- Impact
- 66
GoldRush / LandRush
Did you buy premium .TVs for reg-fee upfront from another registrar besides ENOM?
Good News & Bad News...
NOTE:
I hope .TV investors can use this thread to post updates and news as it trickles in from various registrar sources. I respectfully would like to ask the USUAL SUSPECTS:yell::o:tri::td:
and the naysayers to refrain from polluting this thread with so those involved can communicate effectively. Those of us who invested money yesterday would greatly appreciate being able to share in real-time the future of our investments.
If this thread gets polluted with the same BS as usual, I won't be posting more updates here, as I don't have time to waste and I grow weary of the trolling and disrespect from within the industry. If that happens, you can email me at: // DNTV // at // B R A N D L A B // .com // and I will tell you where I'll be blogging my updates (free from any trolls).
Let's get down to business...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There's no way to sum up the last 48 hours and no way to accurately predict the next 48 hours either. So I won't even waste your time right now trying to do that...
For those that bought .TV premium names for reg-fee upfront from any registrar that was NOT enom... there could be some Good News on the horizon, but some Bad News as well... depending on your P.O.V.
First, for the purposes of this discussion, I want to separate the two "rushes" from yesterday, the day-long rush aka GoldRush, and the midnight rush offered by Enom aka LandRush.
Please keep in mind, Verisign could change their minds at any time, or be persuaded to do so. What I'm posting is based on sources at various registrars. I've been communicating via email and phone for the last 48+ hours, and have not slept yet.
The excitement & drama level was beyond comparison and I could write a book based on everything that happened this week.
GoldRush:
Yesterday 3/18, there was a point in time during the day where people were able to register .TV domains that were once considered "premiums" with no upfront premium attached, w/ standard renewals. This was not possible via ENOM as they were dark most of the day but it was available at nearly every other registrar including GoDaddy, Dynadot, Name.com and countless others.
Based on my own hand registrations, my GoDaddy regs showed up in whois instantly and immediately resolved to my dedicated landing page for each domain. I received the email receipts and money was deducted from my credit cards. These names appeared to be mine, they were mine and as far as I'm concerned... they are mine. And as of today, they are still in whois and still resolve to my server.
Now, as far as I know, the entire premium list of 55K+ domains wasn't available during the GoldRush. I had multiple servers collecting as much near-real-time data as possible (not registering domains but tracking drops/availability, registrations and grabbing screenshots, etc.) Imagine that scene from The Matrix with 10+ monitors tracking data... if a name was available, I would've seen it on my screen or in the archive.
Throughout the GoldRush I was in contact with many domainers who were actively registering domains without problems. I was also communicating constantly with registrars getting their input and getting a greenlight to keep on registering and moving forward as it seemed these names were making their way into my account, with auth codes, the ability to lock/unlock, make server changes, resolving and most importantly I was charged for them.
I bulk checked the list of names by hand (- the filler, crap, etc) from A-Z and many that were made available were regged the 2nd time through. In fact, many were regged while in my shopping cart... I know this happened to many of you out there.
Then, sometime in the late evening... (I'll try to establish a timeline later using everyone's data/input.)... none of the available names were available. It appeared that the registry was locked down. Then ENOM sent out emails announcing the LandRush at midnight...
LandRush:
I will fill in the details later, but the short story is that there were MAJOR problems, issues, etc with CC processing at ENOM itself, the ability to buy premiums and standard upfront ELSEWHERE.... then all premiums went to $900 or much higher temporarily at other registrars, etc..
more info about LandRush when I have time...
------
Here's the Good News: GoldRush domains have a high chance of being kept for prices paid. Verisign could always change their minds but many registrars are confident that those are ours because those domains were not listed as premiums on their LandRush premium lists handed out by VRSN/ENOM for the midnight LandRush.
Here's the Bad News: LandRush domains purchased outside of ENOM for non-premium (upfront) will most likely, imo, not remain ours for the low price. Each registrar will try to negotiate with you to drop and get refund, or pay a higher upfront if you wish to keep it. There is a silver lining to this... the pricing for the LandRush domains were VERY attractive... very. If you picked up a great premium for only $20 dollars during LandRush, the registrar may offer you a price equal to or less than ENOM's list. If you would've paid premium pricing anyway, then you should be happy to pay it now knowing you beat everyone else to that valuable name during the LandRush feeding frenzy.
i.e.
There was a $1000+ Premium at ENOM, that was formerly $20,000+ per year.
I tried to buy it at ENOM, had it in my cart, checked out, money deducted, received receipt that said:
Domain not available for registration. Price 0.00
Money was deducted from my account and frozen for 30 minutes. WTH?
