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Namejet needs to label its for-sale domains better, for example, "Private Seller" for submitted domains, NOT pre-release. In order to make informed decisions, potential buyers need to know these distinctions. I always study the Whois before deciding to bid, but most people (especially end-users) do not know how to analyze Whois info.
"Pre-release" needs to be clarified better. If I buy a property at a Sheriff's sale, the terms are clear: if the owner comes up with payment within a certain period of time, then the property reverts back to the previous owner and the buyer gets a full refund. The buyer goes into the deal with the full undertanding of these terms.
If domain buyers understand these terms (often buried deep in TOS in blurry language), then it will be less of a problem.
Namejet seems to operate in the dark, which makes them seem shady. Maybe they are and maybe they aren't. All I know: my experience with Namejet has, generally, been less than positive; some of my issues have to do with confusion, non-transparency, ducking responsibility once enom has it ("Not our problem anymore"), and ignorance by some of its support staff--I have had to explain things to support before they could help me with my issue. How whacked is that?
As a result, I refrain from bidding on domains that I might otherwise consider.
I doubt that I'm alone in this, and that's a problem for Namejet. Having had a nightmarish experience with transferring lyni [dot] com out of a strange registrar with a Japanese TLD, I now avoid upping my bids on pending delete domains when they have been caught by obscure enom registrars with shallow platforms that aren't quite synchronized with enomcentral.
I like GoDaddy's auction platform much better (although navigation could be improved). Its auctions are clearly labeled: Expired/Expiring, Offer/Counter Offer, etc. Also, for expiring auctions, GD is very clear (and in clear language) that the original owner may renew during the week the buyer must wait.
I think Namejet's corporate culture is based on arrogance and the erroneous opinion that they will always be number 1.
Very dangerous attitude, as Yahoo and myspace have discovered.
Anyway, that's my take.
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