I need to know if I can do this

[lymand]

with Hostgator. I bought a new domain name, not webhosting through Hostgator. I want that domain name to show an affiliate link of mine. I am being told that I can't do that unless I have web hosting but I keep reading that Godaddy offers a way to do this w/o using webhosting by redirecting the doamin name somehow. What am I missing here?

[Jordanlw]

I don't think HG allows nor can redirect domains,
GoDaddy can tho.
So transfer your domain over to them

[Serra]

Originally Posted by lymand

with Hostgator. I bought a new domain name, not webhosting through Hostgator. I want that domain name to show an affiliate link of mine. I am being told that I can't do that unless I have web hosting but I keep reading that Godaddy offers a way to do this w/o using webhosting by redirecting the doamin name somehow. What am I missing here?

Hostgator isn't a domain registrar, they may only want you to have domain names here if you have hosting as well. You do seem to be trying to do something that is outside of what they normally do.

Why did you register a domain at a hosting company?

[Jordanlw]

http://www.hostgator.com/domains
FYI Serra.

[eLIANT]

Originally Posted by Jordanlw

http://www.hostgator.com/domains
FYI Serra.

HG is a reseller of domain registration, not a registrar. HG resells using registryrocket.com

[Serra]

Originally Posted by Jordanlw

http://www.hostgator.com/domains
FYI Serra.

People can buy domains from me as well, that doesn't make me a registrar.

[episkey]

lymand,

As others have pointed out, HG is a vendor of domain registration services, not a registrar. There are only a small number of companies who are official registrars. Some of those companies, including one called ENOM, work primarily through resellers such as HG. When you get a domain name from HG, your registrar is ENOM.

You can register a domain name directly with ENOM, but it will cost you around $30 to do so. When you register a domain name through HG, you get to have ENOM as your registrar for a lower price. If you are using HG for web hosting, this is a good deal -- especially if you don't already know how to set up DNS records so that your domain name will work the way you want it to with your webhosting.

Looking at the HG website, it's pretty clear that they are in the business of selling hosting, and that domain name registration (with ENOM as registrar) is a service they offer in conjunction with that.

If you want domain name registration without webhosting, you might consider a transfer of your domain name to a company like GoDaddy. To be sure you can do what you want, though, you might try asking their tech support for instructions before you make your purchase.

[Rockoids]

Originally Posted by episkey

lymand,

As others have pointed out, HG is a vendor of domain registration services, not a registrar. There are only a small number of companies who are official registrars. Some of those companies, including one called ENOM, work primarily through resellers such as HG. When you get a domain name from HG, your registrar is ENOM.

You can register a domain name directly with ENOM, but it will cost you around $30 to do so. When you register a domain name through HG, you get to have ENOM as your registrar for a lower price. If you are using HG for web hosting, this is a good deal -- especially if you don't already know how to set up DNS records so that your domain name will work the way you want it to with your webhosting.

Looking at the HG website, it's pretty clear that they are in the business of selling hosting, and that domain name registration (with ENOM as registrar) is a service they offer in conjunction with that.

If you want domain name registration without webhosting, you might consider a transfer of your domain name to a company like GoDaddy. To be sure you can do what you want, though, you might try asking their tech support for instructions before you make your purchase.

Or Moniker. GoDaddy is notorious for suspending domains for bogus reasons, and they are to be avoided at all costs -- in my not-so-humble opinion.

[Serra]

Originally Posted by rockoids

Or Moniker. GoDaddy is notorious for suspending domains for bogus reasons, and they are to be avoided at all costs -- in my not-so-humble opinion.

Yes, you should avoid them if you are running a kiddy porn site, they seem to hate those.

[Rockoids]

Originally Posted by Serra

Yes, you should avoid them if you are running a kiddy porn site, they seem to hate those.

Please don't cast aspersions. Some of us run perfectly family-friendly sites, and run into problems with them.

[slapshotw]

They suspended your site or your domain? I'd guess your site, because a suspension of a domain without a court order isn't something I've heard of before.

[Rockoids]

Originally Posted by slapshotw

They suspended your site or your domain? I'd guess your site, because a suspension of a domain without a court order isn't something I've heard of before.

The answer to both is no, if you're talking to me.

They tried to suspend one of my domains for no valid reason, and wanted to exact a large fee to reactivate it. I talked them out of it, but left as soon as it was practical to do so.

I have posted a link to the story elsewhere in this forum. You'll see I did nothing wrong.

