DROA Gets Religion
Category: Internet...
Posted Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 05:11 PM [GMT-6]

The world of domain name registrations is nasty and sleazy, with a few exceptions, as a plethora of competing registrars employ every underhanded scheme imaginable in an attempt to enlarge their piece of the registration pie. If you own a domain name, then you've surely been spammed via either email or snail mail by a competing registrar enticing you to switch to them, because, well, they are swell and the others are all pond scum.

One of the worst of these, from an ethical standpoint, has been the Domain Registry of America ("DROA"). In the past, it's been their practice to mail an official-looking letter with the heading "Domain Name Expiration Notice" to domain owners. In it, they would list the dire consequences of losing your domain name, and provide an easy way to renew it. What they never disclosed was the minor fact that when you accepted their offer, you were giving them permission to transfer your domain from the original registrar to DROA. Sometimes the original registrar balked at the transfer and you ended up paying for a service you didn't get.

I've had at least two clients fall into DROA's trap, and these are not isolated incidents. Google "Domain Registry of America complaints" and you'll see what I mean.

However, I'm happy to report that someone has finally gotten DROA's attention, and explained to them the error of their wicked ways...and convinced them to make a change. Hence the unsolicited letter I got from them today was a much more ethical piece of junk mail. Even though it still has the arm-waving "Domain Name Expiration Notice" heading, the text is much different than in the past:

I wonder what "incentives" (ie, "threats") were brought to bear to bring about this change of heart? Whatever they were, I applaud them.

Of course, their rates are still way too high, but that's another topic for another time.