Is namesilo frontrunning

[robert widener]

just so you all know .... namesilo is frontrunning , checked a domain yesterday & today i went to get it & it's gone ...... guess who owns it NAMESILO . so dont be checking any domains at namesilo because if you dont buy it right then it may be gone the next day . does president michael goldfarb have an account here ? ...would he like to respond ?

 

[robert widener]

edited .... will have something to say later

 

[Arca]

@Eric Lyon - Can you please clarify the relationship between the @robert widener and @marthak? Was the latter banned for being the former?

 

[jaydub]

Namesilo 6.99 .com. 7.99 .net and 5.99 .org Is still going on..... just fyi

 

[DomainAuction]

Similar situation just happened to me earlier today; placed a max bid on a domain < 1 hour prior it completely expiring and now its suddenly renewed and parked with Undeveloped; will investigate privately ...

*Not saying this is the case, but the chance of the previous owner to (finally) renew < 1 hour prior a VERY LONG expiration cycle is strange. Perhaps NameSilo pushes redemption fee's if bids are placed with hopes to rake in expensive revivals of expired domains? No matter how you slice it, something is off here.

**Not accusing anyone.... yet.

 

[namesilo]

Similar situation just happened to me earlier today; placed a max bid on a domain < 1 hour prior it completely expiring and now its suddenly renewed and parked with Undeveloped; will investigate privately ...

*Not saying this is the case, but the chance of the previous owner to (finally) renew < 1 hour prior a VERY LONG expiration cycle is strange. Perhaps NameSilo pushes redemption fee's if bids are placed with hopes to rake in expensive revivals of expired domains? No matter how you slice it, something is off here.

**Not accusing anyone.... yet.

Hello. I can let you know this is absolutely not the case. As with many other registrar expired domain processes, our Registrants can wait until the last minute to renew to gauge domain valuation as a significant percentage of bids in our system for expired domains occur within the last 24 hours (and many within the last hour to few minutes) of the expired domain auctions concluding. We make more money if an expired domain is auctioned than if it is renewed, so not sure the implication of us "pushing redemption fees" or anything else.

 

[MasterOfMyDomains]

I watched a domain name expire every year at namesilo. Every year the person renews in final minutes.
Yes i remember the name quite well
Sorry domainauction but the chances of the owner renewing at last minute are pretty good.
Investigate and come back with your findings

 

[Furquan]

@namesilo its better to talk with Mr @Eric Lyon & get this thread closed. I don't think there is any point which requires this threads to be in open status. Not only all the claim by OP which started this thread is truthless but also it seem op wont be able to provide any proof.

 

[jaydub]

I can say I personally have let names go right to the wire at namesilo before renewing..... usually I see the reminder email which I have held in my mailbox

I agree it might be time to close this as the OP has responded in over a month

 

[Arca]

Similar situation just happened to me earlier today; placed a max bid on a domain < 1 hour prior it completely expiring and now its suddenly renewed and parked with Undeveloped; will investigate privately ...

*Not saying this is the case, but the chance of the previous owner to (finally) renew < 1 hour prior a VERY LONG expiration cycle is strange. Perhaps NameSilo pushes redemption fee's if bids are placed with hopes to rake in expensive revivals of expired domains? No matter how you slice it, something is off here.

**Not accusing anyone.... yet.

What you outline here is extremely common at NameSilo. There are many owners there that let domains expire and go to auction, and renew just before the auction is about to close. Why they do this, I don't know.

Another thing is, once somebody places a bid on an expired domains, NameSilo emails the owner to notify them that there is a bid and that the domain will consequently be sold upon the end of the auction (at least I got those emails last when I let some names expire that got bids in the expired domain auctions). It seems that "most" owners that had decided to let a domain expire will change their mind and go to renew that domain after they are notified that somebody has bid on it.

Based on my own experience I'd say that about 80-90% of the expired domains I bid on at NameSilo got renewed after my bid. With the way their expired domain auction system works it's mostly a waste of time to bid on expired domains there.

 

[imadoer]

I watched a domain name expire every year at namesilo. Every year the person renews in final minutes.
Yes i remember the name quite well
Sorry domainauction but the chances of the owner renewing at last minute are pretty good.
Investigate and come back with your findings

I wouldn't waste my time trying to buy expired domains from namesilo. I spent $1,600 on a domain. The guy renewed it within the last few hours. Namesilo took my money within minutes to pay for the domain and took me months to get my money back after tons of arguing and calling my bank and calling namesilo. It caused me so much frustration. Also I can't stand how they're expired domain auction is structured. So I just steer clear of them when it comes to expired auctions

 

[Arca]

Hello. I can let you know this is absolutely not the case. As with many other registrar expired domain processes, our Registrants can wait until the last minute to renew to gauge domain valuation as a significant percentage of bids in our system for expired domains occur within the last 24 hours (and many within the last hour to few minutes) of the expired domain auctions concluding. We make more money if an expired domain is auctioned than if it is renewed, so not sure the implication of us "pushing redemption fees" or anything else.

