Are you Taliban Ron?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Stark" <ronstark&#167;businesspark.com.au>
To: <dns&#167;lists.auda.org.au>
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 10:45 AM
Subject: [DNS] Solution to domains renewal furore


> At the risk of provoking a violent reaction ("Over my dead body!" was one
> such and "What??" another), I'll float the idea again:
>
> All of the practices we want to stamp out are centred on domain name
> renewals.  We can easily stop it all cold - instantly - simply by
decreeing
> that *only* registrars are permitted to send out renewal notices, and then
> only to their own registrants.  We could even increase the price (or
margin)
> for the first registration, and lower the renewal price.
>
> As a reseller, I am well aware of the cons, so don't flame me on that.
> Pros, however, include:
>
> 1 Direct mail marketing would only go to those clients who do not
> already have a domain name, therefore there's no risk of "stealing"
clients
> from another reseller
>
> 2 It would encourage value-added services at the time of original
> registration, and remove many of the confusing "not illegal" offerings
>
> 3 It would eliminate any tendency for registrars to compete with their
> own resellers in the domain name space.
>
> 4 There is not much margin in renewing, and little opportunity to add
> value at renewal time.  My suggestion would create more volume in renewals
> (in the hands of registrars) thereby making it more efficient.
>
> 5 Many of the CoP issues that arise due to deceptive solicitations for
> renewals would no longer be necessary
>
> 6 Renewals should eventually be less expensive for consumers, because
> there's no need to build in reseller margins.
>
> 7 We could all concentrate on opening up new markets (new registrants)
> instead of fighting over a closed market (existing registrants)
>
> 8 Problems and conflicts arising from renewal notice timing would
> disappear
>
> 9 Policing, monitoring and conflict resolution would be cleaner and
> simpler.
>
> 10 Renewal notices would only come from the proper registering
> authority.  There would be objection to renewals that simply "look"
official
> - they'd all be official for real.
>
> 11 Developing new business would be less susceptible to abuse.
>
> 12 The task of educating consumers would be simpler, faster and more
> economical.
>
> As Bruce Tonkin said (I think it was Bruce) the vast majority of resellers
> offer domain name services as but a small part of other bundled services,
> and those bundles are where business opportunities and profitability lie
for
> resellers.  It's those value-added services that provide scope for
> innovation and strong but healthy competition as well.
>
> I sometimes draw an analogy between a domain name and a car number plate.
> One allows your car to be used on roads, the other allows your business to
> be used on the Internet.  Both have a similar significance to consumers -
if
> I buy a car, I don't give a damn where the number plate comes from, as
long
> as I have one as evidence that registration has occurred.  At renewal
time,
> the registration authority sends me a renewal notice - not the car dealer!
>
> Similarly with registering a business name.  If my accountant does it,
it's
> a reimbursible  expense, and it's *me* that's sent a reminder to renew the
> name registration - not my accountant.  I may, however, elect to ask him
to
> perform the service on my behalf, and pay him a fee to do so.
>
> In other words, we already have multiple proven business models and
> processes as precedents, from which to draw ideas.   They're simple,
> consumers already fully understand and accept them, and they're already
> comfortable with the concepts and procedures.
>
> Why are we trying to invent a new, more complicated one?
>
>
> Ron Stark
> Business Park Pty Ltd
> mail: ronstark&#167;businesspark.com.au
> phone: +61 (0)3 9521 0649   fax: +61 (0)3 9521 0485
> mob: +61 (0)41 812 9922
>
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