Is the problem with Enom or Enom resellers?

[Gerry]

What is the issue with enom?

I have had three domain names lost.

Here is the scenario. Seller says he can not transfer for blah, blah, blah. But will be happy to set up an account for me.

Then when I try to transfer out, that account is not really (???) controlled by me. I have to contact the person who set up the account to get the access and transfer auth codes. But they never respond back.

What in the hell is going on?

Tonight, I was going to bid on and purchase a .com. Before the auction was to close, I contacted the owner to determine if there was any problem with transfer.

His response was, "well, I don't really have time for a transfer. I'll have to set up an Enom account for you and you can transfer later." WTF???

So I tell him I like the domain but not more than I hate Enom. I wanted to transfer to Moniker. He tells me he has not "established" a transfer price for his time.

Okay, no deal going down here. I'll be damn if I am going to pay someone a transfer fee. And what with the "don't have time to transfer" but got time to set up an account for me? Total BS.

But what the hell is it with Enom and Enom resellers who are insistent on setting up an account for you and not giving any options beyond that?

I had heard their is a tier bonus structure for keeping domains in reseller accounts or something like that.

Any clarification would be helpful.

[Gerry]

Can anyone explain the enom hierarchy of things?

[Raider]

"TheWatcher" would know better than most, you may want to ask him.

Let me just say the Enom Reseller program is a JOKE... The problems your having appear to be with your reseller, you may want to call Enom vs opening a support ticket.

Enom resellers love setting up accounts, but when it comes to any kind of support, there nowhere to be found, and if you contact Enom, they usually refer you BACK to the reseller.

[Dave Zan]

but when it comes to any kind of support, there nowhere to be found, and if you contact Enom, they usually refer you BACK to the reseller.

Generally, legal agreements between the registrar and the reseller "force" the
former to refer end-users to the latter. However, there are very limited times
when the registrar might step in if the end-user shows they've exhausted all
means to try resolving it with the reseller.

Of course, it entails risks on the registrar. Mileage can vary.

[Raider]

Generally, legal agreements between the registrar and the reseller "force" the
former to refer end-users to the latter. However, there are very limited times
when the registrar might step in if the end-user shows they've exhausted all
means to try resolving it with the reseller.

Of course, it entails risks on the registrar. Mileage can vary.

Define "exausted" If the reseller has no phone number and uses primarily email, How many unanswered email communications would you say it would take before the Registrar steps in?.. Thanks Dave!

[Gerry]

Generally, legal agreements between the registrar and the reseller "force" the
former to refer end-users to the latter. However, there are very limited times
when the registrar might step in if the end-user shows they've exhausted all
means to try resolving it with the reseller.

Of course, it entails risks on the registrar. Mileage can vary.

Thanks Raider and Dave.

What I am getting at, it almost seems to be a tiered structure almost like a Pyramid scheme.

That is what I am trying to get clarification on.

Is it Reseller A can sign up additional resellers and then Reseller A gets a deeper discount?

And Reseller A sets up an account for Reseller B and get a percentage of Reseller B's proceeds?

But all have incentives to keep domains in their accounts for additional discounts and bonuses?

And one way they do this is to set up accounts for buyers of domain names which are in essence still under their control?

That is why I would like to know why enom sellers some times do not forward transfer and authorization codes, why many insist on setting up accounts rather than even consider allowing the domain to transfer out, and why even I do not have access to the codes even though it is supposedly my account.

[Dave Zan]

Define "exausted" If the reseller has no phone number and uses primarily email, How many unanswered email communications would you say it would take before the Registrar steps in?.. Thanks Dave!

That's a goooooooooood question. That's why I added that mileage can vary.

Incidentally this was one of the most common issues I dealt with in a previous
life. Whenever an enduser contacted us asking how to access the domain and
records showed it's with a reseller, our reseller agreements normally compel us
to refer them to the reseller first for resolution.

If the domain name's registered to the enduser and they said they've emailed
and called the reseller but no dice past 24 hours, fortunately our agreements
allow us to step in and maybe transfer the domain name to them if they can
satisfy our verification processes. Heck, I've had people call in one hour after
they tried emailing or calling the reseller and saying that, too.

Unfortunately if the domain name's registered to the reseller, then we go into
bearer-of-bad-news mode. I never relished that one bit, and I've have a few
who swore, begged, even threatened with suit and bodily harm.

I've also discussed this with (former) peers from competitor registrars. Turns
out they'd handle such either same way or similarly, depending on how simple
or complex the issue is.

Except for Namecheap so far, this is one major reason why I consistently say
it's important to register your domain with a registrar instead of a reseller if it
can be helped. And if you happen to deal with a reseller who isn't really giving
you much options, well...do what you have to do under the circumstances.