In a few minutes, you are about to learn how to (possibly) grab the expiring or expired domain name that you want. While it’s not 100% foolproof, this article can give you an edge over the rest.
For now, we’re going to deal with .com domain names since that’s arguably the most sought-after extension.
I wrote about a domain name’s ideal life cycle in a previous post. As a recap from that article, the registrar has anywhere from 1 to 45 days to retain an expired name before letting it go.
I noted that certain things can happen to a domain name inbetween its phases. To be specific, something can happen to an expired domain name before it’s deleted and switches into the Redemption Grace Period phase.
A popular practice among many registrars nowadays is they’ll attempt to sell the expired name to an interested buyer for a period of time before pulling the plug. They’ll either successfully transfer the name to the new registrant and get a cut, or have the domain name deleted if no one’s interested.
Each registrar has its own process and time frame in “auctioning” an expired name. No 2 registrars follow the same “rules”, depending on their approaches.
Network Solutions’ deletion policy states they give a 35-day grace period for registrants to renew their expired domain names. If the name isn’t renewed within those 35 days, then they’ll check with veteran backorder company Snapnames to see if anyone’s made an offer.
Snapnames will notify Network Solutions if anyone has made a “backorder” for the expired name in question. After a few days (3, I think), Network Solutions will transfer the name to the new registrant, and both Network Solutions and Snapnames get their respective “cuts” from the proceeds of the auction.
On the other hand, if Network Solutions doesn’t get any backorder offers made on the expired domain name (or if the original registrant opted out of the process, as their deletion policy further states), then the registrar will be forced to delete the domain name. The domain name then goes into RGP.
So if the name has expired but is still within the registrar’s grace period (if any), then this is the time to possibly make a “backorder” with whomever they’re going to auction the name through. It’s either in-house (like Enom through Club Drop) or with another vendor (like Network Solutions and Snapnames).
Again, I should repeat that each registrar has its own process of how they’ll possibly auction the name before letting it go. So depending on where the expired domain name is registered with, check with the sponsoring registrar and find out what exactly they’ll do.
I want to caution you, though, that registrars aren’t exactly willing to give specific time frames as to how long their auction process is lest someone accuses them of lying later on, especially if you’re a third party not listed on the domain name’s current registration record. Aside from asking them directly what the process is, you should check their online FAQ or legal fine prints for more answers.
Also, there’s a chance the expired domain name in question might have more than one party making a bid for it. That’ll eventually force you and the others into a bidding war, and the highest winning bidder is determined after some time.
But what if the domain name was deleted before you could make a backorder for it? Fear not, it’s not the end of the world.
Again, depending on what phase of the domain name’s life cycle it’s in, it might still be possible to boost your chances of getting it. If the domain name’s in Redemption Grace Period (RGP), then this is the time to signup with a good backorder company like Snapnames.
If you have the money to burn, you ought to increase your chances by signing up with as many backorder companies as possible. Although there are various players, the top 3 appear to be Snapnames, Pool, and Enom Club Drop.
Lately it seems Snapnames has gained the upper hand over its competitors in successfully registering domain names the second they become available. That doesn’t mean they won’t get beaten, though. 
Anyway, make the backorder while the domain name’s on RGP. Once the domain name switches to Pending Delete, registrars will be notified what domain names will become available soon.
The moment the domain name is finally released by the Verisign COM NET Registry (the “master” database record holder for .com and .net domain names) is the time the backorder companies, registrars, and what-have-you will take shots at getting the name. Obviously only one will be able to grab it.
You will be notified by the backorder company if they’re able to successfully grab the domain name you made a reservation for. But similar to what I mentioned above, you will also be engaged in a bidding war if there’s more than one party for it.
I should also warn you that be it whether the expired domain name is about to be auctioned or if the domain name has been successfully registered after it’s released, there are big guys out there with the money to burn to possibly outbid you. It’s a reality you should be made aware of, so try to calculate your risks and your gains.
By the way, here’s something a registrar’s top software guy and an attorney I know have confirmed: various registrars nowadays are registering every .com domain name the moment they’re released by the Registry. They do this to “taste” whatever traffic the domain name will get (this practice has since been termed “domain tasting” or “domain kiting” by Go Daddy’s Bob Parsons).
Using their separate companies (like an LLC), they’ll keep those they deem is producing the results they want. If it’s not getting any offers or traffic, they’ll release the name within their 120-hour/5-day grace window.
Some people will surely think this is unethical, illicit, or whatever negative term they think is apt for this. While issues are still being threshed out on this, I hope this article will at least help you become wiser and more aware on what it takes to possibly grab the expired domain name you want.
