What Happened to Coyote Blog (Network Solutions Sucks Edition)
Years ago, I, without really knowing what I was doing, established a bunch of my URLs through Network Solutions. I didn't understand at the time that Network Solutions was both irritating and the high-cost provider.
Now that I know more, I have doing my registrations via a much lower cost supplier (GoDaddy). A few weeks ago, I did a mass transfer from Network Solutions. Apparently, Network Solutions locks the domains down, ostensibly for security (which is probably true) but also to make it harder to leave them, which makes sense as given their prices there must be a serious net drain of business out of the company. Most of my domains cleared this Berlin Wall to freedom, but I screwed up on a couple, one of which was CoyoteBlog.com. As a result, the domain ended up expired, and email dead.
Thanks for all of you who have tried to notify me of the problems. Nearly two days ago I went ahead and renewed at Network Solutions for another year, just to get things back up ASAP. Unfortunately, the URL still seems to be marked expired. I don't know if that is their poor service or because I am in Hawaii and at the absolute end of the earth for name server updates. Hopefully all will be right tomorrow. For those who visited CoyoteBlog this weekend, I am sorry about the flurry of tacky popups Network Solutions was dealing out at the URL (as many as three at a time, the losers). For those of you who access via https://coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/ you should have been able to read the blog but without formatting. I believe that RSS access was unaffected.
Kyle Bennett:
I have the same problem with the six or seven domains I own. I keep "planning" to get them all moved and up to date, etc., but always find something less stressful to do instead, like sticking sharp needles into my eyeballs.
I've been saying for a while now that there is a business opportunity for someone with the expertise and the patience to offer his services as an independent domain name manager.
October 8, 2007, 7:40 amErikTheRed:
Absolutely, positively, completely untrue. If Network Solutions sucked, they'd be good for something.
October 8, 2007, 8:15 amDale:
I thought you had just forgot to pay the "electric" bill. lol.
October 8, 2007, 8:40 amLarry Sheldon:
Near as I can tell, that is the way NetSol does business (panic people into paying up again).
The site seems to be up and working (and has been for a day or so--I dunno if I an document just when I noticed it up again).
How bid a collection do we need to take up to get the domain moved the instant NetSol unlocks it (yes, even though it is paid up another year).
October 8, 2007, 10:57 amLynn:
I have to agree that Network Solutions is beyond the pale in both tech support and their server admin interface. The interface takes the user through literally dozens of pages to accomplish what you can do with a click or two from one page in Cpanel. And all of those pages contain ads for and suggestions to buy more services. Tech support told a client of mine to "Google '301 redirect'" when the client asked about pointing all her additional domain names to the primary one. Needless to say, NS's own onsite documentation never includes the words '301 redirect,' and the interface not only does not use the word 'redirect', but it doesn't allow you to even choose between a permanent (301) and a temporary (302) redirect. I'm sure they made it hard for you to leave them for reasons other than security. You'll be glad to be doing business with anyone but them (although I must say, I would also never use GoDaddy for hosting).
October 14, 2007, 6:25 pmLynn:
I have to agree that Network Solutions is beyond the pale in both tech support and their server admin interface. The interface takes the user through literally dozens of pages to accomplish what you can do with a click or two from one page in Cpanel. And all of those pages contain ads for and suggestions to buy more services. Tech support told a client of mine to "Google '301 redirect'" when the client asked about pointing all her additional domain names to the primary one. Needless to say, NS's own onsite documentation never includes the words '301 redirect,' and the interface not only does not use the word 'redirect', but it doesn't allow you to even choose between a permanent (301) and a temporary (302) redirect. I'm sure they made it hard for you to leave them for reasons other than security. You'll be glad to be doing business with anyone but them (although I must say, I would also never use GoDaddy for hosting).
October 14, 2007, 6:26 pm