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VeriSign Jacks Up .com, .net Prices To the Max

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the greed-is-universal dept.

se7en writes "VeriSign is jacking up prices for the .com and .net domains for the second year running, increasing both by the maximum 7% allowed under its exclusive contract with ICANN. 'Assuming that VeriSign continues the 7 percent rise each year (which seems reasonable given the company's history), registrars will be looking at $9.00 for .com domains by the time the current contract ends in 2012 — a 50 percent increase in six years.' Registrars have no choice but to pony up, and chances are they'll pass the pain on to customers."

10 of 215 comments (clear)

  1. And? by TubeSteak · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is there any reason Verisign wouldn't jack up prices by the max allowed in their contract?

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    1. Re:And? by Mr.+Slippery · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Is there any reason Verisign wouldn't jack up prices by the max allowed in their contract?

      In a sane world, behaving like a bunch of asshats by trying to squeeze us for every penny they can, would mean that their contract wouldn't be renewed by ICANN; so there would be such an incentive. In a sane world.

      Of course, we do not live in a sane world.

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    2. Re:And? by BrookHarty · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Well if you don't like them, go register your domain somewhere else!

      Oh wait.

    3. Re:And? by mlts · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Hate to be a devil's advocate here, and but Verisign in some ways has to, because publically traded companies like VRSN have to show their shareholders they are earning as much money as the traffic can bear, and if not, why not.

      If they don't, shareholders will become former shareholders, and/or try to find reasons to sue. This is true about any company, if any company cuts prices on a flagship product, they need to have a good reason (such as a new model, competition is forcing their hand, or perhaps going for higher volume sales) to explain why to shareholders why they did so and why they chose to get less income.

      Verisign isn't perfect, but the real culprits are ICANN, and the short range thinking of stockholders in the US who only care about what is coming next quarter, rather than being with a company long term. I'd rather invest in a company who has multiple subsequent quarterly charges against their income for R&D than one which always makes the numbers (even barely) each quarter, but really has no real direction to expand.

    4. Re:And? by garett_spencley · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I pay $9.20 USD right now / .com domain. I think that $9 is what VERISIGN gets. Not what people actually pay.

      Granted, I agree. If you can't afford $10 - $15 / YEAR for your domain then you're not getting much out of it. But then again, not all .com's are for-profit. Some people don't like that and think that .com should ONLY be for commercial entities, and I agree that's absolutely what it was designed for initially. Only problem is if you don't register a .com for your domain then a squatter will. And, unfortunately, unless your traffic consists mostly of tech-savvy users then the majority of your type-in traffic will hit the .com first.

    5. Re:And? by number11 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If you can't afford $10 - $15 / YEAR for your domain then you're not getting much out of it.

      Well, you're not getting much money out of it.

  2. Value of the once almighty dollar. by lancejjj · · Score: 5, Insightful

    increasing both by the maximum 7% allowed under its exclusive contract with ICANN But that 7% increase is in U.S. dollars.

    Given the recent drop of the value of the dollar, that means that much of the rest of the world whose currency isn't based on the US dollar will see a 1% price drop, instead of a 8% price drop.
  3. Re:Can't say I mind... by garett_spencley · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The problem is that "lay-people" consider .com to be "it". And if you register "my-indie-band.org" some squatter WILL register "my-indie-band.com" ... and when your fans go to look you up they'll type in the ".com" before the ".org".

    Is it bullshit ? Yeah, absolutely. Is there much we can do about it ? Not really.

  4. Re:The USA: Land of Competition by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The United States is really big on competition. Correction - the united states TALKS really big on competition.

    The only real competition that the government cares about is who can shove the most 'campaign funds' into each politician's pockets.
    --
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  5. Re:Will this make spamsites unprofitable? by mpe · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A 7% increase is nothing for spammers.

    Especially if they are also scammers who don't pay their bills in the first place.