How shady can SnapNames be? (or is this standard)

[domino66]

Check out the attached screenshot. There's a lot of stuff about SnapName's dropcatching service that seems REALLY shady.

For starters, their "expected to begin auctioning" language is really deceptive. It implies that there WILL be an auction...when the truth is that the DN hasn't even dropped yet. It takes some digging to find that the entire auction process is only contingent on them catching the DN in the first place. But when Joe Q. Public sees "oh, expected to begin auctioning", he thinks "oh man, I don't want to miss out on that, better place a bid."

But that's secondary to what I'm really concerned about here. I want a DN that's in the 'pending delete' stage, and will hit the open market around Aug 25th. Now look at SnapNames' "Search Results" screen (first off, there's a "Bidders" column(!?) Which is yet another misleading element that makes it seem like there's an auction going on.) But here's what troubles me: if I place a backorder for the DN I want (and that's what it is, a BACKORDER, not a Bid), then that "Bidders" column will increase to 1, right? Which might bring to the attention of other domainers this DN that otherwise would have just dropped quietly.

In short: am I understanding that SnapNames' Backordering process PUBLICLY DISPLAYS whether a soon-to-drop DN has been back-ordered by anyone else? If so, shouldn't I just place my backorder via Pool (or someone who DOESN'T do that), and hope it drops quietly? Why would I 'advertise' my backorder on Snapnames??

 

[Kate]

So what exactly is 'shady' ?

Namejet displays the number of bids (backorders) too.
Pool sends a daily E-mail of the most active backorders.

The best way to avoid attention is to place the backorder as late as possible.

 

[mwzd]

I can't think of an auction service that hides the number of bidders, can you?

 

[domino66]

So what exactly is 'shady' ?

Namejet displays the number of bids (backorders) too.
Pool sends a daily E-mail of the most active backorders.

The best way to avoid attention is to place the backorder as late as possible.

I can't think of an auction service that hides the number of bidders, can you?

Pool phone rep told me that they do not disclose the # of backorders for a particular domain. I guess sdsinc's saying that they DO (in an email...which I would argue is still much lower profile than on the website itself...because a DN with only 1 or 2 backorders I'm guessing doesn't make their email...)

Good tip on the 'late backorder' thing...I guess the best option would be to essentially use SnapName's system "against" them in a sense...by monitoring whether anyone submits a backorder for the DN...and if I see one on SnapNames, then I'll know that SnapNames will be trying to catch the DN as it drops too, and hence I should put a backorder in there too...whereas if no one backorders it on SN, I can probably just safely hope that my less-public Pool backorder snags it(?)

I still find all the mention of an "auction scheduled to begin" particularly disingenuous. There's no auction unless SN catches the DN...so nothing's "scheduled" whatsoever. Language clearly chosen to dupe noobs into putting in a backorder (which they somewhat misleadingly call a 'bid').

 

[HeyNow]

http://techcrunch.com/2009/11/04/domain-industry-rocked-by-shill-auction-bidding-admission/

Are you really surprised that Snapnames comes across as "shady?" Give me a break. As far as I know, no one was prosecuted for defrauding countless bidders at Snapnames auctions dating back to 2005 (or perhaps earlier).

No one seems to care about it. You keep giving them your business. Stop it, and you won't have to worry about them being "shady."

 

[Kate]

No one seems to care about it. You keep giving them your business. Stop it, and you won't have to worry about them being "shady."

I'm curious, isn't your registrar Godaddy, you still give them your business after they 'dicked' you ?

 

[HeyNow]

I'm curious, isn't your registrar Godaddy, you still give them your business after they 'dicked' you ?

Yes, they still have some of my business, but I'm migrating away from them. There's no evidence that Godaddy defrauded customers on the same scale as Snapnames. But you're right, and I'm folding up my tent at Godaddy. As my renewals come due, I migrate elsewhere. I certainly don't participate in Godaddy auctions, and that's where Adam Dicker screwed clueless bidders.