Some registrars use every trick in the book to capture your business - and then leave you feeling foolish.

Here are some common tricks to watch out for:

Bait-and-switch transfers: Some companies offer extremely low-cost or even free transfers. But when it comes time to renew, they sock you with prices that are two, three, or four times the amount that GOEGI charges. GOEGI guarantees that you’ll never renew for more than you originally registered. (The only exceptions would be if the price the registry charges us increased, or if you took advantage of a limited-time, special price. And if the registry increases our cost, yours will go up only by the amount ours did, never more.)

Unbelievably low prices: All registrars have to pay the registry for the domains they sell, and that price is fixed. So if you see domains priced at less than €4.08, the seller is actually losing money. How do they make it up? That’s right – they sock you at annual renewal; provide inadequate or no service; and/or charge unreasonably high prices for the other services you need.

Non-ICANN accredited registrars: Only an ICANN accredited registrar gives you the assurance of knowing your domains will be handled by the most secure and reliable systems in the industry. GOEGI communicates directly to the Domain Name Registries through the fastest connections to the Internet backbone available. Non-ICANN accredited registrars cannot give you this assurance. So look for the “ICANN-accredited” icon. You’ll see it at GOEGI.

Vanishing companies: One technique the “big guys” use is to launch small companies that offer incredibly low prices. They advertise all over the Internet for a while; capture all the customers they can and then – they disappear. Those unfortunate enough to have registered or transferred a domain to them will be rolled back into the parent company – at the parent company’s much higher rates.

Learn More:

Don't be a victim. How NOT to get phished

Watch out for the free email accounts!

More email alerts