Kirk -
This is a challenging issue, perhaps aggravated slightly by our wholesale
model. The connundrum is, we are required to have enough money in our .biz
account to cover successful registrations. The problem is not as simple
as "covering" the (for lack of a better term/concept) bets, the problem is
covering the right bets. Having the wrong person (someone who does not
win) cover the bet is of little value (to us), we have to give them
their money back (quickly), whil waiting for the winner to pay. It just
does not make sense.
Also, we do have to encourage you (resellers) to ensure you are covered -
we need to avoid big admin headaches over cancellations for non-payment
by end users.
We will put a system in place to get unsed pre-payments back to you very
quickly at your request.
We are open to suggestions, please send them on. Ayny suggestions should
address the two issues above reasonably.
I imagine we will also be speaking with the .biz registry about this and
keep you posted.
Regards,
sA
Scott Allan
Director, OpenSRS
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Thu, 17 May 2001, Kirk Fletcher wrote:
>
> Finally some useful .biz and .info information.... it's getting closer :)
> This has the potential to be quite profitable to all concerned - there are
> a couple questions raised by this information though.
>
> Firstly, .biz names. The $3 ticket price is about what I was expecting,
> and seems reasonable enough - but the $10 holding fee? Is Neulevel doing
> something like this to registrars, or this just Tucows doing it to us?
> This severely limits our ability to run a successful lottery... it means
> that if we want to sell multiple tickets for a domain (and I intended to
> have a drop-down box saying, "number of tickets") then we get charged
> an additional $10 fee for each ticket. Yeah, I know its refundable if
> it doesn't go through - but I'm not made of money.
>
> I either have to pay all those myself, and only invoice customer
> afterwards (if successful), or charge customer up-front. I can't
> really do the second - its just stupid. If someone want the name
> mydomain.biz - and purchases 10 "tickets", why should they have to
> pay $10 holding fee on each one? Its kinda obvious that at least 9
> of those tickets will need to have $10 refunded! But I can't really
> afford to do the first either, I don't have that much capital lying
> around. I must say, I wasn't expecting this additional feature for
> .biz and am quite disappointed.
>
> I think I'll leave my other questions for another time - since I
> don't want to detract from the above issue.
>
> Kirk
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2001 8:51 AM
> Subject: OpenSRS Live Reseller Update - 05/16/01
>
> >
> > Pricing update
> > -----------------
> > Please find following the pricing structure for .info and .biz
> > registrations. Please note that existing volume rebates (promote Tucows)
> > will apply to both .biz and .info registrations.
> >
> >
> > Pricing - .info
> > ***
> > Sunrise - $65 (Minimum 5 year registration = $13 x 5 years)
> > Landrush - $20 (Minimum 2 year registration = $10 x 2 years)
> > Normal Volume - $20 (Minimum 2 year registration = $10 x 2 years)
> >
> >
> > Pricing - .biz
> > ***
> > IP Claim Service - $78.75
> >
> > Pre-registration submissions (lottery system):
> >
> > - up to 5,000 pre-registration submissions: $3.00
> > - 5,000 - 15,000 pre-registration submissions: $2.70
> > - greater than 15,000 pre-registration submissions: $2.30
> >
> > Once you surpass a volume level, your discount will apply across all
> > submissions. The discounts will be applied as a rebate.
> >
> > Please remember - the pre-registration *submission fees* for .biz
> > registrations are NON REFUNDABLE. If the registrant is not awarded the
> > domain, they DO NOT receive a refund for this fee. We will return the
> > $10.00 one year registration fee for unsuccessful pre-registration
> > attempts ($10.00 will be put on hold for all .biz pre-registrations).
> >
> > Registry live (normal operation): $10.00 for one year registration
> >
> >
> > .biz update
> > -----------------
> > NeuLevel has announced that the IP Claim Service will officially begin
> > May 21, 2001 and run until July 9, 2001. Tucows will be providing
> > resellers with the opportunity to participate in the IP Claim Service
> > beginning May 24, 2001. On this day, Tucows will make all necessary
> > legal documents available on the OpenSRS web site and will have the
> > necessary updates to the RWI completed. Please note - Tucows will
> > provide you with the appropriate link to the forms on May 24, 2001.
> > Tucows DOES NOT anticipate any significant landrush characteristics
> > during this time period, and as a result you WILL NOT be at a
> > disadvantage by offering this service to your registrants three days
> > after the official launch date.
> >
> > Timelines for .biz remain unchanged, as follows:
> >
> > IP Claim Service: May 21, 2001 - July 9, 2001
> > Domain Name Application and Selection (Pre-registration): June 25, 2001
> > - September 25, 2001
> > Registry Live: October 1, 2001
> >
> >
> > .info update
> > -----------------
> > To further expand on previous email communications, Tucows will be
> > providing resellers with a pre-registration mechanism for both the
> > sunrise and landrush periods so that you may collect pre-registrations
> > from registrants.
> >
> > Timelines for .info remain as follows:
> >
> > OpenSRS sunrise pre-reg tool available: June 1
> > Registry sunrise begins: June 25, 2001 and end July 23, 2001
> > Cooling off period begin: ELIMINATED
> > OpenSRS land rush pre-reg tool available: June 26
> > Land rush period begin: July 25, 2001 and end August 22, 2001
> > Normal volume begin: August 23, 2001
> >
> > We will continue to keep you updated with any new information as we
> > receive it.
> >
> > Thanks for your continued support of OpenSRS!
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > sA
> > Scott Allan
> > Director, OpenSRS
>
