I've About Had It With Domain Transfers

[Rebies]

I’m the proud owner of over 250 domains. Most have been picked up by backordering services, others have been bought from other people directly. One thing I have found is that transferring domains between registrars IS MISERABLE!

I’m particularly upset that when I unlock a domain and request a transfer it usually never works the first time. Some registrars require that I call in person even though the domain is unlocked in my account (Moniker). Others simply won’t transfer the first few times for some unknown reason. I had to threaten that I was going to file a formal complaint with ICANN before NameFrog transferred my domain away. Amazingly the transfer went through the next day. Oh ya – check out namefrog.com too! Hah – how am I supposed to know how to manage my domain from that?

I’ve had countless other experiences. Now I’m stuck in a place where I can’t get a domain out of OpenSRS (Tucows). Maybe they have some super-crazy, super way-cool security feature – but how am I supposed to know that? I’ve unlocked the domain in their control panel – what else do I have to do? File a lawsuit for the domain to transfer? Why is there not a standard amongst all registrars? I have to learn the secret policies of each registrar before being successful at transferring a domain away from them. And none of them post this information that first time users of theirs have no way of knowing!

Anyway – this is the worst part of my job – bar none. I don’t mind finding domains, buying them, etc. But transferring has become too much! I don’t know why these registrars can’t abide by policies set by ICANN!

And just to clarify – I have used a lot of registrars. Off the top of my head I can say: Network Solutions, BulkRegister, Primal Store (or was it Directi?), Annulet, GoDaddy, Dotster, Moniker, NameFrog, OnlineNic, 10-Domains (or was it Parava.net?), diynamestore.com, some Japanese fm-net.ne.jp company, 1dni.com, OpenSRS (or is it Tucows?). I can remember most of these companies because I had to spend the better part of a month trying to transfer a domain away from them. (Request transfer, wait three days, unlock the domain in the secret way, wait a day to transfer, request transfer, wait three days, on and on an on)

I guess some of the confusion is who is this registrar? For instance I’m now managing a domain with OpenSRS.net. However they are listed at ICANN as Tucows. When I call for assistance they say “do a whois lookup and contact your reseller”. Ummm, that’s me listed under whois because I own the domain. So I’m the reseller and I have to contact myself? Am I supposed to contact someone at Tucows or OpenSRS about this problem? Or is my reseller a secret that only Tucows knows about? When it says “Unlocked”, why in the world won’t you transfer the domain out? So do me a favor and respond to my emails, the voice mails I leave you. I’m not doing this for fun!

Just stinks! I wish us users could file complaints against these companies and it would actually mean something. Some of these companies don’t deserve to be in business and I’m sickened by how many registrars their now are!

 

[Mr Webname]

[email protected]

and complain loudly.

 

[interlution]

Also:

http://reports.internic.net/cgi/registrars/problem-report.cgi

 

[Rebies]

Mr Webname and interlution:

Thanks for the addresses. I guess those help - but still does not make my life any easier in the forseeable future. But still good to have a place I can complain! (Besided here that is )

 

[Dave Zan]

Rebies, sorry to hear your troubles. But you should know that's part of the
game, especially that you own over 250 domain names, as you say.

True it's not among the easiest things in the world to do. But things happen
for one reason or another, it just depends on what takes place.

I’m the proud owner of over 250 domains. Most have been picked up by backordering services, others have been bought from other people directly. One thing I have found is that transferring domains between registrars IS MISERABLE!

If you checked some of the threads here or in other forums, you'll find out this
occurs especially when getting a domain name thru a backorder service.

I’m particularly upset that when I unlock a domain and request a transfer it usually never works the first time.

Just remember to wait until roughly after 24 hours for the status to change
from Registrar-Lock to Active or Ok. It doesn't necessarily take 24 hours, it
just depends on how soon the Registry updates their database.

I've noticed this happens a lot, although there may have been an exception or
2.

Some registrars require that I call in person even though the domain is unlocked in my account (Moniker).

