Never use Yahoo for registering domains

I am posting this write up to help folks like me from being trapped by companies like Yahoo.

I registered a couple of domain names using Yahoo's domain name registration service. The attractive fact is that the interface is very simple with only a few screens to click on.

But the unfortunate facts are:

• THEY ARE NOT DOMAIN REGISTRARS BY THEMSELVES. The domain that you register through them goes through another company called MELBOURNE IT, LTD. Yahoo just acts as an interface in this entire business.



• DO NOT GET MISGUIDED by their claim that domains are cheap. This is only a trick to get business. You will be charged an exorbitant amount of around 35 USD from the next year onwards, which is almost 5 times the rate charged by others (even the smallest company in this business offers a much better rate).



• The account will be setup as "auto-renewal account" by default. There is no way for you to set it as "manual renewal". So, your credit card information is automatically stored on their site and they have every right to charge you any amount.



• Once your domain is automatically renewed, there is no way for you to get a refund in case you do not agree. If you ask the Customer Support Executive, they will humbly say "Sorry Sir/Madam. This charge cannot be refunded". They will also say that you have already signed their agreement while registering the domain and hence, YOU WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT THEIR CHARGES. However, I could get a refund once from Yahoo when they auto renewed my domains. But in my recent experience, they did not refund and gave an immediate reason that I already accepted their agreement while registering my domains with them.



• Their services are not as full fledged as the competition, such as GoDaddy. They just offer domain registration and other closely related services and not all required ones



• Limited Customer Service availability. If you want to speak to the Customer Service Executive to get your issues resolved, you will have to call only between their limited service timings on weekdays from morning to evening (I think they work from 9AM to 5PM Eastern Time in the US) and not on weekends or weekdays after 5PM EST. On the contrary, GoDaddy's executives are available 24X7 and can be reached within a couple of minutes. Folks are always helpful, professional and fast!! Yahoo's executives are helpful but cannot be reached



• Long wait time to talk to the Customer Support Executive - Be prepared to wait on the line for atleast 20 minutes before getting onto a Customer Service Executive. GoDaddy does this within 2/3 min and occassionally more than that.

In the light of all these factors, I would suggest -

In the US, go with GoDaddy, as

• This is one of the best companies for domain name registration that I have seen in the US. Their interface seems cumbersome and very confusing if you are new to them but over a period of time, becomes manageable once you get acquainted with their design. I would still suggest them to make the site more simpler.



• No issues as mentioned about Yahoo. Customer Support Executive can be reached within a couple of minutes



• Reasonable charges for domains and any other services



• Even if your account is renewed automatically, you can atleast reach the customer support to get your issue resolved. Otherwise also, the charges are very reasonable. I can go with them.


In India, go with Netlynx, as

• This is one of the best companies for domain name registration that I have seen in India. This is not as robust as GoDaddy, but their interface is good and the customer support teams can be reached, atleast on chat

I have had problems in service with many service providers including Yahoo and Rediff, and finally moving to GoDaddy and NetLynx.

I thought this would act as a helpful reference in case anyone plans to register domains and looking for the best service provider.