So 6 days ago I wrote about what many Go Daddy customers were seeing when trying to use a .99 coupon code.
No matter if you used the exact coupon before or not, if you ever used any .99 coupon code, you got the message. When speaking to a Go Daddy rep on the phone they said a change was made to “viral” coupon codes.
A few days later while looking to register a domain name the chat window popped up on Go Daddy. I figured I would ask another rep to make sure I got the same story. Here is that chat:
This was a live chat just completed so random customer service people know the deal on the coupon codes.
- A product expert will be with you soon. Position in Queue is 1. Thank you for your patience.
- You are now chatting with ‘Ehrich’
- Ehrich –
Thank you for contacting Sales Chat. My name is Ehrich, how may I assist you today? - you –
So have coupons gone away that are marked as Viral - you –
If someone uses one .99 coupon then they can never use another one ? - Ehrich –
That is correct, the .99 domain coupon is one-time use only. - you –
So for the life of an account, use one .99 code even though you keep pumping them out and that’s it one and done ? - Ehrich –
Correct. - you –
Great thank you - Ehrich –
No problem. Was there anything else I could help you with? - you –
Transfers in still $7.99 right ? - Ehrich –
For .com domains, that is correct. - you –
Right, thank you. - Ehrich –
You’re welcome!
So who are the winners and losers of CouponGate ?
Verisign (Loser) Verisign has benefited by several half hearted to ridiculous registrations on the basis of “Hey it was only .99”
BrandBucket the company (Loser) Less .99 made up pronounceables being submitted with the hopes to pay $10 if accepted.
BrandBucket sellers (Winner) less competition from domains that will not be registered and possibly keep some new entrants out of the game.
The new domainer (Winner and Loser) depends on how you look at it, it is a loss from a standpoint of needing a bigger budget to get started, it is a win if it saves a new domainer from themselves. .99 codes add up when you are talking 100’s of hand regs.
Other registrars (Winner) Many have expressed complete dismay with Go Daddy and CouponGate, they are promising to leave Go Daddy as they put up with upsells and other negatives because of the coupons. Without coupons Go Daddy is not cheap and there are better registration deals out there. NameBright.com at cost with a prefunded account is $8.03, NameSilo is another registrar getting some love on Namepros, they include free whois privacy for $8.99 and have discounts for bulk registrations.
There is a great deal of conversation going on at Namepros, some believe domainers are being disloyal after receiving years of coupon codes and that domainers themselves abused the system.
Others point out Go Daddy made it up on other services such as 30% commission on any names regged with a coupon that sold on premium listings.
I would add Go Daddy makes money off all the expired domains on Go Daddy Auctions, certainly some of those names were registered with a coupon.
The overall winner may be quality, it would make sense with a full retail price that people will register fewer names on a whim and improve the overall quality of their hand regs.
Are you leaving Go Daddy because of CouponGate ? Will you stay with Go Daddy ?
Kelly says
I am moving half my names out. I will leave names with premium listings.
Kan says
I think many put up with godaddy nonsense for 99cent domains, without that why bother ?
todd says
We have all used hundreds of codes from Godaddy and saved tons of money. The money saved allowed us to register more domains and have more potential for profit based on more volume.
The Brandable market will bd hit the hardest in my opinion but it’s good for those that don’t rely on codes because there will be less names being registered by those that can’t afford regular pricing. I will be the first here to say, I love Godaddy! Thanks for all the savings over the years.
Bobby says
The “brandable market” is all that’s left in .com. Those names were a shot in the dark as flips.
And flops, unless they are developed.
I love this line, Raymond.
“it is a win if it saves a new domainer from themselves…”
Ruben Couto says
For now I will stay with Godaddy.
This is so true: “The overall winner may be quality, it would make sense with a full retail price that people will register fewer names on a whim and improve the overall quality of their hand regs.”
Andrew says
I agree with your points but not completely about “New Domainers”.
Just because Godaddy has stopped offering discount coupons doesn’t mean that it will stop new comers (or current stable) domainers from registering domains of their choice.
I remember when I first started purchasing domains, I was not familiar with discount coupons offered by Godaddy and I have bought 25 domains without any coupon.
We will see many people opting out from Godaddy (for this particular reason), but I would still be their usual customer. And yes, I do believe that now domain quality will be a priority for most domainers when they register domains for $8+.
Vinod R says
I agree that we all used GD codes,but GD did not provide that to benefit the users they would have sorted out the financials and would have seen that without the codes too they have good margins through auctions so they stopped it. I don’t agree with the view that they were doing domainers or others a favour. Its business and not a charity. The registration rates may take a toll, if it’s a mis calculation we can see the codes re implemented in a span of 3-6 months.
Ujjwal Swami says
domain parking companies would get direct effect due to stopping these coupons codes.
also domain name investors would get a heavy loss due to this.
now more domain names will be available in market for hand registration.
…
but we are disappointed due to stopping these coupons use for one account.
Linda Lee says
The only reason I used godaddy was to use the coupons. I had over 100 domains there and I now have 10. I am getting out completely. I always had a reseller enom account and they are 10.45 a name. I will just stick with them from now on.