GoDaddy Back Orders > TDNAM Auction > GD's OFFICIAL POLICY

[airwav]

Recently I had some problems with GoDaddy regarding several GD back orders.
I should say rather, back orders through my Wild West reseller account, trust me it makes a huge difference!

I was told by my wild west account rep that by placing a b/o through my reseller account that the domain would not go to TDNAM -- THIS IS NOT TRUE.

I was also told by GD that back orders through my reseller account, should they go to TDNAM, get the first bid and subsequent email notifications of bid increases -THIS IS NOT TRUE.

I spent several hours this last weekend attempting to learn the GD process of domains within their registery and their policys for moving them to TDNAM for auction, even with an existing b/o. Many hours were spent listening to GD's voodoo music and listening to contradicting explations and several hours searching the net.

The reason for the "GD/TDNAM Domain Cycle" crash course was because I had 17 back orders on domains that were now listed @ TDNAM. Initially when I placed these back orders, starting on May 22nd, I searched TDNAM and did not see these domains. On May 26th I read a post here @ NP stating that these domains were up for grabs @ TDNAM.

I was given this explanition, from my wild west rep, of the TDNAM life cycle:

Event Timeline


1. Domain Name Expires

During the next 70 days, the customer may renew or redeem the domain name.

1.1 Day 0 – 9 Billing Grace Period

Billing emails sent to registrant
Name Servers remain as they are

1.2 Day 10-24 TDNAM Auction

Billing attempted
Domain is Re-directed (parked)
Domain is entered into TDNAM for a 14 day auction

1.3 Day 25 – 40 End of Auction

Auction ends domain is removed from TDNAM.

1.3.1 If someone bids on the domain name*

They are notified they won the auction and submit payment
The bidder then waits for the Mock Redemption period before they take ownership of the name

1.4 Day 41 - 70 Redemption/ Mock Redemption

1.4.1 If a Backorder Exists

· AND someone bids on the domain name, the bidder wins the domain name and the domain enters Mock Redemption.

· AND there are no bids for the domain name, the domain enters Mock Redemption.

1.4.2 If a Backorder Customer Calls in

· If no other bid exists, we will remove the backordered domain from TDNAM

· TDNAM Escalation Required

1.4.3 If NO Backorder Exists

· AND someone won a bid on the domain name, the domain enters Mock Redemption

1.4.4 If NO Backorder and no Bidder

· The domain enters redemption with the registry

· If there are two bidders and the first bidder does not pay for the domain name within 8 days, the domain is offered to the second bidder.

Ok, lets check out our time line-

These domains I back ordered expired April 23rd midnight - 9 days grace period takes them to May 2nd and to TDNAM on May 3rd.

The TDNAM two week auction takes them to May 18th, when the auction closes.

So why did these domains go to auction AFTER they sould have been out of auction?

It is my opinion, that due to the back orders I placed I alerted TDNAM to the existence of these domains and they were then placed into the auction.


I received this email today from "The Office of The President" stating that the above policy is no longer their official policy, but in fact, their policy changed just this last week!
Isn't that amazing...

Regarding the timeline of the domains in our system, the following
information should clarify this for you:

On the expiration date we attempt to renew if the auto-renew is enabled.
We attempt 2 more renewals, on the 5th and 12th day
The name is parked on day 5 to alert the customer
On day 12 if the renewal has not been processed, the name goes into a 30
day redemption period. The name can be renewed at the regular rate up
until the end of day 18.
On day 19 the renewal would also incur the $80.00 redemption fee.
On day 26 the name enters the expired domains auction where it remains
until day 36.
If there are no bids the name goes into the fire sale auction on day 37
where it remains until day 42.
On day 43:
If there is an auction winner the name is awarded to them.
If there is no auction winner, the name goes to a backorder in our
system should one exist.
If there is neither an auction winner or a backorder, the name drops to
the registry for 30 days plus deletion.
Of course, as per our legal agreements these terms are subject to change
at any time.

