Final question - Domain and Shipping

[js5691]

Hi

Looking to finally buy my domain tonight probably will buy both .com and .co.uk.

I will be using shopify so will only need the domains and no hosting. I am aware in the future I may want to go away from shopify so can anybody point me in the direction for the best domain registrar for a good price who will register the domain as mine not there's and will allow all the necessary dns etc.

Another small one where do you guys get your labels and boxes ?

Who are the cheapest mail fowarders with a physical address for a small company starting. It's unlikely much mail will be coming my way unless it's returns.

Finally I need a logo anybody know the best way to outsourcing this designing cheaply however keeping it as my own.

Many Thanks

 

[Deleted member 243860]

I'd have thought all the domain registrars allow you to configure DNS. Choose a well known established one like 123-reg etc..

 

[js5691]

I can appreciate that there are some big name out there however I've seen a few horror stories with people such as 1&1 and go daddy. Especially with changing hosts etc and that the customer isn't actually owning the domain however they are even though the customer has paid. I'm looking to have this purchased tonight and am going to be trusting the experienced heads here to help a young upstart like myself

 

[Deleted member 243860]

I think web hosting companies are more likely to do that. Especially if its "free" with the hosting account. If you purchase a domain with no hosting I doubt you'll have this to worry about. We have thousands of customers using many different domains and hosting providers and I don't recall a case when this has been an issue at all.

 

[Raw Rob]

I like www.daily.co.uk for domains, but I also have some registered with 123-reg, I've had no problems with either.

 

[js5691]

With regards to renewal could they just rack the price up for the renewal or is it a set price how does it work, don't want to be getting stung for a renewal a couple of years down the line

 

[Dan_HiHosting]

Hi @js5691, welcome to the forums.

Did you register your domain yet?

If you avoid the very large names and go with a decent web host or domain registrar then you should be able to avoid common pitfall such as automated renewals and being charged for things you shouldn't be charged for.

I'd strongly recommend avoiding 123-Reg.

They're heavily overpriced, do automated renewals by default, but worst of all they charge for IPS-Tag changes which should be free: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/0..._complaints_over_sudden_domain_transfer_fees/

Web hosts will typically offer lower cost domain registration as it's generally provided as a service to clients rather than a way to make profit. As long as you choose a decent web host then the domain will be registered in your name - that includes if it's a free domain provided with a hosting package.

If you'd like email as well, then a starter web hosting package can be a good idea as you can then get your domain free of charge and for only a bit more get professional email as well.

Personally I'd recommend an open source eCommerce platform such as OpenCart - and buying a premium theme and getting a developer involved over Shopify - but you can always move to this in the future as you say.

I hope that helps.

Best of luck,

Dan

 

[js5691]

Hi

I'm looking for the cheapest way to get started I'm not sure what developers costs are but Shopify seems easy to get up and running on.

Can you make any recommendations on registrar I was also looking at maybe just having email forwarding for now. Anybody used gandi.net?

I just don't want great expense from the outset

 

[Dan_HiHosting]

Any decent web host or registrar will be fine for domain registration.

We charge £8 for most domains.

If you want full email as well you could opt for a starter web hosting package at £30 per year, which will include the domain free of charge.

Shopify is handy for getting up and running quickly, but is arguably more expensive and not as good in the long run.

Personally I'd tender for a developer on these forums to develop a decent eCommerce website built on an open source platform such as OpenCart, or start doing it yourself if you're comfortable with that.
You can certainly get familiar with OpenCart - add your products, descriptions, work out your pricing and so forth, and always bring in a designer to further customise the look and perhaps design a logo and corporate identity if you don't have one already.
That's something you won't get with Shopify - and going this route should result in a more unique website that you can easily build on, rather than having to start from scratch again as your business grows.

If you're on a budget then using OpenCart and perhaps purchasing a premium theme will be more cost effective than going the Shopify route. As your business grows it's then much easier to get a professional involved to build on what you've created than if you'd used Shopify - which is far less flexible.

Any decent web host will provide a one click installer so you can have OpenCart installed for you in seconds, and some like us also let you choose it when you order.

If you're going to go down this route I'd recommend an eCommerce hosting package.

If you need any help feel free to get in touch.

All the best,

Dan

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I would always advise registering your domains with a big supplier - I mainly use 123-reg, but have a few with godaddy, and the changing the DNS to point at your service provider/web hosts.
This gives you total control and ownership over your domain. If the host goes pop or you are unhappy with their service, you can change providers on your terms.

