question Can someone from GoDaddy clarify their backorder policy?

[draco]

I've looked on their website, chatted online with support, and called support. I get contradictory information.

https://www.godaddy.com/help/what-happens-after-i-backorder-a-domain-597
states the domain will go to a public auction.

https://www.godaddy.com/domains/domain-backorder
states if you are the only backorder holder, you become the domain name registrant.

I have a domain on backorder with GoDaddy. It's registered at GoDaddy. The domain expired and is currently in the redemption period. GoDaddy (not the owner), listed it on their auction site as a Premium domain with a 5 figure minimum offer.

If someone makes an offer on the domain, can GoDaddy accept and ignore my backorder?

If nobody makes an offer and the domain drops / goes past the redemption and recovery periods, will it go to auction for anyone to bid, even if I'm the only backorder?

 

[draco]

Hi @draco
We're sorry we missed this thread! GoDaddy Backorders currently have two outcomes:

1. For domain names that expire and go into the GoDaddy Auctions feed (domain names registered at GoDaddy or expiry partners), the backorder will be placed as the first bid on the domain. Domains enter GoDaddy Auctions before dropping. If you're the only bidder, you can secure the domain name and become the registrant.

2. For domain names that expire and are not entering the GoDaddy Auctions feed, placing a backorder means that GoDaddy will try to hand register it when it becomes available.

That's not what this says:
https://www.godaddy.com/domains/domain-backorder
states if you are the only backorder holder, you become the domain name registrant.

That's why I backordered the domain. I would have never spent money with you for this 'other' policy you're pushing. I'm sure a lot of other people are in the same situation.

and none of what you said explains why you placed the domain up for offers with a minimum 5 figure offer. You're obviously not going to decline a $50,000 offer to start a $25 auction.

As @pb asked, what does hand register mean? Not to mention the fact, that it's likely that only absolute garbage domains would not enter the auction feed.

 

[algofox]

GoDaddy has PREDATORY PRICING policies enforced by shrill bidding bots. AVOID!

 

[draco]

@GoDaddy any follow up?

 

[sashilover]

I have the same question, anyone can answer this?

 

[draco]

One of the domains I backordered went to auction. I'm not sure if I was the only backorder. There was one other $25 bid, but it was hours after mine. So it could be their backorder system took awhile to process it, or someone bid once the auction started. Since it was another $25 bid, I'm guessing it was another backorder. But once it went to auction, GoDaddy let ANYONE bid. The auction ended at over USD 3000.

The other backordered domain is still on GoDaddy auctions with a USD 50,000 minimum offer.

So far it appears I've wasted money on their backorder service. So has everyone else that uses it.

Has anyone actually got a domain with their backorder service?

@GoDaddy any comments?

 

[forge]

Has anyone actually got a domain with their backorder service?

Yes, but it was at least a decade ago. Maybe two decades.

(Just found an old email, successful b/o from late 2017).

 

[kmanX7]

Let me share my experience with godaddy backorder. I was reading this article after I use their backorder for trying to catch some top domains that were end date pending deleted and fail every day.

After reading this article I thought ok, top pending deleted out of reach...

Yesterday I was backordering domain that was pending deleted yesterday pocketless.com and today got mail We grabbed pocketless.com domain for you...

So it looks like when domain is not like high high demend godaddy backorder works.

 

[forge]

got mail We grabbed pocketless.com domain for you...

Congrats. I think that's the only situation resulting in a successful backorder. Was the fee around $30?

 

[kmanX7]

I paid £22.00 for backorder sevice but this is without VAT tax as I have this on company, so yes it was around 30$.

 

[draco]

Let me share my experience with godaddy backorder. I was reading this article after I use their backorder for trying to catch some top domains that were end date pending deleted and fail every day.

After reading this article I thought ok, top pending deleted out of reach...

Yesterday I was backordering domain that was pending deleted yesterday pocketless.com and today got mail We grabbed pocketless.com domain for you...

So it looks like when domain is not like high high demend godaddy backorder works.

Let me share my experience with godaddy backorder. I was reading this article after I use their backorder for trying to catch some top domains that were end date pending deleted and fail every day.

After reading this article I thought ok, top pending deleted out of reach...

Yesterday I was backordering domain that was pending deleted yesterday pocketless.com and today got mail We grabbed pocketless.com domain for you...

So it looks like when domain is not like high high demend godaddy backorder works.

That would back up what they said for domains not entering the auction feed. So paying for a backorder is absolutely useless, unless nobody else wants it and GoDaddy decides it's not worth auctioning. That's not what they say in the second link of my first post. It also doesn't explain why the other domain I backordered is still apparently being 'held' by GoDaddy with a 5 figure minimum offer.

I'm sure they won't do this, because it would cost them a lot of money. But what they should do is:
1. If you're the only backorder and it's a GoDaddy domain, you get the domain. No auction. That's what you paid for.
2. If you're the only backorder and GoDaddy gets the domain from another registrar in the drop, you get the domain.
3. If there are multiple backorders and it's a GoDaddy domain or they get the domain, ONLY those people that backordered the domain can bid on the auction.

Failing to do that, they should make it CLEAR what's going on. The fact that nobody seems to understand your policy and we have to 'pull teeth' for clarifications, makes one wonder if you're deliberately keeping it vague or even misleading to get people to purchase backorders.

@GoDaddy @James Iles @Joe Styler

 

[Hashim]

Seems they decided to scrap backorders entirely just a few months after this, probably for the same reasons you mentioned:

https://www.godaddy.com/resources/news/godaddy-phases-out-domain-backorders