Tucows, the domain name wholesaler, has compiled a list of “Questions to Ask Before You Pick Your Domain Name Registrar,” and, to markedly abbreviate its 2,200-word creation, the general idea is that one should know everything.
That’s an oversimplification, however, and is not meant to imply that Ross Rader (or perhaps Elliot Noss – view the article here and see if you can figure out who wrote it) wasted his time. Rader (or Noss) outlines ten different subjects that individuals should research, and gives his personal recommendations on each of them.
Yet there’s some repetition between numbers one and ten. “Understand what business your registrar is in, and also understand who owns them and what business they are in,” Rader/Noss suggests at first. The concluding point then recommends that you determine whether the company is a registrar or a reseller.
Most of the rest of the piece delves into some seriously fine print. “Understand all the rules and restrictions concerning transfers that your registrar employs,” writes Rader/Noss in his second point. His third section is followed by the advice to “know whether your registrar locks names and if they do, how to unlock them.”
Number four relates to the details of registrars’ auto-renew plans, while number five suggests that individuals “[a]sk about and understand any restrictions on changing contact information.” Number six: know about the privacy policies, especially as they relate to Whois privacy and any extra fees.
Rader’s/Noss’s seventh and eighth pieces of advice entail – you guessed it – more research and fact-finding. “Know your registrar’s policies and practices with respect to compliance issues and how you contact the compliance department” is the take-away message from number seven, while eight adds, “Try and find the contact email addresses and phone numbers BEFORE buying.”
For all of the nitpicking and repetition up ‘til now, the ninth question is a big one: “What happens when my domain expires?” The thing is, that issue is between you and you registrar, so Rader/Noss suggests that you “[f]ind a registrar that provides at least a 40 day grace period and that respects an actual or implied RGP for 30 days after that.”
And so there are some (perhaps just shy of “all”) questions you can ask when deciding between domain name registrars.
