Comments on: Yahoo ups annual domain registration fees

Users are notified via e-mail that the annual service fee for Yahoo's small-business site had increased by $25.

[someguy999]

that's just straight up insulting. So the vast majority of users don't realize that they can easily switch (I don't use Yahoo's service, however I would imagine the could)... so basically they're going to fource everyone into pay triple what they used to pay when others like godaddy do it for <10$.

Honestly, they should have just outsourced that part of the business to one of the others, or just get out of it all together.

If they truly did it becuase of the costs of doing it, the next question is what changed so much in their model that yesterday they thought it was viable and today they're cancelling (and yes I know they sent notices, I'm using yesterday figuratively).

[limefan913]

I've been a loyal Yahoo Domain's customer for years, but this is insane. I have 3 or 4 domains registered with Yahoo, I can't afford this kind of price hike. I understand why, especially with Verisign causing problems for registrars, but this hurts, and I'm going to have to move.

That being said, the day I give GoDaddy my money is the day hell freezes over.

[macuenca]

I had a Yahoo business account about two years ago, I registered about 20 or more domains with them and let me tell you that is the worst domain service I have ever had in my life. They have a lot of problems with the billing platform. Now I am with GoDaddy, holding about 120 domains and I love it. Yahoo should focus on what they really do well, domain and hosting are not their core business.

[humanssssss]

It's time for me to move to another domain registrar. What a frick'n hassle!

[retrocast]

This thing has MelbourneIT's smell all over it! While everyone else has been selling domain registration in the $10 range, MelbourneIT has been charging $35 for year's now. Yahoo and MIT have some kind of partnership, but as I've discovered, zero interoperablity.

$34.95 domains...yeah, how's that workin' out for you Yahoo? Good luck with that.

[itprogrammer]

Yahoo has taken it one step further now. They are preventing domains from being transfered by a clause in their transfer policy. If you less then 60 days from renewal, then you will get charged the $34.95 renewal fee. Other companies allow for a transfer up to the date of renewl, but Yahoo will refuse the transfer so they can force this renewal fee on you.

Here is the catch. Since then did not post the change on their site, the only way you will know of the new price is by the email mentioned in the above article. Well as the article states they sent it out to those renewing in 30, 60, or 90 days. Guess what that means. The 30 and 60 day customers will get charged the $34.95 before their domain can be transfered off.

This is an obsolute outrage! Yahoo! is going to get the pants sued off of them. They didn't give their customers a choice, they changed the price but the customer service department tells you to bad, you still need to pay it. Something fishy is going on here. CNET needs to be an advocate for their loyal readers and contact Yahoo! regaurding this shady practice of not allowing customers to transfer off, and certainly not allowing them enough time.

[sunpath8]

Where did you find this information? I just received an e-mail today (the 1st) for an account that renews on 8/9. It sounds like this would place me in the "locked in" category. I'd love to do a little more digging, though, and would appreciate info on where you got this (sad) news from...

Thanks!

[absolutelynobody]

As a customer of GD, Yahoo, etc ... some people need to take into account.

1) Yahoo has a great support team that does not tell you that you need to hire a programmer etc to solve your problem that is related to their scripting.

2) Many other domain companies and registra's have 1 800 numbers unlike GD
which after a year of asking for support and help and never getting it can cost you the difference between GD price which is not $6.99/1.99/9.95 if you do not have their domain club package which cost $89.99 a year to get the discount rate or you have to be a RESELLER, like you need that headache. Worse still you will have to add other items to get a deal, but believe next year it will all add up to the same price.

34.95 - 9.95 = 25.00

I can show you proof it will cost you more than that at GD over the year in long distant charges for support, etc

oh and so much more

Ever wonder why the In famous Go Daddy Founder needs to brag and never lets anyone comment a bad comment on his blogs ? Try it for yourself ....... no one ever gets to post the truth ....

Learn to GOOGLE Go Daddy ...... truth about his site - and problems others have had, that is where you will find people are allowed to post the truth about all their bad experiences with the GD

Remember the person who talks and boasts the least is always the better buy anyone who has to toot their own horn and get their employees to post on their own site, needs to be really insecure about who they are in the first place

Watch the video .... and ask yourself ... if you are really good why are you putting someone else down?

