Walkman
02-11-2008, 08:51 AM
Hello all,
I have not only an idea, but something that will benefit everyone here and beyond. I've been working on a Registrar Price List. The actual list is located here:
http://www.internic.net/alpha.html
I downloaded the page, then converted it in Excel (.xls) format to add the prices to them. There are 903 registrars listed there.
Here is the goal:
1. get the prices for all .com extensions for a 1 year period from each registrar.
2. Convert the finished product into a database format whereas the prices will update as each registrar changes their prices.
3. Make the list available to anyone that is looking to buy domains.
4. Educate people as to making an informed purchase of domain names.
5. Find a permanent home on the Internet for this "registrar price guide".
I've done the hard part of converting that page, but the repetitious part is going to all of those sites and finding the prices for the .com ONLY extensions. I can do it myself, but it will take me quite some time to finish it. With enough volunteers, we can have the list completed in no time, and at the same time, we'll have a price list I'm almost sure that no one has, and sharing it too.
The finished product will be formatted like http://www.internic.net/alpha.html
, except ours will be much more advanced.
If you're interested in helping and want to volunteer, here are just a few things you should know.
6. Do NOT rely on the price on the front page. A lot of times those prices are for .biz, or some other extension, and also it may reflect the fact that they want you to host with them. All we need is the price for the .com.. for 1 year.
(I ran across one site that has a minimum time of 2 years for $50 USD).
7. If you type in a name and it comes back available, but won't let you know the price until you register, do these......
a- look for a link to their prices. It may be in their FAQ
b. If you get nowhere doing the above... mark it in the Excel file, then move on. I have a Legend in the Excel file for you to understand how to mark the sites that aren't common.
8. You MUST be able to read English pages.If the site is in a language that you don't understand, just move on.
9. You MUST know how to upload/download. and you MUST know how to extract & compress files in .zip format.
10. You MUST have Microsoft Excel or whatever that can accept this file.
Just so we don't do double work, when you've done enough for the day, simply upload it so I can merge the data. After you upload your file, I'll update the file and resubmit the newer version.
This shouldn't take long to do if a few or more pitch in. I'm doing this for everyone. This is something you'll all be thankful of. Not only that, you'll notice that you don't need to pay $35 - $50 for a domain name.
If I missed something, or something isn't clear that I've said, post back here or send me a pm.
Oh.. before I forget, I only managed to get about 47 domain prices done. I had to strip that page and convert it a few times to get the Excel file that is attached to this post.
Question? How long do you anticipate it will take for us to complete this? I say less than a week. Maybe a few days or less if enough people pitch in.
Tip: If you use Firefox (you should be), you can open up many tabs at one time. I sometimes have upto 30+ tabs open at once (x) 2 windows.
Thanks in advance for the support and help!
[UPDATE] 2008-02-12 1:20am CST
* Approximately 210 completed
* Added more Legends to file
* New updated file
* Found registrars that charge a whopping $10,000.00 USD for regular domain names.
[UPDATE] 2008-02-12 5:28am CST
* Approximately 512 completed
* New updated file
.....at this rate, I may be finished by today.
[UPDATE] 2008-02-13 7:06am CST
* The list is completed
* I found another list that I'll add to this list
* Corrected the $10,000.00 price tag. They're $100,000.00 for those domains
* Will upload the list sometime today
Kevin
I have not only an idea, but something that will benefit everyone here and beyond. I've been working on a Registrar Price List. The actual list is located here:
http://www.internic.net/alpha.html
I downloaded the page, then converted it in Excel (.xls) format to add the prices to them. There are 903 registrars listed there.
Here is the goal:
1. get the prices for all .com extensions for a 1 year period from each registrar.
2. Convert the finished product into a database format whereas the prices will update as each registrar changes their prices.
3. Make the list available to anyone that is looking to buy domains.
4. Educate people as to making an informed purchase of domain names.
5. Find a permanent home on the Internet for this "registrar price guide".
I've done the hard part of converting that page, but the repetitious part is going to all of those sites and finding the prices for the .com ONLY extensions. I can do it myself, but it will take me quite some time to finish it. With enough volunteers, we can have the list completed in no time, and at the same time, we'll have a price list I'm almost sure that no one has, and sharing it too.
The finished product will be formatted like http://www.internic.net/alpha.html
, except ours will be much more advanced.
If you're interested in helping and want to volunteer, here are just a few things you should know.
6. Do NOT rely on the price on the front page. A lot of times those prices are for .biz, or some other extension, and also it may reflect the fact that they want you to host with them. All we need is the price for the .com.. for 1 year.
(I ran across one site that has a minimum time of 2 years for $50 USD).
7. If you type in a name and it comes back available, but won't let you know the price until you register, do these......
a- look for a link to their prices. It may be in their FAQ
b. If you get nowhere doing the above... mark it in the Excel file, then move on. I have a Legend in the Excel file for you to understand how to mark the sites that aren't common.
8. You MUST be able to read English pages.If the site is in a language that you don't understand, just move on.
9. You MUST know how to upload/download. and you MUST know how to extract & compress files in .zip format.
10. You MUST have Microsoft Excel or whatever that can accept this file.
Just so we don't do double work, when you've done enough for the day, simply upload it so I can merge the data. After you upload your file, I'll update the file and resubmit the newer version.
This shouldn't take long to do if a few or more pitch in. I'm doing this for everyone. This is something you'll all be thankful of. Not only that, you'll notice that you don't need to pay $35 - $50 for a domain name.
If I missed something, or something isn't clear that I've said, post back here or send me a pm.
Oh.. before I forget, I only managed to get about 47 domain prices done. I had to strip that page and convert it a few times to get the Excel file that is attached to this post.
Question? How long do you anticipate it will take for us to complete this? I say less than a week. Maybe a few days or less if enough people pitch in.
Tip: If you use Firefox (you should be), you can open up many tabs at one time. I sometimes have upto 30+ tabs open at once (x) 2 windows.
Thanks in advance for the support and help!
[UPDATE] 2008-02-12 1:20am CST
* Approximately 210 completed
* Added more Legends to file
* New updated file
* Found registrars that charge a whopping $10,000.00 USD for regular domain names.
[UPDATE] 2008-02-12 5:28am CST
* Approximately 512 completed
* New updated file
.....at this rate, I may be finished by today.
[UPDATE] 2008-02-13 7:06am CST
* The list is completed
* I found another list that I'll add to this list
* Corrected the $10,000.00 price tag. They're $100,000.00 for those domains
* Will upload the list sometime today
Kevin