GoDaddy - Domain available, then unavailable?

[heirJORDAN]

Ok this could, and probably is related to a domain dropping.

Basically a domain (just my real name) I'm seeking is currently in redemption period. I check every few days to see if it's available on GD.

Well, 5 minutes ago it finally did! I immediately throw it into my cart and make it to the payment screen unscathed. As soon as I hit submit I'm told it's unavailable???

I check the whois and it's suddenly back on hold/redemption period.

Is this normal? If so, how much longer should I expect this to last?

 

[Kate]

godaddy is not a good place to check domain availability in real time.
Try the registry whois perhaps.
http://registrar.verisign-grs.com/webwhois-ui/index.jsp

 

[RazorNF]

Basically a domain (just my real name) I'm seeking is currently in redemption period. I check every few days to see if it's available on GD.

Well, 5 minutes ago it finally did! I immediately throw it into my cart and make it to the payment screen unscathed. As soon as I hit submit I'm told it's unavailable???

I check the whois and it's suddenly back on hold/redemption period.

Is this normal? If so, how much longer should I expect this to last?

That sounds odd - was this for a domain that was originally registered at GoDaddy, and you were checking the auction site? Or were you just going through the hand-reg process?

 

[Name Trader]

If it's a .com it will drop 81 days after it has expired. To be safe check from day 80. After day 75 the status changes to Pending Delete. At that point the domain cannot be renewed by the old owner and it will drop. It will drop on the 6th day after it goes into Pending Delete. You should check if there are any backorders on NameJet/Snapnames. If one of them has a backorder, then you should also place a backorder on both SnapNames/NameJet. Backorders are usually between $69-$89. But you only pay if you win the domain. So the backorder is actually free. If there are no backorders on SnapNames/Namejet, you could try placing a backorder on GoDaddy ($20) BackorderZone ($54) or Pheenix ($19). You pay first and if they don't capture the domain you get a backorder credit to re-use. If you are actually waiting for it to drop and it's a common/popular name, you will have competition from all the dropcatchers which include more than just the names mentioned above. Although Pheenix is new, I would try placing a backorder there. Of course for the most chances of success you should backorder at all the people mentioned above. So if this was your name and you really want to increase your chances of capturing it, that is what you should do. It will cost you about $94 if one of the last 3 captures your domain, and plus $69-$89 if captured by SnapNames/NameJet. If somebody else captures the domain, you know you gave it your best shot. You will have backorder credits which you can re-use, as well.

 

[dompro]

Basically a domain (just my real name) I'm seeking is currently in redemption period. I check every few days to see if it's available on GD.

the next phase after redemption period is "pending delete" which lasts 5 days before the domain will be dropped. If ity never went to "pending delete", it means that it has been either renewed (with big penalty) by current owner OR auctioned by the registrar and some one got it for whatever price, so it never got dropped. By checking the whois contacts you can try to see if it is former or latter.

 

[heirJORDAN]

Thanks guys. I believe the domain expired on March 5th, so it looks like I still have a few more weeks to go.

I did see it on the current registrar's auction page, but it was way overpriced. I'll just continue waiting it out. If it drops, it drops. If it gets renewed, oh well.

Thanks again everybody.

 

[Name Trader]

The chances of it dropping and you being able to handreg it, depends on the domain name.If it's your exact firstname or surname, their will definitely be competition for it unless it's some rare name. As I said, I'd chance a backorder on Pheenix for $18.95. I just won my first domain there beating out my bids on BackorderZone & GoDaddy. So that's about 10 bucks for the backorder and $8.95 for the registration. Sounds like a bargain for a domain you are watching to drop.