I know this name was highly coveted by many in my direct circle, we were all wondering who would catch it at ENOM.
But, at the same time as I was checking out at ENOM, on another monitor, I also ran my list at another registrar, the name showed up as available for under $25, and I bought it quickly. I was charged for it. It instantly resolved at to my website. The registrar called me early and told me that they must charge me for the premium pricing... they are willing to negotiate... and they will offer me the name at equal = less than ENOM's price, not much less, but less. I have a few days to decide or get a refund, then the name will go back to the pool, But for now, it is tentatively my name, I have the email receipts, my cc was charged, the domain is in whois as mine and the domain still resolves. Others have suggested I fight for it at $20. But I want to pick my battles carefully. If the registrar is charged by VRSN at the wholesale premium rate, I do not want to burn the registrar because it is not their fault, imo. Based on my research, all signs point to VRSN as the one to blame... should VRSN simply honor all the GoldRush & LandRush regs outside of ENOM? I believe they should because if they don't, it will tarnish their relaunch even further and people will lose faith in .TV and VRSN's mismanagement, and may affect the SEDO .TV auction too.
I'll be in contact with all the registrars today and will try to push through at VRSN to discuss my POV.
If anyone else has any experiences to share, please do so. Please do not use this thread to communicate your hatred for the TLD or your advice regiarding investment into it.
For all people involved in the GoldRush/LandRush, please check your domains at the registrar and post an update. You do not need to post the actual domain names (as I don't think it would be wise yet), but let us know if the name is still in your account, is it in the whois at the registrar, is it in the whois at DomainTools? Please also check the whois at domaintools so they grab an archive in case you need it later. Did you also receive receipts? Does the domain resolve to your website? Has the registrar asked you to give them back? GoldRush or LandRush?
For us, no registrar has asked for my GoldRush names back YET, but the LandRush ones require further negotiation.
Please share what you can ASAP as I am collecting info on all affected parties and how each registrar is handling the situation.
make no mistake... this event was one of the most exciting and dramatic experiences a domainer lives for. Their will be bumps in the road, and everyone that partook got some kind of deal somewhere... even if you bought it directly via ENOM as their prices were amazingly low...
(please excuse all typos as I have not slept and I've got another 48 hours to go...)
(I will edit as I receive more info...)
If you wish to share info anonymously, email it to me, do NOT PM me... email address above...
.
Did you buy premium .TVs for reg-fee upfront from another registrar besides ENOM?
Good News & Bad News...
NOTE:
I hope .TV investors can use this thread to post updates and news as it trickles in from various registrar sources. I respectfully would like to ask the USUAL SUSPECTS:yell::o:tri::td:
and the naysayers to refrain from polluting this thread with so those involved can communicate effectively. Those of us who invested money yesterday would greatly appreciate being able to share in real-time the future of our investments.If this thread gets polluted with the same BS as usual, I won't be posting more updates here, as I don't have time to waste and I grow weary of the trolling and disrespect from within the industry. If that happens, you can email me at: // DNTV // at // B R A N D L A B // .com // and I will tell you where I'll be blogging my updates (free from any trolls).
Let's get down to business...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There's no way to sum up the last 48 hours and no way to accurately predict the next 48 hours either. So I won't even waste your time right now trying to do that...
For those that bought .TV premium names for reg-fee upfront from any registrar that was NOT enom... there could be some Good News on the horizon, but some Bad News as well... depending on your P.O.V.
First, for the purposes of this discussion, I want to separate the two "rushes" from yesterday, the day-long rush aka GoldRush, and the midnight rush offered by Enom aka LandRush.
Please keep in mind, Verisign could change their minds at any time, or be persuaded to do so. What I'm posting is based on sources at various registrars. I've been communicating via email and phone for the last 48+ hours, and have not slept yet.
The excitement & drama level was beyond comparison and I could write a book based on everything that happened this week.
GoldRush:
Yesterday 3/18, there was a point in time during the day where people were able to register .TV domains that were once considered "premiums" with no upfront premium attached, w/ standard renewals. This was not possible via ENOM as they were dark most of the day but it was available at nearly every other registrar including GoDaddy, Dynadot, Name.com and countless others.
Based on my own hand registrations, my GoDaddy regs showed up in whois instantly and immediately resolved to my dedicated landing page for each domain. I received the email receipts and money was deducted from my credit cards. These names appeared to be mine, they were mine and as far as I'm concerned... they are mine. And as of today, they are still in whois and still resolve to my server.
Now, as far as I know, the entire premium list of 55K+ domains wasn't available during the GoldRush. I had multiple servers collecting as much near-real-time data as possible (not registering domains but tracking drops/availability, registrations and grabbing screenshots, etc.) Imagine that scene from The Matrix with 10+ monitors tracking data... if a name was available, I would've seen it on my screen or in the archive.
