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SSL Resellers - costs lower than CA and Whitelabeling how?

Posted by jesin, 04-03-2014, 07:42 AM
I am new to the concept of SSL reselling and find many terms and concepts confusing. Comodo's essential SSL sells at $79.95/yr whereas namecheap offers the same for $29.00 and eNom for $10.95 !!! So why would someone purchase a cert directly from Comodo when the same product is available at 1/8th the cost? Also many SSL reseller programs mention the terms private label and white label. How is this possible in the SSL business? I know that the billing and registration forms can be branded but what about the SSL certificate itself? How can one whitelabel things like who verified the documents and issued the cert?
Posted by {wx} JeffH, 04-03-2014, 07:56 AM
Very few people buy SSLs directly from Comodo, it's mainly marketed this way so that resellers can promote savings. I think the white labelling you are referring to is the sales funnel, in that the customer wouldn't be aware they are actually buying through X reseller. You cannot brand the SSL certificate, not without becoming a certificate authority yourself, and no, it's not something you can afford
Posted by DWS2006, 04-03-2014, 08:38 AM
Holds true for every CA, the more they inflate the suggested retail value the higher the perceived value of their reseller program. Not that it matters much since the race to the bottom eliminated most of the profit potential on SSL certificates.
Posted by jesin, 04-03-2014, 09:40 AM
Thanks for the replies Tcalp and DWS2006. Does it make any difference (other than the price) if I purchase a Comodo cert from namecheap or eNome? Will the SSL certificate mention on any of their fields the fact that they were not purchased directly from Comodo? And what happens when a reseller closes their company/website? Will certificate owners be able to manage them directly from their issuer's website?
Posted by DWS2006, 04-03-2014, 10:02 AM
The SSL certificate will not include where the certificate is purchased.
Posted by {wx} JeffH, 04-03-2014, 10:17 AM
You'd very likely be SOL. Though, I would be pretty surprised if any leading reseller closed it's doors anytime soon. I think a better question to ask is: If aliens invade, will the world degrade to a point that the internet nearly collapses from world panic ? Oh my, what will we all do ?
Posted by BeZazz, 04-03-2014, 10:33 AM
And $8.00 at gogetssl.com
Posted by jesin, 04-03-2014, 10:42 AM
I am not referring to any big resellers. If a new SSL reseller comes up how will customers trust them if end of them equals end of customer certificate management even if their issuer is alive?
Posted by Onra Host, 04-03-2014, 11:23 AM
Just because your purchased a SSL through a reseller, doesn't mean you can't manage your SSL certificate through the issuing company. For example lets say you purchase a SSL cert from Geotrust through eNom. To manage the SSL and reissue it, you would still go through Geotrusts website. SO I wouldn't worry to much about a SSL reseller closing down.
Posted by kvmadmin, 04-03-2014, 04:25 PM
You can try GoGetSSL.