Name.com "Stole" my Domain Name idea, tries to sell me for $8500.00

[AndrewX5]

Hi everyone!

Yesterday I was brainstorming Domain Name ideas for a new Website/Business I am starting.

I was using the website http://name.com, to find out which names are available or taken.

So, I typed in one really good Domain Name, and to my relief, that name was not taken yet.

I was quite surprised actually! That such a good name was not yet taken.

The price at that time was: $9.99

The other Domain versions (.net, .org, etc...) were all available at that time.


So I mentioned this to my business partner, the only one who I revealed the name to.

He agreed we should buy the name for our new Website, which we will be building together.


I wanted to do a little Keyword research before buying this Domain name, and put off buying the name for some hours, since I was very busy that day.

So now today, (about 12 hours later from when I first searched the name), I am ready to buy this Domain name, after doing my research.

However, sadly I saw that the price was raised to $8500.00!

It was now listed as a "Premium" Domain name.

In addition, the .Net and .Org versions were now also taken. (Not Premium)


So, I searched the WhoIs info of this "stolen" domain idea of mines.

=================================
Registrar: ENOM, INC.
Whois Server: whois.enom.com
Referral URL: http://www.enom.com

Traffic Names, DotcomAgency.com
Ian Andrew ([email protected])
=================================

Strangely, the Registration date doesn't match exactly with yesterday.

But I can assure you, that the price I saw yesterday was $9.99, and the price I see now is $8500.00.


Can these companies do this to people?

It seems very unfair that they can steal your creative ideas, and try to sell it back to you for x1000 times more.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing your feedback.

-Andrew

 

[Ben42]

Happens all the time. If you are searching for domains don't put it in a registrar or it comes up on their radar. Better off just typing the name into your browser. That or if its there reg it and you can usually delete the name in within a few days if you have buyers remorse.

Sorry to hear that happened.

 

[nicedomains]

Nobody stole your idea. You admit yourself that the registration dates do not match up to when you saw the name available. Assuming you actually did see it available on the name.com website, it was probably a glitch in the system (which does happen at many registrars). Had you tried to register the domain yesterday you probably wouldn't have made it through the process, and if you did you would have been refunded when the registrar realized they charged you for a name that was not available. Also to have a domain listed with a premium price alone is a process that takes more than 24 hours for verification, propagation.

You can always contact the registrant via email and make an offer, the premium pricing is not always the set price but that's up to Ian Andrew. Good luck!

 

[AndrewX5]

@ Ben42,

Thanks allot for your reply and helpful advise.
I'll try doing that next time.

What do you mean by "buyers remorse"?
If you decide not to use the Domain, you can refund it if only a few days elapsed?



@ nicedomains,

You could be right.
However, it is strange that the .Net and .Org names were suddenly taken also.
They were all available yesterday.

Many other domain names I tried, were taken, but that particular one came up as available yesterday, even after I retried the name more than once.


Thanks for your help and best regards.
-Andrew

 

[Tribulatio]

I have experienced such system glitches with several registrars, but actually never with Name.com. It is true that it is frustrating when one sees that a really good name is available, then attempts to register it, only to see it was actually not available. I do really believe this is the most likely explanation. Plus it can also be that the idea for the name was in the air, so to say, and other people came to the same idea about the same time.

Of course, the story would be different and look more suspicious if the name would have been registered on the very day you had conducted your search.

Something I noticed with some registrars: search results tend to be more accurate when one is logged in while doing the search (this is the case with Hexonet, for instance: always accurate when logged int, frequently inaccurate when searching without logging in first).

 

[Krane65]

I really think you mis-typed the domain and didn't realize it. I've done this many times and about flipped out when I saw it was available. I was like chaching but then realized I left out an 'e'....

 

[biggie]

:talk:

Hi

maybe the first time you typed "a typo" by mistake, of the name you thought you wanted


then the next time you typed the correct spelling and found it was not available


possible?

 

[werty]

That was probably an error on Name.com's side as the registration date says it all. Domain was never available.

 

[Kate]

Check the whois carefully. Glitches are quite common with registrars and it's perfectly possible the name was long taken.

 

[kosvam]

:talk:

Hi

maybe the first time you typed "a typo" by mistake, of the name you thought you wanted


then the next time you typed the correct spelling and found it was not available


possible?

this was my thought too when you said that whois date isn't yesterday..

 

[JesusFreak]

Some name registers are known for stealing names that's why I don't check for domain availability in the register's search bar...use other safer methods to check names

 

[bulkdomainz]

You prolly typo'd since you say the reg date doesn't match! I remember typo'ing (and actually regging) a name in my newbie days, and wondering why the name wasn't parked at my registrar! Ohhh, the days of stupid!

 

[dotker]

Happens all the time.. You need to get em fast..

 

[abdussamad]

nicedomains is spot on. It was probably a glitch or you mistyped it like krane65 says.

I usually use command line whois on my linux PC precisely because registrars phish whois queries. Also I am a little suspicious of web based whois services like whois.sc because they make money out of data mining too. Anyway there is a version of whois for windows that might work for you:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/whoiswin/

 

[ambitnfun]

It's always advantageous to make the first move. Act first next time~

 

[alien51]

Better off just typing the name into your browser.

I do this as well. Presuming it was priced at 9.99, meaning it's "supposed to be" a dropped domain.

I think nearly all registrars today put a parking page on your domain, immediately right after you click the "buy" button (give or take a few minutes to an hour for DNS propagation). So if you check the domain on your browser, and you see a webpage, then it's taken.

 

[cache]

If it is a really good name, it is unlikely it is not regged. The whois data sometimes it not real time nor accurate.

 

[Kate]

Some name registers are known for stealing names that's why I don't check for domain availability in the register's search bar

Which ones ? :talk:

 

[Name Trader]

So lets give up on all the guessing. Since the domain is already registered, what is the domain name. That way we can all see what really happened.

 

[namenut]

If you feel strongly this is happening then take screen shots for proof.
Also search Archive.org to see if the name has a history and if current.
And lastly if you find a name so remarkable you want to call a partner
and talk about it the buy it at a registrar that allows tasting so you
don't LET SOME ONE get your name

Most likely a typo .... a screen shot would tell you for sure. Remove
"F lock" and use print screen key. Open up paint then hit control
"v" and the screen shot will appear in paint.

NN