Your concerns regarding the amount of information pertaining to
backorders placed through reseller accounts has been submitted to our
Quality Assurance Team for review. While we cannot guarantee what might
be ultimately changed, or when this might occur, we can assure you that
many of the modifications to our systems/site/products are the direct
result of the feedback we receive from our customers.

Additionally, as a goodwill gesture for any inconveniences we have
renewed your hosting account for one year free of charge in addition to
the refunds.

Again, please accept our most sincere apologies for any incorrect or
conflicting information you may have received. We want you to know we
are addressing these matters internally as appropriate and where needed
more feedback and training will be provided.

Lessons learned-
If you have a GD reseller account, be aware that the same rules that apply towards a GD back order, do not apply to your reseller account.
Secondly, it has been stated that the best place to catch a GD registared domain is through GD back order -- Not True.

If you want a domain that is regg'd through GD, don't waste your time and money on a back order, go directly to TDNAM, because if that domain might be worth more than a back order fee GD is going to collect it.

 

[Name Trader]

GoDaddy BO is very smart at picking up domains which were captured by tasters who eventually drop the domain sometime on down the road. They're very good at it

 

[Name Trader]

Does anyone know what happens if the domain goes all the way thru the tdnam auctions and is in redemption period, then a backorder is placed. Will the backorder be successful before pending delete, or will the backorder compete with others when the domain drops?

 

[AdoptableDomains]

Does anyone know what happens if the domain goes all the way thru the tdnam auctions and is in redemption period, then a backorder is placed. Will the backorder be successful before pending delete, or will the backorder compete with others when the domain drops?

Tdnam auctions are the pre-backorder, pre-drop way to get it. As I understand it, once it goes to a godaddy backorder, they are competing against every other drop catcher at that point and it has already been through redemption and pending delete.

 

[Name Trader]

I'm not sure that actually answers my question Mark. Are you saying that backordering a GoDaddy domain which has already passed thru the tdnam auctions will NOT be captured before it goes into pending delete? It seems quite silly if true. But then there are many silly things in this life.

 

[AdoptableDomains]

I'm not sure that actually answers my question Mark. Are you saying that backordering a GoDaddy domain which has already passed thru the tdnam auctions will NOT be captured before it goes into pending delete? It seems quite silly if true. But then there are many silly things in this life.

I believe the pending delete is now immediately after the "fire sale". I think once a domain is no longer listed on tdnam, in either the auction or fire sale, it is in pending delete and fair game to any drop catcher. I think you have a chance to get it before registrar competition only if you place the backorder before it leaves the fire sale listings. However, once on fire sale, it's actually cheaper than the backorder, so why would you then backorder?

From the godaddy FAQ. Note the middle sentence I underlined

Bidding on Domains You Backordered
Print This Article
Last Updated: June 27, 2007 12:41 PM

If a domain registered with us after May 2, 2005 expires, we automatically list it for auction on The Domain Name Aftermarket (TDNAM). If you placed a backorder on the domain before it expired, we applied your backorder credit to place the first bid on the domain. If there are no other bidders, you win the domain. If there are other bidders, you only win if you're the highest bidder at the time the auction ends.

If you backorder a domain that's already listed on TDNAM and there are no bids for the domain, we apply your backorder to purchase the domain.

If you win the domain, you receive the domain and a one-year renewal for the domain. We automatically move the domain to your account. However, the current registrant can reclaim the domain during the redemption grace period. If the current registrant renews the domain, we will notify you and you can apply your backorder to another domain.

 

[Name Trader]

Once a domain leaves TDNAM with no bids it goes into the regular 30 day Redemption Period status. After that it goes into the 5 day Pending Delete status. On the 6th day it drops. My question is: If a backorder is placed on the domain when it is in it's 30 day Redemption Period, will the backorder capture the domain before it goes into Pending Delete status? Or, is the domain irretrievable by anyone other than the original registrant once it enters this Redemption Period status?

