GoDaddy for Sale

[PaulPA]

story [sfgate.com]

There is some speculation whether this will lead to other domain name registration sites also being put up for sale.

[rocknbil]

No, no, no, god please no - this is one of the last registrars/hosting services to answer in English, use U.S. employees for tech support, if it sells it will be outsourced hell. I can live with the sexist advertising, the upsells at every d**n page when buying services, but calling support and getting "Kkkkello, my nayum is KKKrobudrt, Khow can I kelp you today sidr" will just kill me.

[willybfriendly]

GoDaddy has tech support? Could've fooled me.

In fact, there how to FAQs pages might just as well have been written by 3rd worlders speaking English as a 3rd or 4th language for all the help they are.

I avoid them like... well, like Google. Sometimes there is no other better or equal option, but usually there is.

[wildbest]

The buyer - Google, MS or most likely Amazon. Any other options?

I understand Go Daddy doesn't comment on rumors, but an article on WSJ is something more than just a rumor!

[cien]

Was bound to happen. The web is full of Godaddy horror stories for years. They didn't care about their users. I quit using them a long time ago when I had to spend close to 3 weeks trying to get rid of the domain privacy so I could move the domain to another registrar. Never used them again, even with great deals. All my domains reside on Namecheap.

[weeks]

this is one of the last registrars/hosting services to answer in English

Exactly. And, this is not being narrow-minded. I've had some very helpful off-shore tech support at times. But, other times, my foreign friends can't understand me. I speak English, that's it, I'm sorry.

Willy, my experience with GoDaddy's tech support has been very good. Yes, you do have to wait for someone to come online often, but typically they are very, very good once they come online. (Rackspace has the best tech support I've come across, but then that was big dollars. duh.)

But, yeah, the FAQs on DG are not the best. And their UI is one of the worst (although Website Tonight's UI is good). And the DG ads on TV are embarrassing to professionals who use them.

But, DG works and it's priced right. (Once, while waiting for tech support, I clicked on one of Bob Parsons' "management" videos. Very good advice presented in a very <cough> offbeat way. Stressed delegation, time management and treating people respectfully.)

That GoDaddy might be up for sale is not good news for me.

[netmeg]

Actually I have too much support. I've supposedly got a "VIP" account because of how many domains I have, and an account rep who won't leave me alone.

I have NO END of problems with GoDaddy, but I stick with them because on the scale at which I own domains, they're cheaper, and even more, I really really really like the total DNS control. I'd hate to lose that.

But it does kind of stick in my throat a little that every time I register a batch of domains, I'm probably paying for another leather jacket for Danica Patrick.

[encyclo]

The web is full of Godaddy horror stories for years. They didn't care about their users.

That's what you get in a market for lemons, the dregs rise to the top. Clueless users have no method of differentiating between domain registrars or hosting companies, so they use indicators as irrelevant as the breast-size of the company's representatives. Godaddy's market dominance comes mostly from mindshare gained from low-rate soft-porn advertising.

The treatment that Godaddy reserves for their customers is shockingly bad (exhorbitant "fines" and holding domains and personal data hostage). Their terms and conditions are abusive and wildly overreaching, and they haven't been the cheapest registrar for a long while. And to think I used to recommend them...

GoDaddy pulls security site after MySpace complaints [news.cnet.com]
Why I Don't Owe GoDaddy $6,579.51 [huffingtonpost.com]

[iThink]

Google can buy godaddy and with it they will get instant access to the whois info that is currently hidden under the privacy protection service.

[webastronaut]

I use a few different registrars and many different hosting companies but I do like Go Daddy's customer service which is americans that I can understand let alone knowing what they are talking about. Right now I have 5 sites down with another host and can't get a hold of them until Mon. between 8am - 5pm est. They do offer 24 hour support via chat online but yep...OUTSOURCED! and they have not a clue what to do but tell me to call the office Monday.

My main worry is that I have a site that uses Go Daddy's affiliate program and sure would hate to loose that along with a few thousand customers. I guess that's what you get for relying on affiliate programs. Just lost a few thousand customers this last spring when a UK company went under and was scooped up by another company.

[benevolent001]

How many of you those who are on Godaddy , thinking of moving to other registrar? I am also with them.

