So best way to buy expiring domain?

Someone is going to let a domain lapse and I want to scoop it up

[JerryOdom]

Whats the best way to do that now days? Its been at least a year since I've had to buy a domain as soon as it expired but I really want to pick one up so I need to figure out the process. I know alot of domains are getting purchased and auctioned so I might end up in an auction but are there good services to purchase it outright for a customer?

[stu2]

Why not just contact the existing registrant directly about buying the domain from them. This is the "least risk" of competition option for securing the domain. Of course it also has it's risks, like increasing the existing registrant's expectations for the domain.

[Webwork]

Depending on the current registrar different drop catchers have preference. For example NetSol delivers their drops to SnapNames, as does Register.com, but I've seem some leakage.

So, first, look up which service might have preference. Tucows just starting keeping their own drops for auction. GoDaddy started doing the same thing awhile back.

You can also play around with Pool, Enom's ClubDrop, NameWinner, etc. Even a broken clock sets the right time twice a day.

Stu isn't far off the mark. Awhile back I gave away the little trade secret about "call 'em". Just thought I'd level the playing field a bit. Lots of lightbulbs went off and I probably irritated a few others that knew it worked well.

These days I would assume that other people are reaching out before the drop. Just depends on how resourceful such people are in using all means and methods to hunt down and persuade a disinterested domain registrant. I've used snail mail, FedEx and all manner of other methods of tracking down and contacting people. I've even sent money - unsolicited - which sometimes has it's own special magic to it. I'd get a phone call. "You sent me a check. What am I supposed to do with it? Oh, I didn't want that domain anyway." Me: "That's okay. Consider payment for any hassle in arranging for the renewal and transfer." And, yes, I always paid the renewal fee up front.

In the domain game I say it's best to make up your own rules. I'm certain I did things that few, if any people ever tried and it worked. I just made certain to always be true. No matter what I never fobbed off b.s. for reality. I'd answer all questions head on. When asked I'd give a fair assessment of a range of likely values.

YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary.

[edited by: Webwork at 1:58 am (utc) on Feb. 7, 2006]

[JerryOdom]

Stu that option was tried. They're just unavailable as far as contact is concerned and I've tried multiple times. Webwork that is what I needed to hear. Thank you.

[JustMom]

This topic has been very informative to me, especially this by Webwork:

"Depending on the current registrar different drop catchers have preference. For example NetSol delivers their drops to SnapNames, as does Register.com, but I've seem some leakage."

I have a related question for Webwork:

I'm very interested in obtaining a domain name which expires soon, and before finding your helpful site, I put in a backorder at a registrar (Go Daddy). (I don't know if I can mention the registrar name, but without that info I don't think you could answer my question as specifically.)

After reading this thread, I checked and found that the current registrar of the domain name was Network Solutions (or NetSol as you called them above). So I put in a backorder with SnapNames.

Now, should I remove my backorder at Go Daddy to avoid the possibility that I would be competing with myself for the domain name if it does become available?

This particular domain name is very important to me and I have tried contacting the current owner and offered to purchase it, but the owner has not responded. I have reason to believe (through some other business knowledge) that the owner does not intend to renew it, but is just too busy with other business ventures to respond and discuss this domain name with me.

So, should I remove the first backorder at GD? Thanks so much for any help!

[stu2]

You've done absolutely the right thing by looking up the registrar and making a bid with their expiring domain name auction house. Because of Webwork's comment about "leakage", I would also suggest you make a bid at pool.com, namewinner.com and clubdrop.com. You probably won't need them but it's just for insurance in case the "leakage" happens and snapnames.com doesn't get it. All this bidding is only the first stage to ensure you have the right to enter the second stage of bidding (which varies slightly with each auction house). Whoever gets the right to auction the domain, you'll need to familiarize yourself with, and stay on top of, their second level of bidding because that's when the auction is won or lost.

Err, one last thing. You might want to put those Godaddy backorder funds to some other use at GoDaddy, like domain watching or backordering a GoDaddy registered domain (about the only 2 things you can still do with those funds, ifaik).

[JustMom]

Thank you - more great info that brings me to more questions!

If I backorder or bid at the other services you mentioned such as pool.com, is it possible that those services then go after the domain aggressively from SnapNames, and that THEIR efforts on my behalf would actually compete against my backorder that I already placed with SnapNames? I really want this domain name, but I don't want to compete against myself and bid a possible $60 transaction up into the thousands.

Also, could placing lots of bids/backorders possibly even trigger something that told someone at pool.com or the other services to bid against me? I don't think that this domain name would be of interest to other webmasters who were just reviewing names of domains about to expire and placing random bids for names with common terms.

[stu2]

I have no evidence that any of the auction houses manually bid on domains at their competitors. I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and say it doesn't happen because they've probably already got their hands full with their own business.

You only need to make the minimum bid at each auction house in order to get into the second phase of an auction. It's free unless you win the domain. It's only an insurance. It's more than likely that the domain will end up with snapnames.