WHOIS.SC - Are they reliable?

[EbookLover]

I have been using whois.sc very heavily over the past year or so to help me monitor domains I want to register that are already taken.

However, I noticed a trend in domains that are about to be deleted. About 2 weeks to 1 month before they are totally deleted whois.sc always sends me my email notification tellimg me that the domain was regged for another year. So i think "BUMMER" and forget about the domain. Sometimes I used to even delete it out of my monitoring list to clean it up a bit.

But I am finding out that this is normal procedure for them. Every domain I watch goes through the same process. They make me think it is reged for another year until I wait about 2 weeks to a month and then I get an email stating that it was deleted (right on schedule with the "old" expiration date) except is still takes about a few days for the domain to actually become registerable again.

Another thing I found is that they do not have history on all previously regged domains which is one reason why I signed up for a paid membership.

So has anyone else experienced this with them?

Have you experienced any other quirks like this with them?

I have been thinking about just canceling my recurring subscription with them as I am beginning to think their info is unreliable. Is there an equivalent alternative to whois.sc?

 

[Zeeble]

Whois.sc is a very reliable service, and one of the biggest.
The reason the domains that you are watching are being regged, is because they are good, and the owner has renewed them before they actually drop.

 

[fish]

I've noticed that they show some domains that aren't available, as being available. They aren't perfect, but they are still my favorite whois service.

 

[DJ_Guvana]

I use this domain service and they are HIGHLY!! reliable. I couldnt image them doing anything 'DODGEY'

 

[EbookLover]

Whois.sc is a very reliable service, and one of the biggest.
The reason the domains that you are watching are being regged, is because they are good, and the owner has renewed them before they actually drop.

No actually, you don't understand. They are not re-regged but whois.sc makes you think that for 2 weeks to a month until the actual drop date comes by and then they show you the real expiration date. so, if a domain actually expires on, say, 1-30-2005, a month to 2 weeks before that date, WHOIS.SC will send me an email stating htat the domain was re-regged for another year (the expiration date will then show 1-30-2006). It will be like this until the previous exp date comes along then they send another email stating it was deleted, but the whole time I am thinking it was re-regged becasue that is what they told me in the last email.

I use this domain service and they are HIGHLY!! reliable. I couldnt image them doing anything 'DODGEY'

I never said I think they are being dodgy or deceitful or dishonest or anything of the sort...just unreliable.

 

[ThreeD]

I'm with Fish on this one, they have a couple of hickups - but they are still my fav whois source

 

[simpsons]

They are very good!

 

[1rrr1]

It is one of the best. Their recent updates to include sedo listings, alexa rankings etc helps a lot

 

[faisj]

I've noticed that they show some domains that aren't available, as being available. They aren't perfect, but they are still my favorite whois service.

same opinion here. They are good but there service has some mistakes.

 

[StudioWorks]

Been using them for quite some time now and im very happy with their service.

- SW

 

[EbookLover]

thanks all. but you fail to read. Must be the holiday and getting drunk maybe. I jus think it is very aggravating when they say a domain is expired, then not, then expired then not, then, unavailable, then available, then....

Ah, forget it. thanks for the replies, i guess.

It's a good idea but a very quirky system, but I guess the only one of it's kinds. I will jsut use it for free from here on out. Not worth paying for a membership.

 

[Mark]

No actually, you don't understand. They are not re-regged but whois.sc makes you think that for 2 weeks to a month until the actual drop date comes by and then they show you the real expiration date. so, if a domain actually expires on, say, 1-30-2005, a month to 2 weeks before that date, WHOIS.SC will send me an email stating htat the domain was re-regged for another year (the expiration date will then show 1-30-2006). It will be like this until the previous exp date comes along then they send another email stating it was deleted, but the whole time I am thinking it was re-regged becasue that is what they told me in the last email.

I never said I think they are being dodgy or deceitful or dishonest or anything of the sort...just unreliable.

This may not have anything to do with Whois.sc - There are large companies as well as Individuals out there now - Who Register/Catch these domains on Drop ... test them for traffic - and If there is no "Great" Traffic on them - they delete the domains back into the void of dropped domains to collect their refund. I personally think that the registars should not allow any Refunds to folks/companies who do this more than once a year ... - Just my opinion

 

[AdoptableDomains]

Whois.sc just get's whois date from the original registries. That data is not always correct becuase sometimes the original registrar hasn't updated the master registry. Sometimes the whois is down and it shows false information as to availability. With the way some registrars are "saving" domains for their auctions, I think they sometimes update the expiration to make it look as if renewed when it hasn't been, but is just reserved from expiring for their auctions.

