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The disgusting GoDaddy Auctions API issue

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I try not to post at all but something that needs a good long discussion is the issue with GoDaddy Auctions API.

If you are not familiar with this issue here are a few links the get you acclimated with the conversation that has been going on for YEARS about the GoDaddy auctions API.
https://www.namepros.com/threads/godaddy-auctions-api-removed.1022068/
https://www.namepros.com/threads/huge-domains-sniping-godaddy-closeouts.1135689/

Here is the short version:
About three years ago GoDaddy decided to stop allowing NEW people access to the auctions API.

If you already have access you keep that access, and can continue to use the API as you see fit.

Here is the problem:

If you have GoDaddy Auctions API access you can pretty much pick off the best closeout domains for yourself as you see fit. This is taken advantage of by Huge Domains, Name Planning Inc, and DNcloser.com (Alvin Brown).

So let's put the two issues together...

GoDaddy will NOT give anyone access to the auctions API, however those that have access can pick off the best names faster than any other process in the world.

Essentially however you check for availability once you see the domain is available you first have to go accept all of the terms, get to the cart, wait for the cart to load, and then confirm purchase.

Those with the API only have to execute API action and the domain is theirs.

Only allowing specific people access to something that is so powerful is disgusting at best, illegal at worse.

What am I advocating? - Either end the API or give access to all.

If you question the advantage just take a look at the DNcloser service, where you can pay to catch a closeout domain using their API access. Literally selling GoDaddy API access that we should all have.

Name Planning Inc has confirmed on this forum (since deleted) that they use the API, and have been able to catch domains with it. I've seen it first hand in the list of domains that I've not been able to catch - Name Planning comes up for most of them.

As for Huge Domains... I don't think we need to take a journey down how they use the API without impunity.

The GoDaddy response:

You will hear them say that the API gives no real advantage. I can tell you right away that this is not true at all.

It's not the whole solution to catching closeout domains, but it is the essential final piece that allows others a massive advantage over others.

For three years we've been told that they are working on an API and that it should be available soon, it hasn't. It won't be.

We've been told flat out that bots are permitted to participate on the GoDaddy platform, and that's fine. We all are great friends with the Huge Domains bot. (y)

Hiring a coder to develop a GD bot will cost you less than $50 on freelancer (as recommended). However, how can you give some of those bots god-tier abilities while leaving the rest of the domaining community crippled at the point of purchase.

Either end the API or give access to all.

Thanks.
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
Ending the API for closeouts would solve the auctions closeout API sniping for sure.

But that still doesn't address the whole picture, especially the other threads you linked giving HugeDomains and a few others API access while everyone else is left to fend for themselves. This would still be an unfair advantage that GoDaddy obviously doesn't see the need to do something about in a timely manner.

Personally I think Joe taking over GoDaddy Auctions is a great. Look at the progress we are actually making here in this discussion. This is a three year old grievance many investors have with GDA. A week into Joe running the show and he has come up with an excellent solution that I hope can be implemented promptly.

Progress? @Joe Styler has been managing GoDaddy Auctions for years allowing all kinds of corruption to ensue including this and he has done nothing to fix it because he is the problem, but ironically you think him having more power will positively change anything when the only thing it will do is make it easier for him to cover up his corruption. He has been in a position of power to change this for years, but has failed miserably and you still think he is great? And as he said, he definitely won't be implementing anything promptly.

In order to do this though we need to re-architect the back end of auctions to be able to easily scale up and down as needed by demand. That is a bigger undertaking that will not happen this year.

The only reason @Joe Styler gave for not allowing access to the API was because they were working on a new improved API, but that is a terrible excuse to cover their corruption considering they still allowed access to a select few and this was 4 YEARS AGO and you still think Joe has your best interest in mind and is making progress when he has done absolutely nothing about this issue for years now and as you can see above, he's not going to be doing anything about it!
 
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Godaddy stop favouritism now.
 
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HugeDomains and a few others API access while everyone else is left to fend for themselves

One thing at a time.

I agree with you when it comes to that subject, I think everyone should have API access... however... the API has it's greatest impact in GoDaddy Closeouts - which is what we are advocating to be changed ASAP.

HugeDomains auto bidding can be done without the API, it just allows them to have a more stable solution than a 3rd party bot trying to use the UI.

I could code my own HD bid bot in a day or two without the API, and it would preform just as well.

What is impossible is to beat the API at closeout purchasing.

Having the API gives a user a shortcut to acquire closeout domains as soon as they are available. This means that any user without the API has NO CHANCE to get the domain over an API user who wants it.

As @Joe Styler has suggested, disabling the API for closeouts is something that is attainable.

I personally know a huge amount of buyers that would come back to the platform if they made these changes.

I just listened to an interview featuring @Riz M. where he literally laughed at the prospect of buying on GoDaddy Auctions. This seems to be the perspective of many buyers with the current state of the GoDaddy Auction platform.

Remember when GD removed the backorder shortcut, and the auction transfer loophole? It restored faith to even @Rick Schwartz who swore the platform off after the Boopy.com incident.

