When a domain name expires you can sometimes bid for it in auction.
However, many domain names never go to auction. Instead, they expire and are dropped allowing a user to register them for about $10 (the registration fee).
BUT, if someone else wants the same domain name as you they are likely to try to register it with an automated service — called a dropcatching service.
And let’s face it…computers are faster than us and can see if the domain name is available every second of the day; we have to sleep. To compete with them, you can pay about $60 and hire a backorder service (also known as a dropcatching service) to do the same on your behalf.
Notes:
- Some of these services charge to place the domain name backorder, while others only charge you if a backorder is completed. Do your due diligence.
- If more than one backorder is placed at any service, it’s likely to go to a closed auction at that service provider; in some cases, it goes to the first backorder.
- No single service provider can guarantee acquisition and – due to many factors – no one service provider is better at acquisition than another. If you really want a domain name, put in a backorder at all of them.
Here is a list of backorder services that you may want to investigate (in alphabetical order):
- 123 Reg
Free backorder; only pay upon successful registration, com: £39.99 (other TLD pricing listed)
- CatchTiger
.NL, .BE, .CH, .UK, .CO.UK, .FR and .EU; Public auction two weeks prior to drop; 24 hours prior to drop auction closes; Winning bidder only pays if domain is caught
- DomainOrder
Free backorder; pre-order from 50 Euro; no catch, no pay
- DropCatch
Free backorder; only pay $69 upon successful registration (if more than one backorder, it goes to public auction where anyone can join)
- Dynadot
.COM: $14.99, .NET: $14.99, .ORG: $14.99
- Go Daddy
Pre-pay $24.98 (or less) and use until successful for .COM, .CO, .INFO, .ORG, .NET, .ME, .MOBI, .US, .BIZ
- Hexonet
Free backorder; only pay $69 upon successful registration but must have sufficient funds in your account (prepaid)
- NameCatch
.IN backorder and drop-catch service; $19.99 to place backorder with 100% satisfaction guarantee
- NameJet
Free backorder; only pay $79 upon successful registration (if more than one backorder, it goes to private auction)
- Nidoma
.ES and .IT; Free backorder; only pay 29€ upon successful registration
- Park.io
.IO, .LY, .TO, .ME, .SH, .AC, .VC, .GG, .JE, .MN, .BZ, .AG, .SC AND .LC; Free backorder; only pay $99 upon successful registration
- Pheenix
.BAR, .BIZ, .CC, .CLUB, .CN, .CN.COM, .CO, .CO.UK, .COM, .COM.CN, .COM.CO, .DESIGN, .FR, .INFO, .IO, .JP.NET, .LA, .LY, .ME, .MOBI, .NET, .NET.CN, .NL, .ONLINE, .ORG, .ORG.CN, .PRO, .PW, .SITE, .TECH, .TO, .TOP, .TV, .UK, .US and .XYZ; Pricing varies starting at $38.99 for .com backorders, if caught. One backorder and receive domain for minimum price; more than one backorder goes to public auction
- Pool
Free backorder; only pay $60 upon successful registration
- SnapNames
Free backorder; only pay $79 upon successful registration (if more than one backorder, it goes to private auction)
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