I don't like my registrar... how do I move?

It makes sense to choose one registrar that you like and keep all your domains there, becoming familiar with the management tools and policies. All accreditted registrars offer the same basic service... the differences are in price, support, and features.

Remember... Network Solutions (now Verisign) is no longer the only registrar, but they are among the most expensive and (in our opinion) the least responsive to customers. We frequently have customers with Verisign-related problems.

ICANN (www.ICANN.org) is the regulatory agency that accredits registrars. Check their list of registrars to see if the ones you are looking at are accreditted. If the organization you like is a reseller, inquire with their provider to make sure they are in good standing. For instance, Tucows and OpenSRS are accreditted registrars, but they do not deal directly with the consumer; they provide services to smaller resellers.

If you plan to move your domain to a new registrar do it more than 60 days before it expires. This is especially important with Verisign, who will not move it less than 60 days from expiration, claiming they are protecting you from domain hijackers.

1. To transfer registrars, go to the new registrar's site and look for a link that says something like "transfering your domain." Make sure you are looking at the instructions for transferring to a new registrar, not to a new OWNER.

2. You typically have to pay for one-year of registration to move to a new registrar. Your old registration period will play out, so you lose no money. There is no reason to wait for renewal time to move your domains if you are unhappy with your registrar.

3. Pay attention to ALL the fees and services of a new registrar before making a move... the annual fee is not the only factor. Look at the domain management panel and see how easy it will be to make changes. Look at the sales policy... what hoops will you have to jump through if you sell a name? Is there an ownership transfer fee? The official Gryphyn Media favorite is DirectNIC.com... we have gotten consistently good value there.

4. And of course, MAKE SURE you again point the nameservers (also called DNS settings) to Gryphyn Media to continue your website hosting uninterrupted. At most registrars, you only have to enter the names, but some require the IP addresses, as well. Your nameservers were specified in the welcome email you got when you signed up. If you are not sure, ask us. ns1.gryphynmedia.com 209.124.87.12
ns2.gryphynmedia.com 209.124.87.13

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