this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2025
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Domain renewal price increase from $170 to $5,600 - Do I need to start grieving? (lemmy.world)
submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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Update 2025-04-04 Here: https://programming.dev/post/28065778

I have had a two-letter .mu domain since 2011. I went to renew it this year, and the renewal price is showing as $5,600 in my cart, but the renewal price on the registrar’s website says $170 as it had been for many years.

I have put in a ticket to get an explanation, but I fear it’s some “premium domain” bullshit from the TLD operator.

I have two weeks to figure this out. I’m really hoping I can appeal somehow. Does anyone have any experience negotiating with a TLD operator?

I tried adding it to the cart of a different registrar for transfer, and although their transfer price for this TLD is listed as $75, it’s showing $5,516.50 for the transfer price when it’s in my cart.

My site is just a fun artistic site with no ads, tracking, store, or anything. I spend $170 a year on it and don’t make any money from it.

I have tons of other domains, but it’ll hurt letting this one go. Should I give up on any hope of keeping it?

Even if I could somehow get donations to keep it alive this year, I’d just lose it next year. I don’t have thousands to spend on it each year. I’m so sad about this.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 week ago (2 children)

You have other domains. Someone else has offered at least that much money to the TLD for the domain. Unfortunately you'll have to monetize that domain you love or let it go to the market. Donain names are real estate. If someone sees you have a lot of traffic they'll raise the price.

Put a banner up notifying folks of whatever new domain you point your site to over the next few weeks.

Good luck to you

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

If the domain name is already classed as premium domain at the time of first-purchase, given the registrant has been informed, the registrar can change the renewal price to as much as they require. If it was a standard-rate domain at the time of first-purchase, even if the domain get reclassified as premium, the renewal price has to be the standard-rate.

https://domainnamewire.com/2022/06/24/can-registries-reclassify-your-domain-as-premium-before-renewal/

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Without knowing the domain name, we don't know what the original classification was.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Well, it’s had the standard renewal rate since 2011.

I’m not even sure if there were any “premium domains” back then, and I doubt there were any on the .mu TLD.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Thank you so much for this! I hope it also applies to ccTLDs and not just gTLDs. I will be updating my support ticket with Gandi by sending them this link.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Is that even legal?

I mean if you own a real estate, it doesn't cost more just because the plot of land becomes popular. You can sell it for more, sure.

I don't get how your registrar can suddenly boot you out from under a domain just because someone else is interested in it that has money.

Shouldn't that person or company have to offer you money to buy that domain?