HostGator should include a free domain name

[phototristan]

HostGator should include a free domain name. Competitors such as DreamHost and BlueHost both offer one free domain name for the life of the account.

[kmaw]

No, they shouldn't. In this case your domain is often tied directly to your hosting... and if you ever go to switch hosts you can't always get your domain to switch.

Domains are so cheap, it's not really a big deal.

[phototristan]

Who's gonna switch from HostGator anyways? Plus, you can always switch the registration after you switch hosts.

Your reason is not a good one.

[dwrunyon]

They DO provide a freebie, I bleeve. Go check out yore account add ons button in yore panel.

[phototristan]

Originally Posted by dwrunyon

They DO provide a freebie, I bleeve. Go check out yore account add ons button in yore panel.

That's true, it's just the first year free and then they gouge you at $15.00 per year thereafter so it's not worth it. Other hosts give you the domain name totally free every year.

[dwrunyon]

Originally Posted by phototristan

That's true, it's just the first year free and then they gouge you at $15.00 per year thereafter so it's not worth it.

Didn't realize that... very much worth the point'n out.

Other hosts give you the domain name totally free every year.

Yessir... that's what I've seen EVERYWHERE I've been... true enough.

[religionrevolution]

1&1 did. That's all they gave free though. I felt like I was running a great big software trial with those guys. $9.99 a month for anything extra. But they gave me five free domains every year. Probably cause they were gouging me for $20 a month for their hosting

[slapshotw]

1&1 also has horrible support and shady billing practices.

[phototristan]

Originally Posted by slapshotw

1&1 also has horrible support and shady billing practices.

Yep, I agree.

[dewt]

Originally Posted by slapshotw

1&1 also has horrible support and shady billing practices.

This is why I'm in the process of moving to HG. I got fed up trying to explain to someone who doesn't speak english (or american) what the problem was. Trying to resolve anything by email was impossible since there was always a minimum of a 6 hour gap between sending an email and getting a reply (which normally consisted of 'Please read the FAQ'). Now I get more for less and have access to a help system that keeps catching me out by responding before I've finished making my coffee.

[religionrevolution]

Originally Posted by slapshotw

1&1 also has horrible support and shady billing practices.

And that is why I absolutely hate 1&1

I started my online life when 1&1 started, when they were giving free 3 year accounts. They were top notch, then as they grew, email responses went from 30 minutes to two hours to six hours, and then they outsourced and then I just kept getting screwed. They outgrew their customers. I think now its not about customer service but mass advertising, and sucking the money by the handful out of their customers before they smarten up & leave. What was crazy to me was when I called in to cancel, they didn't even ask for a reason, nor say "sorry to hear that" They just explained that they weren't responsible for any data lost in the switch. I hope HG doesn['t get like this when their footprint grows.....

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by phototristan

HostGator should include a free domain name. Competitors such as DreamHost and BlueHost both offer one free domain name for the life of the account.

Originally Posted by kmaw

No, they shouldn't. In this case your domain is often tied directly to your hosting... and if you ever go to switch hosts you can't always get your domain to switch.

Domains are so cheap, it's not really a big deal.

Originally Posted by phototristan

Who's gonna switch from HostGator anyways? Plus, you can always switch the registration after you switch hosts.

Your reason is not a good one.

Actually, kmaw's reasoning was excellent. Consider:

1) there's no such thing as free. It would be much more accurate to describe such an arrangement as a "free" domain...most such are owned by the hosting company that provides them. And even if the domain is not, the firm is certainly recouping its cost by charging you for it--though you might not realize it--an extra dollar or so per month. Indirect costs are ALWAYS more expensive than direct ones.

2) there are very sound reasons for keeping registration separate from hosting, no matter how excellent a company is. Suppose a toxic meteoroid hit Houston; if your domain registration is handled elsewhere, get a host account somewhere, change the nameservers and you're up again.

