If you buy a domain and don't renew, theres a ~45 day "redemption period", during which you can pay a fee to get it back (GoDaddy charges $80 for this). If you don't, the domain is released back into the wild by Verisign, and all registrars get an equal crack at it. The reason Pool has such a good chance is that they own 80 registrars, so they have 80 horses in the race. That's what the original article discusses.
However, in the last few years drop-catching has become largely irrelevant. Here's why, using GoDaddy and TDNAM as an example:
During that 45 day redemption period, GoDaddy auctions off the right to buy the domain via the TDNAM. If someone pays the fee, they'll renew it themselves to sell it, it never hits the wild again, and the drop catchers never get a shot.
This is how I got GeorgeWBushLibrary.com for $15 (paid TDNAM fee), which I then sold for $35,000 less than a year later.
Network Solutions has NameJet, enom has one too (forget the name). Between those 3, most domains are covered, making drop catching a dying art.
Edit: Its important to note that each aftermarket can only sell domains currently registered at their registrar. So TDNAM only sells domains regged @ GoDaddy, NameJet only sells domains regged @ NetSol, etc.
Any idea what happens with domains registered by MarkMonitor? Is there a place they go before they "drop", or are the services in this article the only chance of getting these?
No, GoDaddy backorders is a drop catching service. For it to work, the domain has to hit the wild, so if someone bought the domain in TDNAM you wouldn't get it.
Basically:
If the domain you want was regged with GoDaddy, Network Solutions, or eNom, buy it out of their aftermarket (much cheaper, better chance).
Otherwise hire drop catchers. You can hire several, because you only pay the winner. However, be careful what you're getting yourself into here - for that the original article is still very relevant.
Just go to Godaddy.com and click on Domain Auctions. Their dropcatching of deleting names isn't that good, however, it's the place to go to get a name that was registered at Godaddy/WildWest.
For expired names that were registered at Godaddy/Wildest, the name goes into a 10 day auction around 25 days after expiration. At the end of the 10 days, it goes to the highest bidder. Then the winning bidder has to wait another 7 days before the domain is in their possession.
Comments
Yes and no. Here's how it works:
If you buy a domain and don't renew, theres a ~45 day "redemption period", during which you can pay a fee to get it back (GoDaddy charges $80 for this). If you don't, the domain is released back into the wild by Verisign, and all registrars get an equal crack at it. The reason Pool has such a good chance is that they own 80 registrars, so they have 80 horses in the race. That's what the original article discusses.
However, in the last few years drop-catching has become largely irrelevant. Here's why, using GoDaddy and TDNAM as an example:
During that 45 day redemption period, GoDaddy auctions off the right to buy the domain via the TDNAM. If someone pays the fee, they'll renew it themselves to sell it, it never hits the wild again, and the drop catchers never get a shot.
This is how I got GeorgeWBushLibrary.com for $15 (paid TDNAM fee), which I then sold for $35,000 less than a year later.
Network Solutions has NameJet, enom has one too (forget the name). Between those 3, most domains are covered, making drop catching a dying art.
Edit: Its important to note that each aftermarket can only sell domains currently registered at their registrar. So TDNAM only sells domains regged @ GoDaddy, NameJet only sells domains regged @ NetSol, etc.
Any idea what happens with domains registered by MarkMonitor? Is there a place they go before they "drop", or are the services in this article the only chance of getting these?
So, to get involved in this "TDNAM," all you have to do is pay GoDaddy's $20 backorder fee and wait for the expiration date to hit?
No, GoDaddy backorders is a drop catching service. For it to work, the domain has to hit the wild, so if someone bought the domain in TDNAM you wouldn't get it.
Basically:
If the domain you want was regged with GoDaddy, Network Solutions, or eNom, buy it out of their aftermarket (much cheaper, better chance).
Otherwise hire drop catchers. You can hire several, because you only pay the winner. However, be careful what you're getting yourself into here - for that the original article is still very relevant.
Just go to Godaddy.com and click on Domain Auctions. Their dropcatching of deleting names isn't that good, however, it's the place to go to get a name that was registered at Godaddy/WildWest.
For expired names that were registered at Godaddy/Wildest, the name goes into a 10 day auction around 25 days after expiration. At the end of the 10 days, it goes to the highest bidder. Then the winning bidder has to wait another 7 days before the domain is in their possession.