Here's a rundown of what took place:
1. GoDaddy buys a domain from YummyNames (Tucows) for their own portfolio - part of a larger portfolio purchase.
2. A GoDaddy customer support claimed to me that they never got the domain I won transferred to them from YummyNames/Tucows prior to expiry, but WHOIS records show that the domain was actually transferred to GoDaddy’s ownership prior to expiry.
3. GoDaddy accidentally does not renew the domain they own, later claiming there was a system error when they renewed it. They said they renewed it but it was not renewed. GoDaddy’s WHOIS (not seller's) is reflected during the redemption period.
4. As the domain is not renewed, it goes through expiry pre-release at GoDaddy auctions. I buy the domain at GD auctions (and in that process pay for the name to be renewed).
5. The domain is renewed and transferred to my GoDaddy account.
6. I start using it i.e. updating WHOIS, verifying ownership with marketplaces (ironically GoDaddy's Afternic marketplace successfully verified my ownership of the domain…). I owned the domain for 4-5 days and had full control of it in my account.
7. GoDaddy realizes that they let the domain expire.
8. Expired Godaddy domains can only be renewed up to only 30 days after expiry. GoDaddy can’t renew the domain because it is 47 days past expiry and now under my ownership. They are 17 days too late to reclaim it via established channels (when auction won domains are renewed/cancelled prior to us receiving them and we get the email witht he subject line “The enclosed items have been canceled, Arca”).
9. GoDaddy decides to take the domain from my account regardless. Somebody from GoDaddy goes into my account and uses the begin account change/move a domain to start a push to their own account. I received no prior communication from GoDaddy and only discovered this when I received the ownership transfer confirmation email. When I logged in the domain was no longer in my account (luckily I didn't sell it prior to them taking it from me!).
10. I call GoDaddy customer support. GoDaddy customer support says the former owner sold the domain, forgot to renew it, and they need to take it from me to deliver it to the new buyer. Turns out the buyer and pre-expiry owner was actually GoDaddy, they did receive the domain, but did not manage to renew it, so it went through the regular expiry pre-release process.
11. Joe Styler verifies that the domain was taken from me: “As to
@Arca we did take the domain from his account. This is exactly what happened.” He also added that “it was the right thing to do.” He also shares that along with my domain, they took back 32 other domains that they accidentally didn’t renew as well.
12. GoDaddy gives Arca a $50 gift card (and commend themselves for their fairness and generosity in providing a $50 compensation for taking the domain, even though they are not obliged to provide such compensation by their terms).
13. GoDaddy owns the domain and will offer it for sale through Afternic.