Domain search data sold?

[ThreeD]

Twice this week, after doing some domain searching, I noticed within an hour of searching for domains, they are registered by people hiding behind whois privacy.

I found an article written in 2007 where the author talks about companies selling domain search data.

http://www.dailydomainer.com/200775-domain-tasting-monitoring-searches.html

At the bottom of the article he writes:

Set up your own domain search tool or approach registrars that will sell you their search data

Sell you their search data??

I wouldn't be surprised if this is STILL going on, especially due to my experience in the last week or so.

The funny part is, I'm not upset about the fact that the domain was registered, but I'm pissed off at the business ethics of most domain registrars these days.

If it isn't too hard to get a registrar up and running, we may just as well start our own damn thing so none of these shady companies get a dime from us.

 

[holyroller]

Twice this week, after doing some domain searching, I noticed within an hour of searching for domains, they are registered by people hiding behind whois privacy.

I found an article written in 2007 where the author talks about companies selling domain search data.

http://www.dailydomainer.com/200775-domain-tasting-monitoring-searches.html

At the bottom of the article he writes:



Sell you their search data??

I wouldn't be surprised if this is STILL going on, especially due to my experience in the last week or so.

The funny part is, I'm not upset about the fact that the domain was registered, but I'm pissed off at the business ethics of most domain registrars these days.

If it isn't too hard to get a registrar up and running, we may just as well start our own damn thing so none of these shady companies get a dime from us.

I searched a name recently and this was then regged the same day. Has happened quite a few times. Frustrating when searching for names and then you go back to the ones you like best to find they are now taken.

 

[Dave]

I have had the same feeling in the past.

I think when it comes to domains if you see something you like and you have a chance to get it then don't hesitate whatsoever.

 

[Kate]

First of all, have you checked the whois record ?
It's not rare that domains are incorrectly reported available.

 

[namemarket]

Extremely likely just a coincidence (or maybe caused by an original typo) when you see a name taken soon after a Whois search.

Why would anyone want to look at the searches or register all the crap being looked up when at least 95% of it is worthless or semi-worthless. Just look at the names for sale or freshly reg'd and you can see where I get the 95% number from.

All that needs to be done is watch the evening or late night news and media stories and commercials and you will get domain ideas significantly better than most all domains newly registered or for sale by domainers.

 

[Kenny]

First of all, have you checked the whois record ?
It's not rare that domains are incorrectly reported available.

That is def true, however just search the forum and you will see MANY posts on this subject.

Personally, I do all my avail checks with a proggy, never at the reg house.
Also, Yahoo has a little proggy you can use in MyYahoo. I've never been burned by it.

So bottom line is, there is a good chance it is not just your imagination, but also keep in mind others are out there doing exactly what you are doing, sampling names, checking avail, doing what we do everyday.
Good, new name ideas are hard to come by, so if you think of one, someone else is thinking if it too. Dont lose the race

Peace,
Cy

 

[zoomactive.com]

Good luck owning your own registrar. It cost's thousands per year, you have to have at least $70k in your bank as operating income, have a registrar backend "many are opting for LogicBoxes which costs an additional $0.50 per domain registered and some." Then you have to actually remain accredited and in good standing with Icann. Then you have the paper work of dealing with the registries such as Verisign for .com domains. It is simply not worth it unless you are dealing with thousands of domains and then even then may not be worth it. Look at NetFirms, they were accredited but not anymore.

 

[Name Trader]

Have Verisign stopped selling the searches of the .com/.net registries? This is the most likely reason.

Being already registered but showing as available by some tin-pot search is also a possibility. Always search the registry directly.

I don't trust or believe what any registrar says about anything.

 

[namemarket]

....Good, new name ideas are hard to come by......

Disagree. IMO, nice targeted exact match keyword names in good PPC categories are still readily available in preferred dot-com ext (.org too in its relevant categories, i.e. health, etc).

I often see so many good ones unreg'd (in particular if you don't mind multi-word long-tail names) there is no way I could possibly reg them all or I would have tens of 1000s of names and be doing the opposite of a goal to trim the portfolio big time.

 

[ThreeD]

First of all, have you checked the whois record ?
It's not rare that domains are incorrectly reported available.

Yes I did check the whois record. It was registered the day after I did my search.

Thanks for the replies all. I'm still pretty sure most registrars use shady tactics to make some extra pocket change.

 

[Kate]

What is the domain ? Was it a recent drop by any chance ?

 

[ThreeD]

I pm'ed you the domain, and as far as we can tell the domain has NEVER been registered before.

 

[Kate]

as far as we can tell the domain has NEVER been registered before.

Indeed
I'm looking at your PM.

 

[Sam]

Keep in mind with the 10% rule and $1 fee this is effective dead.

 

[Kenny]

Keep in mind with the 10% rule and $1 fee this is effective dead.

Please explain? :gl:

 

[iowadawg]

Keep in mind with the 10% rule and $1 fee this is effective dead.

Okay, let me have a few beers and I think I will understand.

If not, please explain.

Now if registrars sell this information?
To whom?
If this was going on, don't you all think that by now it would be all over the place with facts to back it up?

 

[Name Trader]

It's not the Registrars selling this info. It's Verisign themselves.

 

[Sam]

Okay, let me have a few beers and I think I will understand.

If not, please explain.

Now if registrars sell this information?
To whom?
If this was going on, don't you all think that by now it would be all over the place with facts to back it up?

Well before the fees, yes they probably just tasted all the names people looked up to see if they could bait them to buy them at an inflated price.

Netsol COUGH COUGH.

I highly doubt any company would bother to manually go through all the whois searches. How many eyeballs would be needed? Think of the salary considerations.

 

[DN_Hunter]

I did a search for a domain at GoDaddy a couple of days ago.

I was surprised to get an email today with the following subject:

"INSERT-NAME-I-SEARCHED-HERE" may still be available.

So apparently they are keeping track of names their users search.

NOTE: it has not been registered (as of this post). Just thought it was interesting they kept track of my search...

 

[iowadawg]

Namecheap keeps track also, though they do not email you.