That's the same reason why people have accounts at two different banks, or credit cards from two different providers, or cell service from a different company from their landline phone. It's a failsafe--two separate, independent systems.

[christfirstforums]

Originally Posted by gwyneth

Actually, kmaw's reasoning was excellent. Consider:

1) there's no such thing as free. It would be much more accurate to describe such an arrangement as a "free" domain...most such are owned by the hosting company that provides them. And even if the domain is not, the firm is certainly recouping its cost by charging you for it--though you might not realize it--an extra dollar or so per month. Indirect costs are ALWAYS more expensive than direct ones.

2) there are very sound reasons for keeping registration separate from hosting, no matter how excellent a company is. Suppose a toxic meteoroid hit Houston; if your domain registration is handled elsewhere, get a host account somewhere, change the nameservers and you're up again.

That's the same reason why people have accounts at two different banks, or credit cards from two different providers, or cell service from a different company from their landline phone. It's a failsafe--two separate, independent systems.

I agree i have my names all at secondary registrars for these reasons

[phototristan]

This doesn't really matter because you could keep a non important domain with Hostgator if they offered it free, and your important ones registered elsewhere. That it's generally better to have domains with an external registrar is not a good reason for HG not to offer it when their direct competitors do offer a free domain name for the life of the account.

Just because they offer it, doesn't mean you have to use it if you don't want to.

Originally Posted by gwyneth

Actually, kmaw's reasoning was excellent. Consider:

1) there's no such thing as free. It would be much more accurate to describe such an arrangement as a "free" domain...most such are owned by the hosting company that provides them. And even if the domain is not, the firm is certainly recouping its cost by charging you for it--though you might not realize it--an extra dollar or so per month. Indirect costs are ALWAYS more expensive than direct ones.

2) there are very sound reasons for keeping registration separate from hosting, no matter how excellent a company is. Suppose a toxic meteoroid hit Houston; if your domain registration is handled elsewhere, get a host account somewhere, change the nameservers and you're up again.

That's the same reason why people have accounts at two different banks, or credit cards from two different providers, or cell service from a different company from their landline phone. It's a failsafe--two separate, independent systems.

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by phototristan

This doesn't really matter because you could keep a non important domain with Hostgator if they offered it free, and your important ones registered elsewhere. That it's generally better to have domains with an external registrar is not a good reason for HG not to offer it when their direct competitors do offer a free domain name for the life of the account.

Just because they offer it, doesn't mean you have to use it if you don't want to.

You're overlooking the main point--there is nothing that is free, even when it's described that way. Domains included "free" with hosting packages not only have their cost disguised in the price structure, they belong to the host firm...and even if the customer can get the account transferred to his/her name, that involves host firm labor, which is passed on to what customers have to be charged.

IMO, it looks much more professional for HG not to offer them, and it may even help lower fees in other ways (i.e., possible correlation between experience level of customers lured by "free" domain and support required).

[phototristan]

Domains never belong to the host firm or registrar. They belong to the domain name owner, the person or entity that registered the domain name.

Further, the other hosts that you say 'build the cost in' are actually cheaper than or equivalent in cost to HostGator so it's not like they are saying 'free domain' and then have high fees or something. It's just something they include with their accounts.

[striddy]

Originally Posted by phototristan

Further, the other hosts that you say 'build the cost in' are actually cheaper than or equivalent in cost to HostGator so it's not like they are saying 'free domain' and then have high fees or something. It's just something they include with their accounts.

How do these "other hosts" perform in other aspects, like support or speed of their servers or network. Do they have cpanel or some "home brewed" control panel which is useless ???

Is really getting a "free" $10 domain such a deal breaker?

[phototristan]

Using the examples I listed above, Bluehost does use cPanel and their support/speed is equivalent to HostGator. The only reason I'm not with them is because they are in Utah where they have to limit the kind of content you can post by law.

Dreamhost's speed is not as good, but their Control Panel is even better than cPanel.

Both these companies give you a totally free domain name with your account, for the life of the account.

