Why Internet Marketers Shouldn’t Use Godaddy
Ok so I’m talking to my buddy Tim, we go waay back to that DC conference. He’s thinking of moving his domain to Godaddy, and I’m like WHAT??? That’s crazy. Then I found out he doesn’t know about their Abuse department.
Well, in 2005 StartXchange was held hostage by Godaddy. Someone sent out what lookes like a newsletter to their members, and it included a link to StartXchange. A member then reported that email as spam to Godaddy.
Godaddy then told me that I needed to provide proof that the person was opt in, or pay a $199 “clean up” fee. I could also transfer to another registrar after paying a different fee.
What really got me upset, was not only did I have nothing to do with the email sent out, but that they kept referencing a “Abuse Enforcement Program” that was not defined anywhere in any of the agreement documents on their website. It was basically their word against mine if anything came up again.
I’m not exactly sure what happened to it, because it was a few years ago. I was on the phone a bunch too, but I have all my emails in place. The last email I sent was asking about the “AEP” and why it wasn’t in their terms of service, and no replies from them.
I did manage to transfer my domains out eventually, and I know I sent emails to the President of Godaddy (who knows if he actually got it) and ICANN and what not, so I don’t know if that did it or if I actually paid the fee. Either way, the whole experience was extremely stressfull and I would recommend you stay far away if you are doing internet marketing.
So that was my experience.. Not sure how often it happens now, but I’ll never go back to Godaddy. Too bad because I spent thousands with them, but I like NameCheap wayyy better so in the long run I win!
Whoa! Horror Story.
i use godaddy only for the bulk register search, but don’t actually buy anything from them.
i use 000domains.com and recently names.com
Good stuff, Tim. I learned from day one to be on a first name basis with your host as well as your domain registrar. Mine is the same. This is not always possible, I know. But it sure saves headaches. It saves the hassle of spam complaints, server issues, tech questions, bandwidth, etc. You also need a host and registrar that is very, very familiar with online marketing. If not, they think scam-spam first, and ask questions later.
Scary. I used em a long time ago, they were known for awhile as doing real shifty practices too like gobbling up and holding domains on searches…
They are the largest registrar on the planet, but I would rate em about the worst…
WOW – sounds like a very stressful experience – thanks for the warning
Nancy Radlingers lastest blog post..ok – laugh for the day, week, month – delima of the grandma and the mouse
You are not alone. Mike Filsaime exerienced similar problems when he purchased a domain and the former owner didn’t cross his t’s and dot his i’s with GoDaddy. Mike moved to Kiosk and I highly recommend them as well. Got a good sale on dedicated servers going right now.
P.S. I have no “p”, unless I pound on it with a hammer, and then I get two. Typing is a challenge! Above: “experienced” is what I meant. Love the Intel Mac; hate the mouse; hate the keyboard!
I agree 100% – godaddy aren’ t living in the real world.
In one incident they went ahead and billed my Credit Card without bothering to check the facts.
Who are the best or most flexible to hold Traffic Domains ?
http://www.autosurf365.com
Thanks for the post since I intend to host my blog in there. I’m lucky ha :-)
Bazen
Wow!
Well Tim – you learn something new everyday!
I did not realize that something so monumental could happen from a single spam complaint!
I just bought a site and the domain is hosted with godaddy!
Now Im worried!
All the rest of my domains are with Domain.com and I have never had a problem so far – Im going there now to transfer!
Thanks for the heads up!
Kym
I am not sure if it is the case for all. I am afraid that the conclusion is right. With 26 millions domains registered with Godaddy and more than 20 million domains hosted with them, odd problem tends to come up at times. That should not mean that GoDaddy is bad – I don’t agree with you Tim in this regard.
I also agree that there are tones of complaints against GoDaddy available in Internet – despite that fact GoDaddy keeps growing – and support systems getting better and better and more responsive than ever before.
If you are happy – my advice is just continue without being afraid – I am hosting with them for the last 2 years without a single problem – Even I use their Express email marketing tools.
Cheers,
NJS
Been with GoDaddy for 8 years. Have currently 13 domains registered with them. Just about to move over a couple more, the last of the ones from Register.com
Had a Spam complaint about 4 or 5 years ago. Showed them where my members are double opted in to receive my emails and they thanked me and nothing else ever happened.
At Register.com they pull down your website until you can prove the spam complaint wasn’t your fault without notice. One day you go to your website and it’s not there. When you ask what is wrong they take your info and call you back the next business day and then inform you that you have a spam complaint. On this particular website I didn’t ever send out a email. It wasn’t a membership site. Someone else recommended my site in a newsletter or something like that and that was enough for Register.com to pull down my site without notifying me.
It took weeks of trying to find someone at Register.com that actually had a brain at my expense because no one at there 1-800 number has anything close to a brain to get them to put back up my site. I had purchased a special in 1998 for 10 years of registration and in return I received free unlimited hosting. Keep in mind that in 1998 there were not these $7.99 per year registrars we have now and it cost around $50 or more per year to register your domain. It expires next month after 10 years at the World’s worst register and I can finally transfer it over to GoDaddy!
I remember when Tim had his problem with GoDaddy originally. Tim should have had a account manager looking out for him given the amount of business he did with them and there never would have been a problem. Anyone with more then 10 domains qualifies for a account Manager but you have to request one I believe.
I wouldn’t dream of using anyone else but given Tim’s experience I’m sure if that had happen to me I would have moved all my domains. They have to be number 1 for some reason!
Wow, thanks for the warning!
I was thinking of using Go Daddy for some upcoming projects. I think I’ll try someone else instead.
No sense in taking a risk if I don’t have to.
Paul Livingstons lastest blog post..The Internet Marketing Success Formula…can it work?
I moved to Namecheap as well, based on your recommendation years ago and have been completely satisfied. :)
One other thing I didn’t like about GoDaddy was their horrible advertising. Not only the fact that they use sexual advertising, but also the fact that I considered many of them incorrect. You have the ALWAYS read the fineprint with them, never could you renew a domain for X amount off.
With Namecheap, there are always coupons floating around the net. I’ve saved several dollars here and there from the coupons I’ve found for NC.
Justins lastest blog post..Give Me Your Eyes
Just wanted to leave a little bad vibes directed at GoDaddy; they kept re-installing payments on a site I never built. I kept canceling the automatic payment, but they just kept on drawing money out of my account. I have been fighting with them for over 3 years and it seems the force is always on their side.
I say “NO” to GoDaddy!!
All the Best,
eRixonline
eRixonlines lastest blog post..Let the Stampede of Traffic Begin!!!
Thanks for the info. Been using them on and off for three years; no problems so far, but it’s great to hear some of what has been happening to others… Found your site while researching their email marketing product. Great site; I’ll be back.
Steve Phillipss lastest blog post..Adwords Guides Reviewed
Tim I am with you on this one I had the same problem with godaddy and I was able to prove the mail did not come from my server but from some one else and I was lucky because they wanted $50 to reinstate my domain well I told them I will not pay them a dime because I did not do what I was being accused of so I waited 3 months and sent them an email asking to them to reinstate the domain and they replied since their has not been any more spam complaints they reinstated the domain. for those that are marketing your websites that is registered with godaddy you are taking a big risk of loosing your domains or having to pay a fine to reinstate them or loosing them all together ….