Who uses network solutions? What advantages do they offer over other registrars?

[grcorp]

Most domainers, by my experience, use GoDaddy under protest.

However, I have noticed that network solutions is advertising a lot these days.

Having checked them out, they seem to be charging a lot more than the going rate to register a .com ($34.99!).

Maybe you guys know something I don't?

The Races.com scandal doesn't make my thoughts of them anywhere near positive, but I just want to know what peoples' experiences are with network solutions, and to perhaps get some insight as to what they're doing that the other registrars aren't.

 

[Theo]

Only use NetSol for domains I get via NameJet. They do advertise a lot and their back panel is good and not a clutter like GoDaddy's but pricing isn't competitive (despite some coupons) and often seem to lose domains to hijacking.

 

[ukbackorder]

I only use them when I have domains put there in dropcatches. They are insecure, expensive, and really aimed at non-domainers. There are plenty of better alternatives.

 

[copper]

Perhaps they can't see themselves charging so little when they
USED to charge so much more for so long.

In 1995, NetSol charged $100/2 years, then, charged $70/2 years in 1998.
NetSol was only registrar, so, whatever they charged, you had to pay.

 

[ngconcepts]

NetSol was $35 back in 1999.. horrible business model. I registered my first domain with them because they were the only kid on the block. As soon as GoDaddy came out, with there $9.99, I jumped ship with everyone else. $9.99 made me salivate at the idea of how many I could register (which really is their business model... numbers). Kinda like Taco Bell. You wonder how the hell they make money of a .99 cent item but its pure numbers. I was to much of a noob back then but I wish I had the vision to look into starting my own registrar. GoDaddy just monopolized the market. After feeling "secure" with GoDaddy and their price being competitive enough, you didn't mind spending a $1 or $2 more just to keep them there as other registrars came online offering cheaper registration fees. That is how they kept me and still keep me..

 

[grcorp]

NetSol was $35 back in 1999.. horrible business model. I registered my first domain with them because they were the only kid on the block. As soon as GoDaddy came out, with there $9.99, I jumped ship with everyone else. $9.99 made me salivate at the idea of how many I could register (which really is their business model... numbers). Kinda like Taco Bell. You wonder how the hell they make money of a .99 cent item but its pure numbers. I was to much of a noob back then but I wish I had the vision to look into starting my own registrar. GoDaddy just monopolized the market. After feeling "secure" with GoDaddy and their price being competitive enough, you didn't mind spending a $1 or $2 more just to keep them there as other registrars came online offering cheaper registration fees. That is how they kept me and still keep me..

I've always been a fan of quantity over quality for that exact reason.

More customers = more referral opportunities
More customers = more profitable upsell attempts (assuming the conversion rate is the same with large quantities of customers as it is with small quantities)
More customers = proof that many people choose them, and "you should too!"; perfect tool to get customers who are on the fence
More customers = larger market share, which, in domaining, makes them "the" choice. Domainers choose godaddy because it's easier to transfer domains within the same registrar
More customers = more substantial opt-in database to notify of sales. A registrar offering an amazing deal would have much more new business notifying a 1 million customer database than one with a 500 customer database would.

---------- Post added at 11:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:10 PM ----------

and often seem to lose domains to hijacking.

Races.com and Sex.com. Enough said.

 

[Theo]

Even more recent cases that I can't disclose. Let's just say that Network Solutions just recently introduced the need for security questions in order to recover account information.

 

[grcorp]

Even more recent cases that I can't disclose. Let's just say that Network Solutions just recently introduced the need for security questions in order to recover account information.

Geez... isn't no security questions a little 1990's?

With all the domain theft going on, I think that something like a forgotten password should require at minimum telephone verification.

 

[silentg]

I never keep my domains there. I always transfer to moniker / godaddy. Is there any extra charge to upgrade to get Fabulous domainer account?