A British domainer who backordered a pre-release domain at Snapnames, was flabbergasted when the deadline passed with SnapNames not releasing the domain for $59.
Instead, he received an email with a fixed price notification:
Just a few minutes ago, I received as email from SnapNames, pasted below, offering me the opportunity to buy the same domain at a ‘Buy It Now’ price of $1,812, urging me to hurry because of the “potential high demand”.
Continuing with his venting at DNForum, he states:
Sure, someone might come along and buy that domain for $1,812 … but I know this market, that is highly unlikely, just crazy unlikely. Actually, I would go so far as to say that it is almost impossible for any domain with that sort of potential to make it as far as dropping without attracting at least two orders. Single-order domains like mine in this case could usually be picked up eventually without a Snapnames order, the only reason to put down $59-$79 is to rule out the possibility of it being grabbed by Korean drop-catchers but SnapNames are removing that advantage, it now appears to be safer to just wait for such domains to drop.
Apparently, the issue rises from cross-listing of domains on other venues. As user silentg responded:
[Snapnames] told me it was due to the partnership with Afternic. These expiring domains were listed at Afternic Premium Listing when they were expiring. So when the owner renews it, all those who had backorders on the domain at Snapnames will get an e-mail saying the domain is available to be purchased.
It’s definitely frustrating expecting to catch a domain name or at least, see it being auctioned among a group of domainers, and then watch it go back into the unavailable bin.
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Hi,
This has been happening for quite a long time now. For the last 8 months, I’ve been getting emails from Snapnames telling me that my bid of $59 was insufficient for the auction. Only to tell me that the minimum bid was $12000. No way in hell the LLL.org was worth that or anywhere near. Absolute glitch in the system. If someone knows them, please have them fix it. I get these kind of email every week from them. They must make a decision whether they want to sell them, really, or to maximize profit at a fixed price. To the consumer, it’s frustrating if they don’t decide. It makes me feel like someone is making an a*se out of me.
Hi Lucius,
If this involves Name.com, then this activity is no surprise as there is evidence of a consistent pattern of this type of false advertising which has been raised to SnapNames management who has clearly chosen to “look the other way” based on this activity which is obviously continuing to this very day.
A class action lawsuit against SnapNames and Name.com is currently in progress.
David
Good points.
David, can you point me to the class action lawsuit documentation please?
I blame Halvarez
Hi Lucius,
I will be sure to keep you posted as the situation progresses.
Do you know if the subject domain was with Name.com?
David
I’ve been watching several name.com pre-release domains on snapnames over the last couple of weeks. It’s weird how backordered names are listed many hours past the “deadline”, all of a sudden they are renewed and hidden behind privacy whois.
These domains are then seemingly parked at sedo, but if you click on the buy now link you’re redirected to a name.com website where you can offer a minimum of $250 for the domain.
I currently have a name.com domain in my “Pending orders” list on snapnames. I’ll know within a couple of days how that went.
All I know is that if Name.com is pulling some shady tactics, I’ll move ALL my domains to a new registrar and I’ll delete my Snapnames account.
Oh, and I’ll write some juicy letters to spread the word. Time is the most valuable thing we have according to Rick, and I couldn’t agree more. I hate it when people waste my/our time with bs and shady tactics.
The British domainer suggests the domain was a pending delete domain since the mention of drop catchers was brought up.
“…the only reason to put down $59-$79 is to rule out the possibility of it being grabbed by Korean drop-catchers ”
Then it says silentg received a message from Snapnames that the domain was renewed by the Registrant.
“These expiring domains were listed at Afternic Premium Listing when they were expiring. So when the owner renews it…”
Was it a Pending Delete domain or an Expired domain that was renewed in time?
Big difference.
The Registration date will tell.
As I suspected yet another pre-release domain I bid on (registered at name.com) changed status to “backorder” in my snapnames account – even though I was the only bidder in the auction. This domain has the exact same pattern. It’s renewed after the backorder deadline, the domain info is hidden behind whois privacy and it’s parked at sedo. On the sedo page is says “This domain name may be available for purchase!”. If you click on the “More details” link it takes you to a name.com website where you’re asked to enter a minimum bid of $250 to buy the domain.
Looks like Name.com is picking up preleased names to make some extra cash?
Mr T – Thank you for sharing this info.
Something is definately going on at Name. com. Ive experienced the same. In addition-the following makes you realize there are other benefits to being a registrar besides SELLING a domain name:
Ever wondered who beats you to those ‘just dropped names’?
ICANN-Accredited Registrars registered under the owner name of Andrew Reberry:
DomainDelights LLC (United States)
DomainExtreme LLC (United States)
DomainFalcon LLC (United States)
DomainHood LLC (United States)
DomainLocal LLC (United States)
DomainPrime.com LLC (United States)
Domainwards.com LLC (United States)
DotNamed LLC (United States)
GlamDomains LLC (United States)
NameBrew LLC (United States)
NameForward LLC (United States)
NameJolt.com LLC (United States)
Nameling.com LLC (United States)
NameSay LLC (United States)
NameSector LLC (United States)
NameStrategies LLC (United States)
NameTell.com LLC (United States)
ProNamed LLC (United States)
TheNameCo LLC (United States)
TradeNamed LLC (United States)
TurnCommerce, Inc. DBA NameBright.com (United States)
WorthyDomains LLC (United States)
ZoomRegistrar LLC (United States)
Descriptions and Contact Information for ICANN-Accredited Registrars
(updated Sunday, 20-November-2011)
Martin – That’s not exactly news. eNom has more than 30 child-registrars, all named as “eNomNNN” LLC where NNN is a number. Registrars do this to increase connections to the registry when used as drop-catching services.