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Acquiring an expiring domain name?

by thedog
14 replies
Hi guys, there's a domain name I'd like to buy. It expires at the beginning of August this year.

There's a backorder option with godaddy, for $20.99.

I've read that all this does is put it on an auction site, and godaddy places a $10 bid for you... thus drawing attention to the domain. After a certain amount of time, if there's no other bids, think it's a month, it's yours.

Ok... can someone tell me the best way I can acquire this domain name? I'm not willing to pay over $70 or so.

It's a 4 letter .com. Not a word but an acronym, not a popular one.
#acquiring #domain #expiring
  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    You have three basic choices.

    1) Use a backorder service like namejet.com ($59 minimum bid), or Godaddy.

    2) Contact the current owner and see if they're willing to sell.

    3) Take your chances and wait for the domain to become available, hoping nobody else grabs it before you.

    When you look at the WHOIS record and see "pending delete", there is a max of 5 days before it becomes publicly available.
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    • Profile picture of the author MarQueteer
      Originally Posted by Gene Pimentel View Post

      You have three basic choices.

      1) Use a backorder service like namejet.com ($59 minimum bid), or Godaddy.

      2) Contact the current owner and see if they're willing to sell.

      3) Take your chances and wait for the domain to become available, hoping nobody else grabs it before you.

      When you look at the WHOIS record and see "pending delete", there is a max of 5 days before it becomes publicly available.
      1 and 2 are great options in my opinion, especially 2 if it's a good name and an auction would probably end up alot higher than the minimum bid.

      3 is the chance of a snowball to survive in hell if it's a remotely interesting name.
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      • Profile picture of the author GlobalTrader
        Network Solutions also has a program that contacts the buyers on your behalf and you remain anonymous - it is $19 if under $25k offers and I am not sure of what it is above 25K? I used their service a few years ago when I did not want the owner to know who it was due to our sites being in competition with one another - he had two domains sitting idle and there were not being monetized in anyway - he refused several offers and never made a counter offer.

        Anyway, here is their link (this is a non-affiliate link) -

        Getting Started
        Signature

        GlobalTrader

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  • Profile picture of the author Giftys
    I don't recommend #3. If you really want this domain, either contact the owner or spend the money on the backorder service. You'll be glad you did later when it's solidly yours.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    Yes, you'll get your money back if they fail to get it for you. Also realize that others may bid higher and win the domain. It can get tricky. The safest bet is to buy directly from the current owner.
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    • Profile picture of the author thedog
      Originally Posted by Gene Pimentel View Post

      Yes, you'll get your money back if they fail to get it for you. Also realize that others may bid higher and win the domain. It can get tricky. The safest bet is to buy directly from the current owner.
      I've no idea who owns it, when I query it with whois I get,

      Registrant:
      Domains by Proxy, Inc.

      Also they're just squatting, there's no site.
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      • Profile picture of the author davezan
        Originally Posted by thedog View Post

        I've no idea who owns it, when I query it with whois I get,

        Registrant:
        Domains by Proxy, Inc.
        If the domain name is registered at Go Daddy, then choose #1 as Gene said.
        Specifically, use Go Daddy's auction thing.

        Nowadays many registrars try to auction their expired domain inventory prior
        to letting them go. Make sure to read their fine print and ask them questions
        to understand what you're potentially getting into.

        Good luck.
        Signature

        David

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        • Profile picture of the author thedog
          I'll tell you why I'm interested in this domain.... I'm looking into an offline business venture, and need the help of a specialist lawyer/consulting agency to help me.

          Fees come in around $4,000.

          I had a look at their site, with is really nice, but ranking no where in google for the main search phrases, for this particular service.

          I got to thinking, if I can rank for the main keyword, a 4 letter acronym, which gets 2,600 monthly searches, I could

          a) build a site, rank it in the top 3 and sell or rent it to them
          b) build a site, rank it in the top 3 and sell or rent it to a competitor

          Their competition has an EMD .org, the acronym is in a different order, and gets less searches... but they're ranking for the .org, and advertising their site.

          The domain, ikeyword.com is available..... I might go down this road.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    You need to contact the owner via the proxy email shown. Just because there's no site doesn't mean they're squatting. Squatting is when someone registers a domain name containing a trademark belonging to someone else.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    Actually, I have been able to acquire many domains by just waiting for them to expire on their own, and paying close attention as the time gets close to release. Still risky if a particular domain is very important to you, but often, option #3 does work out.
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  • Profile picture of the author royljestr
    If you choose to backorder it you might want to do it through several backorder sites to ensure that you actually do get it...I guess it really just depends on how much it is worth to you.
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    • Profile picture of the author thedog
      Originally Posted by royljestr View Post

      If you choose to backorder it you might want to do it through several backorder sites to ensure that you actually do get it...I guess it really just depends on how much it is worth to you.
      Thanks for the advice. I wouldn't pay over $100 for it.
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    • Profile picture of the author davezan
      Originally Posted by royljestr View Post

      If you choose to backorder it you might want to do it through several backorder sites to ensure that you actually do get it.
      Actually, no need to do that. If the domain's expired, see my answer above.

      If the domain name's in the so-called redemption grace period or outside that
      registrar's allowable period to renew, that's when to backorder with the major
      players.
      Signature

      David

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