So I found a domain that is expired. How do I go about purchasing it? It still says taken... but when I look whois it's expired as of 13 Mar 2007... No updates on file.
Yep, backorder is the way to go. ( http://www.pool.com/MyAccount/BackOrders.aspx need to login first ) Anyone know if there are companies that offer cheaper backorder services ?
well... GoDaddy has a backorder service that is only $17.99 but... the question is if they are good at grabbing it...
Only use GoDaddy if godaddy is the current registrar, otherwise no they are not good at grabbing it, and you should put in a backorder and both pools.com and snapnames.com if it is worth 60 bucks -- You do not pay unless you win Also this is how a domain expiring works : Phase 1. Active Domain A domain is registered for a time period of 1-10 years. During this time the domain owner has unrestricted use of the domain. Phase 2. On-Hold At the end of this time period, the registrant is required to pay a renewal fee to the registrar to continue to use the domain. If the domain is renewed go back to phase 1, if not the domain is placed in an onhold (on-hold) status for 1-45 days (each registrar has determines how long this period lasts). During this time, the registrant (owner of the domain) can still pay the renewal fee and continue to use his/her domain name. During this onhold period the domain resolves to the registrars website or does not resolve at all. Phase 3. Redemption After the 1-45 day onhold period, the domain then enters redemption status (RGP - Redemption grace period), which lasts for 30 days. During this time the registrant of the domain name has the option to pay a redemption penalty fee (redemption fees generally cost between $100-200 depending on the registrar) and renew the domain. If the domain owner renews the domain go back to phase 1. During this redemption period the domain resolves to the registrars website or does not resolve at all. Phase 4. Pending Delete After the domain completes the 30 day redemption period without being renewed, it then enters a 5 day pending delete period. During this the time the registrant no longer has the ability to renew the domain name. The domain will be released to the general public and be available for registration on the sixth day at 2pm eastern. You gotta keep checking for it to go into 'pending delete' and then on the 6th day of that, between 2pm and 5pm EST ICANN will drop it and it will be open for anyone
And if you backorder a domain does it loose the original registration date? So if you backorder a 7 year old domain, will it still be 7 years old ?
It might. I had a domain that expired, someone took it eventually and it still has the same create date of 4 years ago.
Yes it will. You want to investigate the old content of the site using archive.org, and make sure you put on content on the same subject, and keep / expand on his old link structure.