Throughout the GoldRush I was in contact with many domainers who were actively registering domains without problems. I was also communicating constantly with registrars getting their input and getting a greenlight to keep on registering and moving forward as it seemed these names were making their way into my account, with auth codes, the ability to lock/unlock, make server changes, resolving and most importantly I was charged for them.
I bulk checked the list of names by hand (- the filler, crap, etc) from A-Z and many that were made available were regged the 2nd time through. In fact, many were regged while in my shopping cart... I know this happened to many of you out there.
Then, sometime in the late evening... (I'll try to establish a timeline later using everyone's data/input.)... none of the available names were available. It appeared that the registry was locked down. Then ENOM sent out emails announcing the LandRush at midnight...
LandRush:
I will fill in the details later, but the short story is that there were MAJOR problems, issues, etc with CC processing at ENOM itself, the ability to buy premiums and standard upfront ELSEWHERE.... then all premiums went to $900 or much higher temporarily at other registrars, etc..
more info about LandRush when I have time...
------
Here's the Good News: GoldRush domains have a high chance of being kept for prices paid. Verisign could always change their minds but many registrars are confident that those are ours because those domains were not listed as premiums on their LandRush premium lists handed out by VRSN/ENOM for the midnight LandRush.
Here's the Bad News: LandRush domains purchased outside of ENOM for non-premium (upfront) will most likely, imo, not remain ours for the low price. Each registrar will try to negotiate with you to drop and get refund, or pay a higher upfront if you wish to keep it. There is a silver lining to this... the pricing for the LandRush domains were VERY attractive... very. If you picked up a great premium for only $20 dollars during LandRush, the registrar may offer you a price equal to or less than ENOM's list. If you would've paid premium pricing anyway, then you should be happy to pay it now knowing you beat everyone else to that valuable name during the LandRush feeding frenzy.
i.e.
There was a $1000+ Premium at ENOM, that was formerly $20,000+ per year.
I tried to buy it at ENOM, had it in my cart, checked out, money deducted, received receipt that said:
Domain not available for registration. Price 0.00
Money was deducted from my account and frozen for 30 minutes. WTH?
I know this name was highly coveted by many in my direct circle, we were all wondering who would catch it at ENOM.
But, at the same time as I was checking out at ENOM, on another monitor, I also ran my list at another registrar, the name showed up as available for under $25, and I bought it quickly. I was charged for it. It instantly resolved at to my website. The registrar called me early and told me that they must charge me for the premium pricing... they are willing to negotiate... and they will offer me the name at equal = less than ENOM's price, not much less, but less. I have a few days to decide or get a refund, then the name will go back to the pool, But for now, it is tentatively my name, I have the email receipts, my cc was charged, the domain is in whois as mine and the domain still resolves. Others have suggested I fight for it at $20. But I want to pick my battles carefully. If the registrar is charged by VRSN at the wholesale premium rate, I do not want to burn the registrar because it is not their fault, imo. Based on my research, all signs point to VRSN as the one to blame... should VRSN simply honor all the GoldRush & LandRush regs outside of ENOM? I believe they should because if they don't, it will tarnish their relaunch even further and people will lose faith in .TV and VRSN's mismanagement, and may affect the SEDO .TV auction too.
I'll be in contact with all the registrars today and will try to push through at VRSN to discuss my POV.
If anyone else has any experiences to share, please do so. Please do not use this thread to communicate your hatred for the TLD or your advice regiarding investment into it.
For all people involved in the GoldRush/LandRush, please check your domains at the registrar and post an update. You do not need to post the actual domain names (as I don't think it would be wise yet), but let us know if the name is still in your account, is it in the whois at the registrar, is it in the whois at DomainTools? Please also check the whois at domaintools so they grab an archive in case you need it later.
Did you also receive receipts? Does the domain resolve to your website? Has the registrar asked you to give them back? GoldRush or LandRush?For us, no registrar has asked for my GoldRush names back YET, but the LandRush ones require further negotiation.
Please share what you can ASAP as I am collecting info on all affected parties and how each registrar is handling the situation.
make no mistake... this event was one of the most exciting and dramatic experiences a domainer lives for. Their will be bumps in the road, and everyone that partook got some kind of deal somewhere... even if you bought it directly via ENOM as their prices were amazingly low...
(please excuse all typos as I have not slept and I've got another 48 hours to go...)
(I will edit as I receive more info...)
If you wish to share info anonymously, email it to me, do NOT PM me... email address above...
.
Last edited:
