About Backordering Domains

[tjmiller]

I hope Gene reads this thread, and if not, I hope someone else can help me.

I have been looking at a number of domain names that I am interested in. For a few of them, the .com is not available, but there is no site on the domain, and the backorder option is available. I am kind of new at the whole domain acquisition business, but I had read a thread somewhere recently where someone backordered a domain and it ended up costing them hundreds of dollars.

On these domains I am looking at, the .net version is available, and I would rather just get the .net if the .com is going to be that pricey. BUT if I can get the .com for $18.95 vs $8.95 for the .net, now that I would do.

Do you ever get the domain for the backorder price?

(Hope this question isn't too clueless, the whole domain thing fascinates and intimidates me.)

Thanks,

[seasoned]

tjmiller,

Backordering is NEVER available! It is merely a method where THEY try to get the name for you when it becomes available. That means that:

1. It may NEVER be available!
2. If it is available, someone ELSE may get it EVEN if they "ordered" it LONG after you did.
3. Who ever has control ALWAYS has the option to CHARGE MORE!

There USED to be a 3:00am(IIRC) process, and there was a SET policy! Eventually, some people found out about that and, at that time, automated processes ALL AROUND THE WORLD hit to try to be the FIRST to get the domain they wanted. Network solutions realized this, and confused things, and other registrars made it even HARDER! STILL people did similar things. NOW most registrars have a QUOTA! So it is even HARDER!

Anyway, DON'T think backordering means you will DEFINITELY get the name, even if it DOES expire!

Steve

[Linda Van Fleet]

Originally Posted by tjmiller

I hope Gene reads this thread, and if not, I hope someone else can help me.

I have been looking at a number of domain names that I am interested in. For a few of them, the .com is not available, but there is no site on the domain, and the backorder option is available. I am kind of new at the whole domain acquisition business, but I had read a thread somewhere recently where someone backordered a domain and it ended up costing them hundreds of dollars.

On these domains I am looking at, the .net version is available, and I would rather just get the .net if the .com is going to be that pricey. BUT if I can get the .com for $18.95 vs $8.95 for the .net, now that I would do.

Do you ever get the domain for the backorder price?

(Hope this question isn't too clueless, the whole domain thing fascinates and intimidates me.)

Thanks,

Once I put one of my own domain names when I was searching for a new domain (a duh! moment) and was I ever surprised when it suggested I could back order it. that domain name will probably never be for sale ... at least not in my lifetime.

Steve is right ... don't do it ... ever.

Linda

[davezan]

Originally Posted by tjmiller

Do you ever get the domain for the backorder price?

Not always. It depends on a variety of things, especially how possibly popular
the term/s behind the domain name might be.

OTOH, when to "backorder" the domain name or not depends on what stage
of its "lifecycle" it's on. Without meaning to "pimp" my blog, I wrote about it
before to give people some ideas how it works:

How To Grab An Expired Domain Name | Dave Zan's Domain Name Blog

That process hasn't changed...except for the players involved.

I agree with Steve/seasoned that backordering doesn't necessarily mean one
will get it. It ultimately depends how much you're willing to invest on what you
think is the "right" choice for you.

Hope it works out for you.

[tjmiller]

Originally Posted by davezan

OTOH, when to "backorder" the domain name or not depends on what stage
of its "lifecycle" it's on. Without meaning to "pimp" my blog, I wrote about it
before to give people some ideas how it works:

How To Grab An Expired Domain Name | Dave Zan's Domain Name Blog

That process hasn't changed...except for the players involved.

Thanks, Dave.

I did go to your blog and read the article, wow that is a somewhat complicated process, isn't it? I mentioned in my original post that I am fascinated with domaining, and I still am, but I can see I have a lot to learn. I will be checking out your blog a little more, looks like you have some good information there.

[Dan C. Rinnert]

I've backordered domains before without any issues. Some I got; some I didn't.

There are multiple backorder services, so, if I want a domain bad enough, I will use more than one. You just have to be careful that you don't end up in a bidding war against yourself.

