Another Change
Further to this post in February about diversifying Donkey I’ve decided to make another change which is to retire DomainDonkey from active duty and full focus on software development. Although the SaaS market still appeals I suspect that more focus will be put on Mac development (one of the originally mentioned in house projects was a Mac based one).
I’m an existing customer, what does this mean for me?
I appreciate that you may be disappointed with this further decision. Rest assured you will still have full access to your domains and to me. You will still be able to log in to your DD stable to make changes to nameservers and DNS (if hosted with Donkey) until your domain is due to renew or expires.
I will assist as much as possible in helping you find a new home for your domains, either if you wish to move them now, or if you want to leave them with DD until they are due to be renewed.
As has always been the case there will be no charge for releasing a domain to another registrar. Please note that transfers away of non .uk domains will incur a fee from the gaining registrar but a year will be added to your registration.
I can’t thank the existing DD customers enough for their custom and support.
I was going to register with you. What do I do?
There are many, many, many registrars out there. You need to find one that offers good support, doesn’t overcharge, gives you full access to your domain (and DNS if they offer that service). Also make sure that they don’t charge you to release your domain (if you decide to move away from them) – this is just a money making opportunity and something I disapprove of. It costs nothing to release a domain and anyone who charges is just trying to squeeze the last drop from you while they can.
Can you recommend a new registrar?
The only people I can genuinely recommend are the guys at TSO Host (Affiliate ink if you are so inclined: TSO Host). Adam and Darren offer superb support around the clock. All of the Donkey site’s are hosted with TSO and I can’t fault them. As and when the many domains I own fall due for renewal I will be moving them across.
Existing customers who wish to move to TSO should get in touch with me and I’ll arrange as seamless transfer as possible.
So from DD… thanks and goodnight!
PS: Donkey will still be around as the company behind the new projects so this isn’t the last of him 
Edit (21st May 2011 @ 17:34): Those clients with a balance on their account will be able to continue to renew domains until their balance has been used or will be reimbursed their credit value.
Update (23 May 2011 @ 09:50): You will still receive domain renewal reminders. Thought it best to leave those active so you can advanced notice of when domains are due to renew.
Update (27 May 2011 @ 08:19): I have updated the domain expiring email notifications to remind people to transfer their domains and a summary of the process required to do that.
.uk transfer orders should be placed with the new registrar and then a support ticket opened asking for a tag change. Please include the new tag for the gaining registrar.
Other transfers can be made by requesting the EPP code from your DD stable. If the gaining registrar registers their domains through Enom please open a ticket asking for a manual transfer to the gaining registrars email account. Please include their Enom username.
Update (27 May @ 11:29): When you transfer your domain away please update your nameservers to use your new registrars services, or those of your hosting provider. DD can’t offer DNS functionality to domains once they have been transferred.
Source: blog.codingstable.com