[Serra]

Originally Posted by slapshotw

They suspended your site or your domain? I'd guess your site, because a suspension of a domain without a court order isn't something I've heard of before.

All kidding aside, goDaddy does, often, suspend domains without a being instructed to do so by any legal authority for a large number of different reasons. The reference to Kiddy Porn was an actual case. A domain was suspended because it was considered offensive by goDaddy, though the site was not illegal in any way in the US. (The US has very aggressive kiddy porn laws, so it couldn't have been too bad)

Their propensity for suspending domains, is well documented. They elected themselves judge & jury and act without provocation in many case.

Personally, I don't see an issue with them doing it, they aren't suppressing free speech as customers can simply move their domains, but I do find it a bit overly aggressive. I can understand them blocking domains under court orders or when urged to do so by authorities, but to take responsibility for policing the net themselves without any actual jurisdiction, is a bit much and I would rather they NOT do that, but either way, I'm not leaving goDaddy because of it.

[Rockoids]

Not so easy. If they suspend your domain, you have to pay $150-175 to get it unsuspended, or $75 to register it elsewhere.

At least that's what they told me.

That's a draconian policy, and it amounts to extortion, as far as I'm concerned.

[Serra]

Originally Posted by rockoids

That's a draconian policy, and it amounts to extortion, as far as I'm concerned.

On that we do agree. Their policy should be changed.

[ldearing]

im left confused still... was rockoids DOMAIN, or HOSTING ACCOUNT suspended?

how can they suspend a domain registration you own? ... hosting, right or wrong is an understandable different issue. you can choose to move to another less strict host.

-thanks

[Rockoids]

Originally Posted by ldearing

im left confused still... was rockoids DOMAIN, or HOSTING ACCOUNT suspended?

how can they suspend a domain registration you own? ... hosting, right or wrong is an understandable different issue. you can choose to move to another less strict host.

-thanks

They threatened to suspend theparacast.com, my most-trafficked domain overall. If I wanted to move, they threatened to exact a $75 penalty.

I talked my way out of it, but their behavior set off huge alarms, and I moved my business elsewhere over the next week.

[Serra]

Originally Posted by ldearing

im left confused still... was rockoids DOMAIN, or HOSTING ACCOUNT suspended?

We are talking about domain accounts that were hosted elsewhere. As you can understand, there would be no real reason to suspend a domain account unless it had content that broke some law. Disagreeing with the content should be a reason to suspend a domain. goDaddy should not be in the content monitoring business for domains. For hosting, its different. They can deny hosting, but to block a domain from access is very much in jackboot territory.

Just look at theparacast.com. Some might say Rockoids is flaky, but the content isn't against any law and if he wants to be a flake, then he has that right.

[Rockoids]

Originally Posted by Serra

We are talking about domain accounts that were hosted elsewhere. As you can understand, there would be no real reason to suspend a domain account unless it had content that broke some law. Disagreeing with the content should be a reason to suspend a domain. goDaddy should not be in the content monitoring business for domains. For hosting, its different. They can deny hosting, but to block a domain from access is very much in jackboot territory.

Just look at theparacast.com. Some might say Rockoids is flaky, but the content isn't against any law and if he wants to be a flake, then he has that right.

Rockoids is just a science fiction novel.

But GoDaddy is known to do foolish things, as has been widely reported.

[Serra]

Originally Posted by rockoids

Rockoids is just a science fiction novel.

But GoDaddy is known to do foolish things, as has been widely reported.

Yes, making it so worthy of being domain suspended.

BTW: interested in a better way to sell that book? Paypal isn't the best solution.

[Rockoids]

Originally Posted by Serra

Yes, making it so worthy of being domain suspended.

BTW: interested in a better way to sell that book? Paypal isn't the best solution.

Sure, always interested. If you're serious, write me a PM and we'll talk.

[Serra]

Originally Posted by rockoids

Sure, always interested. If you're serious, write me a PM and we'll talk.

I actually do a lot of work with authors. Between authors and Realtors, that like 80% of my business. PM sent.

[Rockoids]

Originally Posted by Serra

I actually do a lot of work with authors. Between authors and Realtors, that like 80% of my business. PM sent.

Interesting range of clientele.

Thanks for the PM. We need to talk

[Serra]

Originally Posted by rockoids

Interesting range of clientele.

Thanks for the PM. We need to talk

To be honest, Realtors 'cause they are a dime a dozen and Authors because they are interesting.