You could also contact the domain name owner and see if they are interested in selling, especially if there's not much visible activity on the domain. (Of course, if they only use it for eMail, it may appear to be an unused domain but the lack of a website doesn't mean a domain isn't being used.)

The downside with that approach is that it alerts the domain owner there is interest and value in the domain name, which may make them ask for more money or be more determined to hold on to the domain. Whereas, if you hadn't contacted them, they may have let the domain drop. So, there's a risk there. I know that when I get an offer on a domain, I have a tendency to immediately renew it for a couple more years to make sure I don't forget about it.

[Gene Pimentel]

Hi Teresa, davezan has covered it thoroughly -- nothing I can add (awesome blog post Dave!)

[tjmiller]

Originally Posted by Gene Pimentel

Hi Teresa, davezan has covered it thoroughly -- nothing I can add (awesome blog post Dave!)

Thanks, Gene. I felt that Dave gave me some good information, I will probably read some more on his blog. I feel that I have a lot of studying to do to learn the domain business. Don't know exactly why it has grabbed my attention so strongly. I get interested first with your DPC, and once I signed up there, I just want to know MORE.

[InternetMarketingIQ]

I never play with back ordering it's just a way for registrars to drive up prices on domains that people have searched for but not registered in hopes they will come back and buy at the higher price.

Any domain that is only $10 more for the .com version that fits your plan is worth buying.

[Jhf14]

do NOT back-order from godaddy... horrible service... you shouldnt ever pay upfront for the back order...

[davezan]

Originally Posted by Gene Pimentel

nothing I can add (awesome blog post Dave!)

Thanks, Gene. I only know the technical aspects of it, but you can maybe fill
in the rest as (I'll tell you) you've got more actual experience on backordering
than I do.

BTW, tjmiller, it'll simply boil down to one of two things below. This especially
applies for .com.

If the domain name is still within the registrar's expiry grace thingie, they can
try to auction it to any interested party before pulling the plug. Use TDNAM if
it's with Go Daddy, NameJet if it's with Network Solutions or eNom, etc.

Speaking of which, I aim to rewrite that article to indicate the players and the
registrars who partner with them. Just that I need to prioritize with soo many
things going on, sheesh.

If the domain name's past expiry and in the so-called redemption period state,
then that's where parties like SnapNames comes in. Despite the recent fiasco
involving them if you look around, they're arguably still good at catching them
names after becoming available.

Oh, and consider also what Dan Rinnert said. I agree with him completely, and
that's another avenue to explore.

[tjmiller]

Originally Posted by davezan

Thanks, Gene. I only know the technical aspects of it, but you can maybe fill
in the rest as (I'll tell you) you've got more actual experience on backordering
than I do.

BTW, tjmiller, it'll simply boil down to one of two things below. This especially
applies for .com.

If the domain name is still within the registrar's expiry grace thingie, they can
try to auction it to any interested party before pulling the plug. Use TDNAM if
it's with Go Daddy, NameJet if it's with Network Solutions or eNom, etc.

Speaking of which, I aim to rewrite that article to indicate the players and the
registrars who partner with them. Just that I need to prioritize with soo many
things going on, sheesh.

If the domain name's past expiry and in the so-called redemption period state,
then that's where parties like SnapNames comes in. Despite the recent fiasco
involving them if you look around, they're arguably still good at catching them
names after becoming available.

Oh, and consider also what Dan Rinnert said. I agree with him completely, and
that's another avenue to explore.

I have been copy and pasting just about everything I find posted by Gene about domain names. It looks like I am going to have to add you to my save list. You have a lot of information to share, thanks for that!

[John Rogers]

Originally Posted by Jhf14

do NOT back-order from godaddy... horrible service... you shouldnt ever pay upfront for the back order...

Really? I've never had a problem with it. And if you don't end up with the domain, you can reassign the backorder to another domain name for no additional fee. I've scored some nice domain names through backordering at GoDaddy, but as Dave covered very thoroughly, if you don't understand where the domain is in the life cycle, you may be wasting time and money.

John