Understanding NameJet's Pre-Release - Are they ALL expired DNs?

[domino66]

A few things don't add up re: NameJet's "pre-release" names...

1) Are ALL of the DNs they list as "pre-release" domains that the original registrant has let expire? Just looking at today's list, well: i simply have a hard time believing that...for example, they are showing liu.com as a pre-release (which already had a minimum bid of $10,000 even before it goes to private auction, where it will likely fetch several times that.) And they have several other DNs that are seemingly much too valuable to have simply been let to expire. But if I'm reading NameJet's documentation correctly, that's just what happened? (i.e. the registrant let it expire??)

2) Why does the WhoIs registry show a 2013 expiration date for a lot of the DNs on NameJet's Pre-Release list? Why is NameJet promoting them as pre-release / available soon if they're not actually expiring?

3) Here's the weirdest / shadiest aspect of all: it seems like NameJet is in the business of offering DNs for backorder/auction during a period when they can still be reclaimed by the original registrant! This post explains it pretty well. NameJet is designating as "pre-release" DNs that are still within the renewal grace period at the original registrar(!!) Why doesn't this leave open the possibility that the original registrant will simply monitor the NameJet auction, knowing that he can reclaim the DN for himself if it looks like there is a lot of interest in it!?

 

[Kate]

Expired names are auto-renewed with the registry, otherwise they would have to enter redemption. But the registrar can cancel the auto-renew within 45 days, so they have nothing to lose if the names don't sell...

Private sales are also taking place on the platform. Not all names are expired/abandoned.

 

[domino66]

Expired names are auto-renewed with the registry, otherwise they would have to enter redemption. But the registrar can cancel the auto-renew within 45 days, so they have nothing to lose if the names don't sell...

But are ALL expired names auto-renewed? That can't be the case (right?), since I've certainly manually picked up dropping names, and carefully monitored their registry status, and their expiration dates were never extended (and then cancelled)...they just went through the normal ~75-day grace period / redemption / deletion process. But to hear you tell it, ALL expiring names should get that auto-renew > cancel-the-auto-renew treatment...?

Private sales are also taking place on the platform. Not all names are expired/abandoned.

But is that the case for "pre-release" names or not? Reading the NameJet documentation (like this image), I think they're saying that all pre-release names are expired DNs, not private sales. But that doesn't make any sense. Liu.com will go for $xx,xxx. No was it was just let to expire.

 

[Kate]

But are ALL expired names auto-renewed?

Most large registrars auction their expiring domains, either on their own platform (ie GD) or through Snapnames or NJ.
So yes, all domains - at least gTLDs - are provisionally renewed with the registry.

I think most registrars tend to do that, even those that don't auction domains. The auto-renew provides domain holders with a grace period post-expiry, otherwise the name would jump to redemption from day one, and the restore fee is expensive.

But the duration of the grace period varies among registrars. The maximum is 45 days. Within that time frame three things can happen:

• the domain holder decides to pay for renewal
• the registrar sells the domain as prerelease
• the domain is neither renewed nor sold, then the registrar lets the name into redemption, the auto-renew is cancelled, and the registrar gets credit back from the registry for the preemptive renewal

I think they're saying that all pre-release names are expired DNs, not private sales[/B]. But that doesn't make any sense.

Yes it is misleading. But it is a fact that private sales are taking place on NJ but not labeled as such. I think part of the reason is that the platform may not have been designed for that. And I can see that they are fine with the ambiguity, because domainers think there is a possible bargain to be had :wave: