Hello. I have recently started using Auctiva and it's been great and easy to do my ebay listings, and of course I've been saving money!
So when I saw that Auctiva also sold domain names for their stores, I decided to take a look and eventually bought one a few hours ago. I actually buy a lot of domains and when I read this:
"You can purchase a new domain name solely for use with your Auctiva Store for the low price of $6.95/yr. (prices differ for UK users). That is a savings of $2 over the leading domain name sellers! "
I had to agree it was pretty cheap, cheaper than all the ones I've bought through godaddy.com. Unfortunately due to long hours, eye strain and a bright colour scheme on the domain buying page, I didn't see the "Terms and Conditions" link written in small writing directly under the Continue button. I was only doing a test search to see the prices.
So I did my search for the domain I had planned to use and already knew it was available via godaddy, but I saw that, as Auctiva had advertised, it was in fact over $2 cheaper to buy it through them ($6.95 per year), great! So I paid for it and started building my auctiva store ready for when my newly aquired domain is ready to link to.
Unfortunately, I've since found out that I didnt get a bargain, as advertised, after all, because I DON'T OWN THE DOMAIN. I haven't "purchase[d] a new domain name" at all, I'm renting it. That's right, those terms and conditions I didn't quite see, clearly state the following:
" Terms and Conditions
This Auctiva purchased domain name will be good for the term of one year - USA and two years - UK. At the end of each term, you will receive an email detailing the options for your domain name.
Your Auctiva purchased domain name will be managed solely by Auctiva and it will point to your Auctiva store.
You may buy the domain name from Auctiva outright at anytime for $19.95. When buying the name outright through Auctiva, you will need to have your own eNom account. Once payment is made to your Auctiva account, we will then push the domain name to your eNom account. If you would like to do this, you must file a support request using the link at the bottom of our Help page."
If I had bought the domain at godaddy.com it probably would have cost me $8.99 (I'm a bulk buyer, normal price around $9.99 for a .co.uk domain) for each of the two years and it would have been registered in MY NAME and I would OWN it because I would have "purchased" it.
Usually, when you "purchase a new domain name" it most definitely means you own it and it is registered to you in your name. Instead, I've stupidly just paid Auctiva $13.90 for them to register MY domain in THEIR name and now, if I want it back, I'm going to have to pay another $19.95 ????????
So to own the domain for two years I would have paid Auctiva a total of $33.85. At godaddy.com it would have cost me (at their normal prices) $19.98 for the two years ownership of the domain (plus the various extras they give with each domain), making godaddy.com $13.87 cheaper.
So I'd like an explanation as to why Auctiva are advertising their domains as being cheaper when they are in fact much more expensive. False advertising isn't going to make your customers (which I'm one of) very happy, Auctiva.com !
Which is a shame because as a recent user of your Ebay software I thought this place was really pretty cool!
I've spoken to customer support, there's no refunds on domains.
"That is a savings of $2 over the leading domain name sellers! "
No it is NOT. I'd like my money back please.
http://starturl.com/dhdid
Regards,
Mark (a very unhappy customer and potential new owner of www.auctiva-false-advertising.com)
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