godaddy auction issue

[Keith]

Hopefully I'm posting in the correct area. If not please move this.

Yesterday I tried to access my auctions account at Godaddy and received an error message. After calling support several times and getting the run around, they finally said my account was terminated for TOS violation.

I demanded to know exactly what happened and they proceeded to tell me that my "violation" took place during an expired auction. The problem is that I didn't bid. They could give me no further explanation as to why/how an account can get terminated for an auction in which I did not participate.

They are sending this to my account executive who will review the matter on Sunday. I'm shocked to say the least. 10 years at Godaddy, oodles of auction bidding over that period, and the account is ended for no apparent reason.

Am I alone here or has anyone else heard of such a thing?

 

[NameOmnia]

this is pretty commonplace on most if not all expired auction platforms. keith should not lose his account over it.

Just because it's common doesn't mean it's right or ethical does it?

 

[Keith]

And to further make a point to PJB...

How does anyone know who winning bidders are they haven't won the domain? Ending with the highest bid doesn't mean game over. It's very common for people to intentionally let domains expire to see where bidding will go, then they renew after the market indicates value.

What godaddy wants is to eliminate competition for expired domains. Sorry, free market doesn't work that way!

 

[DU]

I became aware of this domain via NP reported sales. The auction was over. I have every right to contact the current registrant with an offer and they are entitled to proceed how they see fit.

Same applies to Godaddy, no? They are entitled to proceed how they see fit.
They have every right to terminate your account - it says so in the TOS you agreed to.

So basically they are taking away the right of a buyer and seller to deal outside of godaddy. That seems illegal to me.

They aren't saying you can't deal outside of godaddy. They're just saying that in their determination your violated the TOS that you agreed to.

There are different types of domainers. Some are pure as the driven snow. Some don't care about anything but the bottom line. Most people are somewhere on that spectrum. Beware of slipping too far to wrong, imho. You can survive alone in any business but life's much better with friends.

What godaddy wants is to eliminate competition for expired domains. Sorry, free market doesn't work that way!

Amazed how many people don't understand the concept of a free market.

 

[Jasonn]

Just because it's common doesn't mean it's right or ethical does it?

i see nothing wrong with it. according to icann godaddy and everyone else shouldn't even be auctioning off expired domains technically.

 

[pjb1978]

And to further make a point to PJB...

How does anyone know who winning bidders are they haven't won the domain? Ending with the highest bid doesn't mean game over. It's very common for people to intentionally let domains expire to see where bidding will go, then they renew after the market indicates value.

What godaddy wants is to eliminate competition for expired domains. Sorry, free market doesn't work that way!

In the case of xhemp.com, I know you weren't the winning bidder. In the Pot thread you said 'That domain got renewed'.

Karma is a bitch. I'm sure at some point you will find out.

Good luck.

 

[Keith]

The simple fact that you try to justify stabbing other domainers in the back is disappointing in itself.

Good luck with your names, and in life, Keith.

Can you tell me who just won the last expired auction at godaddy? Of course not because they still have zero rights to the domain. The current owner has rights for up to a week later. It's free market.

Sorry if some are just learning this basic fact of business.

 

[cdboard]

iirc, godaddy changes the whois info when a domain hits the auctions.

 

[Name Trader]

Maybe @Keith. But you are in breach of their ToS if you saw this domain for sale in their Expiring Auctions.

 

[Keith]

In the case of xhemp.com, I know you weren't the winning bidder. In the Pot thread you said 'That domain got renewed'.

Karma is a bitch. I'm sure at some point you will find out.

Good luck.

Yes, I said it got renewed because it did, and I bought it. How am I guilty? Owner renewed, I contacted and bought.

 

[pjb1978]

Can you tell me who just won the last expired auction at godaddy? Of course not because they still have zero rights to the domain. The current owner has rights for up to a week later. It's free market.

Sorry if some are just learning this basic fact of business.

A nice mix of business, morals, and social skills is always a good thing to have. Keep that in mind.

 

[Keith]

Maybe @Keith. But you are in breach of their ToS if you saw this domain for sale in their Expiring Auctions.

Again, I seen the domain here at np after the auction ended. The sale was reported prematurely because it never completed.

 

[pjb1978]

Yes, I said it got renewed because it did, and I bought it. How am I guilty? Owner renewed, I contacted and bought.

How are you guilty? Do you expect that anybody is going to believe that the domain didn't get renewed because of the offer you emailed the owner?

It's pure slime, and you can try and justify it until you are blue in the face. What I need to learn is that not everybody has proper morals, and that I need to become a better judge of character.

Good luck.

 

[Keith]

A nice mix of business, morals, and social skills is always a good thing to have. Keep that in mind.

It's not immoral to email the registrant of an expired domain. As if there's a point at which registrars have exclusive sales rights. Meanwhile it's still the registrants domain to do with as they see fit.

 

[pjb1978]

Keep justifying your slimy ways. Pretty sure your attempt at justification isn't going to help your rep, that's for damn sure.

Need a shovel?

 

[Keith]

How are you guilty? Do you expect that anybody is going to believe that the domain didn't get renewed because of the offer you emailed the owner?

It's pure slime, and you can try and justify it until you are blue in the face. What I need to learn is that not everybody has proper morals, and that I need to become a better judge of character.

Good luck.

I'm not disputing the fact that I contacted the rightful, current registrant with an offer to purchase. That's how most all domains get sold.

 

[Keith]

Keep justifying your slimy ways. Pretty sure your attempt at justification isn't going to help your rep, that's for damn sure.

Need a shovel?

Okay so you've made it clear that you can't present an argument. Try using facts to make a case.

 

[Name Trader]

Again, I seen the domain here at np after the auction ended. The sale was reported prematurely because it never completed.

The one thing missing from this post is you are not denying you saw this domain for sale in their Expiring Auctions.

 

[pjb1978]

My dude, I don't have to prove anything to you. I do business, and I do it the right way. I simply chimed in because like I said, I'm quite disappointed. I had a lot of respect for you based on your communication in the Pot thread.

Good luck Keith. I've got better things to do than read more of your verbal diarrhea. You stab fellow domainers in the back. That's all that needs to be said.

 

[NameOmnia]

i see nothing wrong with it. according to icann godaddy and everyone else shouldn't even be auctioning off expired domains technically.

There are different types of domainers. Some are pure as the driven snow. Some don't care about anything but the bottom line. Most people are somewhere on that spectrum. Beware of slipping to far to wrong, imho, you can survive alone in any business but life's much better with friends.

Keith, if you want to defend your position even better, you could simply publicly say why you decided to contact the owner instead of going through auction or drop catching ( if the auction was expired already ).
I am sure that when you will share your reasons everyone would step back and understand that you didn't mean to take advantage of anyone and indeed that you didn't violate any TOS.

Or am I wrong?

 

[Keith]

The one thing missing from this post is you are not denying you saw this domain for sale in their Expiring Auctions.

I am denying it. It was here at np where the auction sale was reported that I was made aware. Godaddy doesn't control who I choose to contact or when I choose to contact them, regardless of subject matter.

That said, they have a TOS which was not violated by me. At least an explanation via phone or email from them would get things moving right.