[jskrewson]

NetMeg, regarding the VIP account, too funny, me too... I get these , "Hi, I'm just calling you to tell you about xyz and to ask how you are doing. Is there anything I can do for you?" calls all the time.

Regarding Godaddy tech support.... Its been stellar for me. I once purchased about a very, very large number of domains from a spreadsheet that had some errors in it. Tech support worked with me for hours to straighten the problem out and reverse the purchases.

[Swanny007]

I'm with GoDaddy and would like to find an alternative that doesn't bombard me with 600 different "upsells" at checkout time. Just keep it simple, that's what I want.

Someone else mentioned namecheap, I'll have to check them out. Now that GD is for sale, I'll almost definitely leave. So what are good alternatives that aren't too much money?

[weeks]

I'm with GoDaddy and would like to find an alternative that doesn't bombard me with 600 different "upsells" at checkout time. Just keep it simple, that's what I want.

Absolutely true. But, if you ignore the consumer fluff--I can appreciate them trying to make a buck--under it all is a crackerjack team.

And, that is more or less the trade off. If you want low prices and enough scale to provide technical security, a firm like GD is the way to go. If you want cheap, you're going to get cheap.

Which is why GD being sold is a concern. They fit in that sweet spot for me with good prices, enough tech support and large enough scale to give me and my clients enough comfort. I do not hold my clients hands; I set them up on GD and other service providers such as Saleforce, Paypal, MailChimp, Google Docs and DimDim, show them how to use their interface and let them go. If they need photos or writing--I know people. If they want help, they can call they people I've set them up with, or I'll do it but it's not cheap. I call it "consulting."

GD isn't perfect. But, we recently took over the simple as pie web management of a firm who had everything with NS. We could not find a way to unwind it on the NS site. We had to call and he guy we talked with admitted they did not have a "close account" button. Don't want to get off-topic, but you can do a lot worse that GD.

And, I'm certain many here have had fun with the tiny domain houses who don't even answer their phone or reply to emails. (But, when you request a move, I've never had one of these small firms not release it. But, this spring one poor client--a large church--was in a panic because they couldn't get a response from Montana. They had an address and where thinking of sending someone up there. Seriously. DG will answer the phone, at least.)

[commanderW]

Well, I have had three registrars, and Godaddy has the best customer support response ( never used them for hosting). You can call them any time of day or night (as I recall), and someone answers the phone (eventually). Never have had a problem with them. I have read many horror stories that have given me pause. But it's all gossip really, until I see solid evidence. I had alot of serious problems with a Registrar that many people on this forum and elsewhere claim to love. So who knows?

It's going to be like getting a new landlord. Sometimes things actually get better, but other times, not.

I imagine I'll be happy if the new owners leave everything and everyone in place, stay out of the way, and just sit back and take their cut.

[netmeg]

I only use GD for domains, and on the scale in which I operate (thousands) domains are pretty much cheapest there. Well, Fabulous is close, but they're in Australia, and my bank doesn't like the overseas transactions; I get socked with extra fees.

That said - I tried GD's hosting for some quick and dirty mini sites, and it was atrocious. And I've heard that there huge gaping security holes for things like WordPress. So I'd never advise signing up for that. They also charge for their parking program, which is ridiculous, but plenty of people who don't know that there are great free options for that sign up for it. And the upsells don't bother me near as much as the slowness and design of the website. It's really not meant for anyone who is dealing with hundreds, let alone thousands of domain names. You'd think they'd want to keep their larger customers happy by offering that - but you'd be wrong.

[blend27]

I spent 15 minutes with their(GD) SSL tech support on the phone yesterday = A+ Service, and purchased several additional SSL Certificates after the fact.

Then spent 45 minutes with Cell Phone company Sales Dept, trying to get a new Plan and trouble-shoot a PDA = at the end went with a different company cause I couldn't understand half what she said.

[creeking]

article from 2006 about their IPO cancel.

[news.netcraft.com...]

[jimbeetle]

The buyer - Google, MS or most likely Amazon. Any other options?

Well, the article says it's being shopped to private equity firms.

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

I'll ride the storm until the price hikes kick in, or the outsourcing starts to become problematic.