 

[AdoptableDomains]

Once a domain leaves TDNAM with no bids it goes into the regular 30 day Redemption Period status. After that it goes into the 5 day Pending Delete status. On the 6th day it drops. My question is: If a backorder is placed on the domain when it is in it's 30 day Redemption Period, will the backorder capture the domain before it goes into Pending Delete status? Or, is the domain irretrievable by anyone other than the original registrant once it enters this Redemption Period status?

Traditionally, the definition of a "backorder" is catching a domain on the official drop at the registry level. I think Godaddy uses this definition for their backorder. I believe (correct me if anyone knows for sure), that the only way to catch it exclusively at godaddy be fore that is through the TDNAM auction or fire sale.

BTW, the above quoted info is not correct, but was at one time when TDNAM first started. If you win a TDNAM auction now, you get the domain in about one week after the tdnam auction. Therefore, the TDNAM auction is held from about day 13 to about day 23 of the 30 day redemption grace period, and awarded at the end of redemption grace about a week later if won (presumably day 31). If not bid on the auction, it goes to another 5 days of fire sale first come-first serve (probably days 24-28. The only question would be then in the last couple days or so after fire sale, but before it releases by godaddy to the registry for pending delete, could it go to a last minute backorder. In pending delete, it is no longer in control of Godaddy to redeem, but in the hands of the registry from my knowledge.

 

[Name Trader]

That's not true. It's even covered by the reply from Godaddy to aiwav in the 1st message of this thread. There GoDaddy state that the auction and firesale ends on expiry+43 and then drops to the Registry for 30 days plus deletion.

If I read between the lines of "it drops to the Registry" then I'd say that backorder after expiry+43 is a waste of time. But I'd like to get some kind of confirmation of this.

 

[AdoptableDomains]

That's not true. It's even covered by the reply from Godaddy to aiwav in the 1st message of this thread. There GoDaddy state that the auction and firesale ends on expiry+43 and then drops to the Registry for 30 days plus deletion.

If I read between the lines of "it drops to the Registry" then I'd say that backorder after expiry+43 is a waste of time. But I'd like to get some kind of confirmation of this.

Two things to remember from that first post:

Of course, as per our legal agreements these terms are subject to change at any time.

That original post was 5 months ago.

If there is neither an auction winner or a backorder, the name drops tothe registry for 30 days plus deletion.

Once it drops to the registry, it doesn't really matter if it's 2 days or 30 days. Once it is out of the registrar's hands and turned over to the registry, it's a free-for-all for any drop service to catch. godaddy's backorder has no more priority than pool, snapnames, etc. My point is, I don't think you have any chance after the fire sale if a backorder didn't already exist that would give godaddy backorder an edge or guarantee of getting it.

If I somehow miss the fire sale, I figure at that point godaddy, pool, etc. all have a shot at it based on the number of partners they have trying to catch it.

 

[theSun]

I had learned 2 years ago that simply all expired domains at godaddy, will go into tdnam, regardless of whether a backorder is placed. Simple rule.

 

[Name Trader]

Once it drops to the registry, it doesn't really matter if it's 2 days or 30 days. Once it is out of the registrar's hands and turned over to the registry, it's a free-for-all for any drop service to catch. godaddy's backorder has no more priority than pool, snapnames, etc. My point is, I don't think you have any chance after the fire sale if a backorder didn't already exist that would give godaddy backorder an edge or guarantee of getting it.

That is exactly what I have been reading between the lines and was looking for confirmation on. Thanks.

 

[Name Trader]

OK. I got confirmation from my GoDaddy account manager that after the expiry+43 days when the domain "drops to the registry" any GoDaddy backorder is practically useless...

If you place a backorder after the 42 + days when the domain "drops to the registry" it will try and capture that domain when it is released to the public. The backorder with us would serve the same purpose as if a domain expired anywhere and went available. Backorders at other companies would have an equal chance of capturing the domain.