I started a registrar as a hobby and as an escape from the underhanded practices of Network Solutions.
Currently, I offer registrations in most TLDs. Consult the OpenSRS list for details and contact me if pricing info isn't available on the Retsiger main menu.
Additionaly, WHOIS Privacy is available for some of the TLDs. You can also transfer domains from other registrars in the many of the TLDs. New TLDs are added occasionally.
Note that some TLDs have special requirements. It is your responsbility to fulfill these requirements as described on Retsiger's main page:
As a hobby, I'm not in it for profit. OpenSRS charges me a base amount depending TLD and potentially services requested on that TLD. On top of that, I need to pay 2.9% of the cost plus $0.30 for transaction handling fees. Therefore, that's what I charge.
A transfer costs the same amount as a new registration but does increase the registration by a year -- i.e., you are actually paying to renew the domain for an additional year.
Given that I don't make money (see above), I also can't afford to do credit card processing on site. Therefore, I require payment before the domains are processed either by cash, check (less preferred), or PayPal (most preferred). If you don't have a PayPal account, sign up for one by visiting PayPal
Payments should be made to paypal@retsiger.com.
Visit the Retsiger main page at http://www.retsiger.com/ and read over the materials. If you agree with the conditions, contact me.
Note that accounts are only given to known entities (i.e., friends and family). Alternatively, you can use Hover and get a 10% discount from Retsiger by visiting: http://hover.com/retsiger or using coupon code retsiger.
There are always risks, some of which include:
Since I must manually process orders (after verifying payment), there may be a delay in processing a registration. It is possible that someone else will register the same domain name during that time and you will lose the domain. The delays may be greater when I am away or asleep.
If my machine or network goes down, you won't be able to reach the web site to register or manage a domain. See next question for more details.
For new registrations, there isn't anything I can do about this yet. For domain management, until my site returns, you can use the OpenSRS main management site:
In the *extremely* unlikely event that I stop doing this, you will still be able to manage existing domains using OpenSRS main management site:
No, the transfers can be done at any time and the expiration will be increased a year (i.e., you don't have to wait until the domains is almost up for expiration). However, the domain has to be current (i.e., not expired) before it can be transferred.
The first step is I must process the request after verifying payment. After that is done, the domain is registered. The Internic updates whois and the root name servers over night.
To add a registered nameserver:
After doing that, you can add it as a nameserver for your domain:
The first step is I must process the request after verifying payment. After that is done, the transfer begins. Note that domains being transferred must not be expired, on-hold, or less than 60 days old.
The first step is the current owner (e-mail address for admin contact in whois) must approve the transfer within 5 days. Next, OpenSRS reviews the request and approves it with 24 hours. Finally, the losing registrar must approve the transfer within 11 days (each has it's own process for doing so). Delays usually occur on this last step.
There are actually multiple username/password combinations. There is a web site set which I maintain that you need just to get access to the web site. There is also a domain set used to manage the domain. I can reset the web site set once I receive a new request form, just drop me an email for more information.
I can also mail the domain set to the admin contact for the domain upon request via e-mail.
Sorry, there are no cancellations/refunds once an order is processed.
Tucows/OpenSRS, Retsiger's provider, provides free managed DNS service for all domains registered under them. Contant me for more information. I do not provide web site hosting.
Visit the Tucows OpenSRS site: http://www.opensrs.org/
In this example, you have registered example.com, example.net, and example.org under three separate domains and now want to combine them under one profile for easier management. To do this, use the following steps:
From now on, when you register a new domain, you will get a screen that asks to setup your domain management profile and you can select "New client" or "Existing client". Select "Existing client" and enter example.com as the "Previously registered domain name". That will keep all future domains in the same profile.