7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
7 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Buying registered domain

by gavin1993
6 replies
I've recently set up a website, and I am looking for a certain domain. I have found the domain is already registered but the person who owns it quite clearly doesn't use it anymore and hasn't for many years. It is expiring quite soon so I put a bid on it on a website called namejet, does anyone know if this is the correct way to get an expiring domain?
#buying #domain #registered
  • Profile picture of the author DanielBlue
    Why do you not contact the owner? Is he using whois protection? The you would not have someone between.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9876262].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
    Namejet is one way to do it. Snapnames is another. If it is going to be an in-demand name, you should do both. Depending on who the registrar is, you may be able to backorder it directly as well.

    Either way, if more than one person expresses an interest, it will go to auction and could get expensive.

    Daniel's suggestion of contacting the owner directly is probably a good one. If the owner is planning to let it drop, you may be able to persuade him to sell it directly to you. But chances are good he will make his price high in exchange for the guaranteed success he can offer you in acquiring it.

    It is tough to know the right strategy without knowing the name.
    Signature
    Fifteen Lessons I have learned over 15 years and six businesses (or, My 1000th-Post Manifesto)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9876296].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author DanielBlue
      Originally Posted by Jack Gordon View Post

      Namejet is one way to do it. Snapnames is another. If it is going to be an in-demand name, you should do both. Depending on who the registrar is, you may be able to backorder it directly as well.

      Either way, if more than one person expresses an interest, it will go to auction and could get expensive.

      Daniel's suggestion of contacting the owner directly is probably a good one. If the owner is planning to let it drop, you may be able to persuade him to sell it directly to you. But chances are good he will make his price high in exchange for the guaranteed success he can offer you in acquiring it.

      It is tough to know the right strategy without knowing the name.
      Right. Another point can be this person only uses the domain for email, but not the domain itself.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9876308].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author gavin1993
    Thanks a lot for the replies!
    I have tried contacting the email address but I got no response, it might be an old one that he used and no longer does. I will try snapnames as well to try and guarantee success.
    Once again thanks a lot for the replies!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9876354].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author OmarNegron
    Originally Posted by gavin1993 View Post

    I've recently set up a website, and I am looking for a certain domain. I have found the domain is already registered but the person who owns it quite clearly doesn't use it anymore and hasn't for many years. It is expiring quite soon so I put a bid on it on a website called namejet, does anyone know if this is the correct way to get an expiring domain?

    If the domain is listed at NameJet, you can bid on their website but if it is a good domain name, you are going to be fighting against a lot of domainers...

    You see the reason why it's on Namejet is because the owner has NOT renewed the name and it has the chance to reach pending delete status at some point in the future. BUT again, if it is a GOOD domain, it's not going to get that far in the process and people will bid for it.

    What you should do if you want the name and no one is using it is...

    1. Type the domain is Whois.sc
    2. Find the contacts email & number
    3. Contact them and ask them if there still interested in their website.
    4. If they DONT answer, create a whois.sc account and put it on your watch-list. They will email you updates on the latest status of the domain as it goes through the process.
    5. If they do answer you, game on. Time to make a deal. Just know since YOU are writing them, they are going to perceive their name as being important and try to charge you a high price.

    Hope that helps!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9876624].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
    One other suggestion... look it up in the wayback machine at archive.org

    If they are not responding to the inquiries you are sending, you may find other contact information from a time in the past when they had content on the site.

    I once paid $4k for a domain I had to track the owner down exactly that way for.
    Signature
    Fifteen Lessons I have learned over 15 years and six businesses (or, My 1000th-Post Manifesto)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9876694].message }}

Trending Topics