Update: I have posted a 7th reason that I just remembered of.
One thing I hardly EVER do is insult a company. If I don't like a company, I usually just don't write about it. I must REALLY REALLY have had a bad experience to write about it on my blog. I like to write positive things on my blog so me writing something negative on my blog is usually scarce.
Here are the top 7 reasons to avoid 1and1.com like the plague.
I EVEN mentioned to 1and1 how I am going to write negative things about them on my blog, but they just laughed it off.
#1 Most domainers will avoid purchasing a domain name from you if it is registered at 1and1.
#2 1and1 is the ONLY domain registrar I know of that won't let you give a FREE push from one 1and1 account to another. They charge you a fee on top of a renewal fee.
#3 All your domain names are on automatic renewal (something that 1and1 does NOT tell you) The ONLY way to change that is to login to cancel 1and1.com which is the BIGGEST pain in the neck. I also can't begin to tell you the number of times I would turn a domain name off renewal ONLY to mysteriously get charged. Somehow every domain name that I have turned off has mysteriously turned back onto renewal. 1and1 didn't believe me until I got a charge on the bill and this one time the domain name was actually turned off renewal.
#4 1and1.com is NOT icaan registered.
#5 The reps at 1and1 don't speak a word of English. Good luck trying to understand them.
#6 Whenever there is a screw up with the bill, they want you to fax information over to them, which is a MAJOR pain in the neck. The last time I did that and then logged into my account somehow my account had someone else's name on it and when I called up 1and1 apparently they screwed up.
#7 I had a domain name that was registered at Enom and I tried transferring it to 1and1 when there was at least 2 weeks left to renew it. For at least a month or two 1and1 showed that it was being processed. Imagine my surprise when I received an email from 1and1 stating that they couldn't register the domain name because of it being locked at Enom. (which I know was NOT true because I had unlocked it) Even if it was true that the domain name was locked at Enom why would it take 1and1 over a month or two to tell me so. GoDaddy lets you know if your domain name is locked at another register almost instantly. When I called up 1and1 NOT one rep gave a hoot to help me out. Well to make a long story short, I ended up losing a valuable 2 character .cc domain name. By miracle I was able to retrieve the domain ONLY after buying it back from someone who bought it from the person that picked it up after me.
I believe that 1and1 may be popular in Germany but as far as the rest of the world MOST people avoid them like a plague. So if you are a domainer, I am warning you based on my experience NOT to purchase any domain names from 1and1.
When I first got into the business of purchasing domain names I started with 1and1 thinking that hey they were cheaper than GoDaddy so what do I have to lose right? Well I sure learned the hard way when no domainers wanted to buy any of my domain names and the reason why? because it was at 1and1.
If you own domain names at 1and1 and I am scaring you well don't be scared. I have some advice for you. If you try to sell your domain names and somebody doesn't want to buy any of your domain names because they are registered at 1and1 then offer to pay the transfer fee so that they can go ahead and register the domain name(s) at GoDaddy.
Once again I try my hardest NOT to bash a company on my domain blog but I HATE to see anyone go through HELL like I went through with 1and1. We all learn from our mistakes right? So why not share my experience with others.
Let me also mention (and this is NOT to brag) I have sold over 125 domain names in the past 3 years and so I believe that I know what I am talking about when I say to avoid 1and1.
If you have any questions then please feel free to post it in the commentary section. :)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
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7 comments:
Welcome to hell.
I have come to the conclusion that I made the dreadful error of choosing a company because it had a 5 page ad in a popular computer magazine. I believe I have put my trust in a straw man. In my opinion 1and1, with CEO Oliver Mauss, is a horrible company and many customers have voiced a host of complaints on various blogs.
It should be a warning that when their phone is answered by a recording that tells you if you have gotten a notice from NCO, a collection agency, to press a certain number. If they are a reputable business, why do they have to send so many accounts to a collection agency?
Patrick Frey (Patterico) of the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office alleges his domain was high jacked and put up for auction on SEDO. SEDO is an associate company of 1and1.
Patterico: “I believe I’m facing massive incompetence, thievery, or very possibly a deliberate combination of the two. It feels like evil intent — but not for political reasons. It feels like cyber extortion — people going after the almighty dollar. Commenter’s have pointed out corporate ties between 1&1, which can’t seem to process my timely renewal, and Sedo/Domcollect, which stood to profit from 1&1’s failure. Usually, corporate incompetence does not earn the corporation money — but 1&1 and its related companies have found a way to make money off of their own slipshod procedures.”
Patterico was able to regain his domain.
Also Investigative journalist, Kelli Jack, has written 30 articles about this company and has a suit pending against them. Kelli alleges that 1and1 stole her domain name and sold it. Kelli states: "1and1 should be shut down." As of today Kelli is working with the Pennsylvania Attorney General.
I have filed complaints with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Trade Commission, Eastern Pennsylvania Better Business Bureau, ICANN, and others. I recommend everyone else having a problem consider doing the same.
The Washington DC, Pennsylvania Better Business Bureau has given 1and1 their lowest rating: “F.” Read comments on the BBB why. Read some customer comments on Red Flag.
Don’t bother trying to access my 2 URL: warthpublishinginc.com, Migraine-Abort.com
They are gone with my money and hundreds of domains I had at 1and1.
Warth Publishing Inc
@ warthpublishinginc
I personally wanted to thank you for commenting on my blog and sharing your feedback with my readers regarding your TERRIBLE experience with 1and1.
They are a TERRIBLE company and by far the worst domain registrar to purchase domain names from or any other products for that matter.
I also am not a fan of 1and1 due to the automatic renewal. I had submitted a cancellation of several domains and transferred them to Godaddy. 1and1.com still billed me for those domains because they said I did not cancel soon enough. After a lot of trouble I was able to get my money back from my credit card company and have never had anything to do with them sense. Their way of doing things only stands to make it easy for them to make money at your expense. Sure they may have the lowest prices (or at least at the time I was dealing with them) but it's not worth the hassle. Thanks for the post.
@ TacoDomains
Thank you for responding and commenting on my post.
I know exactly what you are talking about as I have had the EXACT same issues with 1and1 numerous times.
I also had a terrible experience with them. I canceled a hosting account with them and they never did and said I had to fax in my request. Since I did not pay after I canceled they tried to hijack my domains from me. Only after I threatened to file a complaint with ICANN which I started the process, then did they release the domains back to me. It was a PITA big time. BTW...I'm surprised you love SEDO, the same company owns SEDO and 1and1.
@ anonymous
Thank you sooo much for commenting on my post. I am opene minded to each individuals comment.
From my own personal experience. I deal with the same people at Sedo EVERYtime unlike 1and1 and though Sedo and 1and1 are affiliated with each other thankfully the Reps I deal with at Sedo have NOTHING to do with 1and1. PLUS at least the Reps at Sedo speak English clearly and can be understood unlike at 1and1.
I read your post & got to know about the 1and1.com. Thanks for the useful & helpful information & I have saved it for the future. I like the comments other bloggers have posted here & shared the TERRIBLE experience with 1and1. Thanks guys.
Megayachts.in
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