LimeDomains: Domains with Free Web Hosting Good or Not?

As I go on my usual surfing habit, I came across LimeDomains again. Actually, I've heard about their service before. They offer domain registration services and a free hosting service comes with every domain purchase. A great, irresistible package indeed, especially for a cheapsie like me. Lime Domains is affiliated with the very popular Lime Wire network.

I checked out their site and registered. I was even happy to know that they accept Paypal, the only payment option for me because I am really scared of using credit card over the worldwide web. So all the more I got really excited with their service. That was two years ago, when they offer domains at $6.50 - lower than the usual $8.99 rate of popular registrants like GoDaddy. But I never really gotten around buying a domain from them during that time for one reason or another.

Then I came across Lime Domains again, this time I was attracted by their 50% offer. Domains are offered at $4.99 - a great deal since prices went up to $11.49 at GoDaddy, without coupons and all - for a .com domain.

This time I went for the gold. I purchased a domain but I wasn't able to get the half price deal. But I was able to use a code, lime599, and was allowed to purchase the domain at $5.65. Still a better deal from the Domain Sale! $7.49 .com at GoDaddy with a discount coupon. Plus, I get a free hosting service. That really iced up the cake for me.

However, all my woes came in after the purchase. I bought the domain November 9, 2010. Everyday, I keep on checking the control panel so I can start installing an application. I want to use this domain as an online image store so I want to put up a shopping cart software like ZenCart. Today is November 13. I still can't get to my control panel.

Five days after the purchase, they still can't resolve my domain. They say that I can get through uploading files with an FTP program. All they have for me is a temporary FTP access. They gave me all the info. Installing a shopping cart software through FTP is possible but honestly, I don't want to go through it. Doing the same job through the control panel is much better, so much simpler, and a whole lot faster. But since I can't access that yet, all I can do is wait. I hope not perpetually though.

GoDaddy's service is way better. However, they don't offer free hosting without ads, which is a big bummer. And their domain prices is relatively higher than LimeDomain's. But hey, I got this domain, www.cheapsies.com up and running after 24 hours of registering it with them. I guess they are still the best when it comes to domain registration. The instant access that they provide their with customers can really put your web ideas in full swing in no time. I wish I could say the same with LimeDomains.

So for the rating...

LimeDomain .com registration and free hosting service - 1 thumb up

Sigh, I'm not so pleased. Bad cheapsie choice for me.