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API and Reseller
It would be wonderful if you can make an API and a reseller system like ENOM.
I’m happy
60
people like this idea
I like this idea!
Tell me when this idea gets some attention.
The more people who like this idea, the more it gets noticed.
The more people who like this idea, the more it gets noticed.
The company has this under consideration.
The best point from everyone
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We'd be keen to look into a resller's API as well. I use name.com for some of my personal domain registrations, but in our business we absolutely must have full automation.
If you do start seriously thinking about a resellers API, please consider the following points:
1. You absoluetly must have a super-fast, accurate availability lookup service. Ideally this lookup service would be able to accept a list of domains to lookup, rather than separate transactions per domain. An asynchronous lookup would also be fantastic (i.e. we submit a lift of domains for lookup, along with a post-back URL, and your system then asynchronously posts back results as they come through). This way we can decide on our own timeouts which means we retains full control over our own end -user experience.
2. Domain provisioning must be simple, fast and reliable. I won't mention names, but we still have problems with registrations not sticking they as they should with other suppliers.
3. Pre-funded reseller accounts are OK, but you must provide us with an easy way to check our balance, or even better, update our account balance with each transaction receipt, so we have advance notice of when it's getting low. Better yet, allow us to purchase domains using an on-file credit card so we never have to take time out from our beach holidays just to jump online and replenish our domain credits ;)
4. Offer discounts for resellers like us that host our own DNS servers. All we need you for is lookups, provisioning and renewals, after that you're clear of any further involvement/service.
5. Your pricing does not have to be the absolute lowest to win our business. To us reliability, speed and convenience are the main factors. That said, see point #4 - in that case we're offloading responsibility from you, so wouldn't mind that being reflected in the price.
6. Make an API that can be esily consumed from all platforms/languages. No SOAP (great for .net, sucky for everyone else) and No XML-RPC (ok for script, sucky for .net) please. Simple key/value POSTS over HTTPS are fine, and work for everyone. XML REST style is also cool, and provides a little more fault tolerance in the event of changes to the service.
7. VERSION YOUR API SERVICE POINTS. If you want to introduce new API methods/responses, do it on an new endpoint URL please. i.e. name.com/reseller/api/1.1.0.0 vs. name.com/reseller/api/1.0.0.0. Conversely, don't decommission an older API version unless you simply have to. There's nothign worse than being forced into making our development schedule fit someone elses, especially if we don't actually want or need to impement the new features they're bringing on line.
That's a good start, let me know if you want more info/thoughts.
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this is one of the best points
Create a customer community for your own organization
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Inappropriate?We've considered this but have not felt there was enough demand. Will watch for additional demand.
Thank you! -
Inappropriate?I'm with this idea. -
Inappropriate?This idea also has the support of WHMComplete Solution. I think it a lot of people want this because you have amazing prices and services.
Join to Get Satisfaction community it's great for the company, keep on this way. -
Inappropriate?In fact I have also been wanting to resell Name.com product, but looking at the already low rates that were offered until couple of months back, I didn't feel like asking! But now that the rates are increased, may I suggest to go ahead with a reseller system. If you couple this with optional paid hosting you got a big market out there. Not many people are interested in Free Google Apps. I have been trying to popularize this (Name+GoogleApps) but could get only 1 client in 3 months that too because it was left to me for some SEO work I was doing.
(All my YOUs are addressed to Name.com)
I’m excited
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Inappropriate?Irving, We really appreciate your advice, and it is certainly being taken under advisement. Please continue to provide suggestions as to what you as well as your clients are looking for in Name.com. Your suggestions are not falling on deaf ears.
Thank you, Scott -
Inappropriate?We'd be keen to look into a resller's API as well. I use name.com for some of my personal domain registrations, but in our business we absolutely must have full automation.
If you do start seriously thinking about a resellers API, please consider the following points:
1. You absoluetly must have a super-fast, accurate availability lookup service. Ideally this lookup service would be able to accept a list of domains to lookup, rather than separate transactions per domain. An asynchronous lookup would also be fantastic (i.e. we submit a lift of domains for lookup, along with a post-back URL, and your system then asynchronously posts back results as they come through). This way we can decide on our own timeouts which means we retains full control over our own end -user experience.
