Domain catching?

[360interactive]

I was contacted this week by a US company who want me to 'bid' in order to allow them to try and get a domain that is similar to my brand. I entered $500 and low and behold they rang me yesterday saying my bid was the highest and i can lock in my bid so they can try and get the domain when it becomes available.

My question is, there must be another way of catching a domain when it drops? Is there a good way to do this without having to 'bid' with a company?!

Cheers all!

 

[zigojacko]

Of course you were the highest bidder, no-one else would have bid. It's all a complete rip-off, borderline scam. Yes, there are tools to be alerted as soon as domains are about to go available but all these domain bid sites use them and get in there first and slap silly prices on domains and then contact a load of companies like you in the hope that someone bites and pays the money for them.

We get tons of emails from companies trying to sell us all sorts of different domains, what they're asking for them is just plain stupid as well. Unless it is a branded domain name, there is absolutely no reason to pay stupid money for a domain and if it is a branded domain, some 3rd party shouldn't be squatting on it anyway just to make a load of money from it.

 

[fisicx]

It's a scam. Don't pay them a penny. Most registrars wil lallow you watch or pre-bid for domains.

 

[360interactive]

Thanks guys, had no intention of paying the money but may try my current hosting company to see if they'll allow me to go for it.

 

[zigojacko]

You'll struggle. The domain industry is awash with these companies that all pre-watch/pre-bid etc for domains and it's really difficult to get in there first. A ridiculous percentage of domains are owned by these companies and are not even use purely so they contact thousands of businesses and charge $hundreds for them.

 

[ExplorerBDM]

Are these companies, hoarding domains, not subject to cyber-squatting laws?

 

[Cromulent]

Are these companies, hoarding domains, not subject to cyber-squatting laws?

There really aren't any cyber squatting laws in the UK. The only protection you have is if they are in breach of a trademark or are trying to pass off their business as your own.

 

[alistairm]

From my experiences backordering with Namejet can be worthwhile if it's a .com your after. It will go to auction if there's more than one bid but that doesn't mean you'll pay a high price in the end. It really depends on how highly sought after the domain is.

If it's a uk domain name you want there are a few public drop catching services you can use that will charge you around the £30/ £40 mark to catch a dropping domain, if it's still available to be caught as every service I use take backorders on a first come first served basis. Also you can try acorn domains. There's quite a few catchers on there and you may find some that will try to catch a domain for you if you offer a fair price and they have nothing or not much else loaded that day. Of course if it's a premium domain most drop catchers will most likely be trying to catch it for themselves.