Godaddy selling Domain Searches?

Discussion in 'Domain Names' started by dcristo, Mar 7, 2007.

  1. #1
    Within about 30 minutes of checking to see the availability of a domain name I wanted to register, I decided I actually wanted to go ahead with purchasing the name, and to my surprise discovered the domain was just registered by some company in the West Indies. Too much of a coincidence if you ask me. I have actually read elsewhere this shady type of business where Godaddy is selling searches to third parties is going on. I never usually use them for whois queries, and definately won't be from now on!

    My advice, unless you want to buy the domain right there and then, don't search for it using Godaddy's interface!!
     
    dcristo, Mar 7, 2007 IP
  2. latentdragon

    latentdragon Peon

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    #2
    Thank you very much for sharing your experience.
     
    latentdragon, Mar 7, 2007 IP
  3. DomainLoot

    DomainLoot Guest

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    #3
    no surprise.

    well actually, ONE surprise > that they are selling lists to a 3rd party, and not using them for themselves to "cherry pick."

    IMHO ;)
     
    DomainLoot, Mar 7, 2007 IP
  4. dcristo

    dcristo Illustrious Member

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    #4
    Yeah true. From what I have read, you can sometimes get lucky and they release the domain if it doesn't get any traffic after a few days as part of there domain tasting. I shall soon see, fingers crossed.
     
    dcristo, Mar 7, 2007 IP
  5. ichigo

    ichigo Well-Known Member

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    #5
    thats why i search at namecheap and buy at godaddy.. :D
     
    ichigo, Mar 7, 2007 IP
  6. MrX

    MrX Well-Known Member

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    #6
    Whatever you do, don't visit the domain once it's been picked up by a taster. If you do, they'll think there's some sort of natural traffic going there.
     
    MrX, Mar 7, 2007 IP
  7. minstrel

    minstrel Illustrious Member

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    #7
    :rolleyes:

    Seems highly unlikely to me. These are the seeds from which superstitious thinking grows.

    It's far more likely that someone else had a similar idea at a similar time. That's what's called zeitgeist.

    I've done searches for domain names at GoDaddy and bought them as much as a week or two later.
     
    minstrel, Mar 7, 2007 IP
  8. dcristo

    dcristo Illustrious Member

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    #8
    Maybe the tasters didn't think much of your domain ideas :rolleyes: Gosh man I was asking a question more then anything. Coincidence or not I have read about this alot.

    Tell me minstrel, if someone else was thinking of the same idea at the SAME time, why does it seem an automated process by which the same registrants are picking up these domains?

    Highly superstitious my ass.
     
    dcristo, Mar 7, 2007 IP
  9. minstrel

    minstrel Illustrious Member

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    #9
    minstrel, Mar 7, 2007 IP
  10. Dave Zan

    Dave Zan Well-Known Member

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    #10
    It's good you mentioned IMHO, because you have no discernible proof they're
    doing that at all.

    Here's something some of you might find interesting:

    http://www.icann.org/meetings/saopaulo/captioning-dnmarket-06dec06.htm

     
    Dave Zan, Mar 7, 2007 IP
  11. prodigy

    prodigy Guest

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    #11
    I would just go with coincidence there... :)
     
    prodigy, Mar 7, 2007 IP
  12. BlackCoder

    BlackCoder Peon

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    #12
    I have had a similar experience as well. I checked out a domain and, when I came back the next day, it was already registered, and no site has been built there (it doesn't even point anywhere).

    Yet, I have checked domains and they had been available as much as a month later, so I'm not sure.
     
    BlackCoder, Mar 8, 2007 IP
  13. domnom

    domnom Peon

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    #13
    This is not the first time i hear it for GoDaddy. In other specialized domain name forums it was a discussion topic before and possibly it will be in the future

    I can't imagine anyone verify or not this but the certain thing is that GoDaddy squeeze the tinniest possibility to make profit so i believe this gives 1% more to the "GoDaddy abuse his privilege" case making it 51% again 49% that is purely a coincidence
     
    domnom, Mar 8, 2007 IP
  14. minstrel

    minstrel Illustrious Member

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    #14
    I disagree. Read the article cited above by Dave Zan. What you and others are suggesting would be an exceedingly bad business model for anyone, especially someone as big as GoDaddy.

    A business survives only to the extent that it can sustain credibility and goodwill. GoDaddy doesn't need to make an extra buck or two on a domain name that you are likely going to buy anyway. If you buy one domain name, chances are you're going to buy another. And what's important to a company like GoDaddy is that you are happy with your first experience with them and that you'll return to them the next time you want to make a purchase.

    They'll make more "extra" money from the additional services and features they offer than from trying to nickle-and-dime you on a domain name purchase.
     
    minstrel, Mar 8, 2007 IP
  15. domnom

    domnom Peon

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    #15
    It's fair everyone to form and say his own opinion so i disagree with what you disagree :)
    What you describe is the general idea of a good reputable company
    I don't see GoDaddy fit in this category at all
    He is making few cents profit from pure domain sales and his income comes from other service like hosting, parking and rest
    This is known to all registrars but GoDaddy is the master of profit squeeze so i don't find this weird or coincidence

    Their support was not so great too
    They say they respond in 24H, i never got a reply and when i resend they replied in 96H
    I also used tdnam and sold one name, they sent the money to a wrong paypal account and after 40 days they tell me now that i have to wait 15 days to return the money to them and redirect them to the right paypal id
    I know GoDaddy is popular and i know some people like him but i think it's fair to leave everyone believe what he thinks
    If he believes GoDaddy abuse his privileges (as i do) then i don't think he's conspiracy addicted especially if more than one persons report the same over and over

    The funny part is that many people especially domainers don't like GoDaddy at all
    However they follow end-users because it's easier for them to push the names they sell

    Now regarding Dave's post. I read it and infact we post with Dave at the same topics for GoDaddy before
    He has some strong points

    What GoDaddy representative says is not a proof they are not doing it and of course the same time there is not proof they are doing it too, but it's weird even as a coincidence to see this happen to GoDaddy and some other registrars and NEVER see it to other registrars
     
    domnom, Mar 8, 2007 IP
  16. Joseph Williams

    Joseph Williams Peon

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    #16
    i think godaddy registers domains that people search for (its happened to me) and i wouldnt be surprised if they sold them as well
     
    Joseph Williams, Mar 8, 2007 IP
  17. Dave Zan

    Dave Zan Well-Known Member

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    #17
    Tim Ruiz has consistently posted on a few sites they don't sell queries at all.
    But that hasn't stopped some people from believing otherwise.

    Unfortunately Go Daddy can do little to stop others from peeking what they're
    looking. Same with other registrars.
     
    Dave Zan, Mar 8, 2007 IP
    minstrel likes this.
  18. slinkey1

    slinkey1 Active Member

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    #18
    Well...someone stole my domain after I searched it on godaddy!
    It took me forever to come up with to!
     
    slinkey1, Mar 10, 2007 IP
  19. Centurion

    Centurion Banned

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    #19
    i search gold releted domains search with goddy few days ago andfound goldtalks.com. it was available for about two days after my search. when i try to register it, its registerd. all our domain searchs are loged by godaddy.
     
    Centurion, Mar 10, 2007 IP
  20. tobycoke

    tobycoke Well-Known Member

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    #20
    The last sentence above implies that others can see searches done at GoDaddy.

    So where is the peeking occurring? If not at the registrar's level then is there a file at the registry containing latest WHOIS lookups that others are accessing? Who would have access to this?
     
    tobycoke, Mar 10, 2007 IP