DynaDot and GoDaddy have recently tried to implement changes to make more expired domain auctions complete, and not have owners intentionally let domains expire just to renew them at the last moment.

At name.com, we receive expired domain purchases instantly upon purchase (they deliver 100% of won expired auctions).

Have you considered changing your expired domain auctions system? For example, instead of running a 25 day auction, how about doing 5 day or 10 day auctions starting on day 26, where the domain will always be delivered to buyer? Or extending the auction time to 30 days, where former owners can only renew the domain on the first 25 days? Right now the system is set up in a way so that more domains that get bids get renewed than what I have seen on any other platform.

Sending notification emails to former owners telling them that their domain is getting bid on also seems to invite domainers to let their names expire to let the market determine whether any of them have value, and then renew all of those that get bids. Many users are clearly abusing the system to let the "crowd" determine which of their domains are perceived to have value, and then proceed to renew all of those. I saw one guy let something like 30 domains based around a new tech expire. I bid on two of them. He renewed those two and let the other 28 that didn't get bids expire. There is a lot of activity like this. Also, domainers let valuable domains expire, they get bid on ($X,XXX), and then renewed at the last moment. This is just a way of drawing attention to their domains, in the hopes that the same people bidding will come to them after they have renewed the domain and attempt to acquire it from them privately. All these games played by people who let their domain expire with the intention of renewing them wastes a lot of time for legit bidders who spend time researching and bidding on these expired domains.

 

[MasterOfMyDomains]

I stopped using the expired auction area long time ago. It used to be a good place to score some old names, but the system is being used to much. Its like an appraisal, using our money.
Time is money too. Your still #1 namesilo

 

[namesilo]

DynaDot and GoDaddy have recently tried to implement changes to make more expired domain auctions complete, and not have owners intentionally let domains expire just to renew them at the last moment.

At name.com, we receive expired domain purchases instantly upon purchase (they deliver 100% of won expired auctions).

Have you considered changing your expired domain auctions system? For example, instead of running a 25 day auction, how about doing 5 day or 10 day auctions starting on day 26, where the domain will always be delivered to buyer? Or extending the auction time to 30 days, where former owners can only renew the domain on the first 25 days? Right now the system is set up in a way so that more domains that get bids get renewed than what I have seen on any other platform.

Sending notification emails to former owners telling them that their domain is getting bid on also seems to invite domainers to let their names expire to let the market determine whether any of them have value, and then renew all of those that get bids. Many users are clearly abusing the system to let the "crowd" determine which of their domains are perceived to have value, and then proceed to renew all of those. I saw one guy let something like 30 domains based around a new tech expire. I bid on two of them. He renewed those two and let the other 28 that didn't get bids expire. There is a lot of activity like this. Also, domainers let valuable domains expire, they get bid on ($X,XXX), and then renewed at the last moment. This is just a way of drawing attention to their domains, in the hopes that the same people bidding will come to them after they have renewed the domain and attempt to acquire it from them privately. All these games played by people who let their domain expire with the intention of renewing them wastes a lot of time for legit bidders who spend time researching and bidding on these expired domains.

Thanks for the notes everyone. We understand that the way we run our expired domain auctions can have the consequences as listed above. Our goal is to try to strike a balance between ensuring Registrants have a long grace period in which to renew and also so that buyers can purchase domains that Registrants do truly want to abandon. Changing policies is therefore a catch-22 for us. If we do not notify Registrants when bids are placed and/or shorten the time they have to renew post-expiration, then it will anger Registrants who missed renewal for one reason or another. I can tell you that our most negative customer interactions are with Registrants who do not renew their domains on time and lose them to auction or into the restoration period (even though we offer a very long grace period, multiple reminders, an auto-renewal system, etc.). On the other hand, we understand the frustration of buyers who bid on domains only to see them renewed.

We are always interested in ways to improve and will revisit this issue internally.

Thanks again

 

[DNWon]

Doing a great job @namesilo , keep up the great work!

 

[campout]

When people let their names almost expire like this, do they have to pay a higher amount to renew?

 

[namesilo]

No, we allow renewal at our regular pricing until the end of the auction. Our complete expiration process can be found at https://www.namesilo.com/Support/Expiration-Process

 

[NameVisual]

Namesilo is great! They offer free parking and you keep 100% of the revenue, free marketplace website and great prices. Namesilo will be #1.

 

[robert widener]

In certain hot niches people are registering names every single day. Every thought you’ve had someone very often beat you to it. (Hello Coin & Crypto Names) It’s not particularly odd for a name you saw open yesterday to be gone today.

Op opened this thread to do a smear campaign on @namesilo that is obvious. I hope this thread gets taken down as he has not even come back to provide proof of his accusation.