2. Domain provisioning must be simple, fast and reliable. I won't mention names, but we still have problems with registrations not sticking they as they should with other suppliers.
3. Pre-funded reseller accounts are OK, but you must provide us with an easy way to check our balance, or even better, update our account balance with each transaction receipt, so we have advance notice of when it's getting low. Better yet, allow us to purchase domains using an on-file credit card so we never have to take time out from our beach holidays just to jump online and replenish our domain credits ;)
4. Offer discounts for resellers like us that host our own DNS servers. All we need you for is lookups, provisioning and renewals, after that you're clear of any further involvement/service.
5. Your pricing does not have to be the absolute lowest to win our business. To us reliability, speed and convenience are the main factors. That said, see point #4 - in that case we're offloading responsibility from you, so wouldn't mind that being reflected in the price.
6. Make an API that can be esily consumed from all platforms/languages. No SOAP (great for .net, sucky for everyone else) and No XML-RPC (ok for script, sucky for .net) please. Simple key/value POSTS over HTTPS are fine, and work for everyone. XML REST style is also cool, and provides a little more fault tolerance in the event of changes to the service.
7. VERSION YOUR API SERVICE POINTS. If you want to introduce new API methods/responses, do it on an new endpoint URL please. i.e. name.com/reseller/api/1.1.0.0 vs. name.com/reseller/api/1.0.0.0. Conversely, don't decommission an older API version unless you simply have to. There's nothign worse than being forced into making our development schedule fit someone elses, especially if we don't actually want or need to impement the new features they're bringing on line.
That's a good start, let me know if you want more info/thoughts.
3 people think
this is one of the best points
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Inappropriate?Nat,
The insight and well thought-out points you hit are so valuable for us as we consider this further. Thank you for providing us with your perspectives and I hope you'll continue to actively contribute them. -
Inappropriate?Jennifer,
I'm more than happy to provide our insights and experiences, but a commitement from you guys would also be nice :)
If it adds any weight to the suggestion, our service is still only in the initial beta phase and we're already into the 1000's of domains/year range. We expect this to ramp up to 100,000's domains/year fairly rapidly though once our marketing efforts hit full swing.
We simply could not even begin to consider ordering our current volume manually, let alone our projected volume, so the ball's entirely in your court :) -
Inappropriate?Has this suggestion made any progress internally yet?
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Inappropriate?Nat,
We're putting a project together. It's not been prioritized yet, but it's on the drawing board. We'll keep you posted. -
Inappropriate?Even without the API, an affiliate link would be nice.
We are Go$#%dy resellers, and hate dealing with them. But it was the only way to get in on the action.
Their interface is one of the worst I have ever seen. You have to wait for Parsons' endless pitches trying to sell you stuff I wouldn't touch in a thousand years in order to do anything.
We have about 65 domains registered there (mostly bought on eBay) and had to renew a couple that expired inside the 60 day window.
I’m happy
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Inappropriate?
I fully support the idea of Reseller AP -
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Inappropriate?In the past month and a half I have purchased 35 domains from Name.com, after noticing the price hike from Blue Razor and Go Daddy (with whom I have 105 domain name). Each week I purchase a few more because of the growth of my web hosting and web design business.
And to be honest, I only resell the domains I reserve for $10/year because it is a small service I provide to my customer. Although domain reservation is not something I'm looking to get rich on, a dollar or two for each domain starts to add up over the volume of all my domains, which goes up one or two new domains each week.
I am therefore somebody who is interested in (1) Low price of domains; and (2) Speed in management of these domains. For this reason I would be interested in a reseller program where I can lower my costs. If my switching costs are low to switch the 100+ domains from Go Daddy/Blue Razor, this would be something I would consider as it makes business sense for me.
Because I am very familiar with the order process and management system of Go Daddy and Blue Razor (I've been a customer of theirs since 2000) and have used the Name.com's system over the past month and a half (since Nov 2008), the following are things that I really like about Name.com:
- When I travel internationally, I am able to purchase via credit card from the web (Go Daddy/Blue Razor requires me to make a international phone call)
- I absolutely love having Google Apps integrated from the start. I set up all my new accounts with it so they can get branded email addresses. I know that one customer above mentioned he doesn't use it much, but I certainly find it very helpful to have it integrated at the moment of reserving a domain.