[jawfish2]

@ itprogrammer:
looks like I got burned for three domains too. I transferred them as soon as I got the notification, but here I find a charge on my credit card anyway. I'll call them and fight it, but....

Yahoo can forget my business and my recommendation from now on. I'll use the (couple of) free services I like, but I am not spending any money there. Luckily my hosting co. is still giving good service - dreamhost.

[DomainFlipper]

This is REALLY bad. I am a yahoo customer but I now transferred my domain out of yahoo to moniker.
I have really good experiences with Moniker.
Talking about GoDaddy: Yeah, they suck. I have some domains with them that I am also moving away, their customer service is crap and they also have some lousy policies

But yahoo just lost all my trust and respect. I won't even use their free email services anymore. A corporation that treats their customers that way doesn't deserve my business.
I did NOT recieve a notification from Yahoo, even though I currently have domains with them.
Guess they would have sent me a notification once it's too late to renew.
Yahoo, you had a customer with a credit card on file - now you have an ex-customer who will be busy telling others about how you try to scam your customers.
Sure, they'll make some money from this move - many people won't notice till too late. But in the long run, they lose trust from the "big spenders".

[Smartdomainers]

It is really problem for Yahoo! domainers. I got one $1.99 last time from Yahoo. Inn the begginning of this year, They increased renewal price, I think that I can accept it since only one domain. But with the last increasing, I can not accept any more and I transfer my domain out of yahoo to my current registrar (http://www.luckyregister.com/) for only $6.95/yr.
How can I pay nearly $30 GAP? It is really crazy increases.

[hamed83_99]

Yahoo SUCKS! Simpley put, they do. How fricking unbelievable! I had about 20 domains with them and transfered every single one to Godaddy for like $8 a year! I bought them for some as low as 1.99 a year but the price increase is just ridiclous! If they up the price, 5%, 10%, 20% or 50% understandable but about 300%, one word, UNFRICKINGBELIEVABLE. Anyhow, I will no longer advertise nor buy anything from yahoo, it seems like their decision are made out of no where, they can increase and do whatever the hell they want and think that people will just accept it, WELL, NOT ME!

[Jo Lynne Lockley]

Godaddy is a seriously deficient service, even in the management of simply registered domains. There are better, some of which are here http://www.upperhost.com/ . Gandi (I think it's spelled that way) has a good reputation. Hosting,com does not.
After several years with a number accounts at Godaddy I would strongly advise anyone considering them for anything besides domain registration against them. Their service is friendly and ill informed, their policies are paranoid to the extent that the majority of legitimate incoming mail (If you use their mail systems) may be blocked, and their interface is overly complex and mostly sales attempts.
Yahoo is definitely smoking something good, but they should get something to eat between doobies.

[Campoozmstnz]

I also got ripped off by Yahoo on this.

What a bunch of a**holes!

If anyone was able to get refunded, please let me know..

DC

[ledmatt]

This is old news I guess, but I just found out about this....

I have had 1 domain name with Yahoo since 2005 and it has been $9.95/ year until this year when they just billed by credit card for $34.95! I received no notification of this increase whatsoever. They had my correct email address on file but I got nothing...They are essentially telling their customers to screw themselves. Is that what they do to their customers that have been with them for 4+ years?

The "good news" is that after a phone call to Yahoo (with a 30 minute hold time by the way) I was able to get the $25 difference refunded and I am going to now transfer my name to another registrar.

Yahoo sucks! I won't use them for anything, even search....I fart in their general direction!!

[arogersr7]

Very high prices!!! If someone want to do the online small business why he will go with yahoo domain registration instead of others cheap domain companies.

<a href="http://www.makemysite.in"> Domain registration india </a>

[tanya_712009]

this is just nuts! I am so glad that I use ballisticdomains.com! They have never changed my price and host my domain name along with some other services! www.ballisticdomains.com

[Midlife2010]

There is one 1 thing Yahoo does a half way decent job with and that is e-mail. It has done with well with its e-mail services but unless you are a hard core developer or programmer, none of its other services are even worth trying. It's e-commerce platforms are terrible and not user friendly. Even their directions are wrong. They don't match what you actually see as options on the screen.
Customer service is poor for the most part. The reason they have to increase their domain renewal fees is that it's all that's left for them to make money. If they were smart, they could focus on monetizing their e-mail service (outside of selling your information) and try to develop good value added products that build on their services. Perhaps something like Google Apps?