advice Advice on how to buy and recover my old domain from a domain seller.

[Officia]

My story is the following. I registered a domain many years ago for a blog I made. For 7 years I didn't do anything with the blog and the page was basically dead. I kept the domain until 2023. For health reasons I could not renew it and the registrar sold it. First it was bought by a Chinese company, then it was sold and now it is owned by a company in Eastern Europe that is dedicated to selling domains. And from what I have researched, they have it for sale on their website as well as on godaddy and Sedo in their negociable listings. From what I've researched, the domain doesn't have much value. The only value is for me, because it was a personal project.

It look like they parked the domain with some ads. Looking the whois, I see that the expiration date for the domain is in one week. I wonder if they will renew it. I have never bought domains from companies that are dedicated to negotiating and selling domains. So I have no idea what the process is like to buy from them.

What would be the best approach for my situation? Buying the domain directly from them without intermediaries like godaddy or Sedo or sending them an offer in those websites? Or should I wait to see if they let it expires and then register the domain as usual? How would be the process in each case in term of buying or recover the domain?

 

[Garet]

My story is the following. I registered a domain many years ago for a blog I made. For 7 years I didn't do anything with the blog and the page was basically dead. I kept the domain until 2023. For health reasons I could not renew it and the registrar sold it. First it was bought by a Chinese company, then it was sold and now it is owned by a company in Eastern Europe that is dedicated to selling domains. And from what I have researched, they have it for sale on their website as well as on godaddy and Sedo in their negociable listings. From what I've researched, the domain doesn't have much value. The only value is for me, because it was a personal project.

It look like they parked the domain with some ads. Looking the whois, I see that the expiration date for the domain is in one week. I wonder if they will renew it. I have never bought domains from companies that are dedicated to negotiating and selling domains. So I have no idea what the process is like to buy from them.

What would be the best approach for my situation? Buying the domain directly from them without intermediaries like godaddy or Sedo or sending them an offer in those websites? Or should I wait to see if they let it expires and then register the domain as usual? How would be the process in each case in term of buying or recover the domain?

It sounds like the domain name is for sale as make offer rather than with a set, buy it now price. Is that correct?

If you have personal contacts with domain name knowledge, I'd get their opinion as to whether or not the name has value. If not, you might want to see if a couple of kind, experienced types here would be OK looking at the name privately to see if they agree with you that the name doesn't have much value.

Unless it is urgent, I don't think that I'd express interest to the seller shortly before expiry. If you are right and the name only really has value to you, they probably haven't seen much interest and could let it expire and drop. Interest could increase the likelihood of renewal.

Not knowing who the seller is I can't say for sure if I'd go direct or through an intermediary such as Sedo or GoDaddy. With GoDaddy and Sedo, you'll have transaction security and maintain anonymity.

 

[Officia]

It sounds like the domain name is for sale as make offer rather than with a set, buy it now price. Is that correct?

If you have personal contacts with domain name knowledge, I'd get their opinion as to whether or not the name has value. If not, you might want to see if a couple of kind, experienced types here would be OK looking at the name privately to see if they agree with you that the name doesn't have much value.

Unless it is urgent, I don't think that I'd express interest to the seller shortly before expiry. If you are right and the name only really has value to you, they probably haven't seen much interest and could let it expire and drop. Interest could increase the likelihood of renewal.

Not knowing who the seller is I can't say for sure if I'd go direct or through an intermediary such as Sedo or GoDaddy. With GoDaddy and Sedo, you'll have transaction security and maintain anonymity.

Thank you for your response. Yes, this is correct. They are selling the domain via offer. The domain is not listed in any other listing only in the make an offer sale list. They have it like that in godaddy and sedo since almost a year.
I checked the domain in specialized websites where you can check the possible value of a domain. The domain is not more worth than $200.
It has 3 words and only one is a keyword. It has some backlinks but the amount of traffic is so slow that you can't make money from adsense or other ads.
There is no offer for the domain, and most probably they haven't seen much interest.
So in other words, I should wait to see if they renew the domain and if not wait if they drop it? I am concerned about companies that specialize in catching expired domains in bulk. What do you think?

 

[Garet]

Thank you for your response. Yes, this is correct. They are selling the domain via offer. The domain is not listed in any other listing only in the make an offer sale list. They have it like that in godaddy and sedo since almost a year.
I checked the domain in specialized websites where you can check the possible value of a domain. The domain is not more worth than $200.
It has 3 words and only one is a keyword. It has some backlinks but the amount of traffic is so slow that you can't make money from adsense or other ads.
There is no offer for the domain, and most probably they haven't seen much interest.
So in other words, I should wait to see if they renew the domain and if not wait if they drop it? I am concerned about companies that specialize in catching expired domains in bulk. What do you think?

