Datasheet

3. HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU PAY FOR A DOMAIN?
7
You can also get an existing domain name by agreeing to pay the
current registrant to transfer the registration to you. Many registrars
o er domain name brokering services to facilitate these kinds of trans-
actions, or some will run domain name auctions. The cost of registering
a domain name this way is completely a ma er of what you’re willing
to pay the current registrant—it can be a couple of hundred dollars
or a couple of thousand (or more). Figure 1-3 shows an example of a
domains-for-sale page.
FIGURE 1-3
These are some of the reasons why it’s impossible to say what you
should pay for any particular domain name, but here are a couple of
rules of thumb for you to follow:
Rule of Thumb
Do not pay more than $12 per year for a new
.com domain (subject to fee changes from ICANN, the governing body).
You can get .com names for less, but usually because you have to buy
some other product or buy in bulk or transfer from another registrar, and
so on. The point is, you don’t have pay more than $12 to get a .com with
no strings a ached from good quality registrars.
Rule of Thumb
Expect to pay more for specialty TLDs such
as .tv, .co, .pro.
d
On Video
Watch the video on DVD
showing an example of
a domain registration
scam letter and what it
says in the fi ne print.
Sometimes you’ll see
offers of a free domain,
but remember that you’re
paying for the domain
somehow—usually by
committing to a hosting
contract for a period of
time. Always read the fi ne
print to understand the
terms. For example, the
domain might be free for
only one year of registra-
tion, or you have to pay
a high yearly rate for the
domain name if you stop
hosting with the registrar.
The same can be true
even for low-priced do-
mains, so check to see
what’s involved with any
special deal.
889527c01.indd 7889527c01.indd 7 10/18/10 11:30:21 PM10/18/10 11:30:21 PM