I have typed many things at NS with no such issues but I generally don’t check unless I am ready to buy.

dont you think its odd that when someone goes back to reg name ...its always regged at registry where they checked ? why not ever regged at some other registry ?

 

[robert widener]

What you outline here is extremely common at NameSilo. There are many owners there that let domains expire and go to auction, and renew just before the auction is about to close. Why they do this, I don't know.

Another thing is, once somebody places a bid on an expired domains, NameSilo emails the owner to notify them that there is a bid and that the domain will consequently be sold upon the end of the auction (at least I got those emails last when I let some names expire that got bids in the expired domain auctions). It seems that "most" owners that had decided to let a domain expire will change their mind and go to renew that domain after they are notified that somebody has bid on it.

Based on my own experience I'd say that about 80-90% of the expired domains I bid on at NameSilo got renewed after my bid. With the way their expired domain auction system works it's mostly a waste of time to bid on expired domains there.

when a domain is in auction & somebody bids on it namesilo shouldnt be e-mailing the owner of said domain so that they can SNATCH IT at the last moment from prospective buyer ( kinda shady ) if you ask me .

 

[robert widener]

Similar situation just happened to me earlier today; placed a max bid on a domain < 1 hour prior it completely expiring and now its suddenly renewed and parked with Undeveloped; will investigate privately ...

*Not saying this is the case, but the chance of the previous owner to (finally) renew < 1 hour prior a VERY LONG expiration cycle is strange. Perhaps NameSilo pushes redemption fee's if bids are placed with hopes to rake in expensive revivals of expired domains? No matter how you slice it, something is off here.

**Not accusing anyone.... yet.

agree 100 %

 

[MasterOfMyDomains]

circumstantial evidence at best. Take some screenshots of searches and then when they are registered, then we will see. Video works too (but then with privacy...)
Namesilo is still best registrar by far

Had someone bid on a name with 2 hours left expiring 2 nights ago. Got email notifying me, but I let it drop.

I have renewed with minutes left, recently. Not at namesilo, but people do that too,often

 

[robert widener]

DynaDot and GoDaddy have recently tried to implement changes to make more expired domain auctions complete, and not have owners intentionally let domains expire just to renew them at the last moment.

At name.com, we receive expired domain purchases instantly upon purchase (they deliver 100% of won expired auctions).

Have you considered changing your expired domain auctions system? For example, instead of running a 25 day auction, how about doing 5 day or 10 day auctions starting on day 26, where the domain will always be delivered to buyer? Or extending the auction time to 30 days, where former owners can only renew the domain on the first 25 days? Right now the system is set up in a way so that more domains that get bids get renewed than what I have seen on any other platform.

Sending notification emails to former owners telling them that their domain is getting bid on also seems to invite domainers to let their names expire to let the market determine whether any of them have value, and then renew all of those that get bids. Many users are clearly abusing the system to let the "crowd" determine which of their domains are perceived to have value, and then proceed to renew all of those. I saw one guy let something like 30 domains based around a new tech expire. I bid on two of them. He renewed those two and let the other 28 that didn't get bids expire. There is a lot of activity like this. Also, domainers let valuable domains expire, they get bid on ($X,XXX), and then renewed at the last moment. This is just a way of drawing attention to their domains, in the hopes that the same people bidding will come to them after they have renewed the domain and attempt to acquire it from them privately. All these games played by people who let their domain expire with the intention of renewing them wastes a lot of time for legit bidders who spend time researching and bidding on these expired domains.

agree ...its a waste of time & the practice should be stopped

 

[creataweb]

Similar situation just happened to me earlier today; placed a max bid on a domain < 1 hour prior it completely expiring and now its suddenly renewed and parked with Undeveloped; will investigate privately ...

*Not saying this is the case, but the chance of the previous owner to (finally) renew < 1 hour prior a VERY LONG expiration cycle is strange. Perhaps NameSilo pushes redemption fee's if bids are placed with hopes to rake in expensive revivals of expired domains? No matter how you slice it, something is off here.

**Not accusing anyone.... yet.

Names of mine that expire there get emails sent out to me the minute a bid is placed. I then have to decide to renew and keep or let it go via the auction. This can happen in as little as 30 days after expiration where the name gets a bid and is gone from my grasp.

I think a lot of us domainers have smart phones too and can check emails anytime and renew if needed.

 

[karmaco]

I don’t think they should be sending those emails out once it hits auction. Why are we bidding to have it snatched away? The owner had ample time to renew. More than once the owner renews in the last 30 minutes of an auction close. I think it’s just a mind game.

 

[robert widener]

I don’t think they should be sending those emails out once it hits auction. Why are we bidding to have it snatched away? The owner had ample time to renew. More than once the owner renews in the last 30 minutes of an auction close. I think it’s just a mind game.

maybe NAMESILO would like to respond ? ...i doubt it though .