- I find it extremely easy to set up the A Record so that the new domain points to my server's location instantly.
- I like that the order process is not filled with a lot of bloat and special offers. However lately I do not like seeing all the different available names and extensions to purchased when all I want to buy is a single .com TLD.
- I like getting the email notification when I've logged into my account; it gives me a warm-fuzzy feeling.
- I do like the integration with GetSatisfaction.com
Things that I think Name.com could improve:
- I really wish I could see the price discount after entering in a coupon code in the checkout page. Right now I don't see any price reduction until after the transaction has already taken place and my credit card is charged. This annoyed me when I found out a coupon code no longer worked and I was billed the full amount.
- Because of my volume, I was really attracted to the $5.99 domain names from Early November, but now I miss the $6.99 from Late November. The coupons are no longer available on the homepage and therefore your current price is only 2.8% less expensive than Blue Razor. As a buyer with a growing volume of domain names, I would hope to have some special pricing so it makes business sense for me to keep all my domains with Name.com.
I’m open to new ideas and looking forward to lower prices
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Inappropriate?I will agree with dustonio about not liking the delay created by checking a gazillion extensions when all I want is a .com. Cut down on your server load and let us choose what TLD's get checked or at least give us the option to limit them.
I also agree with not liking the discount showing up until after completing the order, My recollection is that back in August or September it showed up when entered. -
Inappropriate?I would Love to see name.com have a TLD reseller program, such has partner site ect. would really improve business
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Inappropriate?Found a work-around for the delay resulting from checking multiple tld's If you go to the page for searching multiple domain names, you can limit the tld's checked.
It's a little quicker
I’m thankful
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Inappropriate?I'd be really glad to be a name.com reseller, because it is the easiest way to get on dotcom domains I've found. Im on it!
I’m excited
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Inappropriate?I'd even be happy to see an affiliate program, They have one at netfirms, but I can't recommend them, their interface is difficult, and they don't complete the registration fast enough for me.
I’m still waiting on a program
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Inappropriate?Ditto! name.com's UI and transaction flow has been the most straightforward i've dealt with. Even just an affiliate to get started would be okay -- but reseller would be great. I'd rather send business to you than godaddy or elsewhere.
I’m waiting.
1 person thinks
this is one of the best points
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This is one of the best points
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Name.com is everything I could hope for, except the lack of an incentive to send people here, but I do anyway. -
I just buy it for them instead :D
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Inappropriate?Ladies and Gentlemen...
I'm pleased to announce that we're in development on an API to provide reseller services. I would love to hear from a few of you that have PHP experience or have a PHP developer at their disposal. We would like a few beta testers.
Additional development will be done to make sure the accounts can be used without the need of PHP skills.
Please contact me at kellie@name.com to discuss whether the beta program is right for you. Please include the website where you would like to implement the API, the traffic to the website and how many registrations you average in a day.
Thanks!
1 person thinks
this is one of the best points
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Inappropriate?I'm ecstatic I just removed 20 or so domains from Go%&##y and would love to bring more here.
I’m excited
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Inappropriate?This is great news, I will gladly apply for beta test, php is no problem for me.
count me in. -
Inappropriate?Great! Please keep me in.
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Inappropriate?I m reseller of name.com with Reseller v0.9 i coded this software with delphi and i have a php portal to manipulate informations .
Sorry to my english -
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Inappropriate?Chris - I'm not certain what Hamza is referring to. All of our reseller API work is happening in house. And we're getting very close.
Hamza - please clarify what you are referring to.
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This is one of the best points
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Yes, we sure would like to know what Hamza is up to ;)
Kellie, thanks for the news. It's exciting to know you are close to this. -
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Inappropriate?Hi Basit,
Our reseller service is still under development. However, we believe we will be making some serious progress in early 2010. Please keep an eye on our home page in the coming months for further details.
Best Regards,
Scott -
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This is one of the best points
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Hi selim.ajax, would you mind sending an email to lesley[at]name.com with a few details about your work (type of business, number of domains, etc)? Once we have more details available we'll be in touch with you.
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