Beware of Network Solutions domain availability searches

aprelium

It seems that Network Solutions (one of the leading domain registrars) is doing something nasty with the their domain availability facility on their site:
* When you search for a domain name to see if it is available on their site, and if it is not yet registered, they reply "No, not yet registered".
* A few seconds/minutes later, you go to another registrar to buy the domain.
* Bad surprise, it is no more available. It was registered by Network Solutions!
Actually, you can still get it but from Network Solutions only. If you don't want to get it from them, you'll have to wait 4 or 5 days until they release it.
For more information, please refer to http://slashdot.org/articles/08/01/08/1920215.shtml .

Moxxnixx

Aprelium, thanks for the info. Hopefully, ICANN will step in and do something about this.
They also charge an outrageous $35 for a domain. I can't believe someone would be
stupid enough to pay that much for a domain.

rrinc

ICANN can't really do anything about it, its not illegal (similar to domain tasting). I saw this on Slashdot yesterday.

TRUSTAbyss

That's another reason why people should trust Lycos or GoDaddy domains. ;-)

Moxxnixx

rrinc wrote
ICANN can't really do anything about it, its not illegal (similar to domain tasting). I saw this on Slashdot yesterday.

Actually, ICANN is in talks right now. It depends on the direction of their legal tactics.
If they find that NetSol is abusing the registration grace period, they can file a lawsuit.

jibbajabba

cheap way of getting your custom.. i'm quite happy with namecheap.

pkSML

jibbajabba wrote
i'm quite happy with namecheap.

Ditto that. They're excellent!

rrinc

I use 1and1. I wouldn't call them a great provider but they're alright (until you want to cancel/transfer...I'm scared for that day).

madman1337

I can kinda understand why they do that. they don't want to have a customer attempt to get a domain, and then by the time they finish paying for it have it be registered someplace else. then again, it doesn't take that long to get a domain.