For Sale GoDaddy auctioning off its expiring domains!

[austinandrew]

GoDaddy is now auctioning off its expiring domains starting at $25. This is a huge blow to Pool and other expired domain services. With NetSol and Bulk Register domains going to SnapNames, Dotster to NameWinner, and GoDaddy to itself, Pool had better start lining up some exclusive deals!

The catch on GoDaddy's deal is you don't get control of the domain for 60 days after expiration in case the previous owner wants it back.

Here are two news postings about this:
GoDaddy News 1
GoDaddy news 2

 

[sealover]

can somebody explain me what's RedemptionPeriod, I see this in a expired go-daddy domain and I can't reg it.

 

[austinandrew]

During this time the "previous" owner of the domain can still claim the domain by paying an extra fee to the registrar.

can somebody explain me what's RedemptionPeriod, I see this in a expired go-daddy domain and I can't reg it.

 

[radioz]

Where does this leave those of us who have some of those same names ‘Snapped’ (copyright infringement; I’m sure!) using Go Daddy’s ‘Investor’s Edge’ service?? It would seem to me that you can either run a ’snap’ type service OR auction the names off but not both.

 

[Duke]

Where does this leave those of us who have some of those same names ‘Snapped’ (copyright infringement; I’m sure!) using Go Daddy’s ‘Investor’s Edge’ service?? It would seem to me that you can either run a ’snap’ type service OR auction the names off but not both.

The auction winner takes precedence over the back order holder. If you now hold a GoDaddy back order on a name registered at GoDaddy/WildWest, you will only get the name if no one bids on it in the auction. Since the minimum auction fee is only a few $ more than the cost of a backorder that means you will rarely get a decent GoDaddy name with a back order anymore.

 

[URLCollection]

A few facts about this new Godaddy auction system - You do not get the domains when the auction ends. We were the winning bidder on several domains and were told we would have to wait as much as 70 days to get control of the names. So they are auctioning and collecting the fees on "potential dropped domains" as much as a week or more, prior to the domain expiring and entering the 30 day registrar hold and 60+ days prior to exiting the redemption period and actually dropping. They even have a few of our corporate domains that are awaiting a transfer out, that are now on auction and we never listed them for sale at this auction site!

Here is the response from Go Daddy = "The names you purchased at auction at our site were in the process of reaching the "soon to expire date". Before we allow expired names to become available at auction we make numerous attempts to contact the original registrant for renewal, both pre and post expiration. We also attempt to automatically renew it if the original registrant opted in to our auto-renewal service. After one of these names has completed the auction process, we allow additional time before fully assigning the name to the auction winner (as much as 70 days). During that time the original registrant is still given the opportunity to reclaim and renew the domain name. In the rare case where that happens, we provide a full refund of the purchase price to the auction winner. "

They failed to respond to our inquiry about this matter after 3 emails to them and only sent this response after we contacted Bob Parsons. They also sent us a full refund after our complaint. This is happening without the consent or knowledge of the owner of the domain name and to the full profit and benefit of only GoDaddy. I have no idea of the legal issues in selling someone's property without their full consent, but the moral value alone, is very poor.

This has got to be one of the farthest reaches to make a buck in the drop game, that I have seen to date. Domain Owners and Drop Buyers BEWARE - Registrars are now auctioning off YOUR non expired domain names, to enhance their potential profits, all for an additional piece of the drop market. Steve

 

[seeker]

this is really really sad. A terrible attempt by GD.
At least, I get to see if there are bids on my soon to expire names, and see if there is any interest to renew them.
This is a very poor attempt by GD. I wonder if it is even legal?

 

[radioz]

I have really begun to worry about the morality of registrars in general. This move by Go Daddy is ridiculous. First, they have made no general announcement on their site, in the 'my account' page, or even on the 'Investor's Edge' drop search page. They should honor all existing backorders first until they do this. They should then quit taking backorders for Go Daddy names, period, and refer you to the auction page for more info. Personally, I have bought many drop positions, many before this system was known at all, with the idea that Go Daddy would honor my domain name backorder per the rules that, to the best of my knowledge are on their main site now. Once a real annoucement is made, then things should change. I do have to question putting unexpired domains and domains that are still within the regular no penalty grace period (here to fore 40 days at go Daddy; changing now??). Only when they go to pending delete should there be any attempt to sell them and they should not require a full payment until they can definitely deliver the goods.

It is further difficult to understand, other than when greed is put in the picture, why ICANN now gives the rights to expired domains to the registrar. Provided that I paid for the last registration year properly the name should simply delete. I have defaulted on nothing and the registrar is, quite simply, due nothing! The name should simply be thrown to the wind, probably in a truly random manner to allow reregistration by whoever is first to see it listed as 'available'. Drops should not even have a regular rythem but we digress.

