how to get my OWN expired domain?

6 replies
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?
#domain #expired
  • 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)?
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    Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and good with ketchup.

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  • Profile picture of the author 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.
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    • Profile picture of the author davezan
      Originally Posted by meegwell View Post

      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.
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      David

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  • Profile picture of the author Ed Stas
    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!
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  • Profile picture of the author 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.
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  • Profile picture of the author marketersva
    Ed, that's a GREAT idea! Thanks!
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