Transferring domains is intentionally painful to reduce churn

pablo

Member OP

Joined:: Jun 2024
Posts:: 104
From:: Mexico City, Mexico

1y ago

#1

Hot take: transferring domains is intentionally painful to reduce churn

Think about it wey. 60-day locks after registration. Random "security holds" that need faxed ID. Auth codes that expire in 24 hours but take 48 to generate. "your contact info doesnt match" when it clearly does?

This isnt accident. Every friction point is calculated. I tried moving from Vultr to Hetzner last month and it took 11 days. Eleven. For a domain I owned outright. Meanwhile signing up for new service? 5 minutes.

Dark patterns are feature not bug. Convince me otherwise wey!

declarative or death

herebungkus

Member

🌏 SEA represent

Joined:: Aug 2024
Posts:: 108
From:: Jakarta, Indonesia

1y ago

3 #2

Can understand your frustration, but slow-slow also can be for customer protection, no? If too easy, then anyone can steal domain. Thank you.

But I also tried transfer from InterServer to HostHatch, and they said my email must match exactly. My email got plus-sign, their system strip plus-sign. Then cannot. Very headache. Thank you for making this thread.

wrap it, ship it, pray it

SingaporeRep

Member

Benchmark Addict

Joined:: Jul 2024
Posts:: 227
From:: Singapore, SG

1y ago

1 #3

Transfer_vultr_to_hetzner:
  init_request: 0.4s
  auth_code_generated: 48.2h
  support_tickets: 3
  fax_pages_sent: 0 (they dont actually read)
  total_wall_time: 11d 4h

transfer_hetzner_to_interserver (different TLD):
  init_request: 0.3s
  auth_code: instant
  approval: 5min
  total: 6min

decent disk IO, meh network. registrar practices vary wildly.

fio, iperf, geekbench. results or gtfo.

brusselsdzire1

Member

Joined:: Jul 2024
Posts:: 106
From:: Brussels, Belgium

1y ago

#4

This practice may conflict with GDPR Article 20 on data portability, though domain transfers fall under ICANN framework rather than EU law directly. Article 13 implementation showed how "technical measures" can become barriers.

I filed complaint with national regulator regarding Vultr's 60-day lock on .eu domain. Response pending 18 months. Bureaucratic efficiency in action.

JokoNord

Member

Joined:: Jun 2024
Posts:: 190
From:: Jakarta, ID

1y ago

#5

60-day lock means youre stuck paying their renewal price even when CloudCone has it for 40% less. I calculate transfer friction cost me $23/year in lost deals. "free" whois privacy that costs $8 at renewal. No such thing as free trial in domains, bro. Always read year-two pricing.

traffic worse than my packet loss

SamAlvi

Member

Self-Host Everything

Joined:: Jun 2024
Posts:: 188
From:: Portland, US

1y ago

11 #6

Run your own bind9 containers, maintain zone files in git, use docker compose for redundancy. Transfer becomes just nameserver update.

I self-host everything except the registry relationship itself. Reverse proxy through nginx, LetsEncrypt on autorenew. No dark patterns in my infrastructure. Friendly preachiness but it works.

my cloud. my rules. my 3AM alerts.

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