To be clear, this isn't like a tax default where the government may have the right to sell my house for tax default. Even then, they whould be required to give me any funds obtained above the tax costs and the auctioneer's fees. Should they get a $1,000 for a domain that I let expire, they should be sending me, maybe, $700 after the cost of the sale is taken into account. This is every bit as logical as the registrar being allowed to sell expired domains in the first place, in reverse, of course, in any event.

 

[Theo]

I say "NO Daddy!" and a long time ago moved all my domains away from them. I pointed out the illustrious president's antics - the latest being the fake morality issues while GD had a "tits and ass" Superbowl commercial.

 

[austinandrew]

Excellent points. I just "won" a domain today. I posted the message I got from GoDaddy about when I could take ownership. Here's the message they sent me.

I have really begun to worry about the morality of registrars in general. This move by Go Daddy is ridiculous. First, they have made no general announcement on their site, in the 'my account' page, or even on the 'Investor's Edge' drop search page. They should honor all existing backorders first until they do this. They should then quit taking backorders for Go Daddy names, period, and refer you to the auction page for more info. Personally, I have bought many drop positions, many before this system was known at all, with the idea that Go Daddy would honor my domain name backorder per the rules that, to the best of my knowledge are on their main site now. Once a real annoucement is made, then things should change. I do have to question putting unexpired domains and domains that are still within the regular no penalty grace period (here to fore 40 days at go Daddy; changing now??). Only when they go to pending delete should there be any attempt to sell them and they should not require a full payment until they can definitely deliver the goods.

It is further difficult to understand, other than when greed is put in the picture, why ICANN now gives the rights to expired domains to the registrar. Provided that I paid for the last registration year properly the name should simply delete. I have defaulted on nothing and the registrar is, quite simply, due nothing! The name should simply be thrown to the wind, probably in a truly random manner to allow reregistration by whoever is first to see it listed as 'available'. Drops should not even have a regular rythem but we digress.

To be clear, this isn't like a tax default where the government may have the right to sell my house for tax default. Even then, they whould be required to give me any funds obtained above the tax costs and the auctioneer's fees. Should they get a $1,000 for a domain that I let expire, they should be sending me, maybe, $700 after the cost of the sale is taken into account. This is every bit as logical as the registrar being allowed to sell expired domains in the first place, in reverse, of course, in any event.

 

[Theo]

The entire involvement of Registrars in the drop-catching game is unethical and a slap in the face of the normal domain dropping process. They should be barred from openly or secretly operating a drop-catching service for themselves.

 

[austinandrew]

I'm happy that some domains go through "exclusive" drop services now, for a couple reasons:

1. Can frequently circumvent Google's deletion from search engines by not going through the entire drop cycle

2. You "know" you'll be in the running for the domain without snapping it at all registrars.

However, GoDaddy has gone too far by ripping off past customers that ordered backorders. ICANN needs to get involved in this process--at least put some rules in place.

The entire involvement of Registrars in the drop-catching game is unethical and a slap in the face of the normal domain dropping process. They should be barred from openly or secretly operating a drop-catching service for themselves.

 

[Theo]

Doesn't GD have that blue-something dropcatching service through WWD ? I'm sick of multiple identities to circumvent limitations.

 

[mole]

It seems strange that you have to pay first just to wait. What if someone bids $100,000k on a name, wins the so-called auction, then has to hand over to Godaddy the $100,000, then wait 60-80 days while Godaddy collects interest on the money.

Worse, the registrant renews, the person who paid $100,000 for a chance is left empty handed after having paid Godaddy already. Godaddy keeps the money, and refuses to refund it, pointing to some legal clause that seems to be embedded everywhere in the fine fine print when you sign up for an account and attempt to bid.

This seems like daylight robbery or that silly Namewinner system in the past (the bidding on thin air business model), or am I missing something?

 

[Theo]

The funds would be returned - but then again, don't assume anything with the illustrious Bob Parsons.

 

[mole]

The funds would be returned? When? How?

 

[Theo]

The funds would be returned? When? How?

A date with Candice Michelle?

 

[mole]

A date with Candice Michelle?

e is not equal to michelle, candice square :huh:

 

[contact]

How do we download the whole list?

 

[radioz]

Originally Posted by mole
The funds would be returned? When? How?

Well, let's say that that $100K name is hypethetically 'Homes.COM' and the old owner renews it. Go Daddy gives you eHomez1.US and 9,999,999 'free' monitoring credits!