What's the go with .nz domain outfits

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BadBadBadMonkey

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#141207 4-Mar-2014 18:32

I want to transfer a .net.nz domain to a cost effective domain provider. Google returns the likes of
Crazy Domains (NZ$15 / yr)
Only Domains (NZ$17 / yr)
Domania (NZ$20.64 inc GST / yr)
1st Domains (NZ$24.73 inc GST / yr)
...
up to others that take the proverbial at ~ $40-$50 / yr.

The ones charging GST are apparently NZ based. It seems to me that the overseas outfits benefit from economies of scale plus not charging local GST - which suits me fine. However, is there any advantage to the slightly more expensive and local ones above... or is this a stable enough service nowadays that it's just a commodity item and needn't be worried about.

Experiences and recommendations?

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#999008 4-Mar-2014 18:40

I'm very happy using Domains4Less as my registrar and DNS hosting, $15.99/yr at the moment. Nice and easy to renew domains, very reliable DNS. They resell Webdrive domain services.

No two-factor authentication which is my only suggestion for improvement, but that probably doesn't interest the majority of domain holders. If you're interested in fancy stuff like that including DNSSEC, metaname.com seem pretty good

Ragnor

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#999022 4-Mar-2014 18:45

The wholesale price is $15/yr so the really cheap ones are making no profit on registration and providing dns hosting, presumably it's a loss leader to sell you extras like web/email/other hosting.

My advice is avoid the cheapest and avoid the really expensive.

At work I am using metaname because they have full ipv6 support and other features that many of the others are missing, they also have really good web control panel compared to many of the others.

For my personal domains I've got some on discountdomains and some on domains4less.

danfaulknor

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Prodigi

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#999025 4-Mar-2014 18:54

I use Metaname for all my .nz domains. Simply can't beat them for service and the price is nicely in the middle

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nitrotech

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#999026 4-Mar-2014 18:54

+1 domans4less they are excellent

loceff13

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#999040 4-Mar-2014 19:50

avoid crazydomains, only worth it for registering a domain then immediately transferring out

BadBadBadMonkey

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#999041 4-Mar-2014 19:53

Thanks all.

How does it work with transfers here, with existing paid registrations. E.g. if you have a year or so paid up, does that transfer across to the new outfit or you should wait until the last minute?

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jnimmo

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#999056 4-Mar-2014 20:18

Yeah the registration stays with the domain, i.e. even if you had a few years on it and you transfer it, that will come with the domain

BadBadBadMonkey

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#999166 4-Mar-2014 22:35

So you could buy 10 years at $15 at Crazy Domains then immediately transfer it to your preferred competent provider at no cost? Are there any catches in that approach?

Coil

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#999167 4-Mar-2014 22:36

Go daddy all the way for me, Got 1 domain with free parking but i wouldnt say i would go back. limited controls.

mattwnz

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#999169 4-Mar-2014 22:41

jnimmo: I'm very happy using Domains4Less as my registrar and DNS hosting, $15.99/yr at the moment. Nice and easy to renew domains, very reliable DNS. They resell Webdrive domain services.

They don't resell it, I believe it is one of their brands, along with openhost, webbase and hosting direct.

mattwnz

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#999174 4-Mar-2014 22:49

BadBadBadMonkey: I want to transfer a .net.nz domain to a cost effective domain provider. Google returns the likes of
Crazy Domains (NZ$15 / yr)
Only Domains (NZ$17 / yr)
Domania (NZ$20.64 inc GST / yr)
1st Domains (NZ$24.73 inc GST / yr)
...
up to others that take the proverbial at ~ $40-$50 / yr.

The ones charging GST are apparently NZ based. It seems to me that the overseas outfits benefit from economies of scale plus not charging local GST - which suits me fine. However, is there any advantage to the slightly more expensive and local ones above... or is this a stable enough service nowadays that it's just a commodity item and needn't be worried about.

Experiences and recommendations?

It depends, you may think they are commodity, but not if you are also using their DNS servers as well. Support also isn't a commodity.
Some of the ones you list charge extra for a DNS service, while others include it. eg the $40 ones will usually have NZ based DNS servers included in the price, while a $15 domain may not, and may charge you $20-30 for that service. Some DNS providers can also be unreliable or use offshore server.
I have tried registering a .nz domain with one of the cheapest ones in the past, did everything correctly, entered my credit card details, and thought the transaction had gone through. An hour later hadn't heard anything, and checked the NZ Registry website to find that my domain was still available to be registered by anyone. So ended up paying a bit more with another one, who processed it instantly. So some don't do them in real time.

Some are selling them below cost, especially if you take into consideration wages, support, and the cost of their infrastructure . It is a race to the bottom.

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timmmay

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#999232 5-Mar-2014 08:46

1st domains and discount domains have both been reliable for me.

MurrayM

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#999251 5-Mar-2014 09:18

BadBadBadMonkey: So you could buy 10 years at $15 at Crazy Domains then immediately transfer it to your preferred competent provider at no cost? Are there any catches in that approach?

Don't some registrars make you buy a year when you transfer a domain name over to them? I've had that happen with some .com's with American registrars, not sure if they do that here in NZ.

danfaulknor

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#999259 5-Mar-2014 09:35

That's just gTLDs (and possibly some others)

.nz do not do that.

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webwat

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#1001681 9-Mar-2014 13:39

I presume you don't have plans to host the domain on your own network, so I would try to get it hosted in NZ if possible. Costs extra but should be more reliable for NZ based users, especially if they have a tertiary DNS on another network somewhere.

Time to find a new industry!

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