If you use someone who suppliers the domain and the service, you could be help to ransom at a later date!

 

[Raw Rob]

I'd strongly recommend avoiding 123-Reg.

They're heavily overpriced,

We charge £8 for most domains.

123-reg charge £3.49 for .co.uk £5.99 for .uk and £10.99 for .com - so it depends on what you need. (These are Ex VAT, not sure if Dan's £8 is inc or ex.)

 

[Dan_HiHosting]

We're £8 all in, and yes it depends on the domain, but 123-Reg really do overcharge for .com domains which the OP said he was probably going to get. Any decent provider should be cheaper than them for that extension as well as a number of others.

But price is just that, and as long as pricing is transparent it's easy to make that value call yourself.

However the reason I recommend against 123-Reg is for the part you didn't quote:

do automated renewals by default, but worst of all they charge for IPS-Tag changes which should be free:http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/0..._complaints_over_sudden_domain_transfer_fees/

If you want to move any Nominet domain such a .co.uk to another registrar or provider then 123-Reg will charge £12 to change the IPS-Tag. This should be free, and is with most providers.
123-Reg snuck this change in last year, without any warning, and don't make it clear that they charge this. Many people sign up with them rightly expecting not to be charged for this, and then discover those exorbitant fees.

We've had clients move their domains from 123-Reg to us and have provided them with a template complaint email to send to 123-Reg as if you complain they have removed this charge in the past, but it's a really bad practice on their part designed to keep their customers locked in.

There are plenty of domain registrars with better pricing, service, and without IPS-Tag change charges. A web host will likely provide far better service and response times as well, as a decent web host can be expected to respond far faster than a domain registrar.

 

[Raw Rob]

Fair points, but I like automatic renewal, and at £3.49 per year, why would I ever want to leave

 

[Dan_HiHosting]

If you're just talking about .co.uk domains then fair enough.

However what if they suddenly decide to increase their .co.uk domain prices? You'll then be stuck paying more than you would from another provider or take a £12 hit.

The OP was also asking for the cheapest way to get started. OpenCart with hosting and a free domain is both cheaper and arguably better than Shopify + purchasing a domain.

The irony behind people recommending 123-Reg to keep hosting and domains separate is that any decent web host will register the domain in their client's name, and give them full control so they're not held at ransom, whilst 123-Reg with their IPS-Tag charge actually do hold their customers at ransom.

However that isn't the case with most other registrars. If one is adamant to use a separate registrar I'd personally go for internet.bs, gandi.net namecheap.com or a number of other providers over 123-Reg.

 

[Raw Rob]

However what if they suddenly decide to increase their .co.uk domain prices? You'll then be stuck paying more than you would from another provider or take a £12 hit.

Again, fair points, although I've been using them for my .co.uk domains for probably over 10 years at these low prices, so have saved much more than £12...

 

[Dan_HiHosting]

Saved £12 how? a .com from 123-Reg is £13.19 inc VAT, and a even a .co.uk is £8.38 inc VAT.

They also charge £4.99 for WhoIS opt out, which is free from a lot of other providers:
https://www.123-reg.co.uk/support/a...w-can-i-use-the-uk-whois-opt-out-option-1997/

Their business practice is highly questionable:
http://www.mayne.net/123reg-domain-name-hostage/

Objectively, I don't see any reason for 123-Reg to be recommended. They're more expensive, provide worse service, and charge for WhoIS opt out and IPS-Tag changes when their competition don't.

The reason they seem to get recommended is they are the largest name, and it's not difficult to get domain registration right. So as they have the most UK customers, their name often comes up. But there are plenty of large and smaller businesses that are arguably better in every way.

But I'll leave it at that.

 

[Raw Rob]

Lest anyone become confused, I'm not recommending 123-reg, I just said that I have used them for a long time with no problems.

Saved £12 how? a .com from 123-Reg is £13.19 inc VAT, and a even a .co.uk is £8.38 inc VAT.

I was talking about .co.uk domains which are £3.49 per year (£4.19 inc VAT). (Yes, you have to buy 2 years at a time which is the price you quoted, but that's not really a problem for most businesses.)

They also charge £4.99 for WhoIS opt out, which is free from a lot of other providers:
https://www.123-reg.co.uk/support/a...w-can-i-use-the-uk-whois-opt-out-option-1997/

Businesses are not allowed to use this anyway, it is only for "non trading individuals".