bagging an expired name

does existing owner have extra time

[SimonQ]

I have my eye on a domain that I want for my business. Its current registration to someone else should have expired on the 16th of April, as far as I can work out <snip>. However, searches in all the major sites don't show it as available.

Is there some kind of period of grace given to existing ownders before the domain can be bagged by me?

And is there any way of queueing to "snipe" the domain name as soon as it becomes avaiable, a la e-Bay?

[edited by: Webwork at 3:18 pm (utc) on April 23, 2006]
[edit reason] Charter [webmasterworld.com] [/edit]

[davezan]

Read the deletion policy of the registrar in question. That'll give you clues.

[stu2]

It depends on which registrar. For .com/.net it goes something like this..

> Expiry Date
> Registrar Dependant
> Registrar Delete
> 30 Day Redemption Period at Registry (can be renewed by paying Registrar's Redemption Fee)
> 5 Day Pending Delete
> Delete on 6th Day
> Backorder Services (Pool/SnapNames/NameWinner/ClubDrop/GoDaddy) scramble to register the deleted domain.

It should be pointed out that Registrar Dependant actions between Expiry Date and Registrar Delete are entirely Registrar dependant, including their right to renew the domain on their behalf and to sell to somebody else, according to the Terms of Service (ToS) of each Registrar.

[stu2]

As for queueing to snipe the domain. It again depends where the domain is registered. To cover all bases, after the domain expires, place a backorder at each of the backorder services mentioned in my previous post. To "hone" your chances look in the domain's registrar's preferred auction partner listings and bid there, because often the Registrar Dependant period I mention in my previous post is when they are already auctioning off the domain before deletion.

[cshel]

I pick up a lot of domains after they drop and I've discovered that unless it is a name that used to be a relatively popular website, or you know for a fact there are other people actively trying to register the name, I wouldn't waste money with a backorder service.

There are companies that will monitor domains and alert you when their status changes. Sign up for one of those and just wait for the status of the name to change to available and then hand register it. Save yourself the $60.

On the other hand, if it is a good name (single dictionary word.com, LLL.com, etc...) then backorders are your best bet.

Be realistic when you're evaluating the value of a given domain to other people. Just because I reallyreallyreallyreally want a name doesn't mean anyone else really does :)

If I'd figured that out a couple years ago I would have saved myself a ton of cash!

[SimonQ]

Thanks to all for those helpful comments. Currently trying to work out from the resellers site exactly who the registrar is. The reseller doesn't have an expiration policy anywhere on its site that I can see. Is there somewhere obvious and in the public domain that enables me to drill down and find out this (I would have thought) rather basic information?

I am new to this, but the reply posts I have had from you have sharpened up the learning curve no end...

[cshel]

Actually, I think I have a powerpoint slide that shows the registration expiration cycle someplace. I'll look for it when I get home from work.

The only problem with the deletion cycle timeline is that there is no firm rule (at least across all registrars) as to when an expired name must be placed into the deletion cycle. So, for example, some dumbdumb allows abc.com to expire... since abc.com is a three letter .com that is probably incredibly valuable... the registrar isn't going to let that puppy go into the deletion cycle, so waiting for it to drop is probably pointless.

So, if it's a name that is not considered to be super valuable on its own, then having the deletion cycle timeline is going to be helpful for you.

I'll post the slide when I dig it up... should be later tonight.

[stu2]

Usually, the registrars name appears on the top line of the whois info.