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Editor’s note: This post was written in April, 2011 and at that time Namecheap was offering special pricing for transfers. Since that price is no longer available, grab a coupon before transferring or purchasing domain names there.
Normally I don’t pay all that much attention to the personal antics of CEO’s and other officers of large businesses. And honestly, I usually steer clear of controversial topics on my blogs because that’s not what I’m about. But when I heard that the CEO of GoDaddy hunted and killed an African elephant, it saddened and angered me so much that I had to take action.
The first thing I did in reaction was transfer my domain names from GoDaddy to Namecheap. I’ve been using Namecheap for over a year for new registrations, but hadn’t changed registrars for previously registered domains. Until today.
Do you make business decisions based on someone’s personal actions or beliefs? If you want to take action in reaction, here’s are a few things you can do.
If you select some other registrar be sure to choose one that’s ICANN accredited and that isn’t a GoDaddy reseller. (I’m still debating what to do about my domains at a reseller. In a way I don’t want to “punish” the reseller, a small business, for Parsons’ actions, but GoDaddy is profiting from those domains too.)
Setting up the transfer process will take a little bit of your time, but it’s not difficult. Namecheap provides step by step instructions on how to transfer from GoDaddy.
There was one section where I had a little trouble finding the link I needed. When you need to get the EPP code from GoDaddy, there’s a step that says, “Click Send By Email in the Authorization Code field.” It’s in the Domain Information column on the left hand side of the page.
While I’m sure there will continue to be much debate over the particulars of Parsons’ actions, I’m as interested in talking about how much a business owner’s or CEO’s personal beliefs and actions influence your decision about whether or not to do business with them.
This news moved me in part because I’ve always had an affinity for elephants. There’s just something endearing about such a huge animal being so family oriented and matriarchal. I just can’t understand the kill and I believe that if Parsons’ true motivation was to help preserve their crops and feed the farmers, he had many alternative, more humane ways to meet those goals.
What do you think? Would you stop doing business with someone for what you deemed to be outrageous personal behavior? Or would you also be swayed by “little things”? What types of behavior or beliefs would cause you to stop (or not even start) doing business with someone? Should business owners know enough to not publicize potentially controversial behavior?
I look forward to your comments.
Photo Credits:
Nick Perritti for the baby elephant.
kevinzim for the elephant family.
Please NOTE: Normally I link to Namecheap with my affiliate link, but did not do so in this post because they are already taking a loss on the $4.99 transfers. If that offer has expired, check here for this month’s discount coupons for domain name purchases (and my affiliate link).
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I’m a mom, wife, home business owner, sister, aunt, friend, and geek wannabe. Read more about me here.
Just thought of something else. What if you worked for someone who did something like this that you found very distasteful?
Yes, I have stopped doing business with companies whose head (or other public figure) did something distasteful. I’m sure companies the size of GoDaddy don’t care whether or not my 16 domain names are registered with them, but I feel better knowing I’m not supporting this kind of behavior.
As far as the elephant hunt goes, he didn’t do anything illegal, and I can see the point of those who side with the farmer. But I do feel there was probably a better way to handle the situation – especially when you have millions of dollars at your disposal. And if the video is as celebratory as I’ve heard it is (I won’t watch it), then that’s even more offensive than the killing itself.
Hi Cindy. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I agree. GoDaddy won’t notice that I transferred my few domains either, but I felt the need. Plus if enough of us transfer a few, it will add up. And they will notice 650 from one client. I came across this post today: http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2011/04/godaddy-elephant.html
[...] other day I was uncomfortable about posting For the Love of Elephants, but I wasn’t sure why. I feel strongly about the topic and I’m not afraid to take a [...]
Personally, I am not so offended by Bob hunting an elephant that I am going to transfer my domains to another registrar. I do think its great that you have decided to transfer your domains and others have as well. It is important that consumers voice their moral expectations of the businesses they work with.
Hi Tim. Thanks for your comments. Often I wouldn’t even know about the personal conduct of a CEO. But in this case I think enough people considered it outrageous and it came to my attention (and many others’ attention as well).
Thank you for respectfully expressing your opinion. As with other emotionally charged issues, I’ve seen a lot of disrespectful discussion on this matter. I love a good debate, as long as it stays about the issue and not about the debaters.
Hi Linda
I also agree with your points on this and I think its absolutely critical that those in charge and in power set good examples through their behavior for a whole bunch of reasons, not just their corporate brand.
Like some of the others, I won’t be transferring my domain names from Godaddy in the short term, but in the long term, I will make different choices when setting up new domains and the cumulative effect of Bob Parson’s actions on the public will add up over time, hopefully causing him to adjust his arrogant behavior.
I think it is absolutely unbelievable that there is a human out there with that much anger and egocentricity and madness that could possibly kill an elephant in this day and age. It is so unbelievable it is not funny.