MetaChat - I know nothing about domain names.

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22 January 2007

I know nothing about domain names. Please hope me.→[More:]So I want to get a domain name, I'm on godaddy and I sort of hit a wall.

Upon checkout there's all these add-ons like "private registration services" and "business registration." The theory here is what? That if I pay the extra 8 bucks or whatever, that is the only way to keep my personal info being listed on the whois? And what the hell does business registration for a domain even mean?

Are these the internet equivalent of the batteries and key chains next to the register?

post by: SassHat at: 12:53 | 8 comments

Or the Weatherproof Undercarraige Seal-Coat and gap insurance?

posted by Miko 22 January | 12:57

Don't buy any of that crap. It's like those bogus credit card protection scams that are just an excuse to get more of your money.

My hosting service includes whois privacy for free.

posted by matildaben 22 January | 13:00

What hosting service is that?

posted by SassHat 22 January | 13:11

I use A Small Orange for my hosting (just switched, $25 a year is sweet), and Dotster for my domain registration, but probably any civilized vendor will give you whois privacy for free.

posted by matildaben 22 January | 14:23

I use dreamhost and they also have free anonymous whois service.

posted by chewatadistance 22 January | 15:02

SassHat, I use GoDaddy, and I pay the extra cost for proxy registration (aka private registration). Otherwise, anyone who does a WHOIS lookup on the domain will see your name, address, email, and phone number.

I'd love to see a list of "civilized" registrars that do the privacy stuff for free.

posted by knave 22 January | 21:00

So GoDaddy's service is something like 9+8 bucks (and actually, it's $7 right now), and dotster is $15? That's a savings of, what, $2 (or, $0 with the Godaddy 'sale')? For free!

Civilized services tell you what you're paying for, and itemize it so you can pick and choose.

posted by Eideteker 23 January | 20:21

And by that I meant, to each their own, whether you prefer your services bundled or a la carte, just know what you're paying for (and be careful with the "f-word"; "free" is not always).

Sorry if it sounded nasty.

posted by Eideteker 24 January | 18:18

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