Expired domain that cannot be bought

The domain expired and there is no way to buy it

[explorador]

Hi all, I'm confused :(.

There is an interesting domain name that I didn't wanted at first... somebody saw it and bought it and then I found out that it was important for me to have it. Fortunately, that person DIDN'T renewed the domain, so it expired. Yes, the domain expired, so I supposed to be able of buying it, right?

I checked the registrar info and it says the domain expired days ago. There is no update or renewal. BUT, everytime I tried to buy it, it says I cannot... now the owner is a domain name company, how can you buy a domain name that really has no owner? (there is no new expiration date, only the old one, already expired)

[Dinkar]

Try using the same domain company to register that domain.

[simey]

redemption period?

[piskie]

Something like 3 months if it's a .com

[wildbest]

Most likely your domain is in a redemption period!

The redemption grace period is a 30-day window that occurs when a domain registrant fails to renew a domain’s registration. Instead of being deleted and returned to the pool of domain names available for registration, the name is held for a 30-day grace period during which the original domain registrant may retrieve the domain name (for an additional fee) by contacting the domain registrar. If the registrant fails to retrieve the domain during this 30-day window, it is deleted at the registry.

An expiring domain enters the redemption grace period on the 12th day following its expiration date. Prior to this, we – the registrar – attempt to auto-renew the domain registration, and if that fails we notify you of the domain’s impending expiration/deletion via email message. The redemption period begins when/if our third and final auto-renewal attempt fails for the domain in question.

One week into the redemption period, the expired domain – assuming its registration has not been renewed – is placed into a 10-day domain auction, allowing prospective registrants to bid on the domain. The winner of the auction obtains the domain registration ownership two weeks after the end of the auction if the original owner fails to renew the registration by the end of the redemption period.

Once the redemption period ends – and the domain has neither been renewed nor obtained through auction or backordering – the domain is deleted at the registry. The domain name re-enters the public pool of available domains. It is no longer redeemable.

Though this 30-day period extends the time available to renew an expired domain, all names that enter the redemption period are removed from the zone files (the list of domains currently in the global DNS). Therefore, any Web site or email services associated with the domain name will stop working. It is, therefore, strongly recommended that you renew your domain registration before the domain name enters the redemption state.

[explorador]

:( wow thats sad! it is the redemption period.... thanks a lot for the input. I guess this will make it harder to get.

[centime]

you might want to place a back order for the domain using one of the various domain name catch services, if its a sought after name

if you ask the mods nicely, they might point you in the right direction

[explorador]

Thanks, the back order came to my mind but after reading some ugly stories I'm afraid of triggering an alert like "dear owner, do you want to renew your domain? somebody wants to buy it..." and causing the old owner to buy it again...

any ideas will be apreciatted

[stu2]

Where is the domain registered?

[explorador]

at directnic (is it ok to put the name here?)

[davezan]

I don't know if you're aware of this, but many registrars nowadays have the option to try to sell an expired .com domain name before letting it go into redemption. Based on your posts (which I'm still confused about), it appears you tried to look for such but couldn't find any.

Note I said option. It's not necessarily something they have to do.

So the domain name in question has since been acquired by the new registrant like you said, meaning the domain name has been renewed and all that?

[explorador]

Thanks, the company doesn't have that option. I sent a mail to the address they put on the domain info and no answer.

Most of the confusion, yes I know it sounds like that, comes from readings here and there, especially here... as even some whois search have triggered domains to be bought and the other day are NOT available. So, I still want to be careful on that.

thanks for the input, well see what happens

[stu2]

It is most probably in renewal or redemption grace period. Seeing where it's registered, I'd advise you to forget about it and find another name. It'll save you a lot of anguish.

[RossWal]

Where does delete panding fit into all of this? I recently let on lapse into delete pending and couldn't retieve it... registrar said it was out of their hands.

[explorador]

I decided to go with the back order option of my registrar, lets see what happens, maybe they can get the name from thatweirdnic.blabla

I'll let you know

[stu2]

Pending Delete means it cannot be renewed by the original owner. This is usually only 5 days in length before the registrar deletes the domain (if it's a .com). So it will be dropping soon. If it's at all interesting, it will be snapped up immediately it drops. So if you really want it, you should place a backorder on it. You choice of backorder company will depend on where it's registered. Or, to be extra safe, backorder it at every dropcatcher.

