Sneaky Snapnames

[Domainace]

I put in a backorder at Snapnames, was the only person to do so, and now they've got the domain and moved it to a 3 day (apparently open) auction. At this moment, I am still the only bidder.
Then I found this thread:

http://www.namepros.com/expired-domains/667376-snapnames-domain-goes-auction-when-im.html


I thought they might have cleaned house a little after Alvarez. I think I'll avoid them in the future.
Do they do this with all backorders? Next time, I won't waste my money.

 

[Erdy]

I have seen the same happen with moniker domains.

Edit:
It is explained here:
http://support.oversee.net/index.php?csid=02n300000001v72AAA

Names released by Moniker or Register.com are sold in Public Auctions.

 

[Domainace]

Right here...

If we are successful in acquiring the domain name after it is released and yours is the only order, it will be yours for the minimum bid price posted on our website. If we have more than one order for the name, it will go to auction for three days and be awarded to the high bidder. We will inform you by email in either case.

Basically, Snapnames is using my time, my effort, and my risk, to acquire names for themselves. That they are not up-front about it shows they are aware that it's sleazy.

If they are going to use me that, maybe I should send them an invoice for my services.

 

[Erdy]

Domainace,
The quote you posted is valid for pending delete domains. If they catch it and you are the only bidder it will be yours without any auction no matter the registrar.

However if the domain is pre-release, which means the domain is already in their system and it comes from moniker or register.com then they will do a public auction.

But I agree with you. They shouldn't do it the way they are doing it. If those pre-release moniker and register.com domains are going to be in public auction, there is no need to collect pre bids. They could simply remove the auction start date and use only the auction end date. This is the system used by Godaddy.

At Godaddy expiring auctions anybody can join any time until the auction closes. When you go to the auction it has already started. Snapnames is doing the same but with a misconfigured setup. They should remove the start date for public auctions.

 

[Domainace]

I got the above email from Snapnames...

The information that you copied from our website is true for most domains. However, we have recently made some changes to auctions for names that are released to us by three of our registrar partners, Moniker, Tucows, and Register.com.

From now on, I will just wait and let others find names for me. Or let them drop.

 

[1rrr1]

It is as if snapnames can do whatever they like, and people still have to backorder with them. Ridiculous

 

[dr manos]

At a prereleased name of register.com or moniker, the Order by date, is the last date before it goes to auction and it means that bidders will go to private one?
A little confusing setup i must admit

 

[Erdy]

manos2020,

There is no private auction for pre-release (snapnames calls these "partner registrar" or "expiring") moniker, register.com or tucows domains.

Let's say you spotted a very good expiring moniker domain and placed a bid before the order by date. Then they send the domain to public auction and a few other people come in and somebody else wins the domain that you have found.

This setup is annoying. It is not a good business idea either because it will upset the regular customers. Basically they are trying to make more profit from your research.

A better way would be like godaddy does. They start the auction from beginning and run a public auction all the way. Anybody can join anytime. There is no order by date.

 

[dr manos]

Many thanks for reply Erdinc.
If there is no bider till the "order by" date what happens to domain?

thanks again

 

[Erdy]

The domains should be removed from the pre-release list. However snapnames is slow in removing them. I just checked again and found a ton of domains that should be removed 17 hours ago.

On the following screenshot notice that their time says 9pm pacific time but it is 2pm the next day and the domains are still there.
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/6648/snapnames.gif

After these domains are finally removed they will appear again on the pending delete list about 40 days later but this time snapnames won't have any priority over other dropcatchers.

 

[dr manos]

thanks again
So i assume that if you do not see any bidders it is better to leave it alone to drop if it is not any premium instead of send it to public auction.

And a last question, hope will not make you tired.

If the domain is not from register.com or Moniker but from another partner registrar, it is not going to public auction after bid but is given to the best bidder?

 

[Erdy]

Hi manos2020,
We are here to help new domainers so don't worry about asking too many questions.

I think if there are no bids for those pre-release domains that are from moniker, tucows or register.com the best thing is to still place a bid. If you let it to go to pending delete you have much less chance of getting the domain.

Here are a few dropcatcher sites that I know:
1. snapnames.com
2. namejet.com
3. pool.com
4. goaddy.com
5. name.com
6. intrustdomains.com
7. global.gabia.com
8. hexonet.net
9. premiumdrops.com

For pending delete domains snapnames is not the only player. Somebody else might beat them. Even if snapnames manages to get the domain is still doesn't mean there won't be any other bidders except you. So I suggest getting the domain during pre-release.

If the domain is not from register.com or Moniker but from another partner registrar, it is not going to public auction after bid but is given to the best bidder?

If you are the only bidder there is no auction. You will get the domain straight away. If there are more bidders there will be a private auction. This means people who didn't place a bid earlier won't be able to join once the auction starts.

The amount you bid before the auction starts is unimportant. Their system lets you place a higher bid then the minimum but I suggest to ignore this and always place the minimum bid.

 

[Domainace]

three of our registrar partners, Moniker, Tucows, and Register.com

So, if the name is from one of these 3, Snapnames doesn't want your business. If you are ignorant enough to give them your business (as I was) they will take all your work in finding the name to take it away from you and sell it to someone else. In my case it went for $230, and I didn't get so much as a "thank you, loser."

So, for names from the 3 registrars above, simply don't order through Snapnames. If it's a good name, they will sell it off to the highest bidder. If it's a so-so name, and nobody bids on the public auction, you are still obligated to pay for it (though Snapnames isn't obligated to sell it to you).

As Erdinc says, watch for the drop and try to catch it using anybody except Snapnames (because they have they have contempt for their customers, and apparently always have).

Added:

I just saw your post, Erdinc. While I appreciate your comments, I can't say I agree with your conclusions here. I admit I basically don't want to give money to Snapnames for reasons of principle. But say practicality overrides principle...

I can only agree that you have less chance of catching the domain on the drop than through Snapnames pre-release if you are willing to pay whatever it takes to get it.

On the other hand, if you are looking to buy undiscovered gems for $60-$80, I think the last thing you would want to do is to alert Snapnames so that they can send it to a public auction. It will be bid up, and your bargain price will be gone.

If it isn't bid up, though, then it's not likely to be a big draw among drop catchers either.

So, by refraining from being used by Snapnames, you do stand a chance of losing the name. But by playing along, while ensuring you will get the name, you are also probably ensuring you must pay a much higher price for it.

For me, I'd rather walk away than get sucked into an auction that only exists because Snapnames thinks it's OK to steal my research.

 

[dr manos]

many thanks for replies guys

 

[Erdy]

Domainace,
I guess it boils to what is more important to you. If you bid during pre-release as long as you outbid others you have 95% chance getting the domain. There is maybe 5% chance the domain will be renewed by the previous owner. If you leave it to pending delete and backorder on a few places I think you have 70% chance the domain being catched by one of your dropcatchers.

You said if the domain didn't get any attention during pre-release then it is likely it won't change during pending delete. However I disagree with that. I think a lot more people are scanning the pending delete domains. I don't always get a pending delete domain even if I backorder at snapnames, namejet, pool because sometimes one of those other dropcatchers catch the domain.

I can't really spend so much time and energy backordering the domain in more than 3 places. Each of those sites operate differently. Some of them pre-charge you. Some of them (intrustdomains, and gabia) don't guarantee they will give you the domain even if they manage to catch it with your money. It is a pain getting your money back if they fail.

I think if you really want a specific domain you should get it during pre-release. However if you are looking for cheap investment and you are not desperate for that particular domain then you can try to get it when it drops.

What is worrying are those pre-release domains with bids that suddenly disappear from auctions. Do they disappear because the previous owner has renewed them or somebody from the registrar decided to keep the domain to themselves? I see this happening a lot especially with namejet pre-release.

 

[Ms Domainer]

*

Pre-release partner domains always go to public auction. The main advantage to buying a pre-release domain is that it keeps its age. The main disadvantage is that the original owner, within 40 days (give or take), can still redeem the domain, in which case the buyer will get a refund. Fortunately, it doesn't happen often.

It's always a good idea to keep your pre-release purchases quiet until that "danger" time has passed.

I don't think aftermarket sellers should be allowed to sell domains that are still redeemable. It's just plain sleazy and could be a huge hassle for the buyer.


*

 

[Domainace]

What is worrying are those pre-release domains with bids that suddenly disappear from auctions. Do they disappear because the previous owner has renewed them or somebody from the registrar decided to keep the domain to themselves? I see this happening a lot especially with namejet pre-release.

Sometimes the owner has renewed, sometimes the registrar nicks them, and sometimes a domainer has contacted the owner directly to cut a deal (guilty).

 

[dr manos]

As a conclusion i think that it is a bad idea to bid before the "order by" date at domains from the 3 mentioned registrars as domain will go to public auction anyway, with or without bid, so can "earn" some days with it and bid at the end of auction only.

 

[Domainace]

I suppose one could be sanguine about this. The market is unregulated and borderline sleazy, but if it were otherwise we might have a much harder time making buying low and selling high.