Maybe you received a similar email from your domain registrar lately:
Dear Frauke Spanuth,
On January 15, 2012, VeriSign®, the registry for .COM will increase prices by 7%.
Avoid this price increase. Renew your domain names* before January 15 and add another year to your current expiration dates. You have the option to register or renew for multiple years and lock in long-term savings. Of course, should you have any questions, please give us a call at 1-480-505-8821.
Thanks for being a Go Daddy customer.
Sincerely,
GoDaddy.com
According to Verisign’s official statement not only will the price increase by $.51 for .com domains, but also by $.46 for .net domains. This affects all domain registrars and of course, in the end us, the domain buyers.
Unfortunately, as different sites reported yet, some domain registrars use this change as chance excuse to raise their prices in general.
My domain provider, Daydream Domains, did not increase the price of the domain I just renewed in February. I recommend them highly; they are very responsive and I never have issues with them.