A (Bad) Review of Namecheap Domain RegistrarsLooking for the right domain registrar is critical to online success. The way your domain is handled is where it all starts. DNS management, transfers, and overall domain services are the initial launch your site. If you choose the wrong domain registrar, you could suffer traffic loss, search engine results positions, and money loss. These are precisely the reasons NOT to use Namecheap as your domain registrar.

As one that has been in the online industry for many years, I have logged into just about every possible type of website, web host, control panel, and a domain’s DNS manager. Many don’t realize that you can have a great server, but the DNS server is your starting point. Slow propogation, slow load, too few IPs to back-up name servers all effect site speed.

In my time, I have transferred more websites and domains than many people will ever even view in their lifetime. No bragging,  – it is what it is. This being said, I also know the international laws that govern domain registrars. While very few items are at the registrars discretion, most rules are strictly governed by ICANN. Just a few examples:

  • New domains or transferred domains cannot be moved again for 60 days
  • Registrars (if a transfer is initiated), have to release the domain after 5 days – however MOST registrars know how critical it is to get a site live again and (I personally) have never waited any longer than 30 or so minutes. Not the case with Namecheap. These guys really don’t care.
  • Many other rules….not important for this post

Recently, I had to move over ten domains and live sites for a web hosting client of mine and the registrar was Namecheap. There domain management is awkward and quite frankly, it makes no common sense at all. Setting A records and other items like initiating transfers are like pulling teeth. There is no other word than pathetic, illogical, and unprofessional.

In moving my clients domains, six of his websites are on hold because Namecheap has decided to let their 5 day policy “kick in”. Is this spite for being the losing registrar? Is it laziness? Whatever you call it, the indexed content of some fairly popular sites plummets while this company really doesn’t care. Contact after contact and not a care in the world.

Remember that your domain is your starting place – even before hosting. Be safe, be smart – steer clear of the domain registrars at Namecheap…..cheap is fitting for these guys!