[rocknbil]

I'm pretty amazed at some of the reactions here. I absolutely hate their site, yes, the upsells are insane, but tech support is *always* responsive, 24/7 (which I've put to the test,) and we've been through some pretty tough hardware and software issues with them. I'm involved in three dedicated servers with them, I have 6 customers who are tapping their heels over the VPS's they offer that made all their shared hosting nightmares go away. If you're complaining because you use their shared hosting, I don't really get that either, I have quite a few customers on shared servers who have no complaints and I've worked with those accounts. Everything always works.

I always hear goDaddy bashing going on, "junk servers", "economy servers" - well it is economy. But it works, and I'm not a "high value client" either.

[wildbest]

I'm pretty amazed at some of the reactions here.

Competition... All they hate Go Daddy. From all big players Go Daddy has the best value in that industry not only as domain registrar but web hosting provider as well!

[cien]

About 4-5 years ago, I remember reading a ton of complaints on the web about Godaddy canceling your domain just by somebody complaining about some spam sent from your domain (spoofed address). They were quick to cancel your domain back then, don't know now. That was "one" of the reasons I moved all my domains out of there to Namecheap. Godaddy can have all the good deals and excellent customer support they want but they will never get my business. I just don't trust them. They made my life impossible for three weeks when I tried to move my domains out of there. Some mess they created with my Godaddy and Domain Privacy accounts. They had no option for me to get rid of the domain privacy protection so I could move my domains out of Godaddy. Multiple calls, faxes with my information, etc. didn't work. Finally after 3 weeks calling and faxing documents, I got a nice chick on the phone that helped me in exactly 2 minutes. She said I didn't need any documentation, that it was a mess on their side. Finally I was able sleep at night after I transferred my domains out of there.

Namecheap has never given me a headache. Those people are awesome. Again Godaddy can have $1 .com domains all they want. I will never do business with them.

[jomaxx]

I only use them for domain name registration, but I like GoDaddy a lot. They're cheap, their interface isn't hard to use (although I also dislike the "upsell" rubbish I have to wade through when registering a domain), and their customer support is good.

On a couple of occasions they have actually phoned me and advised me how to save money, and even reversed charges. IIRC, the last time this happened I was developing a new website and registering a few domains at a time as soon as ideas occurred to me, when there was a price break for registering a certain number all at once.

[webastronaut]

There is a lot of bad reviews out there for all registrars/hosting but if you're happy with them stick with them.
I am too a VIP customer with GD and talked to "my guy" (that I had to say more than once, "don't call me, I'll call you"). He told me that I should not worry about my affiliate account or GD itself with all their services but he did not know much about what is going on. I'm nervous on what is going on but do have a list of all my customers.
Who will buy them out? Someone big for sure will and quick. Did Google know about this before anyone else? Again, I'm nervous... ?

[wheel]

I'm pretty amazed at some of the reactions here.

As noted above, they had a reputation for holding domains hostage a few years ago. I can't believe anyone would do business with a company like that. I certainly won't.

I had a friend recommend them to his clients. One old dude, on his recommendation, bought a domain through them. This guy got confused on the upsell and ended up buying a ton of crap he didn't want or need. And Godaddy's response? Tough luck buster.

If that wasn't enough, their advertising is an assault on my sensibilities. There's a world of difference between using sex to sell something, and selling sex. Particularly when they're not even selling sex.

[Mike_Feury]

Someone else mentioned namecheap, I'll have to check them out.

Another vote for Namecheap here, I've had hundreds of domains with them for over five years. Clean interface, reliable operation, I'm quite satisfied there.

I was with GoDaddy for a few years before that, but left because of trust and interface issues--I didn't like wondering what other surprise might be waiting, not with that many domains. I hear they've cleaned up since though, so they should be okay in recent times, if you don't mind the marketing.

[Durham_e]

You can imagine the Sale?


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[wildbest]

If you think couple of minutes of your time are more valuable than couple of dollars then go with a go daddy reseller that doesn't run all those promotions. You can skip all upsell offers and jump straight to your check out page...

In general, nowadays people don't like to read but they like all those bargains and promotions! It's a trade off. You have to find the golden ratio.

[J_RaD]

I can live with the sexist advertising, the upsells at every d**n page when buying services

I don't use go daddy for this reason alone, you can't login to the account and do ANYTHING without wondering what the heck is going on and why am i being offered stuff all I did was login and click....oh yea where do I click all I see are ads and ummm more ads. The whole thing is like a big trap trying to trick you into buying something.