So you have an idea for your new domain name so you go to a domain name registrar and use their free domain name availability tool to check to see if it’s available. Simple enough.. except if you use the tool on the Network Solutions website.
Once you check it with their tool Network solutions reserves it for 4 days. So if you find that it is available but then look for a cheaper registrar like Nameboy, and go to register it, you will find it already registered to Network solutions, and the only way to buy is through them (expensive) or wait 4 days until they release it.
When I first read about it on a sitesell forum I couldn’t believe it so I tested it. Here are three screen shots showing a search for the domain name make-dosh.com.
First on nameboy and its free.
Then on Network Solutions and its free.
Nameboy again and its already taken. (note the time difference between it being free and then registered)
Network solutions do warn you and tell you it’s for your own good.
However I’m inclined to think differently and will be giving their domain name availablity checker a miss in the future.
Therea a post at Techcrunch by Michael Arrington with plenty of comments if you want to read more.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Asmar // Feb 7, 2008 at 5:42 pm
THANKS NOW I WILL MAKE MY OWN SITE
2 Mark Argentino // Feb 17, 2008 at 5:23 pm
That’s very nasty and makes me sick, you just can’t trust any of these major corporations anymore.
I guess this is just another by-product of getting something ‘free’ on the internet. Nothing seems to be free anymore and people always seem to have figured out some angle to make a profit at our expense.
Thanks for the heads up,
Mark
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