Trying to get hold of an expired domain

Simebaby · 28 Mar 2006 at 16:10

Hi All (Sorry if this is the wrong forum - please move if so).

A friend has asked me to aquire a domain name for him, for his business. The name (it's a .com) has already been taken, but according to a WHOIS lookup, the domain expired on 01/02/2006. The current status is REDEMPTIONPERIOD. From looking around, this means the grace period provided by the registrar has expired, and once the REDEMPTIONPERIOD has expired (30 days), it will go to PENDINGDELETE, then will be available 5 days later.

My question is, how can I find out when the domain changed to REDEMPTIONPERIOD status (i.e. so I know when it will hit DELETE, and when it will be available). DNSStuff.com gives a "record updated" date of 03/03/2006 - would that mean that's the date when it changed to REDEMPTIONPERIOD?

Also, I'm thinking of using a namedrop service (e.g. snapnames), has anyone used these before? Are they worth it?

TIA

Si.

stoofa · 28 Mar 2006 at 17:44

If the name is even only remotely interesting to the point where somebody else might be interested in it then a namedrop service is your only chance.
You will not beat a computer to this domain name and that is what you are up against if the name is "interesting".

There are numerous companies that will attempt to snap the name up for you.
Try and pick one that will work for you and you alone - there are some that attempt to snap the name and then auction it off to the highest bidder.
There are also those that take your order for the domain and then do all they can to secure it for you - this is the kind of company you should consider.

Sure it is more expensive to get a namedrop service involved and there is still no guarantee that you'll end up with the domain name.
You may also question if getting such a service involved is really worth it and that is only a question your client can answer.
See what the domain is worth to your client - factor in the cost of the name drop service, and charges to have the domain transferred over to you and finally your time & effort.
Now remind your client that there is only .com domain in the world that is spelt the way he wants it (IE this domain) and I expect he'll go for it.

Al Vallario · 28 Mar 2006 at 17:50

Mike Davison has a brilliant post on his blog about his experiences registering an expired domain, including information about the popular name-drop services.

It seems logical that the domain entered the redemption period on 3rd March

lookitsjonno · 28 Mar 2006 at 18:22

what registrar is the domain with? the reason i ask is some renew expiring domains automatically if you dont and keep them for themselves. your firstly best researching the current registrar to see if they do this and if they do - you have no chance.

secondly get the domain back ordered snapnames, pool.com and enom and hope for the best. snapnames seems to be doing especially well as of late.

if its even remotely descent though, others will be after it [meaning your unlikely to pick up the domain for "peanuts"].

snapnames caught one of mine last month and it ended up going for in the $5000 region.

the .com dropcatching will be nonexistant in under a year though after ICANN have agreed to keep sell suspended names on themselves.

Simebaby · 28 Mar 2006 at 20:35

Cheers for the replies all. The registrar is Advantage Interactive, might have a poke around, see if I can see anything relating to dodgy re-registering from them.

I doubt that the name will be *very* sought after (only people in his line of work would really be interested, I'd think) - but I've used Snapnames to maximise his chances. I'll have a chat with him as the expiry date approaches, and see if he wants to sign up with any more namedrop services.

Ta

Si.