Do you own the domain?

[43210]

I have been searching the web and have seen alot of sites offering domain names from 35$ at versign until like 6.95$ or 8.95$ at godaddy. Why are there so big prices diffrences? Are there any hidden costs? If you pay only like 6.95$ do you own the domain (or does the site where you registered own the domain?) and you just can use it? Can anybody help?

[Chicken]

It is questionable whether you can use the term 'own' with any domain, anywhere, but aside from that, the short answer to your question is yes, you own the domain at the cheaper places like godaddy.

The price difference is mainly just from NetSol having exclusive right to sell domains (not too long ago), and them not lowering the price. You can find better domain registrars for much less than NetSol now. It is a good thing :D

[rapmaster]

I'm still curious as to how we can call it selling a domain name, it really makes little since that some big company can sell u a domain for 2 years and then just take it back, they sould call it leasing a domain, if their gona sell a domain they better hand me over the rights to the domain name so I can lease or sale it myself. Back to the topic, no their only gona let u "own" the domain for the # of years u decided to "buy" the domain for. So basically its just a ripped off version of a lease.

[spec]

I don't think u should make that assumption. It shows u have no real sense. Some places do allow u to buy a domain, but its expensive.
Its like buying a house. Do u really own the house? well u do not own the land and u have to pay for that so really on some deep down level u don't really own the house.

As for if u pay for the domain for 6 months you do OWN the domain for six months. As godaddy states its in your name not theirs. but remember they buy it from someone else.

[Chicken]

Well, I think the distinction here is that you could pay $2,000,000 for a good domain name (buy it from someone else), and when it comes up for renewal (from your registrar), if you forget to pay the $9 reg. fee, it eventually will be dropped (in theory) and if someone else grabs it, you've lost it.

A house is a bit different. You pay for the building and the land and can pay that off, though you will still have to pay property taxes, etc., and overall it is different.

Domains are an interesting errrr... product. There's not many things like them, bought or sold except maybe license plates and phone numbers. I can't think of anything else off the top of my head.

Related topic:
It is like when people ask (as they always do), "How much is my domain worth?" -well it is worth whatever you can sell it for. I've had people refuse to sell me domains saying, "It is worth $150,000!!!" -errrrr... how so? One in particular that I'm thinking about was put on afternic and bidding reached about $450. Seems to be a big difference there.

[spec]

its getting off topic but no u do not ever own the land, it will remain crown land.

[rynoski]

crown land?

where do you live?

in the territories of Australia you buy a 99 year lease.

everywhere else you own it.

[spec]

Canada.
Really No one own the land
hense u can't plow down your house and build office towers

[Chicken]

Ahhh, well geographics might differ in regards to this, but even in the U.S., while you own it, that doesn't mean you can raze your home and build offices. Zoning, etc., but this is off topic, sorry. My bad.