Did name.com steal my domain?

[Peter-Jan]

Hi,

When I was brainstorming ideas a couple of weeks ago, I searched for some domains to check their availability.

Now when I decided to register a few of them, the one I wanted the most is gone.

Registered by name.com around the date of my search. For 1 year only and with some stupid landing page.

Is this an incredible coincidence or does name.com log godaddy/sedo/browser/google/whois searches somehow?

Seeing all those 'premium' domain names on their sites listed at 4 figures gives me a very bad feeling about how this is going to end.

[dagersh]

Hi,

When I was brainstorming ideas a couple of weeks ago, I searched for some domains to check their availability.

Now when I decided to register a few of them, the one I wanted the most is gone.

Registered by name.com around the date of my search. For 1 year only and with some stupid landing page.

Is this an incredible coincidence or does name.com log godaddy/sedo/browser/google/whois searches somehow?

Seeing all those 'premium' domain names on their sites listed at 4 figures gives me a very bad feeling about how this is going to end.

There have definitely been reports of certain registrars logging name searches and then registering them automatically, so that the name would then have to be bought from them at a "premium" price. I don't know whether Name.com has been accused of this, and I am fairly sure that GoDaddy and Moniker don't deal in this kind of underhandedness.

One good test is to do a search for a name that only you could be interested in (for example, your name plus your birth date and favorite hobby: johnsmith011680gamblingsiteaffiliates.com). Don't register it, but then come back the next day to see if it has been registered. If it has, don't ever do searches at that registrar again.

The best advice I can give you is that if you find a name you like, register it immediately! Don't wait and come back later -- two weeks is much too long to hope for. Even if the registrar is innocent of this kind of behavior, there are thousands of people out there who might have had a similar idea...

[casinojack]

There have definitely been reports of certain registrars logging name searches and then registering them automatically, so that the name would then have to be bought from them at a "premium" price. I don't know whether Name.com has been accused of this, and I am fairly sure that GoDaddy and Moniker don't deal in this kind of underhandedness.

One good test is to do a search for a name that only you could be interested in (for example, your name plus your birth date and favorite hobby: johnsmith011680gamblingsiteaffiliates.com). Don't register it, but then come back the next day to see if it has been registered. If it has, don't ever do searches at that registrar again.

The best advice I can give you is that if you find a name you like, register it immediately! Don't wait and come back later -- two weeks is much too long to hope for. Even if the registrar is innocent of this kind of behavior, there are thousands of people out there who might have had a similar idea...

GoDaddy has done this to me..

[LiveCasinoPartners]

It happened to me with networksolutions a few years ago. I searched for a name, and wanted to register it the next day. It was already taken!.. Not long after I heard reports of registrars who facilitate that.

When registering a domain name, my motto is.. "when in doubt register it."

I heard that godaddy doesn't do it, but after Jack's comment I'm starting to think they might.

[dagersh]

I heard that godaddy doesn't do it, but after Jack's comment I'm starting to think they might.

I can't speak for Jack's case, but I've registered hundreds of domains at GoDaddy and searched for hundreds more there and have never had it happen to me.

[Doolally]

One good test is to do a search for a name that only you could be interested in (for example, your name plus your birth date and favorite hobby: johnsmith011680gamblingsiteaffiliates.com). Don't register it, but then come back the next day to see if it has been registered. If it has, don't ever do searches at that registrar again.

Good advice!!

I've had this happen to me also but never with GoDaddy.

[Peter-Jan]

Thanks all for the feedback and advice!

Question: If a domain expires, how long does it stay in quarantaine before I am able to grab it with a 'backorder'?

Does this depend on the registrar or is this one rule for all?

Thanks!

Edit: Reason I ask is that a domain I like is for sale on Sedo but will expire in a few weeks. I can wait a few weeks but not a few months. Also, I assume the bids the seller makes (including the desired price he lists) are binding for 7 days under all conditions, as I read in the Sedo FAQ. I don't want to make a seller greedy about a domain he was going to let expire anyway!

[Muppet]

Tell me the domain and I'll tell you what its worth..

just kidding

Here's a good page that explains the expiry and drop process.
http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/a...xpiring-domain

In short if the domain has value then there's only a tiny chance that it won't get snapped up the second it expires. Have a look at the fees services like snapnames charge and if the domain costs less to buy now on sedo then just buy it, otherwise you could end up in a blind auction for an expired domain where you don't know who (or what) you are bidding against.

[Peter-Jan]

Thanks! Seems like the best way forward is to buy via SEDO. Same price level and faster delivery.