For Sale another player..here comes tucows

[sitehq]

but could you be a little more vague






Tucows to Launch Auction Service for Expiring Domain Names
Tuesday September 7, 9:23 am ET


- Existing Registrants to share in revenue from $60 million market -
TORONTO, Sept. 7 /CNW/ -- Tucows Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: TCOW - News) today announced the upcoming release of its new auction service for reselling expiring domain names. The company expects the service to become available through its channel of service providers in late 2004.

 

[cambler]

See Ross Rader's blog for more info: http://www.byte.org

See my blog for a critical analysis: http://onthenet.ambler.net

 

[clemzonguy]

Ambler you make some very good points which really shoots this proposal in the foot.

"why a registrar, making a decent chunk of that $4,000,000 market, would want to change anything at all. Most of those whom you would have participate are making more money now than they would under your proposal."

"why would I, a registrar with, say 10 names a day dropping, want to participate? I can get, nominally, $1 per name on average under your system, yet I now have a statistically non-trivial chance to catch a name in the drop worth in excess of $30,000 if I allow one of the ESPs (nice term) to aggregate my registry access."

However, can't a registry participate in this Tuccows system as far as reselling the sites before they expire and STILL use their connections to catch award winning names not contained within their inventory? Seems that this would seem lucrative for companies as a way to retain premium domains for sale while double dipping in the regular drop process. (godaddy & dotster would probably like this idea)

Didn't Verisign already had this idea with the "Namestore" concept.

I do agree that cutting off the supply would hurt the vultures which feed on it. Eventually something will operate to do so whether it's mandated or simply better public education.

I do think the current system is easier in the fact that I only have to go 4 places now to bid on a name. I would say that it's preferable to WLS because I at least can outbid someone if push comes to shove and I want the name.

Instead I would find out the WLS was already taken far in advance and probably end up paying more to the speculator. Most speculators are unwilling to pay a higher amount than someone who will utilize the name.

 

[steven22]

Hi,
Can you tell me what service you use to be able to find domains names dropping. I have looked at some but it appears when I try to backorder them....they are ALL gone and registered....any help would be great!

 

[cambler]

If you want just lists, any drop-catcher can provide them. eNom, Pool, etc.

If you want search capabilities, there are a number of web sites that provide search functionality. Some are free, and some cost.

If you want desktop software, [Mod Edit - no self promotion outside of the advertising forum]
If you want to try to catch names yourself, you will need to become an ICANN-accredited registrar.

Did that answer your question?

 

[steven22]

I can not come up with the domains to search myself. However, I want to go through Up to the Minute domain changes as far as changes in

Registar Holds and redemption periods


I can find a million sites posting that info but the good names are already bckordered which means they have already been posted somewhere.....I want to know where that somewhere is.


I even want listing of names that are about to go on hold....


Please let me know the best 3 sites you know of or anyone else for that matter


Thanks

 

[cambler]

All names of value will receive attention, if not before, then as soon as they enter pending-delete. There is absolutely no value whatsoever in being early, unless you intend to contact the current owner and try to purchase it directly, or you intend to transfer it illegally.

 

[chatcher]

I can not come up with the domains to search myself. However, I want to go through Up to the Minute domain changes as far as changes in

Registar Holds and redemption periods


I can find a million sites posting that info but the good names are already bckordered which means they have already been posted somewhere.....I want to know where that somewhere is.

Welcome to the domain business. There is a tremendous amount of competition chasing expiring names. Some people do it for a living, and are very serious about it. Do you think there is someplace you can go to be first in line to find nice expired names that nobody else has seen yet? Think again. Decent domain names are systematically tracked long before they ever expire. The better the name, the sooner it will be backordered at the few places that still accept only one backorder per domain. Most expired name services have gone to an auction format, which is good news for you because you can get a dropping name without putting in your backorder until the last minute. All you need is money. (Preferably lots of it.)

 

[clemzonguy]

Okay weren't we talking about Tucows.....? Back from the rabbit trail :-D

I think it's a great idea (at least from their standpoint) to auction off the aresenal of expiring names a registrar holds which a registrant might drop (netsol, godaddy, dotster, tucows) and then have them turn around and use those same connections to chase dropping domains for an additional profit. Not only will they profit from their own aresnal but will make money on names which originally were say Enom's or others who had the opportunity to participate as well at selling their own inventory.

Seems like this could indeed be a catylst for taking away market share and shorting the "supply" of these drop services?

 

[Wot]

Perhaps my Expire.com is getting more valuable by the day!

 

[clemzonguy]

"Top Names" Dropping Today By Registrar

NAMESYSTEM - 1
CORE COUNCIL - 1
DIRECTI - 1
ALL WEST - 1
JOKER.COM - 4
FABULOUS - 1
GABIA - 1
GANDI - 3
IHOLDINGS - 1
INNERWISE - 3
INTERCOSMOS - 6
MELBOURNE IT - 4
NAMESDIRECT - 1
ONLINENIC - 3
STARGATE - 2

ENOM - 21

SRSPLUS - 1
REGISTER.COM - 13
TUCOWS - 18
NETSOL - 30
WILD WEST DOMAINS - 5
GODADDY - 9
DOTSTER - 6

A further analysis might also show that Netsol or some of these "older" registrars contain a lot of the higher priced domains which will drop in the future. Enom certainly may hold a few. Most likely if a person wasn't smart enough to renew a domain they weren't smart enough to transfer to another registrar through the years either. With renewal rates at 70% or higher (accordingly to Versign's June Report) and with buyerss contacting users well before expiration drops may be a very rare commodity in the future landscape.