Comments on: Look Up a Domain Then Watch Network Solutions Register It

By: YouGov

YouGov — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:48:56 +0000

I think this is relatively common but you hope that the big names in domain registration are not involved. Certainly it is pretty unethical.

By: Karrie

Karrie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:14:39 +0000

This has been going on for more than 5 years. I would venture to say that this practice is bordering on fraud and false advertising or at the very least a form of unfair abuse. This is highly unethical and the reason that I use godaddy.com!

By: Doug

Doug — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:54:23 +0000

It happened to me a few days ago. I searched for domain around noon and it was available. Went back again a few hours later and it was then owned by Network solutions but for sale for $35. I called and they told me about their 4 day reservation policy which I believed at the moment. I forked over the $35 because I really want the domain. But now am very angry – especially knowing this is about 3 – 5 times the market rate. Its unethical and unconscienable (sp?). Imagine the US patent office doing the same thing. What is ICANN doing about this?

By: Network Solutions Front Running and Tasting Domains for Profit

Network Solutions Front Running and Tasting Domains for Profit — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:58:12 +0000

[...] Solutions, after which Network Solutions automatically registered the domain name. There was an outcry about this practice of frunt-running domains earlier this month and most people cried [...]

By: Roderick

Roderick — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 03:37:53 +0000

Just to clarify, it costs nothing for Network Solutions to hold a domain for up to 5 days.

A rule was put into place to protect registrars from fraud so they can register a domain for 5 days before having to actually pay for them.

By: Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:54:24 +0000

Highly unethical and a good reason never to use Network Solutions. Marge makes a good point that ICANN should set up a WHOIS source safe from abuse.

I suppose one way we can all have fun is to search Network Solutions for a lot of complete nonsense domains, the kind that would never be useful to anyone and watch NS register them.

By: Marge Inoferror

Marge Inoferror — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:47:48 +0000

The problem is ICANN – they need to step in and provide the consumer with a WHOIS source that can be trusted to be safe from abuse.

Network Solutions IS the devil, but it is ICANN’s sandbox – they make the rules. They need to tighten up their registrar agreements.

By: JackpotCity

JackpotCity — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:25:23 +0000

I have had similar experiences, so it’s great to have confirmation on this.

As far as the ethics are concerned, I have to say that this is an opportunistic move on the part of NS and I feel that this is unethical.

Some may argue that it is their way of making adjustments to the pricing depending on the demand.

I have not got a problem with this if it were a case of them doing this a month or two after a search was conducted – as it can be said that the researcher then has abandoned the idea; but taking it a few minutes or hours seems a tad unfair.

There is often a window between the time you check a domain, chat to the client6 and confirm that they would like it registered, only to find out it’s taken and then having to rinse and repeat the process. This also ends up making someone look like a chump.

By: » You Judge - Dirty Domain Tactics from Network Solutions? Website Marketing Journal

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:30:36 +0000

[...] Network Solutions of late and while I take most of what I read with a pinch of salt, an article on Marketing Pilgrim got me intrigued. The article provided a link to an article by Bill Hartzer documented exactly what [...]

By: Alan Johnson

Alan Johnson — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 22:41:45 +0000

Indeed, it’s only normal that a company who has such an approach towards both existing and potential clients faces the consequences of their actions.

Alan Johnson

By: 5 Ways to Fight Back Against the Domain Name Companies :: UK SEO/SEM BLOG >> B10G

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:09:32 +0000

[...] we are doing right or wrong. I really do appreciate you stopping by. Enjoy!As you may have heard elsewhere, domain name companies namely Network Solutions have been playing a sneaky trick and registering [...]

By: Frank Reed

Frank Reed — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:49:01 +0000

Nice work, Marketing Pilgrim, on helping to clean up this nonsense. I agree, Andy, short term gain at the expense of risking hard earned, long term reputation is rarely, if ever, worth it.

By: Andy Beal

Andy Beal — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:40:38 +0000

It looks like NetSol is seeing the reputation backlash:

http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2008/01/facing-a-reputation-crisis-net work-solutions-to-change-front-running-practice.html

By: Alan Johnson

Alan Johnson — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:16:37 +0000

It’s always unpleasant to see companies from which you’d expect something better lowering themselves to this level.

Alan Johnson

By: Marguerite Jasmin

Marguerite Jasmin — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:02:04 +0000

It’s not just Network Solutions. So many companies are doing this. It’s called domain tasting or domain kiting.

By: Frank Reed

Frank Reed — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:55:36 +0000

I have long suspected this practice with any domain name lookup service because it makes sense (please do not confuse that last statement with “It is ethical” because I don’t think it is at all). Imagine a system that feeds you good ideas all day long with no protection of that idea in most cases. Sad thing is, us mere mortals need this type of service to do our business and unless there is an actual law against it there is little that can be done. Unethical behavior in business is rampant and I have learned to not be surprised by this kind of stuff. All I can do is make sure that I never engage in a practice that would require me to hire Andy for his ORM services!

By: John Carson

John Carson — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:56:53 +0000

Seems like the URL gold rush is still on. I only registered my name a few weeks ago, but was nervous about checking to see if it was free in case this sort of thing happened.

It’s not good ethics.

By: Jess

Jess — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:38:59 +0000

I just had this happen to me the other day. Checked if a domain was available at NS, went to get it elsewhere it was taken, checked the whois, it’s suddenly owned by NS. So unethical, I hope all the blog posts about it recently ruin their reputation and they go out of business or get sued or something.

By: That Software Guy

That Software Guy — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:57:16 +0000

Is competing against the customers you purport to serve wrong? Ummm……

By: xensen

xensen — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 04:31:02 +0000

Enough random garbage lookups might discourage them.