SnapNames Pre-Release Process

[level]

Hello, I'm new to NamePros and would be grateful for some advice for my first attempt at acquiring an expiring domain.

WHOIS shows the domain's expiry date to be March 27. The registrar is Melbourne IT. If possible, I would like to acquire the domain pre-release. My understanding is that SnapNames is the place to go for Melbourne IT expiring domains. How do I do this? More specifically:

1) When should I take action? A certain number of days after March 27, or do I check for a particular status that can't be predicted precisely?

2) What action do I take? I see that SnapNames has these lists. Should the domain show up here? Which list(s) exactly? Then what?

If anyone can direct me to an updated FAQ on the domain drop process in general, it would be much appreciated. I have found some good FAQs, but they're several years old and I don't know if the process is still the same today. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Edward Smeu]

You just find the domain and pre-bid. You can not bid once the auction has started and you showed no interest before. If there are more people who want the name then it will auction for 3 days I think. If not, you will take it down right away.

 

[level]

Thanks for the reply!

You just find the domain and pre-bid.

Using the main search bar, I find the domain listed with an "Order By" value of "-". For a shot at pre-release, should I use the "Backorder" button now? Or am I to wait until there is an "Order By" date listed?

If the latter, is it advisable to wait until the last moment to bid?

 

[Edward Smeu]

The pre-bidding time does not matter IMO. Notall the names have "order by" date , you should check the expiration date and act according to it.

Once the auction started then it's better to wait until the last hours/minutes not to make the price too high. But that depends on the name and competition.

gL

 

[catchmesleeping]

Based on what I've seen - it takes about 5 weeks from the expiration date until the cut off time for placing a backorder on the domain through SnapNames. So, for the name that you're tracking, if it's a .com, it would be the first week of May.

Generally speaking, I don't like to be the first one to make a backorder on a name that I'm tracking. The reason is, lots of lazy domain investors just read through the list of names that have backorders on them on the final few hours before the cut off for placing a backorder. If other people have already placed a backorder, then I'll just go ahead and do it to, since it's already been discovered.

 

[RazorNF]

I have noticed on a couple of occasions in the past when preordering domains in advance, is that they end up getting kept/renewed.

The domain owners at some "partner" registrars may be using this method to see what's worth keeping...