Latest on NS hoarding domains.

[pete]

Our companys .com which has been held will be expiring soon. Dont think he is a cybersquatter and there is no business using the brand. Hoping, praying that it will expire. By approaching him, this will inevitably result in him renewing. And waiting, well... I am pretty sure it would be snatched up in an auction for a price we cannot afford!

Any news, tips e.t.c

Thanks,
pete

[rpking]

I am also in this situation. It is now 11 days since the domain name that I crave expired, but still no sign of it being released.

Trouble is the people that hold it at present are sure to renew given the slightest reminder so I don't want to rock the boat.

Unfortunately, from what I have read, after a domain expires even if NS don't keep it on purpose, they give anything from a few weeks to a few months grace before putting it back on the market.

Very, very frustrating...

[rcjordan]

Odds are, you're going to have to spend some money. To reduce the chance of a run-up in price, I once engineered a 3-way sale/swap. Like you, I knew that a direct approach would run the price sky-high, so I had another collector with only a 'fringe' interest in this category make the deal. Then I exchanged a previously agreed upon domain for that one --all steps listed under contract beforehand, of course.

[rpking]

The games up for me, I'm afraid. After 2 weeks, the name has been re-registered. Cheers, for the advice though. Maybe next year...

[pete]

Networks response from Larry for what its worth.
So my question is, how does one determine what the billing cycle is. There are some heavy weights who hang around here who have excellent contacts. Any hints?

Thanks,
Pete

Thank you for contacting Network Solutions.

The expiration date that shows in WHOIS is not the date that a domain name becomes available to be registered by another party.

The expiration date appears in the WHOIS database so that the registrant may be able to verify the length of their registration. The registrant still has until the end of the billing cycle before the domain name is deleted, and released to be registered by the public.

We do not release the date a domain name will be deleted from our database to third parties. Please continue to check the availability of the domain name on a day to day basis. As long as it is registered our
system will not allow you to register the name. Once it is deleted, the name is able to be registered on a first come first serve basis.

The is no waiting list for domain name registrations.

Best Regards,
Larry W.
Network Solutions

[robinb]

I am in the same position. Unfortunately I have been waiting since the expiry date (JULY 2000) and it is STILL not been released for re-registration - that's 8 MONTHS!!

All I can say is I hope you all are prepared for a VERY LONG wait!

Network Solutions are acting in a completely corrupt manner in my opinion.

[minnapple]

I have been watching a domain name that expired in April of 2000. I am sure I am not the only vulture watching this name to be released.

I would think there should a standard release time of expired names. However this does not seem to be the case.

Has anyone tried contacting Network Solutions directly to free up a name at a negotiated price?

minnapple

[Brett_Tabke]

This is what I was told from a registrar and I can attest, it works.

Watch the Whois on the expired domain name. When you get this message: "Local whois DB must be out of date", then the domain is about to be released. On the whois, it will show the last update date: "Updated Date: 27-Jan-2001". Six days from that date at 6:30 am (est), the domain will be available for registration.

You can sometimes get the messag eon fully registered and renewed domains too, but it is only important on expired domains.

[Hunter]

Brett...I've noticed that too, but I have not found it to take only six days from the date listed. It seems much more inconsistent than that.

[theperlyking]

The system is truly stress inducing.

I have a domain that was registered for me by (what I now know) to be a cowboy. I was unable to transfer it because I am not down as the amdministrative or tech contact, and so waited for it to expire. My registration period has expired but like others I am left to checking it every day in hope that it will become available.

*cries*

[Eric_Lander]

In regards to these domain "auctions" I've been hearing about.. Where, when, how? It seems like one of the *best* ways to achieve traffic is through an indexed URL that will soon transfer to someone (or something) else... Any ideas on how to get into this game?

Also, It seems to me that renewing domains prior to their expiration would be easily handled (and is by some registrars).

For example, I use bulkregister to register domains for the company I am at, and you can request reminders or easily renew domain subscriptions.

Just a random thought... Sorry if it's unapplicable to anything... Just seems like an easy issue to solve.

[pete]

Thanks guys,

Brett that could be hell of a useful! will keep my eyes peeled!

Eric, there are a number of domain auction sites out there. The most prominent being:

[greatdomains.com...]
[afternic.com...]