Trying to get my old domain name back

[Misfit]

Hi, everyone! First post!

Years ago, I ran a forum called domesticmisfits.com

Eventually, I moved my forum to a new domain and server and let the old name expire. Bad move on my part.

From my research, it looks like my old domain was bought and parked by NuSeek.

How can I get my old domain back? Is there any hope? Do the domain agent services really work, or is that a gimmick?

Oddly enough, my old domain is listed on this page
http://www.aboutus.org/Category:Domestic

Also, this NuSeek seems like a shady company. Check out this page:
http://www.aboutus.org/NuSeek.com

In advance, thanks for your help. I would mean a lot to me and my forum members to recover this name. :wave:

 

[nielsencl]

How do you know nuseek has your domain? I looked at the WHOIS for your old domain and the information is protected...?

I have not heard about "domain agent services" so I will have to look that up. But to me there is really only 2 ways to get a domain from someone else:

1) Contact them directly and see what it will take. The answer is probably lots of money. The current owner has the domain parked and has probably been making some money from that, but I would not think it's very much. You might be able to offer them some money to get it back. But you are at a disadvantage since you are contacting them. They will try to determine how much they can get you to pay.

One thing you might try is seeing if you could trade one or more domains for the one you want. If you find out they are looking for casino or financial domains you could try to pick up one or more here cheap, and then make a trade or a trade and some cash.

2) You can use a broker or service to contact them and try to buy it. The best thing in my opinion is to use someone that really does not seem to care too much, and that won't offer much for the domain. This may put the seller in a position of taking some quick money even if it's not as much as they might like.

Either way if you are lucky you will get someone that justs wants to make a resonable profit and not a windfall. If they say they want $5,000 then you may be dealing with a jerk. You still might be able to get the domain, but it could take more time and haggling.

If you can't seem to work a deal, I would use site explorer at Yahoo, find all the links to the domain, and contact the site owners that what used to be your forum is now just a parking page, and give them your new URL. Then I would use the domain monitor at Domaintools.com to keep an eye on it. Once the links to the domain are gone, I doubt they will be making any money. Then you may be able to pickup the domain if they drop it, or you could contact them after a few months and see if they will sell.

Sometimes if you pester a seller over and over again and let them know how much you want to buy something, and offer them a little more each time, it may "wear them down". I hope some of this helps...!

 

[weblord]

contact the new owner to buy the said domain
you said it all on that post. but don't expect them to hand it over to you since you let it expire

let the old name expire. Bad move on my part.

 

[Misfit]

Thanks for the advice, I'll give it a try.


Who would be a good broker to use in trying to buy it?