What's the best way to catch an expiring domain when registrar is Wild West Domains?

[tom_mp]

Background on the domain I want:

I'm looking at a personal name-related domain that currently has PENDINGDELETE status. The registrar is Wild West Domains. The name has approximately 1 more day before it leaves PENDINGDELETE status. I have questions about how to maximize my chances of getting the domain. I placed a backorder for the name at GoDaddy.com several days ago, when the name first got PENDINGDELETE status.​

How I think the domain selling works:

Wild West is a subsidiary of GoDaddy, and my impression from this thread on GoDaddy is that for names owned by GoDaddy, the name selling is as follows:

1) The name goes up for auction at tdnam.com.

2) If it doesn't get bought at auction, whoever backorders the name at godaddy.com will get the name. A maximum of one person can backorder the name through godaddy.

3) If nobody backorders through godaddy, it goes up for grabs for the public, which means other registrars such SnapNames.com or Pool.com will be likely to catch it.​

My 3 questions:

Is this summary correct for Wild West Domains, too? Am I 100% guaranteed to get the name, in the event that it doesn't sell at tdnam.com?

I'm wondering if I'm wrong. I spoke to a Sales Rep at Wild West Domains today, and he said there is no guarantee that I will get the name through backorder with GoDaddy, even in the event that the name doesn't sell on tdnam.com.

I have another question about tdnam.com.
I don't see the domain listed as an auction when I search for a substring of the domain (e.g. let's pretend that the domain is tpeterson.com, so I'm searching for 'peterson'). I search as a substring because I'm paranoid about tipping the site off about my interest in this specific name.

Do I have to initiate a bid myself at tdnam.com, since I don't see it listed as a current auction at tdnam.com?

Assuming I really want the name, should I place an order with other services like SnapNames.com to try and catch the name?​

 

[onlinebroker]

my solution is only one line below
just backorder at WILD WILD WEST or GODADDY and you would get it.

 

[Midano]

my solution is only one line below
just backorder at WILD WILD WEST or GODADDY and you would get it.

Ditto. GoDaddy Backorder is your best bet.

 

[IAmAllanShore]

"100% guaranteed" is something none of us can promise, especially in the domain name world, but your best bet is the backorder. Keep an eye on TDNAM, o'course.
-Allan :gl:

 

[creekway]

If it is already pending delete, that usually means it has gone through TDNAM with no bids, and will be released. Godaddy almost never catches its own names if you place your backorder so late in the process, so you probably will not get it that way (unless it is not a very popular name). If you really want it and think others might be after it, my advice is to supplement your backorder at godaddy with a backorder at snapnames, clubdrop, and pool and you will have a much better chance of getting it.

 

[fonzie_007]

I have not heard that GD ever pawns names to anywhere other than TDNAM for drop auctions. Can anyone else confirm that GD domains ever end up at Pool, Snapnames, or Club Drop?

 

[VegasCoupons]

fonzie,

TDNam has the first shot at it, if it does not get bids or hasn't been backordered through godaddy or a godaddy reseller, then it will follow standard drop procedures and will be available to the drop catchers. At that point because they Godaddy does not have contracts with any specific catcher, it comes down to however is the fastest.

 

[tom_mp]

creekway, thanks for your very helpful answer! I wish I'd read it sooner, as I didn't get the domain.

I didn't understand that the PENDINGDELETE meant that GoDaddy was already going to release the name, making my late backorder more or less useless. But thanks to your explanation, I'll know better next time.

Thanks, and thanks to everyone else for their input as well!