Buy Expiring Domains | Domain Lists | Expired Domain Help

The domain deletion process is different with each domain name registrar, so each domain will be unique depending on it’s registrar. For example, there are many registrars that "partner" with domain auction services.

Register.com is partnered with the domain name auction service SnapNames.com. So when a domain name expires that is registered with Register, the domain remains in an expired status for 35 days. (It may not appear to be expired if you look at whois information, as Register.com will add an extra year to the registration which is considered Auto Renew Period, so it’s to check SnapNames.com to see when or if the auction start date is).

During these 35 days, the domain name will be in the Available Soon section on SnapNames. On the 36th day, the domain auction starts if there are backorders for the domain name. (more on partnered domains below) If no backorders are in place, the domain will likely follow the "normal" drop process which is like this:

Now again, each domain registrar is a little different and how they act upon their expired domain names. Technically, a registrar can just keep any expired domain name but that is very unlikely with any SnapNames.com partner registrar.

I wish there was an easy answer to this, so the best thing to do is just place a backorder for your intersted domain name at SnapNames.com, that's the easiest.

If or when a domain name reaches PendingDelete status, on the 6th day the domain name get's released from the registry "drops". Each TLD (.com, .net, .org) has a specific "time range" of when a domain name will become available.

The process to catch the domain is pretty simple. It just needs to be registered when it get's released from the registry which makes the domain name become available. Now doing this, is the hard part because it takes Luck and a lot of Speed.

Many of these released domain names get registered in milliseconds. Drop Catching companies like SnapNames.com, Pool.com and NameJet.com own Hundreds, yes Hundreds of domain name registrars (which cost about $30,000 Each). They all have software programs to automatically send "Buy Requests" to the registry at the drop times for specific domains. They input lists or specific domain names that drop each day and "catch" the domain names as they become available. The lists they input are mainly domain names that people "backorder" at their services.

Placing a backorder at all 3 major backorder services gives you the best chance to obtain a Pending Delete (expiring domain) and is the smartest choice. Trying to obtain the domain name by yourself would and is Very Hard to do.

So if an entity wanted to try and grab an expiring domain name during the drop, first you would need to own your own domain name registrar. This is very expensive and can run into the $30,000 range PER domain name registrar. Not all cash, but still. Now that you have your registrar, you need some Sweet software to send the "buy requests" to the registry. After you have the system in place, your one little registrar is bringing a wet noodle to a sword fight, because SnapNames has 100+ registrars, NameJet.com has about the same and Pool.com has about half (50ish) and you have 1. Now there are around 975 domain name registrars right now, so any or all of them could very well be going after the one little domain name that you want… I think you get my point here.

Again, the best thing to do if you really want a domain name that is in Pending Delete status or is expired and with a partner, is to use the Backorder services the main drop catchers offer. Keep in mind that partner domains are exclusive.

You place your order for the domain name and pay no upfront cost unless the domain name is captured by them. If you were the only one to backorder the domain name, you get the domain for the cost the service charges for the backorder (mainly under $99). If there are more then 1 backorder's for one domain name, a 3 day auction will take place, with the highest bidder winning.

What is a partnered domain name? A partnered domain name is pretty much what it says. A domain name registrar will "partner" with a domain auction service like SnapNames.com or NameJet.com etc. Any domain name that reaches Expired status will go to it's partnered auction service if not renewed by it's old owner. Any domain name like this will be exclusive to the specific auction service.

Example: Domain X is registered with Register.com (registrar) and the domain name reaches expired status. With in a couple days after hitting expired status, the domain name will be listed on SnapNames.com with the status of "Available Soon" section. Again, partner domain names are exclusive to one auction service so that is important.

If you are unsure what registrar the domain name is registered with, just visit www.Whois.sc and type in the domain name. In the information provided, you will see Registrar: .

If the domain name happens to be with a domain name registrar that "partners" with a domain name auction service, you will still need to place a backorder for the domain name to either get it when the backorder date is reached for the backorder price, or again if more then one backorder is in place, a 3 day auction will take place with the highest bidder winning the domain name. Each auction service is a little different, so be sure to check them out.

Here is a list of "partnered" registrars and where there expired domain names go for auction that I am aware of.

Backorders only work if nobody bids during a godaddy auction, Save your $18.99. Here is some info that will educate you to save that money..

All domain names registered with Godaddy.com that hit expired status go to http://auctions.godaddy.com Here is the timing.

The auctions END 36 days After the expiring Date according to Whois.sc expire date for the specific domain name. Auctions run for 10 days. So 26-27 days after the domain hit's it's expired date, the domain name will be listed on Godaddy auctions. Place your bid on the last day, to try to attract less attention to the listing.

The only way a "backorder" works, is if their is NO bids during the auction. Then the backorder works. So if somebody bids on the domain during the auction, your backorder is SOL. (shit out of luck).

Domain names that go to auction with a "partnered" auction service will also "Hold" it’s creation date. Domain names that go PendingDelete, get deleted and are captured, will have a creation date of when the domain is reregistered.

Understanding Expired, Expiring Domain Names!

Understanding the process a domain names takes (Life Cycle) can Greatly help you when trying to obtaining an expired domain name.