caseyphillips.net

Redemption period? This is for my benefit?

I recently had a problem with one of my domains, and this caused my blog to unavailable for some time. What problem did I have? Well, a combination of not being reminded and my being forgetful resulted in a domain of mine expiring (in January) but the domain did not go offline until March 1. At that point it entered what the registrars call a redemption period. I call it ransom. Unlike normal renewing of domains which costs around $10 a year, renewing a domain that is in redemption costs significantly more, in my case $80. Supposedly this is because it is more work for the registrar when it's in redemption to renew it. I don't work in domain registration, so I can't say whether or not this is true. I have my doubts, but I have no hard evidence.

Also, according to the registrars, this redemption period is actually for my benefit. If a domain expires and enters the redemption period, only I can pay to have it registered while it is in redemption. This is to prevent (according to registrars) somebody else from snatching my domain before I have a chance to renew it. I agree that this is somewhat beneficial, especially to a business. But why the exorbitant price? And why not let me choose whether I want this protection whenever I register the domain?

Anyway, that's why I've been down for a while, and finally got back up, sortof, with a workaround on my other domain. I will not be registering my expired domain with the same registrar and will be going striclty to Godaddy from now on. I recieved no reminder that my domain was expiring and would almost cross my heart, hope to die that I had set up automatic renewal on that domain. But again, beside my vague memory of doing so, I lack any evidence.