[contrariwise]

How valuable is the name? Unless it's a very unique name that you really doubt any big company would want, getting a backorder with your registrar will be pointless. If you really have your heart set on the name, you should register with all three of the big drop catchers. If someone after the same domain name has registered with one or all of the three big ones, then your registrar probably doesn't have a chance. The only way that can help you is if you're only competing with one or two unsavvy individuals who try to register it manually.

[explorador]

Is valuable!, there are names that, even missespelled mean something (another word) and related to the site... so, the previous guy bought it to put ads on the parked page... guess it wasnt enough income... and he was thinking I would beg to buy it... I said to myself "patience man, patience"

[stu2]

If this really is valuable domain with meaning, don't be surprised to find it is picked up by somebody else on the drop. Either by someone who has backordered it at a dropcatcher or by a domain taster. You better pray it's the latter, because if the domain truly has no traffic (which is probably why the previous owner let it drop), then it might become available again after 5 days. This 5 day cycle can go on for a while, maybe a couple of months with different tasters picking it up on the drop. It will eventually drop however, if there is no traffic. The generally accepted principals in this situation is never to give the taster any indication there is any interest in the domain by visiting the domain's url or doing a whois lookup. So only do the whois lookup once a week until you find it available or give up the chase. But anyhow, good luck with your chase. You never know. Dreams do come true :)

[explorador]

Thanks man! that is why some find confusing the post, but you put all the info involved... I DONT want to trigger the renewal from the old owner. Lets see what happens. I hope to get it.

[kncmultimedia]

Where it is registered may be key as well. Many registrar services auction off the domain to the highest bidder or sub out to services. If it is registered by godaddy or wildwest domains go to godaddy.com and sign up for the domain auctions. Also you can look for the domain to drop at enom.com or snapnames.com and you can bid higher for it. Else you can take your chances with a basic backorder which for good domains is very unlikely you will get it. Good Luck

[contrariwise]

In my experience, it's usually cheaper to buy a good name from a seller than it is to let it go into auction at the drop. I've seen domain names advertised for sale at a certain price sit there for ages unsold, then go into the drop auction and sell for two or three times that price! The domain sharks with the deep pockets have their finger on the button when it comes to the drop, but they far less often approach someone and offer them an amount. If it's a valuable name, there are plenty of people who are well aware right now that it's about to drop and they are likely to have their pocket books ready to bid it way up.

This is especially true if the owner has let the domain expire. They don't seem to be that bothered about the name, so they will probably be very happy to renew the domain and sell it for a good price - a price that's likely to be much lower than what you'll have to bid in the auction.

It's a gamble, of course, because they might just decide to sit on it despite your offer.

[stu2]

I DONT want to trigger the renewal from the old owner

The owner cannot renew a domain which is in Pending Delete status. They can, like you, place a backorder on the domain at a dropcatcher. Which dropcatcher depends on where it's registered. For 99.9% sure place backorder at all dropcatchers. If nobody else bids on the domain, it's yours for $60, else you're in a (usually) 3 day bidding war against whoever else bid on the domain at the winning dropcatcher. Dammed if you do and dammed if you don't. It's better to backorder it than to wait for it to drop. You considerably increase your chances of getting the domain. You can also drop out of an auction if it starts going too high. You are least in the satisafactory position of knowing you've tried, as well as knowing that you would never have got the domain if just waited for it to drop.

[explorador]

actually, as I said before, the domain is expired, the domain url shows a page with links, the "expired" message and "if you are the owner and wish to renew this domain, login here...

I followed this domain and YES, the annual period is over... so, the "owner" message is just a trash message... the domain has expired. Weird hu?

[contrariwise]

I don't quite understand. Is the problem that the grace period has been too long? How long ago did it expire?

[centime]

if you do a whois, is the expiry date less than 75 days ago from today, if it is, then,,,you may still have a while to wait

[stu2]

Sorry explorador. I got confused with RossWal asking about Pending Delete. I thought the domain you were talking about was in Pending Delete status. Expired doesn't mean too much. How long is it expired and where is it registered? We can give you better advice knowing that info.

[explorador]

thanks, It expired two weeks ago. The whois status reports expired and not renewed. The url shows a standard links page with "if you are the owner and want to renew click here". And it is at directnic

[contrariwise]

It can take up to 75 days before it becomes available. I've never seen one available after just two weeks. If it's at all valuable and you haven't signed up with the major drop registrars, then you will not have a chance of getting it. Sign up now if you really want it.

[stu2]

I can't offer any specific advice concerning Directnic dropping domains other than to say that they are associated with some of the biggest cybersquatters on the planet, so I wouldn't loose any sleep over trying to get a domain dropping at Directnic. Move on.