domain name basics

[azi]

forgive my ignorance, please.

i already own two domain names through dot.tk and godaddy, and was looking to purchase a third domain name and it finally occured to me to shop around -- i've been so careful choosing free hosting and pay hosting, it somehow hadn't occured to me to shop around for domain name registrars.

so far, since i know so little, all i can compare are prices. A is cheaper than B, B is cheaper than D, D is more expensive then, well, you get the drift.

So. what can a registrar do so wrong that i would have to beware of them as a company as a whole? obviously, i read enough fine print to ensure that i actually own the rights to the domain name, and my name servers are hosted by my pay host themselves.....as well as my email and etcetera. all i really expect of my registrars is to sit there, and take my money annually.

what should i actually be aware of? how could a domain name registrar screw up my website?

answers are of course, appreciated.

[Chicken]

For the most part, as long as they are responsive, have adequate systems in place so you can modify your domain details, and are responsive when it comes to support/billing problems (if any), then there isn't all that much that a registrar would do to 'screw up' your site. Most of the complaints about registrars seem to be centered around people being unable to change contact infomation easily (often registrant), or solve a biling problem. You also want to make sure they don't play games with transfers should you want to move the domain to another registrar (in this area, I'd stay away from Networksolutions and totalnic).

[thewitt]

Giving the nature of the "Domain Slamming" going on these days, I would also recommend a registrar who offers domain locking so the domain cannot be transferred, and that your nameserver information cannot be changed with your explicit removal of the lock.

-t