how to get my OWN expired domain?

[meegwell]

Im past the grace period on a namecheap name and they want to charge me $200 to renew it. I would prefer to use another registrar anyway, what are my options for getting it as it drops? Is not any "hot" domain I just want to keep it. Is this a job for something like the godaddy backorder?

[thegoddessofeleven]

I'm VERY interested in hearing the answer to this one, myself. They get you in with $10 domains, and sock it to you when it comes time to renew! I've always wondered how a person is supposed to hang onto a domain name that they like. Couldn't the registrar charge you whatever amount they very well please-- hundreds of thousands of dollars for the major ones (like WalMart.com)?

[meegwell]

just to clarify, its not the renewal fee (which is 6 or 9 bucks) - its a special extortion fee since I didnt renew within 27 days of expiration.

[davezan]

Originally Posted by meegwell

its a special extortion fee since I didnt renew within 27 days of expiration.

An understandably harsh way of putting it. But why is that extortion when: a)
one doesn't own or possess the domain name any longer, and b) no one put a
gun on one's head to accept it?

(The question above isn't what's being asked, of course. But when one posts
in an internet forum, one ought to be ready to deal with the answers they will
likely or probably get.)

Anyway, your options are:

1. Redeem it. You can get it before others possibly do, though that depends if
the registrar can do so on time.

2. Wait for it to drop and be ready to re-register it. If the domain is indeed in
Redemption Grace Period, count 35-36 days from its last updated date (that's
when it changed to that status) to "guesstimate" when it'll be available.

3. If you won't practically be ready by then or there's a risk someone else can
grab it first, you can use a industry-leading backorder service like SnapNames.
I don't know how effective Go Daddy's is, but theirs targets mainly their own
expired names before they drop.

On the side, #2 is sometimes a mistake some people made. And they ended up
not getting the domain, although I read of one who waited six (!) years to get
it back finally.

Good luck.

[Nic Lynn]

Try to buy it at auction/close out.

I just did this last week a godaddy. They wanted $90 bucks to recover an expired domain that went past grace. I went into the auctions, and bought this domain back fro $5!

[Rich Struck]

This happened to me once but back then it was $80 to bail it out. I passed on Namecheap's generous offer and luckily I was able to just buy it when it dropped. If the domain isn't anything spectacular I'd just let it go.

[marketersva]

Ed, that's a GREAT idea! Thanks!