It can be tempting to just go out and search for the cheapest domain registrar out there. After all, they're just saving your name, right? But your name is your company. It's where your marketing starts, it's what your customers first see when they see your site. It's the most important part of your site. Are you really sure you want to risk the most important part of your site to the lowest bidder?
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Network Solutions was the only registrar when I got my first domain. They taught me well that paying the most doesn’t buy better service.
As a developer, the first time I had to face a customer to explain why it took more than a week to get a domain registration updated or transferred – to where I could do the updates in 1/2 hour – was a learning experience.
Earthlink.net introduced me to another registrar that was more barrier to good practice than I was anxious to tolerate.
I am not sure how I would compare registrars, except maybe look at forums that discuss registrars and look at the gripes and kudos, and depend on trusted recommendations. I have been with GoDaddy.com since 2002 or earlier, and they haven’t managed to irritate me enough to shop around lately. I guess I am just tough to please.
You’re right Jen, choosing domain registrars based simply on price alone, is a bad idea…but that same mentality also transfers over to pretty much any service, in any industry.
I personally prefer to use the domain registration services offered by my hosting company, it’s a little more, but the control that I have over my domains is unparalleled, not to mention that I love the ability to register domains for multiple years at a time. Many registrars, including 1&1, cannot do that.
Cheers,
Chris
Jen: Been using, what is now called, Network Solutions since 1997, with no problems. I did use GoDaddy on one domain, but after all the extra charges, decided it wasn’t worth the few bucks I saved. Network Solutions is not the cheapest, but I see no reason to change at this point. I usually register for at least 5 years, this way NetSol competes a little better on the cost.
I’m using Netfirms and it seams to be going ok.
My hosting provider takes care of the domain registrar, but it’s still on my name , address and with my email on the whois query, just with their support telephones.
I will strongly recommend GANDI.net or Key-Systems GmBH