Domains Get Bought By "Someone" else After I Perform a Search

[PPC_Player]

Several times now I have performed searches in GoDaddy.com to find that if I did not buy the domain name right away, the domain name gets bought shortly after. I have seen this so many times now.

Here's what I think happens and please accept my appologies if this has been discussed before.

I perform the search, and then if I do not buy the domain name at that time it could potentially get bought.

Here's why

The registrars can pull a query or run a report to see what domain names have been searhed that day. If the domain name looks good they will buy it. Now they won't buy it under thier name, but they will register the domain name under a different registrar. This loses the connection that they could have bought it and they may buy the domain name using different names.

The a few things may happen once they buy the domain name. It might get parked...cha ching, they make the money from it OR they may try and make the domain name a "premium" domain name and upsell or put a higher price tag on the domain.

This just kills me. I searched the domain, came back about 30 minutes later to find that the domains were bought. Coincidence maybe, but this has happened so many freaking times to me.

I'm not trying to sound like a crazy man, but they know about domains too, and I know they can see in some table what domain names get searched. I am picturing a boiler room, lol with a bunch of people saying "oh that one looks great! Let's buy it quicky before our customer comes back"

I yes, I am sure some way or another they have everyright to register a domain name too, but man they are sneakey and it just does not sit right.

Insight?

Thanks!

[edited by: PPC_Player at 5:20 pm (utc) on May 9, 2008]

[Staffa]

...this has happened so many freaking times to me.

then surely you know by now that if you have a name in mind and it is available that you need to buy it right there and then and not go back 30 minutes later when it can be gone ?

[IanTurner]

Don't whois domains via the regsitrars.

[draggar]

I've never had this problem with GoDaddy, even after a day or two (if I need to confirm the domain with a client).

NetSol is evil with this, though. If you do a search with them they'll "reserve" (they openly admit to this) the domain and park it (parked page, I wonder where the revenue goes?) so it cannot be registered with another registrar, for 5 days.

There is also a rumor (RUMOR only) that #*$! does this also.

If you have this issue, check back in 5-6 days to see if it was released. Some may just "test" it to see for traffic then drop it if it doesn't have any.

[trader]

I feel sure it is just a coincidence. It could possibly happen but still quite unlikely with a small rogue registrar or employee.

It's extremely unlikely this is really happening (except for NetSol automatcally "reserving" names for the 5 day 'tasting' time period and hoping the inquiring part will end up reg'ing it because it is on 'hold' for them).

[neverUmind]

It's a practice called "front-running" and it's frowned upon in the industry.

In order to stop this practice ICANN is proposing to terminate the AGP (aka free domain tasting) and wants to require a non-refundable service charge for any domain being returned (effectively killing domain tasting for free). In fact, the matter is open for public comments between 7 May 2008 and 21 May 2008 (ICANN website>News>Announcements). Also, Google announced in January or February that they will not pay any revenue earned under an Adsense account for ads served on any domain that is less than five days old.

I think this problem is just about handled.

[edited by: neverUmind at 12:38 am (utc) on May 10, 2008]

[MiniAlex]

out of curiosity on bobparson.tv the ceo of godaddy claims godaddy NEVER practices front running and ecuses network solutions of doing that, makes for some interesting hearing and coments. i suggest you listen to it!
one day i was looking for a domain to buy it was gone, the same name in .net and org was selling on sedo for quiet a bit of money and on network solution i could REGISTER the .com version! all the other registrars said the .com was taken!
it is the only domain i EVER registered in network solutions they are extremly expensive!

personally now i search for domains on sedo or any other non registrant just in case they still do front running.

[BrandNewDay]

I have had the same thing numerous times. So when I find an attractive domain name in my niches that is still free, I take it right away. The consequence is that I have a number of domain names in my portfolio that are unused. It's all in the game.