Re: [cobalt-users] 123domains.com (was Previewing a name-based virtual site)

[Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 03:52 PM 2/8/00 -0500, you wrote:

> I know this is off-topic, but I decided to check out 123domains.com b/c $28
> for 2 years is very low and I found this in the service agreement:
>
> "You agree that Domain Bank shall have the exclusive right to act as
> registrar of your domain name for the initial term of registration plus
> three (3) years, and any renewal of your domain name registration in that
> period shall be processed using Domain Bank's services."

<123domains.com> appears to be a Domain Bank reseller.  That's why the site 
moves over to the Domain Bank site (along the with the confusing message 
about whether the certificate is valid or not).

Here's what the <123domains.com> FAQ says:

> How much does a domain-name registration name cost?
>
> $13.99 per year with a two year minimum. Each registrar sets the price it 
> charges for registering names, and prices vary significantly among 
> different registrars. The historical standard fee has been $35.00 US per 
> year with the first two years payable in advance.

Here's what the <domainbank.net> FAQ says:

> How much does Domain Bank charge for new registrations?
>
> The total cost for a new domain name registration through Domain Bank 
> Registration Services is $70.00 US . This fee is equal to 35.00 per year, 
> two years in advance for each successfully registered domain name. Domain 
> Bank offers free Domain Parking for the first two years of each domain 
> name registration. There are no other application processing fees from 
> Domain Bank. See our glossary for a list of common domain registration 
> terms such as 'DNS' or 'Domain Parking'.

Sounds to me like the 123domains.com FAQ precludes their enforcing such a 
term, since it's directly contra to their FAQ sheet, which is much easier 
to find.

My thought is a Judge would side with you.  The bad news is it would take a 
judge; if they won't move it you've got little other recoursse.  Care to go 
to court in Pennsylvania?

To me the confusing issue is that they don't say anywhere they're a 
reseller of Domain Bank; they just switch over to the Domain Bank pages 
<frown>.

They must have agreed to an awful lot of registrations to get that price; 
there's only $7/year in the pot for both them and Domain Bank to share at 
that price.

I've put in a personal call to the head of Domain Bank for some better 
answers (he was in a meeting when I called, but I know from past experience 
he will get back to me (I'm also a Domain Bank reseller).

And I'll check the Internet Access list (list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) as well.

Jeff

--
Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>