Marijuana.com

rick

Well ~ I have to say I am very upset with my domain registrar of choice. I feel the need to let you all know what they had to say to me when I tried to purchase an SSL (Secure Site Certificiate to use https) certificate for the domain 'Marijuana.Com'. I wanted to obtain the SSL certificate for perfectly legal reasons on a perfectly legal website. My request was denied.

I called godaddy to find out why my request had been denied. The first sales associate really couldnt tell me shit besides 'hold on while I talk to someone who knows'. He informed me that my request had be denied because of fraud. Gasp! "Is someone trying to use my website!!!???". Nope, apparently we're the fraud.

I got that manager on the phone as my blood pressure began to race. When she answered there was little doubt I was going to get anywhere with her given her tone. Although, it was funny to listen to her stumble around with legal terms as her mouthed dried out several times. She was very nervous when she explained to what I did not want to hear.

The manager explained to me that the domain name was flagged as fraudulent for the term 'marijuana' in the domain name. This apparently got someones attention and they put some legal eyeballs on the Marijuana.Com site. These folks then input the official reason for my request denial.

Thats it. No SSL cert for you. No mediation, no apology, just fuck you and your business and your pot smoking website. So, it's apparently ok for godaddy to shove tits in your kids face on tv during the superbowl and what not, but they're far to pure and wholesome of a company to issue a SSL certificat to Marijuana.Com.

Godaddy - I got two choice words for you.

Never again.

If you feel this is crap and that we deserve a better explanation of why a legitimate Arizona Corporation was denied an SSL certificate - Write and ask them, if you get a better response than me post it up.

legal@godaddy.com

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Buzzby

I'd vote with my feet and my wallet by taking my business elsewhere. GoDaddy isn't the only registrar on the Internet.

Meanwhile... My email:

Gentlemen:

I am a user of the Marijuana.com website. You are the registrar for that domain. The webmaster tells us that you have denied him the SSL certificate he needs to use the HTTPS protocol. He tells us that the reason for this denial is "suspicion of fraud".

I'm curious as to what kind of "fraud" you believe is being perpetrated by this website. It is exactly what it purports to be: a site promoting the legalization of marijuana, a source for honest information about marijuana, and a meeting place for people who use marijuana medicinally and recreationally.

Where's the fraud?

Best Regards,
Buzzby Smith (<Buzzby@Marijuana.com>)

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brian45211

You got that right. I own hundreds of domains for my business and never will use Godaddy. I use Name Cheap and have no problems. I to, work with "controversial" domains as I work in the adult business.

Cassius

Guys, GoDaddy is great for what it is... a domain registrar. But an SSL certificate has nothing to do with domain registration. I wouldn't buy a secure certificate from GoDaddy any more than I would pay for web hosting with them. However, ALL of my domains are registered with GoDaddy. And they have been for years, way before the first superbowl commercial. They still offer VERY competitive prices on domains, but back in the day they couldn't be beat. Nowadays, the ICANN fees are going to start eating you up as much as anything else.

However, I would never buy a secure certificate from them any more than I would hire a lawyer from the phone book. Car dealerships make their money on the financing, Disney World makes it money from the food/drinks (5$ for a coke? actually it probably costs more now, I haven't been there in years), and registrars make their money from the "related" products/services. When I buy anything from a dealership, I pay cash, and when I go to Disney Land I bring my own bottled water. GoDaddy is no different.

I agree, that's a pretty lame excuse they laid on you, Rick. But you know as well as I that it takes all kinds in the business world, and most of the interests are self-serving. I get much more pissed off about ebay/paypal huxtoring people, because there really is no competition, you can't "take your business elsewhere" for the most part. But this? Yeesh, just use another supplier of certificates. Just in my own personal opinion, that's what you should have been doing to begin with. GoDaddy isn't in the business of selling secure site certificates, their in the domain business, that is just extra revenue for them. Are you really surprised that they err on the conservative side when selling a product that isn't their main business function? Do you know how many people buy the "extended warranty/servicing plans" from Best Buy when they get a computer, then bitch later because the techs there aren't very good/speedy at fixing it when it breaks?

It's been a while since I had a reason to browse/purchase site certificates, but is Thawte still around? That's who I used back in the day. Secure certificates are their business, and I can guarantee you that if they're still around they won't say no to your money because they don't like the domain of the site you're putting the certificate on. Heck, I'm sure they give site certificates to porn sites too. Do you think GoDaddy does that? I almost guarantee you it's in their corporate policy that they don't, although I've never checked.

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{ Cassius, Your Humble Narrator }
{ Posting Guidelines | Erowid Drug Information Resource | instantfilehosting.com }

Ron Bennett

Anyone who has domains registered at GoDaddy is taking their chances ... horror stories abound.

Click on over to DNForum.com and do some searching on GoDaddy ... it's an eye-opener for many people...

If you have any domains of decent value, you'd be wise to transfer them out elsewhere at the earliest opportunity.

On regards to SSL ... Geotrust via resellers offers a quickssl secure certificate, via an automated verification procedure, for around $100 or so per year via resellers.

I personally like and use Thawte (VeriSign is similar; they own Thawte) for business related SSL certificates, despite the higher price (~$300+ per year), since they're among the most universally accepted - more of an issue for non-U.S. visitors; some people actually do examine the details on the SSL certificate before entering, and like to see a verified business name, location, etc also listed on it.

For simple SSL, a basic website only SSL should be sufficient ... InstantSSL.com offers instant 30 day free trial SSL certicates.

http://www.instantssl.com/

Ron

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cann.com

 

grillmeats

I use Thawte too. My problem is if they order my spices.

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I use to like this site, but it out grew my interests. If you want to pass a test, Quit Smoking, I have!