How does the expired/drop process work?

[Kirby]

can someone explain to me how the expired/drop process works? If I am eying a specific domain that expires in May, and it doesnt get renewed prior, what action should I take to give me the best shot at it?

[stu2]

Your best shot would be to bid on it at the domain's registrar's preferred auction partner's expiring domain auction. Or maybe offering the current delinquent owner a ton of money for him to renew the domain and sell it to you.

[Webwork]

Register your interest with every drop catching service and be prepared to bid once the domain is caught.

Snapnames continues to dominate the game, then Pool, Enom's ClubDrop, GoDaddy and a few other marginal players.

Check Snapnames to see if they have an direct drop deal with the existing registrar, such as the relationship they have with NetSol

Or, you could shortcut all of this and simple comtact the current registrant. Sometimes it works like a charm.

[Kirby]

If it is currently with GD, is there still a need to register with the others? Does the current registrar have any advantage?

[Webwork]

I've seen it all, so my advice is this: If you are in the hunt show our interest everywhere you can. If it's with GD add GD to the list, as they supposedly do their own catching of their own domains, but like I said: I've seen it all, including some things happen that were not supposed to happen. Go figure. Worked out for me. Must be all that dog poop I've been stepping in, in my own backyard lately, just brought me mountains of luck. :)

[Kirby]

What are the time frames involved? Once the expiration date hits, what happens then?