OK, a simple question. I have some domains that I don't want to renew. Can I just lave them like that so they can expire on their own or do I need to take some action?

The only domains I haven't wanted I just left to expire. I actually went back and picked one up again before it became available for other users, and if there is a risk you might want to change your mind then the grace period becomes useful.

Ideally owner would login to their control panel, and 'cancel' the renewal of the domain. This then notifies registrar and they wouldn't send you notifications.

1and1 charges you even if they weren't successful in the renewal.

What grace period are you talking about? I though that when domain expires you have no right over it any more.

That's awful! Why do they do that?

Sorry, is your question why take customers' money while hiding behind a TOS and an outdated system that doesn't (or doesn't want to) detect transferred domains?

The answer is because they can and their customers are stupid (me being an ex)

Make sure they're not set to auto renew, and simply let them expire.
@cableguy .. please explain the catch in their TOS

I really don't want to go back and quote but it basically says they will charge you for renewal NO MATTER WHAT (even if you transferred and they were unable to renew).

As much as I hate goddady, at least their system removes transferred domains as soon as you jump through all the transfer hoops.

Before the domains expire, I would look to see if they have any value. If you can get $100+ for them, then it may be worth using SEDO or similar place to put them up for sale.

I rarely let potentially good domians expire. You only need 1 or 2 to pay off to pay for them all and the cost of keeping them around is low. I'm not a domainer but have sold/traded a few domains over the last 10 years that has more than paid for the registration fees for all of my domains.

If you are absolutely sure that you will not be using the domain ever, then would suggest that go ahead & cancel it or just let it expire. Remember that the cost of restoring is very steep.

Hi,

Just let it expire, or better yet, if the domain have some values, try to sell it before it expires

Regards,
Bobby

You can try to sell it or it will expire in more then 50days

Regards
MIKI

Thanks for the information. I have a .info domain which I created a blog for. I hate the domain and don't want to renew it; a registrant has the .com version of the domain anyway.

Yes the domain will disappear, but I've always done a auction from one dollar and always someone buys the domain. At least for me is better to recover than a few U.S. dollars to allow it to completely disappear.