buying unexpired domains

who does one go about it?

[Algebrator]

There has been a lot of discussion here about buying expired domains for their PR, traffic etc.

How about buying an existing (not expired) domain?
I have recently done it (stumbling accross it accidentally, and then submitting a bid via an escrow service), and am very happy with results. The domain in question was related to my (commercial) service, but the site (when it existed) was non-commercial. I did a careful cross between commercial / non commercial design and so far (knock on wood) didn't loose any PR or backlinks.

I would like to do this again, but have trouble finding potential candidates. Domain brokers seem to deal with expired domains only.

Any suggestions?

[webboy1]

I was recently offered this service from someone who hosts one of our domains.

Apparently it is possible to 'tag' a domain so that you can be alerted as soon as it expires.

I don't know much about it, but after reading your thread, my only thought is - what happens to the person who originally owned the domain?

Surely it cannot be legal (nor fair) to register a domain that someone else is obviously using.

This is quite an important topic. If it is something that is easily possible, it could end up causing a lot of anger between web developers etc.

I would be more than interested to hear lots more opinions / facts on this topic!

Cheers,
Webboy

[Algebrator]

webboy,
You must have misunderstood me - I wasn't trying to do anything 'under the table' - I was assuming that the person who was originally using it is not using it any more - I would simply buy it from them (like I did in my first transaction).

What I am asking is if there are any domain brokers who facilitate this.

Sure, I could go down the serps for all my relevant keywords and simply ask the respective website owners if their domain is for sale, but I was looking for a centralized point from which I could pick and choose the most appropriate domains. This would be a very time consuming process and I would definitely miss some good ones.

You may say that I am actually looking to buy the website, but not really. I wouldn't be interested in the contents (the current owner would be free to host it onder a different domain name), except in a very general way (so that I can 'bridge' easier to the contents I want there).

Are there such site? Yes; what prompted me to start this thread is the fact that I found one.

Such active domains would definitely be more expensive
(and probably there is much less choice when compared to expired ones), but still it may be a worthwhile effort if you know exactly what you are looking for.

[Macro]

There is no substitute for doing it manually. I've bought several sites but it was a lot of work trawling though SERPS and DMOZ cats and then writing personalised message to those webmasters who hadn't updated their sites in a while. Careful wording (like, "I'll give it a good home" etc) as well as a clear message that you value the content and are looking to pay well do help.

If you really, really don't want his content make him an offer for the domain but he's less likely to sell. He's invested a lot of time in his content, to him that's what has value. You value the domain because of it's backlinks etc. You going in there to suggest that his content is worthless but you'll pay for his domain may not clinch you the deal.

[Algebrator]

Macro,

Yes, it seems that I will need to do that. I just had another thought - lots of domain brokers list 'about to expire' domains - these might be good candidates (presumably at least some of the owners are not very interested in these)

[Macro]

>>presumably at least some of the owners are not very interested in these

And you are going to alert them that it's worth renewing the domain?

[Algebrator]

Well, I might use your "good home" approach from the previous post; it that alerts them and they renew, so be it. I wouldn't be interested in an expired domain anyway.