A few days ago we wrote a post on how Network Solutions screwed us out of a domain and we recommended that people avoid Network Solutions at all cost.
The post made it to the front page of Reddit and got referenced on a number of blogs. Superb!
But here’s an interesting little development.
Most of the comments on my post were positive.
But one post stood out, from a guy called Jeff. He said:
Just wait 5 days, and then buy domain name from GoDaddy. Bit of a hassle. but no biggie. On the other hand, if you are going to use your new blog like this one (repost other peoples info in a way that’s more boring then how they did it. Or, taking a reddit thread, creating a bs post arround it, submitting it to reddit, and etc.) please don’t bother with it.
For the record, Jeff jeff, this was an original post, not a copy, nor did we use any threads from Reddit. We quoted a press release… So I was puzzled by this comment.
Furthermore, Jeff accidently left his email address (required when you comment on a post) as XXXXXX@NetworkSolutions.com.
Was he joking or did he really work for Network Solutions? I mused for 3 liberating seconds.
Digging deeper, I traced his IP address to come from Reston, VA, which according to Google Maps is just 6 short and evil minutes from Herndon, VA -
… the location of the Network Solutions Main Office!
Hmmmm. Somehow I suspect Jeff might be working for Network Solutions.
Well Jeff, whether you work for Network Solutions or not, let me reply as to why what they’re doing is wrong.
Trapping Internet Users into Paying Inflated Prices for Network Solutions’ Service by Holding Their Domains Hostage Is Atrocious
Network Solutions Has the #1 and #2 Spot on Google for “Who Is” and “WhoIs” respectively. Most users seeking to check a domain’s availability will end up on your site.
NOWHERE on the site does Network Solutions mention that they’re going to LOCK the domain for 5 days if you do not buy from them immediately.
You accused me of faking my post Jeff. But what I experienced was real.
And you claimed this policy by Network Solutions was no big deal and that I could buy my domain 5 days later from GoDaddy.
Well, actually it was a big deal.
My blog editor and I were shattered when we went on GoDaddy to purchase the domain (which your WHOIS had claimed was available) only to find it “had been snatched up.” We never knew that we could claim it in 5 days. How on earth are most internet users supposed to know that?
We knew someone had watched our search. And we passed on that domain as lost. We went with another domain for our blog.
This, I suspect, happens to most users. Your company’s policy causes innocent people to either think their domains are lost and give up – OR pay you ridiculously inflated prices for these domains.
What’s worse – is that you adopted this policy AFTER thousands of websites linked to your Who Is service and pushed it to the top of Google.
Now THAT is a betrayal of public trust.
So my opinion stands. Network Solutions should be avoided AT ALL COSTS.
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