Grabbing a domain name

[peanutismint]

I'm trying to register a domain name for my band.

The name I'm interested in is currently registered to someone else, but there's no site at the domain name, not even a holding page. The whois report shows that the domain name was registered on the 16th of March 1997, and expires on the 16th of March 2009 (today). The site was last updated on the 24th of September 2007, so I'm wondering if it'll be likely I'll be able to nab the domain name before somebody else does.

Sites like GoDaddy.com won't let me buy the domain yet, even tho it says it expires today - maybe I have to wait til tomorrow? Or longer? Does anybody know how these things work? Should I contact the company holding the domain registration and ask them to purchase it from them? Or will they try to shaft me on the fees as they know I really want the site?

 

[radderfire]

If it's a .com there are various drop catching services you can book it with in an attempt to get it, e.g. snapnames.com. If the registrar it's currently registered with operates a dropcatching service, make sure you book it with them as well.

If it's in any way a decent name it is likely to be difficult to get hold of, because others will be after it and the registrar itself may take ownership of it.

.com domains have various statuses. I think after they expire there is another await cancellation period before it becomes available to anyone else (might be 60 days not sure) but communities such as dnforum.com and namepros.com will tell you.

Rgds

 

[malef!c]

When a domain expires, it will be put in a pending state that will allow the present owner to register it for a set time after expiration.

For example, a uk domain will take 90 or 92 days from expiring to being availble to register again.

Remember the domain will not expire until midnight tonight so thats why places like Godaddy etc say you cannot register the domain.

If you really want it, sign up to a comapany that will try to snap it up after it drops - they cost a bit but if you really have you heart set on having it you might want a go.