The data is also sometimes cached and a few days behind. It's still the best source for consolidated whois data. If it's questionable, you then just have to investigate further to the master registry or the whois of the registrar of record for the name.

 

[Genialnames]

I had strange experience with whois.sc....I registered as a member (free) and I thought the whois.sc services was intended exactly to give to people who are involved in the domain name market some extra tool (I like it) two weeks ago I surprising I had my account banned while I was making regular searches to find a decent name to buy.
I have done may be not more than 20 queries, that are not so much really,usually on my registrar sometime it took even more,then I was not able to even load the page.
After a while I get back to my member profile and there I found a message " account banned for exceeding queries" or something like this.....funny I thought.
I wrote to them an e-mail, I apologized and also I asked to tell me the query limit since I were not aware of that....but they didn't answer. Then yesterday I found my account is working again, do anybody experienced the same or know about that limit?

 

[-db-]

As mentioned, their info is sometimes a bit behind (it's cached) and there are a few quirks in their system, but they offer such a nice tool overall that it's easily overlooked. They are still the top in whois tools.

With the way some registrars are "saving" domains for their auctions, I think they sometimes update the expiration to make it look as if renewed when it hasn't been, but is just reserved from expiring for their auctions.

I am now convinced this is true. I've been watching many expiring names from various sources for a while now, and there is definitely some creative record keeping going on with some registrars. I didn't want to believe it, but it seems to be the case.

 

[EbookLover]

I had strange experience with whois.sc....I registered as a member (free) and I thought the whois.sc services was intended exactly to give to people who are involved in the domain name market some extra tool (I like it) two weeks ago I surprising I had my account banned while I was making regular searches to find a decent name to buy.
I have done may be not more than 20 queries, that are not so much really,usually on my registrar sometime it took even more,then I was not able to even load the page.
After a while I get back to my member profile and there I found a message " account banned for exceeding queries" or something like this.....funny I thought.
I wrote to them an e-mail, I apologized and also I asked to tell me the query limit since I were not aware of that....but they didn't answer. Then yesterday I found my account is working again, do anybody experienced the same or know about that limit?

I personally have never experienced being banned. I make more than 20 searches A LOT of the time but I am only recently a paid member.

I think it was just a mistake on their part and they just realized it and fixed it. Maybe because of your email, maby not. Sure, an apology email reply would have been nice, but maybe they are just too busy. They are really the only whois service of it's kind so it's possible they're pretty busy. But, whatever, I don't think it was anything to worryabout...yet. You got back in so just wait and see.

And for the record, please remember that I did not start this thread bashing whois.sc. I do like their service. Tha't's why I finally paid after being a free member for a while. I jsut simply noticed an reliability issue.

Now, some are saying/agreeing with the scenario about my specific lament not being theier problem and I too am beginning to somewhat believe this could be the case. They rely on the servers of each individual reg so when they are down, so is whois.sc's data. And when the reg's data is fudged for selfish purposes, so are the records whois.sc's data. Very possibly and probable.

Well, I'll have to keep a closer look at things given this info and see. I do seem to be seeing some sort of pattern going on.

 

[Genialnames]

I understand your point, I didn't ever tought you where bashing whois.sc as I didn't my self, I like the service too and I only thought to ask around about suggestions (thanks for your) since to be honest I am not using it anymore because I am worried to be banned again....may sound silly but using another service to check for free domains and using whois.sc for reverse Ip and other hard to find services...

I think I will try again, maybe you are right, just a mistake on their side.

 

[Umer]

I use whois.sc ALOT! I think are are reliable!!

 

[AdoptableDomains]

I've seen the whois.sc reply show that it's exceede the daily limit. I've never thought it was me though. I've always taken it that their service has exceeded the quotas given by the registries or registrars. It could even be temporary and just that immediate traffic was too high for the servers to handle. It usually clears up in a few minutes to a few hours.

 

[Genialnames]

Umer! I think your post are helpful! Thank You!

I do't consider make a donation for that! (just kidding!) Have a nice day!