From what you say, I would not expect this name to be backordered and pursued by dropcatchers. I certainly cannot promise that but that'd be my guess.

It could be that the company that has the name now was hoping that the name would be purchased by you specifically as the previous registrant. It could also be that the name was valued for its links and/or SEO potential.

If you've already waited a year, it doesn't seem urgent. Based on the information you have provided, I'm guessing that the name will not be renewed and that it will not be on the radar of dropcatchers. If it does expire, I'd definitely suggest monitoring its status and determining its actual drop/release date so you can attempt to register it right when it drops.

Good luck!

 

[Officia]

From what you say, I would not expect this name to be backordered and pursued by dropcatchers. I certainly cannot promise that but that'd be my guess.

It could be that the company that has the name now was hoping that the name would be purchased by you specifically as the previous registrant. It could also be that the name was valued for its links and/or SEO potential.

If you've already waited a year, it doesn't seem urgent. Based on the information you have provided, I'm guessing that the name will not be renewed and that it will not be on the radar of dropcatchers. If it does expire, I'd definitely suggest monitoring its status and determining its actual drop/release date so you can attempt to register it right when it drops.

Good luck!

Thank you for your reply! The previous owner was a Chinese company that bought the domain after my registration expired. Were they able to see who owned it before the Chinese company? I found a video a while a go from the owner of the company who are now selling the domain, saying they valued backlinks as an SEO strategy, but I recently heard that Google is going to or have change this, do you think that's a reason for them not to re-register it? The domain expires in 3 days, and they still haven't renewed it.

If they let it expire, can I make this monitoring in Sedo and/or Godaddy?

 

[AEProgram]

What is the registrar, it can help guide you what to do if the name expires.


If you made or make contact, they will renew. You can also check to see what archive . org has on the name

 

[Garet]

Thank you for your reply! The previous owner was a Chinese company that bought the domain after my registration expired. Were they able to see who owned it before the Chinese company? I found a video a while a go from the owner of the company who are now selling the domain, saying they valued backlinks as an SEO strategy, but I recently heard that Google is going to or have change this, do you think that's a reason for them not to re-register it? The domain expires in 3 days, and they still haven't renewed it.

If they let it expire, can I make this monitoring in Sedo and/or Godaddy?

They most likely could have seen the previous site in Archive.org and viewed WHOIS history elsewhere. If they guessed that the expiration and lapse of ownership was unintentional, they might have hoped that you would buy the name from them.

Are they currently using the domain/site to benefit from SEO/links? If so, they might renew for that reason. If it is simply a parked page/lander/for sale page, I would think that the SEO benefits have diminished and not be a standalone reason for renewal.

GoDaddy has domain monitoring. Once the name goes to "pending delete" status you can use ExpiredDomains.net to see the exact drop date.

It can take some navigating to get to GoDaddy's monitoring feature. I don't know if this link would work but that's where it lives for me: https://dcc40.godaddy.com/dcc40/default.aspx?activeview=monitoring

ExpiredDomains is a great site:
https://member.expireddomains.net/domains/pendingdelete/

 

[Officia]

What is the registrar, it can help guide you what to do if the name expires.


If you made or make contact, they will renew. You can also check to see what archive . org has on the name

The register is sav.com. But the name server is under: edoms (dot) biz. I guess they are being the sale in GoDaddy and Sedo.

 

[Officia]

I don't think they saw my page in archive because after I saw that the Chinese company registered the domain, I requested archive to delete my content because I was afraid that the Chinese company could steal or copy my content. The did delete my content. Most probably it was via whois. At the beginning, they had like a parked page with ad links. Then they redirected the traffic to a subdomain with my domain name in the -url and in the landing page they had also ads links, and today when you type in the browser bar the domain name, its redirects you to page with a pop up telling you if you want to continue to the website you have to click the button to install an extension. If you don't click anywhere, it redirects you to the search engine duck duck go with a search result with the word: !ducky and the domain name after the !ducky.

 

[AEProgram]

The register is sav.com. But the name server is under: edoms (dot) biz. I guess they are being the sale in GoDaddy and Sedo.

ok let us know if it expires, monitor sav and if they auction it, wait until close to the end of time you can bid to place a bid and hopefully u get it for 10 dollars

 

[Officia]

ok let us know if it expires, monitor sav and if they auction it, wait until close to the end of time you can bid to place a bid and hopefully u get it for 10 dollars

Ok, I will keep an eye on the domain in sav. Thanks

 

[NameGroove]

Ok, I will keep an eye on the domain in sav. Thanks

Personally, I would also add a dropcatch bid on dropcatch.com for $59. Just in case it goes into pending delete you don't want someone else to grab it. If the name isn't worth $59 to you - then it's really worth $0 imo. Leave no stone unturned.

