Afraid I've got to disagree with Fuzzy on this one (which actually is a
rarity - is that scary???)... I do indeed think it is very deceptive.  I use
Network Solutions and have done so for many years, but in dealing with other
hosting companies, I have found that Network Solutions is by far the most
complicated of all to make changes to the records.  Sure, I've learned the
shortcuts (even with an "emergency" number to them for quick nameserver
updates), but other companies make it MUCH MUCH easier.  To me, it is VERY
deceptive for any company to contact me about anything urging me to renew if
I did not even use their service at all to start with.

I just call it like I see it, and in this case, I see something very wrong
here.  However, I DO still use them and will probably continue to do so
since I maintain over a hundred domain names and growing.

My $.02 worth,
Keith D Sellars
WebGraffix
www.webgraffix.com

"Making database sites seem easy"
----- Original Message -----
From: <webguroo(at)tampabay.rr.com>
To: "Captain F.M. O'Lary" <ctfuzzy(at)canopy.net>; <hwg-basics(at)hwg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 7:23 PM
Subject: Re: domain name renewal


> On 23 Apr 2002 at 16:16, Captain F.M. O'Lary wrote:
>
> > I guess I'm a little out of touch, but I see nothing misleading and I
sure as heck don't see anything that would lead ~anyone~ (actually reading
the form) to believe it was from ~anyone except~ Verisign.
>
> When you get this in the mail, the thing that grabs you is
> "Expiration Notice, Reply by xxxx"  and it takes up a whole area in
> bold type.  This is repeated several times in the letter. By repeating
> it, they draw attention away from who it is from, or the fact that
> VeriSign was not the original registrant.
>
> Many web site owners don't remember the name of the company
> they originally signed up with. Designers handled that for them.
> That was two years ago.  They don't read the fine print either.
> That's why its deceptive.  Heck, even if they saw the name
> VeriSign, that's a name that has earned a lot of trust because of
> SSL.  Its deceptive alright.
>
> Its as deceptive as Network Solutions (p.o. VeriSign now) forms
> were for making changes.  They were purposely engineered to
> make it difficult to change contacts or hosts. In the early days of the
> web, this little trick caused many small website owners to get stuck
> with a high cost hosting company. These companies knew to stay
> with VeriSign because it was another hammer to keep business.
> This trick goes hand in hand with registering the website in the
> name of the host or designer, rather than the customer that paid for
> it. This ensures a captive audience.
>
> Paul Wilson
> webguroo(at)tampabay.rr.com
>

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