When to bid for this domain?

[pingu]

There is a domain i'd like to have which is blocked by a domaingrabber. Some years ago i contacted them and they wanted a couple of 1000$ for it - by orders of magnitude beyond what i'm able and willing to pay for it.

Now it appears like the domain would expire, or maybe not? I'm a bit confused as I'm not experienced in this area.

checking the domain with whois[DOT]net shows this record:


stating that the record expired on june 12th 2012(that's 3 weeks ago) and that the status now is "EXPIRED - PENDING DELETE".

If i check the same page with domaintools[DOT]com, I get this:


on the first tab (whois) it will show me the same record. But when I click on the 'registration' tab, it will state an expiration date of 2013 and the domain status is set to
clientDeleteProhibited
clientTransferProhibited
clientUpdateProhibited

If I check the same domain on moniker.com, it shows this:


and states that the domain soon will be available on SnapNames.

question 1.: what exactly does this information imply? will the domain be dropped soon or did it get renewed by the owner? what do these '..Prohibited' stati mean?

in case the domain is going to be dropped, i would like to try and catch the domain using one of the domain catching services. I read a bit about it in the web and some articles suggest to go with multiple catching services (snapnames, pool, enom, namejet) but another article (not allowed to post links; name of article is 'Catching an Expiring Domain Name: A Case Study') hinted that one shouldn't use pool and enom as they will just put the name to public auction and try to attract competition and make sure that if you'll get it then you'll pay the highest price you're willing to pay.

So i think i will only use snapnames (also since moniker[DOT]com, the current registrar of the domain, has a link to snapnames, i assume that they have some deal running?).

Now my 2nd question is when and how to bid for the domain on snapnames? In another article (not allowed to post links; article name is 'why-i-love-picking-up-domains-on-snapnames') i read that bidding on a domain name will only attract competition and rise the prise of the domain. Of course I want to avoid this. But since I never backordered a domain, I don't know when I should bid and how much. I have to add: the domainname is no real word - it's a made-up word with no real meaning. If I click on the "Available soon on NameSnapes" link, I'm taken to a site that shows this:

with a 'Order by date' of July 16,2012,9:00 PM

However, if i search for the domain directly on the SnapNames[DOT]com site, I see this:

Indicating that there are currently 0 bidders and with a 'Order by date' of July 17, 2012, 6:00AM


What do these 'Orde by date' mean? and why are they different?
So - given this information:
question 2. when to bid for this domain?

And as I don't fully understand the SnapNames process:
question 3. how much to bid?

sorry for the long post, I tried to put in all the info, and thank you for any help on it!

 

[Kate]

Since the registrar is Moniker, the domain will be available as prerelease at SnapNames before it gets deleted. So you have an opportunity to get the name there.
It will also retain the original creation date since it won't go through redemption & pending delete.

Normally the deadline is 17 July, that is roughly one month post expiry (non renewal).

I presume 16 July is the date you've seen at Moniker. Why the discrepancy, I think it's because there is a cutoff time for partner registrars to send their daily lists to Snapnames. It could be different time zones between Snapnames and Moniker too.

My suggestion is to place the backorder on 17 July at SnapNames. Not too early.
Just put the minimum initial bid, that is $69 usually. The system will suggest the amount for the domain.

If nobody places a backorder, then the domain will be sent to redemption a few days later and the deletion process will begin. It's going to be 30 + 5 days until the name is deleted and becomes available for registration again. At that point any dropcatcher could snag it. A hand registration will work if nobody else is paying attention to the domain. But you never know, even with multiple backorders with all the major dropcatchers there is always a risk that a private dropcatcher will get the domain.

So I recommend using SnapNames as they have exclusivity in the prerelease period.

PS: set up your SnapNames account today, not at the last minute, in case they need to validate it + the credit card on file etc.

 

[pingu]

Hello and thanks for your answers.

Well, both dates I see on the SnapNames page.

When i enter the domainname into the searchfield on SnapNames, I'm taken to a list with three entries (.com, .net, .org) and on the right side of the .com entry the date Jul 17, 2012 6:00 AM is listed. When I then click on the .com name, the window that opens (still on SnapNames) will state Order by date: July 16, 2012 9:00 PM PDT

For sure I don't want to miss the right moment.

 

[enterscope]

If it's showing a 2013 expiration date I would think someone reg'd it.

 

[Kate]

For sure I don't want to miss the right moment.

You can place the backorder at any time, even now. But I like to wait until the last day, because there is a list of most active backorders, but it's a toplist. I think most names in that toplist have more than one bid
But looks like 16 July may be safer. However, from experience, the domain could become available the day after or even later. Dates are approximate.

 

[Name Trader]

The discrepancy in date might be because you are or are not logged in at SnapNames. If you are logged in, then you get the date in your timezone. If you are not logged in you get the SnapNames system date. This may or may not apply in this case.

I would certainly only apply my bid in the last few hours. So check on the dates again closer to the 16/17th.

I would certainly only bid on this at SnapNames. Well it's the only place that will list this domain as a pre-release auction. I would bid the minimum SnapNames permits for this domain. This will get you into the auction if there is more than one bid and will win the domain for you if you are the only bidder.

 

[pingu]

This will get you into the auction if there is more than one bid and will win the domain for you if you are the only bidder.

Does this mean if i bid today let's say 70 - and then another person will bid 100 - then i don't have to bid more before 17th of july? i will take part in the auction anyway even if i bid the least? and i will be notified about this auction before it starts?

 

[Kate]

If an auction takes place, it will last for 3 days. The initial bids are just to enter the auction of claim the name if you are the sole bidder, no need to put more than the minimum when you place the backorder.

 

[Name Trader]

Does this mean if i bid today let's say 70 - and then another person will bid 100 - then i don't have to bid more before 17th of july? i will take part in the auction anyway even if i bid the least? and i will be notified about this auction before it starts?

Correct. There is no advantage to bidding more than the minimum bid. You all have the same chance when the auction starts.

 

[Turrican]

Dont use any tool, they are trap..

 

[pingu]

2-3 days ago, the domain just changed it's state in the namesnap list. no date for auction anymore now, but it's stated that it's taken (only option for backorder, but backorder date is stated as 'unknown') and on sedo.com it's listed for sale again (xxxx$)

how can that happen?

 

[Kate]

Maybe the domain was renewed. Look at the whois.