Require an expiring domain, who should be able to grab it?

[ian]

Hi guys, I've noticed a domain I've been after for quite some time was not renewed a while back, obviously there's still a chance it will be, but working on the basis that it isn't renewed, which services offer me the best chance of obtaining on drop? Who has the most success, even if it costs a little more!

I suspect a number of ppl will be keen to grab it, so which service can I trust to book it for me, and not keep it for themselves?

Other than the drop fee, what else would I pay? Anything? I use UKREG/FASTHOSTS for my domains, presumably it's possible to put into my account if successfully obtained?

Do I need to book this domain request in now, even though it's a couple of months before it expires, or must I wait until closer the time?

Hope you can help answer.

 

[Skinner]

The domain will drop 92/99 days after the expirary date, the earlier you book it the better.

The people who seem to have a very very good catch rate on a private catch basis are Red Bird and Gold Frog (this forum is more and more like a bizare animal farm everyday), but also catching are FC Domains, Dragon, Admin and Rob, all are trustworthy and assuming they havent already got someone who has booked it or already on their list then they will quote you a fee for the catch.

I have found sometimes its better to offer a chunk of cash say £150-200 (payable on success) if they catch only your name that day, meaning their system is dedicated.

As for public facing systems, try Backorder expiring UK domains who is AquaNuke on there, and DROPSYSTEM.CO.UK :: What will YOU catch today? who Azooza on here, there are a few others but my success is very low with them, but around 50% with the above two. Another worth trying is bb-online (google it) who I'm not sure is a member here but comparitively they are quite expensive.

The more places you book the higher your success rate.

 

[monaghan]

which service can I trust to book it for me, and not keep it for themselves?

Any service that took a booking for a customer and then reg'd it for themselves would get a negative review here very quickly!

As skinner says, the more places you book it, the better the chances of a catch.

 

[ian]

Thanks guys, your wealth of information is appreciated.

The domain currently has a status of requiring renewal, I assume at this point there's nothing I can do, but need to wait until it's on suspension, is that right, or can I book early?

Would these guys take payment up front, or only if caught? Don't fancy paying out up front for the service of 10 catchers etc

 

[redbird]

"....The people who seem to have a very very good catch rate on a private catch basis are Red Bird and ..."

Thanks for the recommendation, although for the record I don't tend to offer a service of catching for others, primarily because of the conflict of interest. If it was a particularly good name I would always attempt to catch for myself. Occassionaly I do catch for a couple of people I know but only for names I'm not interested in for myself and on days where there is nothing I want myself and my list is empty.


Dave

 

[Skinner]

Hey Dave,
I always think its worth asking when you need/want something as you never know if you don't ask .

I'm assuming Ian can always shoot you a PM, and if you tell him your going for it so sorry, that will be indicative of his chances. Since if your going for it then all the previously named (other than caught/dropsys/bb/etc) would likely be too, which means his odds just dropped significantly

 

[redbird]

Certainly don't mind people asking always willing to consider tempting offers and I've had quite a few of those since a recent success

I just wanted to put the record straight as I didn't want people getting the idea I do offer a public facing catching service and then catching the names they want for myself as suggested above.

Primarily I catch solely for myself, but that's not to say I can't be tempted by the right offers, as you say no harm in asking.

Dave

 

[retired_member12]

The domain will drop 92/99 days after the expirary date, the earlier you book it the better.

The people who seem to have a very very good catch rate on a private catch basis are Red Bird and Gold Frog (this forum is more and more like a bizare animal farm everyday), but also catching are FC Domains, Dragon, Admin and Rob, all are trustworthy and assuming they havent already got someone who has booked it or already on their list then they will quote you a fee for the catch.

I have found sometimes its better to offer a chunk of cash say £150-200 (payable on success) if they catch only your name that day, meaning their system is dedicated.

As for public facing systems, try Backorder expiring UK domains who is AquaNuke on there, and DROPSYSTEM.CO.UK :: What will YOU catch today? who Azooza on here, there are a few others but my success is very low with them, but around 50% with the above two. Another worth trying is bb-online (google it) who I'm not sure is a member here but comparitively they are quite expensive.

The more places you book the higher your success rate.

I think anyone looking to have names caught for the first time needs to realise that there is a large element of luck involved, coupled with a reduced likelyhood of a success with the more popular names. For example, I've placed 17 'orders' in the past year with one of those named, and they haven't caught one! Admittedly, 5 were LLLs, but when I look at who caught them all, a number have had multiple successes, Turnic (3), DaveH (2) and Raid (3).
It's going to be vitrually impossible, if your order is with someone who is serving multiple customers, to go head to head with a private catcher who may be hitting on only one domain a day.

Oddly, i hand-regged a .org.uk at the weekend which was already ordered by someone else when I checked to see if a catcher could get it for me. Kind of puts the whole game in perspective really!

 

[ian]

Yeah, I'm kind of learning very quickly that not only is the domain going to be sought after, but also a number of the catch companies have vested interests and both buy for themselves and others, so not suprised to find that so far I've had little response other than honest responses from redbird etc.

I'll give it a go anyway, but some how don't fancy my chances.

 

[Skinner]

There are very few 'Public Facing' catchers, by public facing I mean they don't catch for themselves, the few who are around are usually retired private catchers.

Private Catchers catch names they don't want when they have nothing else or very little load, or names they are not that interested in but can see a few quid in. Mostly they catch as a supplemental income

Given the costs of setting up your own tag many people go that route.

£500-600-/+ on tag, subscription and dac (first year, £125ish each year after)
£150-400-/+ on dac hosting per month.

Many people see that catching name like the recent e-commerce that sold for best part of 5000, rapidly pays for itself.

 

[ian]

Have a few looking after me now, must say I'm impressed with the level of interest from those that would usually take for themselves, not me. Kind of exciting this game isn't it