I believe Enom is "Up to something"

[ClickEarn]

Strange how Enoms' "Club Drop" is all of a sudden not grabbing
many domains names. They used to get the majority of the drops
now they get almost none of them

I heard that the new owners of Enom were once one of the largest
domain trafficers. I really think that they are "Skimming" the
domains that are entered into "Club Drop" for their own use

I think someone needs to investigate Enom in depth as a registrar
should not be able to do such things

[mulligan]

... I think someone needs to investigate Enom in depth as a registrar should not be able to do such things ...

Why not?

[Raider]

It sounds like a lot of speculation on your part, if you dont have something more to back it up, you shouldn't be posting this. I would think that any Registrar doing such a thing, would risk losing there ICANN accredition.

[mulligan]

.... The first is did the domain sell at auction, if the answer is, yes, I was able to sell it and auction it, the domain transfers right away to the new owner. If the answer is, no, I had no bid on it, and bid typically starts around $60 for one of these deleting domains, then the registrar typically goes back and examines during the 30 days that I had it on this pay-per-click page for the last 30 days, do I project it'll make more than $6, the $6 cost. If the answer to that is yes, the registrar typically keeps the domain. And when I say that, I mean they may put it in a third company and they may have a deal with a third party to sell it. But, essentially, it does not delete. It's transferred by the registrar into an entity they own or have a participation in....

http://www.icann.org/meetings/lisbon...ng-25mar07.htm

EDIT:
In fact, if you regard yourself as a domainer all the transcripts of the last ICANN meeting are essential reading.
If you don't know what these guys are up to you then you are at a disadvantage
http://www.icann.org/meetings/lisbon/

[Keyword Factory]

I think someone needs to investigate Enom in depth as a registrar
should not be able to do such things

Nothing to investigate, everybody knows they are doing it and there is nothing in the ICANN agreement that prevents it.

[jazzpetals]

Enom is not the only registrar playing this game...it's allowed so why not?

[Devil Dog]

Of course they are.

Definite conflict of interest though.

[Raider]

So far, I havent seen or read anything that backs up the claim, if you guys have something to show they are doing it, post it here and now.

[typist]

So far, I havent seen or read anything that backs up the claim, if you guys have something to show they are doing it, post it here and now.

else?

this is old news.

try a google search for

rosenblatt enom "demand media"

and you'll probably get tons of results. former myspace chairman Richard Rosenblatt (the most well-groomed guy in domains...) bought Enom for his new baby Demand Media. They probably control one of the bigger portfolios of traffic domains by now. It makes sense if they keep the best Club Drop domains for their own venture.

[JMJ]

eNom has been warehousing names for years. They are sitting on a number of names I let go long ago. jobsinnashville.com is your proof http://whois.domaintools.com/jobsinnashville.com They have the privacy on but it's owned by enom. They never let it drop and this was several years ago..

I sold this one long ago and the buyer let it drop I watched it go through redemption and such and right in to eNoms hands clubshowcase.com http://whois.domaintools.com/clubshowcase.com It never went to auction either.

[socalboy]

FYI, I don't think it's only Enom. I've suspected for a while that GoDaddy is doing this at TDNAM (a joint venture with Fabulous BTW). Now 5 days after expiration the domain goes onto GD servers so they can monitor it. Then mysteriously it shows up on GoDaddy private registration. It appears Parsons is keeping these for himself. Please note: I have not seen indication that Fabulous is part of the scheme.

[Brujah]

Alert Dateline for an Exclusive!

[kengreenwood]

http://www.icann.org/meetings/lisbon...ng-25mar07.htm

EDIT:
In fact, if you regard yourself as a domainer all the transcripts of the last ICANN meeting are essential reading.
If you don't know what these guys are up to you then you are at a disadvantage
http://www.icann.org/meetings/lisbon/

- Exactly. It's crystal clear in the ICANN transcripts. The registrars are keeping the valuable domains for themselves... have a very organized process to determine which ones are valuable too. Only thing that going to change this fact is ICANN changing the rules of the game. The only way your going to get a very valuable domain is to buy it directly from the current owner or, in the odd case they current owner forgets to renew... the registrar... who will certainly become the owner at that point.

[socalboy]

Look at the economics too. For an individual to make a profit from just parking revenue, you must first pay reg fees (usually $6+). Then it is a split of PPC with the parking agency.

But the registrars have a huge advantage. All they need to pay is the registry charge (I think about $3 at Verisign now). Plus they have their own parking systems, so the only revenue split is with the upstream provider. Hence, their breakeven point is much lower than for an individual.

It's turning into a huge business for them. I think the days of drop catching may be gone....

[kengreenwood]

I think the days of drop catching may be gone....

I believe so for at least PPC domains. Brandable and short domains (acronyms) are still available.

[carlton]

... The only way your going to get a very valuable domain is to buy it directly from the current owner or, in the odd case they current owner forgets to renew... the registrar... who will certainly become the owner at that point.

Excellent point, true.

... I think the days of drop catching may be gone....

Absolutely. And it has been incumbent upon ICANN to take a stand (which they specifically avoided doing) as to whether this creates conflict of interest when registrars begin competing with customers for expiring domains. That ICANN have not yet prohibited it does not make it ethical business practice. But at this point, if they rule registrars may not warehouse, it will be moot ... as the game is largely over at this point anyway.

[NostraDomainus]

Money Breeds Greed.
Greed Breeds Mean Deeds.

Welcome to Capitalism 101 :S

Eternal vigilance is the price of a Free Market - keep up the good fight!

[JMJ]

But at this point, if they rule registrars may not warehouse, it will be moot ... as the game is largely over at this point anyway.

They ruled the registrars couldn't warehouse from the day they signed their contract. They just never enforced the contract. Not surprising since the contracts were negotiated by a 5 year old. They did however post on a blog asking someone to pat them on the back for doing a good job. What a joke. Thats my .22 x X worth of nothing.

[katherine]

There is no definition of warehousing anyway.

[JMJ]

There is no definition of warehousing anyway.

It's been a while since I've read the portion of the agreement but from what I remember they do define what they mean by warehousing names. I do agree that there's always away around the contract IE. Putting the names under a another company name.