Removing the shortcut for API users will restore the ability for us to all have a fair shot at closeouts - I can see that helping everyone in the near term.
 
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I could code my own HD bid bot in a day or two without the API, and it would preform just as well.

But for the layman GoDaddy Auctions bidder, they aren't aware that so much is working against them while companies like HugeDomains have a major unfair advantage nor are they going to code their own bot.

To knowingly run auction software riddled with bots, bugs, major flaws, and as @Rick Schwartz said, "no set end time" makes for a terrible user experience. There are so many Namepros threads exposing GoDaddy corruption, especially on @OnlineDomainCom but nothing changes with these two running the show.

Why do you think GoDaddy Auctions has NO SUPPORT, you can't call & talk with them or email them. GoDaddy Auctions support is a dead end to nowhere which is why so many people resort to complaining on Namepros. When I was screwed over by GoDaddy, I had nowhere to turn, but Namepros which is why I posted here the same day because I received absolutely no support from GoDaddy Auctions whatsoever. They hide for good reason because they know their software is screwing people over everyday and they don't want to hear about it.

If they actually cared about their customers, don't you think they would provide top notch support? The truth is they don't give a damn about their customers, except for the corrupt cronies they are in bed with such as HugeDomains. They know they run a near monopoly on the domain Auctions business so they use & abuse this for their own greed.
 
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But for the layman GoDaddy Auctions bidder, they aren't aware that so much is working against them while companies like HugeDomains have a major unfair advantage nor are they going to code their own bot.

I agree, there is quite a distance between average bidders and seasoned domainers.

That's the space where we all make some money, and where most domain companies are profiting.
 
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I agree, there is quite a distance between average bidders and seasoned domainers.

That's the space where we all make some money, and where most domain companies are profiting.
Huge Domains has 7 million names, and compete with Godaddy in registry services, yet they make it easy for them to snipe the closeouts, albeit shutting out your retail customers, why?
 
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they make it easy for them to snipe the closeouts

HugeDomains no longer snipes closeouts.
*Edit: It's my theory that for HugeDomains the API takes too much resources for a snipe and that they are doing better in the direct auctions space to play with closeouts anyway.

If you look at most closeouts that get "Sniped" they are bought by domainers with bots.

The ones with bots & API access take the best ones. Hence the request for the change.

The biggest threat HugeDomains poses is bidding up any domain that has interest last minute OR multiple bidders. That's something that the API makes easier, but at the end of the day it's their bank account that does the most damage to us all.
 
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WealthNut.com API Sniped.

Not only was it API sniped, now I need to contact GoDaddy and request a refund because I was able to place the order but the API was still faster.

Where's that API change at?
 
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Expanded on this topic with a recent issue...

[READ HERE]
 
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Has anyone else noticed their GD 90-day listings reset almost a day early?

I like to keep an eye on listings that have less than a couple of hours to go, but mine don't make it to that time-frame (they reset to 90days 20hrs for example), and so don't get seen. I've been watching this happen for years now and complained once to a rep who used to cold call me, and I never heard from him again.
 
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We have discussed removing the API for closeouts and I am also discussing raising the price on closeouts at the same time if we do that.

Great so you have increased the prices at closeouts so please do the other part of your plan:
We have discussed removing the API for closeouts

If not then return the lower prices!!
 
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Seriously. I've just seen a domain bought for $50 one minute before the closeout ended, without the visit counter going up - so it must have been through the API. Why would anyone wait 23h59m to buy a domain and not wait just one more minute to try and snatch it for $10 less is beyond me. Maybe they need to fix their scripts...
 
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Eventually and not this year I would like to make the API available for anyone who wants it. But ultimately I would like to make it easier for people to use the auctions how they want to use it...

Will you reach a decision before the end of this century?

As you know, our lifespan is limited, we cannot wait for an API forever.
 
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Will you reach a decision before the end of this century?

As you know, our lifespan is limited, we cannot wait for an API forever.
We opened it up for everyone over a year ago for Closeouts. It was one of the biggest complaints people had and we did a lot of work to be able to enable it to anyone. Once it was released we have had something like 6 people use it, with only 1 domain purchase. That is after being live for a long time. I am no longer in charge of auctions so I don't have the most up to date numbers. But the point being it was such a huge complaint from customers and then no one used it once we opened it up. So we do have 90% of the work done to enable it for all bidding types to every customer but it has not been prioritized over other work because no one used it when we released the closeout api to anyone. At some point it will be released for all bid types to anyone but in the meantime if you are buying more than you can easily do with the web interface you can ask your premier rep to help you get auctions api full access. If you want just closeout access it is already available.

https://domainnamewire.com/2022/07/13/godaddy-improves-expired-domain-pullbacks-expands-api-access/
 
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Interesting. It's almost as if people wanted to use API to have equal chances of snatching domains after the auction but not for $50. :wideyed:
 
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Interesting. It's almost as if people wanted to use API to have equal chances of snatching domains after the auction but not for $50. :wideyed:
Then set the api to buy it at $11 or $5 :oops:
 
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