[skeetr]

Originally Posted by phototristan

Domains never belong to the host firm or registrar. They belong to the domain name owner, the person or entity that registered the domain name.

Further, the other hosts that you say 'build the cost in' are actually cheaper than or equivalent in cost to HostGator so it's not like they are saying 'free domain' and then have high fees or something. It's just something they include with their accounts.

I am curious. With these other hosts, are you able to pick a package, register your domain all in one day, and then the next day cancel your package and keep the domain without having to pay for the domain?

In my experience, it is much harder to move away from these hosts that do offer the "free" domain name. They will have you tied up in knots trying to get the nameservers changed on the domain that you have with them, or else keep the domain itself locked so you cant transfer it out so easily.

I still think HG is the best value even without a "free" domain name. IMO, it is not hurting their business any at all.

[phototristan]

What makes you think Hostgator would do that though? If other companies are bad in this respect, that's more opportunity for Hostgator to excel in that space.

[kmaw]

Originally Posted by phototristan

What makes you think Hostgator would do that though? If other companies are bad in this respect, that's more opportunity for Hostgator to excel in that space.

I don't expect Hostgator would intentionally do that... but what if Brent died... does the LLC carry on business as always... what if they get a big lawsuit against them and are forced to lock the doors on their way out...

extreme cases... but that's the key to good business planning.


I don't really believe Dreamhost's panel is better... but really, thats a matter of opinion... no need to argue over it. The downfall is, with their proprietary panel, you can't move hosts and be going again in a matter of minutes...

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by phototristan

Both these companies give you a totally free domain name with your account, for the life of the account.

Originally Posted by phototristan

Further, the other hosts that you say 'build the cost in' are actually cheaper than or equivalent in cost to HostGator so it's not like they are saying 'free domain' and then have high fees or something. It's just something they include with their accounts.

Those domains have to be paid for, somehow. Either their cost gets added to fees, or it reduces the budgets for support, hardware, and com lines, or both.

Originally Posted by phototristan

What makes you think Hostgator would do that though? If other companies are bad in this respect, that's more opportunity for Hostgator to excel in that space.

The whole point, phototristan, is that nobody expects the unexpected. That's why most people carry spare tires in their cars.

Originally Posted by kmaw

I don't expect Hostgator would intentionally do that... but what if Brent died... does the LLC carry on business as always... what if they get a big lawsuit against them and are forced to lock the doors on their way out...

Plus a whole lot of other possibilities for the "unexpected"...natural disasters, gas pipe explosions, sinkholes, and many more.

Not to mention user interface problems (i.e., suppose any of a number of things, some completely accidental, marred the relationship with host.).

It's all the same reasoning that suggests you don't keep your only backup on the same medium you're backing up.

[phototristan]

A domain name transfer can be easily initiated by another registrar if you are the owner of your domain. So let's say Hostgator is the registrar of your domain name and they suddenly crumble into the center of the earth on fire and also flooded out and totally iced-over all at the same time with a nuclear bomb thrown in for good measure-never to be heard from again. What do you do?

Simple. Goto GoDaddy, Namecheap or any other domain registrar and transfer your domain. You own your domain name and can do what you want with it.

None of the arguments I've read are good reasons for HG not to provide a free domain name especially when you consider that the third party registrar (like GoDaddy or whomever) could also 'go away' just like you fear HG could. In fact, some of them are more likely to do so than HG. In fact, one of them recently did (I can't remember which one it was, maybe registerfly?) and what happend? ICANN stepped in and handled it. No one lost their domain name, and transfers to other registrars took place easily and without issue.

[striddy]

phototristan, as you have posted this in the suggestions forum, I'm sure HG reps will read it and add it to their existing list of suggestions. Time will tell how or if they will make this suggestion a reality.

[skeetr]

Originally Posted by phototristan

None of the arguments I've read are good reasons for HG not to provide a free domain name

And the argument FOR a free domain name is because everyone else is doing it.

Not really much of an argument