I have been a years long customer at Godaddy and recently I visited it to register few more new domains as usual. To my surprise, I saw that the domain fees have gone up to over $10.69/year base fee at least per domain extension. I am checking again now and see that even though the price for .com has gone back down to a “luring” $9.99 (under-10 value feel), other prices are still high, including the .nets. As of 01/15/09,  Godaddy domain prices are

.com      The most popular domain! Do you have yours?      $10.69* $9.99*
.net     The perfect complement to a .COM.     $12.99*
.info     Put your information on the Web.     $10.69* $0.99*
.org     Perfect for your non-profit.     $14.99*
.me     A domain that’s all about YOU.     $19.99     $14.99
.mobi     Give customers on-the-go access to your site.     $14.99* $7.99*
.biz     A domain that means business.     $14.99*
.us     Get your hands on the all-American domain.     $19.99
.asia     Reach the growing Asian market.     $19.99*
.ws     An all-purpose Web Site Domain.     $14.99

Putting aside the discounted first year fees, it looks like .info and .com are now in same price range and .net has become more expensive than before and than the .com. What’s going on?

I have few possible reasons. As you know, the domain fees are usually $35+/year and the reason well known domain providers are selling for around $10 or cheaper is because they are getting income from additional services such as hosting or are buying/depositing in “bulkiest” bulks from respective domain extension rights holders. With the current economy situations, to me, it seems like Godaddy may be having somewhat hard time keeping up with budget and the profits, and thus increasing the prices. Now before you argue, it is true that if the economy is falling, Godaddy should be selling the domains cheaper than ever, but remember, they have to make up for the lost in depositing for domains in bulk not only to maintain the services but to also make up for decrease in investments and domain purchasing companies or individuals. That’s one of my reason for the increase in the domain prices.

As with the increase in the .net registration fees, the only reasons I can come up for are 1. The .net provider is increasing the prices. 2. The demands for .net has gone up compared to past years’ purchase records. 3. The volumes of business owners or the individuals wishing to enter into dealing their business using dot com has decreased due to economy crisis, while the volumes for dot net has increased due to “on the net” business title purposes. And 4. The discount times are over now that the time, to increase the domain prices to what they have always been, with .net being more expensive than .info and .com, has arrived.

By: Kaung