It's simply a matter of knowing and understanding your registrar's policies even
if you don't necessarily agree with them.

Others simply won’t transfer the first few times for some unknown reason. I had to threaten that I was going to file a formal complaint with ICANN before NameFrog transferred my domain away. Amazingly the transfer went through the next day. Oh ya – check out namefrog.com too! Hah – how am I supposed to know how to manage my domain from that?

Hmmm, now definitely that's the time to complain.

I’ve had countless other experiences. Now I’m stuck in a place where I can’t get a domain out of OpenSRS (Tucows). Maybe they have some super-crazy, super way-cool security feature – but how am I supposed to know that? I’ve unlocked the domain in their control panel – what else do I have to do? File a lawsuit for the domain to transfer? Why is there not a standard amongst all registrars? I have to learn the secret policies of each registrar before being successful at transferring a domain away from them. And none of them post this information that first time users of theirs have no way of knowing!

I agree with you on this one about posting their policies on how to transfer
out. I don't know if ICANN requires this, but they should if it's not yet.

There's no standard among registrars simply because they're different. They
follow certain rules especially imposed by ICANN, yes, but overall they differ
on an aspect or so.

Anyway – this is the worst part of my job – bar none. I don’t mind finding domains, buying them, etc. But transferring has become too much! I don’t know why these registrars can’t abide by policies set by ICANN!

Unfortunately there are some rogue registrars, and it's really hard to tell who
exactly they are. That's where the reporting comes in.

I guess some of the confusion is who is this registrar? For instance I’m now managing a domain with OpenSRS.net. However they are listed at ICANN as Tucows. When I call for assistance they say “do a whois lookup and contact your reseller”. Ummm, that’s me listed under whois because I own the domain. So I’m the reseller and I have to contact myself? Am I supposed to contact someone at Tucows or OpenSRS about this problem? Or is my reseller a secret that only Tucows knows about? When it says “Unlocked”, why in the world won’t you transfer the domain out? So do me a favor and respond to my emails, the voice mails I leave you. I’m not doing this for fun!

Precisely. You have to actually know who is managing the domain name.

As you discovered, in some cases, it may be registered with a reseller of an
actual registrar. In such cases, the registrar will refer you to the reseller first
before stepping in (if they will).

Just stinks! I wish us users could file complaints against these companies and it would actually mean something. Some of these companies don’t deserve to be in business and I’m sickened by how many registrars their now are!

Agreed. But good luck finding out who don't deserve to be and who does.

 

[David G]

Transfers away are so tough I sometimes let good names expire rather than deal with that crap and nonsense which can go on almost forever. Another thing you can do is do not buy names at the drop services, especially pool.com or you likely will end up with a bad registrar who make it tougher than others. some speak little English and the websites are barely working.

Regarding OpenSRS, I must disagree with you on that one. I have always found them very easy as far as transfers go. They even allow transfers away after the expiration date, something others do not do. Perhaps the issue is more to do with their control panel which IMO is not too good.

Even the new NetSol is easy and fast (as long as it is only com and net).

 

[fatter]

Thats why I dont sell names for 50 or 100 dollars it isnt worth the hassle

 

[Dave Zan]

They even allow transfers away after the expiration date, something others do not do.

Have you done any recent transfers involving expired names? If my memory
serves me, ICANN's transfer rules nowadays no longer "allows" registrar
transfers for expired names.

Upon denying a transfer request for any of the following reasons, the Registrar of Record must provide the Registered Name Holder and the potential Gaining Registrar with the reason for denial. The Registrar of Record may deny a transfer request only in the following specific instances:

No payment for previous registration period (including credit card charge-backs) if the domain name is past its expiration date or for previous or current registration periods if the domain name has not yet expired. In all such cases, however, the domain name must be put into "Registrar Hold" status by the Registrar of Record prior to the denial of transfer.

Either I misunderstood that portion, or OpenSRS is too darn gentle. :-D