Best domain registrar ?

No ... I don't think there's a "best domain registrar".

There are only people's personal preferences. And even then, many people have used only one or two, so they may not signify that much.

I've used four: personally I hate GoDaddy and love Namecheap, but it doesn't really matter very much. What matters is that you don't register a domain where you're going to host it - everything else is opinion about something not very important.

I think the customer service for 1and1 really sucks. To me they have a predatory attitude towards their clients. BUT i registered a domain with them today in spite of the fact. It used to take less than an hour for the domains to show up in your account. We'll see what happens this time around.

Personally, I've never been a fan of how "commercialized" GoDaddy seems. I have to avoid upsells left and right just to purchase a domain and/or hosting.

Google 1&1 scam and see if that's who you want to go with before buying.

I've used Namecheap, Godaddy, name.com, fabulous, moniker.
They're all great. I tend to like namecheap the best.

I use 4 registrars - never had a problem with any of them.

All dot com:
godaddy
namecheap
name
moniker

Here's the typical none sense answer. Why? Let's see:

Have you used yourself?
What do you mean by "I heard horror stories that they are hijacking your domains.."
Have one of your domains being hijacked?
If the answer is no, oh, well, there's no need to said anything else.
If your answer is yes, you have to change your wording otherwise you're implying what it's not.
I've been using 1&1 for over 10 years without real problems.
Here're the complains I was going to post before reading yours:
1. Too slow. Some time have to wait over one minute to get to the desired page. (I've cable).
2. If you want to see expiration date of any domain, you've to enter one at the time. There's no
listing you could see all your domains listed.
2. If you've to check the DNS you've to click 6 times you get to see it.
3. Customer service people sometimes talk in way that's hard to understand. However, they're
very polite and trying to be very helpful.
What makes it hard to change is the $0.99 cents special they run very often..
My personal approach will be to get the special for one year and if I can't sale
the domain, I'll be looking for a transfer coupon to an other registrar.
I'll be ahead money wise any how. Around $8.00/year.
Meharis

I have been exploring Moniker, Snap Names, Sedo, and Cax, but that's a whole nother animal.

As far as the upsells with GoDaddy I agree they are a bit tedious, but I zip right past all the crap, and just opt for bare domains.

However, I did opt for the "discount domain membership for $89 year" -since I planned on buying 100's of domains, and it reduces and 'locks in' the renewal cost.

*I don't recommend it if your not planning on buying 250+ domains within a 12 month period though. Ironically, compared to their 'bulk pricing' and the 'domain reseller' offers, this works out to be the absolute cheapest alternative.

Anytime I see an 'offer' for a .99 domain, I worry about the 'spiked price' of renewal. Whether 1and 1 remains reasonable after year 1, I really dunno.:confused:

What I found humoring was a letter I received from Domain Registry of America offering to renew 2 of my domains, and if I act now...

It's only $35 to renew my .com and another $35 for the accompanying .net domains for 1 year.

Sure... $70 to renew (2) domains for 1 year, if I act now. I almost feel like sending them an "Overnight Priority Mail" responding; "Never Gonna Happen!"

-Art

I've used Godaddy a few times now, and have yet to encounter a problem!

MZ

I'm sure the local lawyers are most grateful for all the business ...