If GoDaddy.com’s CEO Shoots Elephants, Would You Switch Providers?

You founded a leading Internet domain registrar, you ran some racy Super Bowl spots, and on vacation in Zimbabwe, you shoot bull elephants. Why? Because they cause crop damage, and you wanted to take out the “problem” animals.

That’s what GoDaddy.com CEO Bob Parsons had to say after animal-rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) put him in the hot-seat for filming himself shooting a bull elephant, posing with the corpse, slapping GoDaddy.com caps on the villagers, then posting the whole thing online.

(See TIME.com’s Shooting an Elephant—Why GoDaddy’s CEO Was Wrong)

The video sparked an Internet furor Thursday, from an online petition condemning Parsons’ actions (just over 3,000 signatures as of this post) to a promotional “switch now!” offer from GoDaddy competitor Namecheap.

“We’ve decided to throw our support behind our Elephant friends by offering domain transfers at a price where we actually lose money,” writes Namecheap in a post that invites users to switch registrars. “Show your protest by saying BYEBYEGD again and transfer your domains to Namecheap for $4.99 for the next 24 hours” (Namecheap just extended the coupon through April 1).

Scan Twitter and you’ll find the search phrase “GoDaddy CEO” tearing up the charts. And it’s not just viral voyeurism–reading from the fire-hose suggests folks are fighting mad.

What say you, Techland readers? Did Parsons’ just sink GoDaddy’s ship? Would you switch domain registrars in protest? Is Namecheap’s attempt to pick up GoDaddy.com malcontents shameless or legit?

cyberprivateer

My first goal is my bottom line. But I admit that I’ll look for suppliers that can offer significantly better service at lower prices before I continue to make GoDaddy my go-to spot for future domain registrations. As a rule, I don’t run a moral litmus test on suppliers’ officers as much as I run a business ethics test on my IT supply chain (like Samsung installing keyloggers on laptops or China dropping back doors into their consumer electronics). That said, I’m actually becoming a little more animal-rights sensitive in my old age, which is a long way from my youth working on a Wyoming/Montana cattle ranch and field-butchering-and-dressing beef. Go figure.
feruzim

I have to agree with cyberprivateer. I usually make business decisions based on the bottom line, but in this case, considering I’ve been a GoDaddy customer before it ever launched its first controversial TV commercial, I just can’t sit back and idly support what Bill Parsons did in Zimbabwe. Why? (1) There might have been an issue of crop damage to the farmers by the elephants, but that was nto the way to deal with it. (2) I don’t believe Bill Parsons’ intentions for killing the elephant was merely to help the villagers. And when did he suddenly become an expert at how to deal with conflict between wild animals and farmers? (3) I’m Tanzanian. Well, my parents were both born in Tanzania (I was born in plain ol’ Michigan). Nevertheless, I understand the importance of conservation, and I did not see any attempt by Wild-Bill Parsons to try and solve the issue first by non-violent solutions. But then again, HE’S NOT AN EXPERT! Point is… I might be switching, or at least exploring other options for my future domain name purchases.

Bill Parsons – bad form, son. Bad form.
http://politicalmagician.wordpress.com politicalmagician

I’m switching. Bye Bye Go Daddy.
http://decertification2lockout.wordpress.com viguy007

If doing he was only doing it to help the local people, he would not be enjoying it so much. Never again will I use Go-Daddy
Mr. Universe

We’re making the switch with our domains. I posted about it at our blog. 538 Refugees dot c0m
rjc999x

you guys are all implying that its a bad thing he shot this elephant, for selfish reasons or not
http://integrityinstitute.wordpress.com integrityinstitute

We will be switching all of our domains and hosting. It is not a moral issue but an ethical issue. We simply cannot support a company whose CEO lies. First it was sexy spokeswomen, then race cars, and then his “stance” up against the elephant – hat turned backwards – smile on his face and probably an office full of pictures of similar “trophies” – this is a guy who hunts for the adrenaline rush. Of course the locals are going to cheer him on – imagine the tips he gave them. If it were merely about helping the locals then where’s his philanthropic heart in sending donations for food. The cover up will kill you every time – just ask Martha Stewart. An arrogant and lying CEO will kill a company every time -