Forget 99 cents, these domains are now free.
Domain name registrars often use discounted prices to get new customers. This is especially the case with their Google Adwords ads, where registrars frequently offer .com domains as loss leaders to get a new customer.
1&1 has been particularly aggressive, offering $.99 cent .com domain names on its site and in search ads. (The company has a history of investing up front for new customers. It launched with multi-page ads in huge publications promoting free webhosting for three years.)
Yet 1&1’s competitors also offer cut rate pricing in their Google ads. So how do you beat 99 cents? Here’s what I get when I search for “domain name” in Google right now:
Next thing you know 1&1 will be paying people to register a domain with them!
That “Powered by Verisign” in the ad is a requirement for registrars getting rebates from Verisign, but 1&1 is still losing money on this deal.
But losing $5 to have a new customer sign up with you rather than a competitor? That seems like a pretty good idea.
The deal is limited to one domain for new customers.
Marek says
Long story short: 1&1 IPO is coming in 201?.
Jean Guillon says
The problem with 1&1 is that they charge you at the end of year one if you forgot to tell them that you did not wish to renew for year two. In this very specific case where you think you’ll pay “99 cents”, most of these to buy will be charged unless they go to their messy interface to announce that they don’t want to renew! I think 1&1 is the only Registrar to proceed this way.
So you think you’ll pay for one year with the possibility to drop your name at the end of year one one but in fact you’re stuck with them if you do not wish to renew. And…good luck with their interface.
John says
You are right. They are a bunch of crooks and I would not recommend dealing with them.
Do not register any domains with them even if they pay you
Andrew Allemann says
I think every registrar I’ve used defaults to auto renew. But I agree that 1&1’s interface is miserable.
Paul Stahura says
I’m holding out for negative .com pricing.
Seriously, I may take a few they pay me to.
Coolestnames.com says
Offer valid for new customer only.
Andrew Allemann says
Correct – new customers and one domain per customer.
Jen says
I haven’t heard anything positive about this company.
From what I have heard (consistently): AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!