 

[Officia]

Personally, I would also add a dropcatch bid on dropcatch.com for $59. Just in case it goes into pending delete you don't want someone else to grab it. If the name isn't worth $59 to you - then it's really worth $0 imo. Leave no stone unturned.

How do you do this? At what stage should I do it? If I make an dropcatch could the current registrar be informed that someone placed an dropcatch on the domain? I'm new to all this.

 

[Grilled]

How do you do this? At what stage should I do it? If I make an dropcatch could the current registrar be informed that someone placed an dropcatch on the domain? I'm new to all this.

If the domain is registered and expired at Sav.com, then it should finish Sav expired domain auction about ~40 days after the expiration date.

If the domain expires and nobody bids on it at Sav expired auction, then it would fully delete and be available to be caught at places like DropCatch.com some ~75 days after the expiration date.

 

[AEProgram]

How do you do this? At what stage should I do it? If I make an dropcatch could the current registrar be informed that someone placed an dropcatch on the domain? I'm new to all this.

You can only place a backorder at dropcatch once the domain enters the 5 day pending delete period. They don't notify anyone and once it enters that period it gets deleted and they can try to catch it. Backorder it at dropcatch and snapnames if it goes to pending delete. Usually it will be on a sav auction first.

 

[robs01]

As mentioned already, just watch the domain and see whether it goes into expiry auction at Sav. The expiry timeline is detailed at Sav's website. If yes, put on a bid if you really want it but be prepared that someone else might to try to grab it knowing that you want it. If it's renewed just wait another year and watch again - do not express interest in it as that might signal to them to hold it longer. I have seen many such domains (including ones that I deliberately let expire) get grabbed after being dropped, they get held for a year or two to try to get a hefty price from the previous owner (starting at $3=4k then dropping down to ~$1k over time) and then they are dropped again. Just an hour or two ago I checked a ~20 year domain I had held for intended development - it's now available after 2 years of being held by a domain investor.

But then we don't know the domain. Maybe several people might jump on it? Only you know the name so you have to decide its value to both you and others. But above is just my experience and thoughts based on your statement that it has no value for anyone else. Good luck with getting it back.

 

[Officia]

The domain expires tomorrow, but it has not yet been renewed. Nor has received an offer in sedo or godaddy. I will keep an eye on the domain in sav and the other platforms. Also, I will make a dropcach when the time come.
I thank you all for your responses, I will let you know.

 

[robs01]

and the other platforms. Also, I will make a dropcach when the time come.

No, don't do that IMO. ONLY make an account at Sav where the domain is held, and be ready when and if you need to make a bid. Dropcatch and others will achieve nothing at the moment because the domain has to go through the expiry cycle at Sav first before being available for capture anywhere else. Going through others now will only potentially alert other people that you are interested in the name and may hence get their interest. Even just visiting sedo, godaddy etc and looking at the domain may alert someone (an employee, or the domain owner) as to your interest.
Go here: blog.sav.com/backordering-the-best-way-to-secure-an-expired-domain-name and read up on the expiry process, especially the part "Domain Expiration Timeline Process".

 

[bhartzer]

I've been recovering stolen (and expired) domain names for people and companies for several years now. At this point, since the domain expired you have a few options:

- Wait until it expires and try to register it or place a backorder on it and get it that way. I realize this isn't ideal, but is an option.
- Approach the current owner/registrant and make an offer.
- File a UDRP. Contact a domain attorney if you believe you have rights to the domain over the current registrant.

At this point, those are your options. Usually negotiating with the current registrant is the best option. But I'd like to point out that if you decide to contact the current registrant, don't file a UDRP afterwards, trying to get ahold of the domain. It could be used against you in the UDRP.

 

[Officia]

No, don't do that IMO. ONLY make an account at Sav where the domain is held, and be ready when and if you need to make a bid. Dropcatch and others will achieve nothing at the moment because the domain has to go through the expiry cycle at Sav first before being available for capture anywhere else. Going through others now will only potentially alert other people that you are interested in the name and may hence get their interest. Even just visiting sedo, godaddy etc and looking at the domain may alert someone (an employee, or the domain owner) as to your interest.
Go here: blog.sav.com/backordering-the-best-way-to-secure-an-expired-domain-name and read up on the expiry process, especially the part "Domain Expiration Timeline Process".

Thank you for your response and the article. I was thinking to put an dropcach when the domain goes in pending delete not before. I don't know if I am going to bid on the sav expired domain auction because that could trigger others to bid on the domain making it attractive for the company to renew it.

 

[Garet]

Thank you for your response and the article. I was thinking to put an dropcach when the domain goes in pending delete not before. I don't know if I am going to bid on the sav expired domain auction because that could trigger others to bid on the domain making it attractive for the company to renew it.

Bids attract bids -- or at least increase the chances. I suspect that is generally true on all platforms.