Trouble registering a domain

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I'm keen to register a domain I've had my eye on for a few weeks. According to whois, it expired in April, but wasn't available for registration. Just checked again, and it is still showing as taken in Namecheap. However, when I look at whois, I get this message:

"Unable to find whois. The domain may be available for registration"

Can anybody elaborate on what's happening here?

While there are other suitable domains out there and I won't lose sleep if I miss out on this one, I wouldn't mind being able to snaffle it.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Audrey
#domain #registering #trouble
  • Profile picture of the author Rich Struck
    Expired domains go into a redemption period of 90 days I think during which the previous owner can re-buy it back but it is very expensive. You just need to wait a while.
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  • Profile picture of the author Audrey Harvey
    Thanks Rich. I'll sit back for a while then. BTW, where in Scotland are you?
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    • Profile picture of the author Rich Struck
      Originally Posted by Audrey Harvey View Post

      Thanks Rich. I'll sit back for a while then. BTW, where in Scotland are you?
      Scotland, South Dakota in the USA. On the prairie in the middle of nowhere.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rich Struck
    By the way, if this domain is important to you, there are services which will grab it when it finally becomes available. I can't recommend one to use but maybe someone else here can.
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  • Profile picture of the author cobra tatham
    Yeah, I would just be patient. They quite often keep trying to contact the owner just in case they want to register it again. It could be 60-90 days. Hope you get it!
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  • Profile picture of the author Audrey Harvey
    Ahh, different Scotland to the one I was thinking of :-)

    Thanks for your comment too, Cobra.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    Audrey, keep checking the WHOIS info. Eventually it will say "pending delete". When it says that, it will become available to register in exactly 5 days.
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  • Profile picture of the author Audrey Harvey
    Gene, thank you. I'll just keep checking and see if I can grab it when it is available.
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    • Profile picture of the author SamirSM
      Originally Posted by Audrey Harvey View Post

      I'm keen to register a domain I've had my eye on for a few weeks. According to whois, it expired in April, but wasn't available for registration. Just checked again, and it is still showing as taken in Namecheap. However, when I look at whois, I get this message:

      "Unable to find whois. The domain may be available for registration"

      Can anybody elaborate on what's happening here?

      While there are other suitable domains out there and I won't lose sleep if I miss out on this one, I wouldn't mind being able to snaffle it.

      Thanks for your thoughts.

      Audrey
      Originally Posted by Rich Struck View Post

      Expired domains go into a redemption period of 90 days I think during which the previous owner can re-buy it back but it is very expensive. You just need to wait a while.
      Originally Posted by cobra tatham View Post

      Yeah, I would just be patient. They quite often keep trying to contact the owner just in case they want to register it again. It could be 60-90 days. Hope you get it!
      Originally Posted by Gene Pimentel View Post

      Audrey, keep checking the WHOIS info. Eventually it will say "pending delete". When it says that, it will become available to register in exactly 5 days.

      I agree with the point made by others...the domain is probably in the post-expiration but pre-deletion state. If you really want the domain, you could try back-ordering it for a premium price through some registrars, or contact the previous owner (if you can obviously) and ask him/her to renew the domain and transfer it to your account for some amount of money.
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      • Profile picture of the author davezan
        Audrey, similar thread:

        http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...er-thingy.html

        Again, it essentially depends on what "status" the domain name is currently in.
        Check with the registrar if it's expired, then either backorder with a company
        like SnapNames or wait 'til it's available again but risk competing with others.

        Good luck.
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        David

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