Adam,
While the market will eventually determine price and drive it down to
a reasonable markup that is not the case now. I agree that it is
in Tucows best interest to do one of two things: provide a great free
client and support for a large fee, or do like Enom and provide a low
price and pretty much squat when it comes to client.
Tucows is definitely pouring time and money into this product. The XRS
system is proof of that. The fact that it is free is amazing.
I do not believe that anyone will get rich selling domain names even
for $2 over ICANN cost. If this is your make or break margin, you
need to click here before it is too late: http://www.hotjobs.com.
Believe me, I would be first in line to get a lower Tucows price, but
it is probably too early to expect it.
I also strongly agree with you that the only way to get the best
policies and practices in conjunction with the software is to have
a very open line of communication to and between your RSPs. No one
should every be discouraged from "bucking the system".
And that's the bottom line, 'cause Stone Cold says so. (Did I just
kill my credibility?).
Mark Lieb
Own a complete website from $375
http://www.DomainSiteBuilder.com
1-866-277-6987 (Toll Free)
1-425-930-4390 (fax)
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Adam Beecher
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2000 1:56 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: CA domains
Mark Lieb <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said:
> Sure, $5 for the domain and then how much for the whole support mechanism
> that makes it possible to even have an OpenSRS sytem? When compared to the
> 10's of thousands of dollars and hours and people it takes to get ICANN
> accredited and run their system, I think Tucows is a pretty good deal.
>
If they can survive on a $4 markup on gTLD's - and I honestly believe they
could survive on less - together with the scandalous accreditation fees
imposed by ICANN, they can afford the same on ccTLD's with substantially
smaller signup and subscription fees. That works out to $11 in my book. Even
if you add in the VAT - which I don't think you should, since OpenSRS is a
Canadian company - it's still substantially less than the current pricing.
I should point out that I don't wish to appear to be bitching and whining
about OpenSRS - I have great respect for them. However, I do genuinely
believe that at the current prices, RSP's can't be competitive in the domain
market. In reality, it doesn't really bother me all that much, because I
don't register all that many domain names. But I'm looking at this
economically:
If RSP's continue to try and compete at these prices, registrations are
going
to drop noticably. That means less long-term revenue for both the RSP's
*and*
Tucows. If Tucows drop the prices though, there will be more registrations,
and more long-term revenue all round. Remember those renewals people.
I would also like to add that I resent the "You want Tucows to make less
money so you can make more" comment. If Tucows drop their prices, so will I,
because bulk beat margin every day. Any businessman worth their salt knows
that.
And finally, on the constant stream of "If you don't like it, go elsewhere"
comments - these are just as tedious as the moaning and complaining. Some of
the people commenting on pricing are putting valid arguments across, in well
thought-out postings. They have just as much a right to post as you, so
please - if you don't like the comments, either post logically in response,
or don't post at all.
adam