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How To Grab An Expired Domain Name
In a few minutes, you are about to learn how to (possibly) grab the expiring or expired domain name that you want. While it’s not 100% foolproof, this article can give you an edge over the rest.
For now, we’re going to deal with .com domain names since that’s arguably the most sought-after extension.
I wrote about a domain name’s ideal life cycle in a previous post. As a recap from that article, the registrar has anywhere from 1 to 45 days to retain an expired name before letting it go.
I noted that certain things can happen to a domain name inbetween its phases. To be specific, something can happen to an expired domain name before it’s deleted and switches into the Redemption Grace Period phase.
A popular practice among many registrars nowadays is they’ll attempt to sell the expired name to an interested buyer for a period of time before pulling the plug. They’ll either successfully transfer the name to the new registrant and get a cut, or have the domain name deleted if no one’s interested.
Each registrar has its own process and time frame in “auctioning” an expired name. No 2 registrars follow the same “rules”, depending on their approaches.
Network Solutions’ deletion policy states they give a 35-day grace period for registrants to renew their expired domain names. If the name isn’t renewed within those 35 days, then they’ll check with veteran backorder company Snapnames to see if anyone’s made an offer.
Snapnames will notify Network Solutions if anyone has made a “backorder” for the expired name in question. After a few days (3, I think), Network Solutions will transfer the name to the new registrant, and both Network Solutions and Snapnames get their respective “cuts” from the proceeds of the auction.
On the other hand, if Network Solutions doesn’t get any backorder offers made on the expired domain name (or if the original registrant opted out of the process, as their deletion policy further states), then the registrar will be forced to delete the domain name. The domain name then goes into RGP.
So if the name has expired but is still within the registrar’s grace period (if any), then this is the time to possibly make a “backorder” with whomever they’re going to auction the name through. It’s either in-house (like Enom through Club Drop) or with another vendor (like Network Solutions and Snapnames).
Again, I should repeat that each registrar has its own process of how they’ll possibly auction the name before letting it go. So depending on where the expired domain name is registered with, check with the sponsoring registrar and find out what exactly they’ll do.
I want to caution you, though, that registrars aren’t exactly willing to give specific time frames as to how long their auction process is lest someone accuses them of lying later on, especially if you’re a third party not listed on the domain name’s current registration record. Aside from asking them directly what the process is, you should check their online FAQ or legal fine prints for more answers.
Also, there’s a chance the expired domain name in question might have more than one party making a bid for it. That’ll eventually force you and the others into a bidding war, and the highest winning bidder is determined after some time.
But what if the domain name was deleted before you could make a backorder for it? Fear not, it’s not the end of the world.
Again, depending on what phase of the domain name’s life cycle it’s in, it might still be possible to boost your chances of getting it. If the domain name’s in Redemption Grace Period (RGP), then this is the time to signup with a good backorder company like Snapnames.
If you have the money to burn, you ought to increase your chances by signing up with as many backorder companies as possible. Although there are various players, the top 3 appear to be Snapnames, Pool, and Enom Club Drop.
Lately it seems Snapnames has gained the upper hand over its competitors in successfully registering domain names the second they become available. That doesn’t mean they won’t get beaten, though.
Anyway, make the backorder while the domain name’s on RGP. Once the domain name switches to Pending Delete, registrars will be notified what domain names will become available soon.
The moment the domain name is finally released by the Verisign COM NET Registry (the “master” database record holder for .com and .net domain names) is the time the backorder companies, registrars, and what-have-you will take shots at getting the name. Obviously only one will be able to grab it.
You will be notified by the backorder company if they’re able to successfully grab the domain name you made a reservation for. But similar to what I mentioned above, you will also be engaged in a bidding war if there’s more than one party for it.
I should also warn you that be it whether the expired domain name is about to be auctioned or if the domain name has been successfully registered after it’s released, there are big guys out there with the money to burn to possibly outbid you. It’s a reality you should be made aware of, so try to calculate your risks and your gains.
By the way, here’s something a registrar’s top software guy and an attorney I know have confirmed: various registrars nowadays are registering every .com domain name the moment they’re released by the Registry. They do this to “taste” whatever traffic the domain name will get (this practice has since been termed “domain tasting” or “domain kiting” by Go Daddy’s Bob Parsons).
Using their separate companies (like an LLC), they’ll keep those they deem is producing the results they want. If it’s not getting any offers or traffic, they’ll release the name within their 120-hour/5-day grace window.
Some people will surely think this is unethical, illicit, or whatever negative term they think is apt for this. While issues are still being threshed out on this, I hope this article will at least help you become wiser and more aware on what it takes to possibly grab the expired domain name you want.
Check Out These Other Posts: