Now here is one that absolutely shocked me when I first came across it. I guess shocked isn’t the right word given what goes in Corporate America to make buck these days. Domain Tools Blog has posted an actual step by use case that you can look at that actually proves that Network Solutions is doing this. Basically, anyone that searches for a domain at their website, Network Solutions is effectively putting a “lock” on that domain name for 4 days. No big deal right?

WRONG!

Basically this hurts the consumer in two major ways.

First, by putting this “lock” on the domain Network Solutions is forcing you to purchase the domain with them. Well, that is if you want to purchase it within the next 4 days. Remember, once you search for a domain to see if it is available to purchase on their site the stake a claim to that domain for 4 days. No big deal right? You know that they are more expensive after searching a couple of different sites for prices and you find a smaller registrar where you can get it for cheaper. You will just wait the four days and get it then right? Afterall, if it’s available now, then why wouldn’t it be available in 4 days?

This leads to us to the second bad thing about this policy. Once Network Solutions broadcasts that they have “locked” this domain because you searched for it the whole world knows. Scammers basically set up programs that watch for these to expire and snatch them up within milli-seconds of Network Solutions releasing the domain.

You can check out the full use case at Domain Tools Blog

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