I'm done with Dropcatch.com

[discobull]

I'm really fed up with the dropcatch.com system. I work hard to find dropping domains that fly under the radar, but all that work goes down the drain thanks to dropcatch's policy of putting every domain they catch up for public auction. That means that even though I might start off being in an auction against only one person, thanks to my effort the domain is brought to the attention of every one of their clients so that the next thing I know I'm faced with a feeding frenzy and left to choose between paying multiple times what I would have paid if the auction were private, or letting the domain go. I'm done. I won't be giving them another dime until they set up a system that is fair to its users.

 

[discobull]

You guys are missing the point. If 2 or more people backorder a name using same backorder service, there will definitely be an auction to determine who gets the name after 3 days.

Just because you see a name does not mean that others haven't spotted it.

Actually, I'm not missing the point, you are. I can see how many people placed an initial backorder vs how many people end up bidding on the auction. If only 2 of us start off in an auction and by the end of it there are 8 bidders and neither I nor the other original bidder end up winning the auction, I think it's safe to say that other dropcatch users have capitalized on our work and that the closing bid was higher than it would have been if we had been placed in a private auction just between the 2 of us. Anyhow, I'm tired of working for the benefit of others so will not use dropcatch until the situation changes.

 

[Domainace]

I never could understand why anyone would order through Dropcatch, unless it was a name you badly needed at any cost. Order elsewhere. If Dropcatch happens to grab it, you can always join that auction later. For whatever reason, that's their business model - and they have been open about it. Yes, it sucks for users, but why are the users there in the first place with those terms?

 

[discobull]

No. He was very clear.

"I.wont.be.giving.them.another.dime."

Of course if everyone feels the same way then it makes more sense to use them.. they beat other places AND you might be the only bidder due to everyone feeling it's somehow it's unfair. I like name.com because they only let ONE person get the backorder....because that's fair?

I hate that pre-release auctions tell you how many people are bidding...that's not fair either.

The whole world's not fair.. waah! waah!

Your diaper looks full. I guess that explains your disposition. On the bright side, you're much cuter than I expected.

 

[SimpleDomaining]

you asking them to make less money on you?

 

[discobull]

you asking them to make less money on you?

If it's good enough for Namejet, snapnames, backorderzone, etc., I'm pretty sure they can manage too. Ultimately, it's up to them to decide what makes them the most money and depending on whether or not other users object to the current system this may or may not be the best way for them to manage their business. All I know is that for the time being I will definitely no longer be contributing to their bottom line.

 

[jideofor]

You guys are missing the point. If 2 or more people backorder a name using same backorder service, there will definitely be an auction to determine who gets the name after 3 days.

Just because you see a name does not mean that others haven't spotted it.

 

[FusionSpy]

jidefor that is correct, but Dropcatch system makes it a public auction for everyone to participate even if there were only 2 people who had it backordered at Dropcatch which means more competition which is good for Dropcatch, but not for those 2

 

[DU]

I'm really fed up with the dropcatch.com system. I work hard to find dropping domains that fly under the radar, but all that work goes down the drain thanks to dropcatch's policy of putting every domain they catch up for public auction. That means that even though I might start off being in an auction against only one person, thanks to my effort the domain is brought to the attention of every one of their clients so that the next thing I know I'm faced with a feeding frenzy and left to choose between paying multiple times what I would have paid if the auction were private, or letting the domain go. I'm done. I won't be giving them another dime until they set up a system that is fair to its users.

All methods are unfair to some aren't they. What if you're an "end user"? This way you get fairer pricing by paying fair value versus having to deal with the overinflated, random valuations of scummy domainers.

I'm sure you'll be missed... and maybe one day you'll bid on some of the open auctions that you didn't backorder when you see one you like still at value. Be sure to inform us when you give them another dime, won't you. Meanwhile, keep going to Snapnames because there's never been a case of paying more than value there.. has there.

 

[werty]

Owner of dropcatch is a domainer himself. it wouldn't be smart to favor end users to bid directly on the platform on the long run because domainers would stop using such service eventually imo. The end user would bid on that domain and probably not use the service anymore. The reseller is the one who brings the repeated business to these dropcatchers / auction houses. But I understand they are focusing on maximizing profit, like any business should. It's a bit backstabbing to domainers imo, but it's their business.

 

[discobull]

Dang..well that really sucks about them! At least the other outlets don't put it to auction if there aren't multiple bidders. I guess you may be better off using those guys instead!

To be fair, they don't send domains to auction if they only get one backorder. My beef with their system is that they allow anyone to participate in an auction regardless of whether they'd placed a backorder for a given domain or not. I can see why they'd want to do that since that will naturally drive prices up, but I can't see why I'd want to continue participating in a system that drives up my own costs.

 

[discobull]

I never could understand why anyone would order through Dropcatch, unless it was a name you badly needed at any cost. Order elsewhere. If Dropcatch happens to grab it, you can always join that auction later. For whatever reason, that's their business model - and they have been open about it. Yes, it sucks for users, but why are the users there in the first place with those terms?

Your question is valid and I'm not sure I can give a good answer as to why I ever used them in the first place. I have noticed, however, that the number of active auctions they run has been progressively on the decline. I can't tell for sure whether that means that they've become less competitive at capturing domains, or whether it's because fewer people are placing backorders through them, but, if it's the latter, they might want to examine the possibility that their auction policy has something to do with it.

 

[Bram C.]

Ok, so in that scenario you haven't benefited from my research, you've only benefited from the fact that I've placed a backorder somewhere that you haven't. That's not that much better.

I think you misunderstand: I'm not placing a backorder on dropcatch.com for one simple reason: because I'm "hoping" nobody else will place a backorder on dropcatch for that specific domain so there won't be a public auction there in the first place. But if there is a public auction for a domain I researched, I will join. I did the work of finding the domain prior to any auction so I don't see why I shouldn't be able to bid on it elsewhere.

If everyone would stop placing backorders on dropcatch.com then maybe they will consider making their auctions private (and if auctions become private there I would actually start placing backorders there again).

never could understand why anyone would order through Dropcatch, unless it was a name you badly needed at any cost. Order elsewhere. If Dropcatch happens to grab it, you can always join that auction later. For whatever reason, that's their business model - and they have been open about it. Yes, it sucks for users, but why are the users there in the first place with those terms?

Exactly.

 

[Name Trader]

I always thought it was very cheezy thing for DropCatch to do. I don't use DropCatch very much. So I imagine this hurts when they capture a nice name. Which would stand out like a sore thumb, compared to most domains, I see they have captured. I agree with discobull. I wouldn't use DropCatch to catch a dropping name. For the same reasons he has stated. Too many domainers watching their auctions. They don't appear to be catching that many domains. Last time I looked it was about 3 pages of domains. So I don't think they are a serious threat to SnapNames and NameJet, yet.

 

[WORDSWORTH]

From my own experience it takes weeks for them to verify your account. And I am still waiting and therefore unable to bid.

 

[vdonline]

Agree that is unfair for people who backordered the domains with them. But it's what they're doing, and will continue to do it. You can choose to stay with them, or move on.

 

[Name Trader]

From my own experience it takes weeks for them to verify your account. And I am still waiting and therefore unable to bid.

You must be doing something wrong. I got verified in about 1hr. If my memory serves me correctly.

 

[werty]

Also when they catch a domain, they forward the domain itself to the auction. So if someone, non domainer, happens to visit the domain because maybe he is interested in acquiring it, I am certain they could most probably sign up and bid on it before auction ends.

 

[Name Trader]

Cheeky, cheezy devils

 

[discobull]

Also when they catch a domain, they forward the domain itself to the auction. So if someone, non domainer, happens to visit the domain because maybe he is interested in acquiring it, I am certain they could most probably sign up and bid on it before auction ends.

Yes, I've noticed that too. It's infuriating.

 

[Name Trader]

Just 1 small question, discobull. What drop-catchers did DropCatch beat out for this domain.

 

[DU]

Just 1 small question, discobull. What drop-catchers did DropCatch beat out for this domain.

Dropcatch is like every other decent multi-registrar backorder service. They beat GoDaddy, Dynadot, Name and Snapnames at one time or another. They seem about 50-50 with Pheenix in my experience.

I only used DC once and I was the only bidder. It beat Pheenix and Snapnames because I had it there too but it's like the name prioritized fairly low if I was the only bidder.. contained numbers and letters so I don't think it appeared on many people's lists.

But why is the question relevant?

 

[discobull]

Just 1 small question, discobull. What drop-catchers did DropCatch beat out for this domain.

I submit my backorders to all the major dropcatchers -- namejet pheenix, backorderzone, snapnames.

 

[discobull]

All methods are unfair to some aren't they. What if you're an "end user"? This way you get fairer pricing by paying fair value versus having to deal with the overinflated, random valuations of scummy domainers.

I'm sure you'll be missed... and maybe one day you'll bid on some of the open auctions that you didn't backorder when you see one you like still at value. Be sure to inform us when you give them another dime, won't you. Meanwhile, keep going to Snapnames because there's never been a case of paying more than value there.. has there.

Meh. I don't see the point of putting time into doing research for the benefit of the public at large over my own interest. An end user can do his own research just like everyone else and if it's dropcatch's objective to make things fairer for the end user then they can do that by putting up public auctions for domains they've researched and captured for their own account. I'm a business, not a charity.

 

[Name Trader]

@Grace Delete - It's relevant because when I look over the domains up for auction, I mostly only see crap names. To me. I haven't done any research on them. They just look crap. Not one would have been purchased by Huge Domains for example. I just wondered who they were beating for this crap. And how successful they were at beating the other drop-catchers.