for our main domains.

Thus, as a business, I'd never recommend making attempts to make WHOIS data anonymous; I have however dealt with a number of registrars offering such services, in the course of day to day work. Quite a few of these offer bulk services, which may in turn negate some of the savings that could be made via the front company option - seems to be a lot of legwork for a potentially small saving.

R.