A website that I would really like is about to expire shortly I've contacted the owner of the domain via telephone about 3 times in the past two years - and each time he promised to get back to me...he never did. We did not even get to the negotiation stage. Now, this domain will expire very shortly and I would like to get aquire it. What is the best way of "sniping" the domain.
Since you have contacted him, he knows you want it. He will renew the domain before he lets it go. Sorry, if you want a domain dont tell anyone.
If you want the domain, don't say anything to him! I would use GoDaddy, and purchase the domain backordering for $18.99. I just did this for a domain that I want, which expires soon as well. Obviously no guarantees, but their system is setup to acquire it the second it becomes available.
GoDaddy backordering probably won't work with a country domain. There are other domain sniping/backordering services out there, so look into those, but I'm not sure if they support country domains either.