Beware of GoDaddy Domain Auctions: A Cautionary Tale

Recently, I had a rather unfortunate experience with GoDaddy Auctions that serves as a stark warning to anyone considering using their services for domain purchases.

A few weeks ago, I decided to buy a domain through GoDaddy Auctions. Rather than participating in a bidding process, I opted for a straightforward purchase, especially since the domain was not labeled as “premium.” This evidently seemed like a hassle-free transaction at the time.

After a couple of weeks without any updates or delivery, I reached out to GoDaddy’s support team for clarification on the status of my domain. To my shock, they informed me that they were unable to get in touch with the seller and had yet to receive any response. Confused, I responded, “Seller? I thought this domain was owned by GoDaddy and available for immediate purchase.”

Here’s the kicker: while my credit card had been charged on the day of my order—a transaction I had a receipt for that clearly outlined the domain, price, and purchase date—GoDaddy claimed to have no obligation to issue a refund since they considered it a “premium domain.”

I explained my predicament to the representative, highlighting that I had received nothing and that they had failed to contact the seller. Nowhere on the receipt or the website did it indicate that this domain was categorized as “premium.” I simply sought a refund for a service that had not been delivered.

The representative’s response was disheartening: “GoDaddy doesn’t offer refunds.” Left with no other option, I contacted my credit card company for assistance, only to discover another alarming detail. Not only had GoDaddy charged me $200 for the domain, but they had applied the charge as recurring, meaning they intended to bill me an additional $200 every month. This was entirely unexpected, considering I had not signed up for a subscription or recurring service.

Frustrated, I initiated a dispute with my credit card provider over the charge.

In an age where customer service and transparency are paramount, my experience with GoDaddy Auctions has been anything but satisfactory. If you’re considering purchasing a domain through their platform, I urge you to proceed with caution and be aware of potential pitfalls. Take the time to research your options and read the fine print before making any commitments.