Domain catching (.net)

[Wardy]

I've let a domain I own expire and it's open for everyone to get in a few days. It is a .net and I'm desperate to get it back!

Who is the best to use? Do any refund the fee if they don't get it for you.
I've looked at snapnames.com and they charge $69 but don't refund if they don't get it I don't think.
What 123-reg.co.uk like for getting them or would be best not using them for a .net? Do they refund the £15 fee or not as can't see it saying anywhere.

Which other companies is there?
Am fairly desperate so all sugegstions appreciated.

Cheers
Wardy

[Kandevil]

http://www.pool.com/

Could go to auction if they do get it for you and somebody else has backordered it too. There are no upfront fees though, you pay $60 (including 1 year domain registration) if they are successful.

[Wardy]

Thanks for the suggestion Kandevil.
Are there any others that don't have the auction thing with it?

Cheers
Wardy

[Jeff]

Originally posted by Wardy I've looked at snapnames.com and they charge $69 but don't refund if they don't get it I don't think. What 123-reg.co.uk like for getting them or would be best not using them for a .net? Do they refund the £15 fee or not as can't see it saying anywhere.

With Snapnames and 123-reg you pay for a one year subscription. If they don't get the domain you want you can change it to try and get a different name, and you could keep changing it for the duration of the 12 months.

I've tried 123-reg but they've never got hold of a domain I wanted. Around a year ago I got a few decent names using Snapnames, but their performance seems to have declined since then.

[Kandevil]

Have had a look through my bookmarks and found some others that may be of interest.

http://www.godaddy.com

If they fail to get the domain you can switch the snap to another domain for a year. Costs $18.95

http://www.dropwizard.com/

Their site put me off so I have no personal experience of using them. Think they cost around $120

http://www.namewinner.com/

Auction site too I'm afraid, but only $40 if nobody else is after it.

[Wardy]

Nice one Jeff, prob give 123-reg and snapnames a miss then.
Kandevil, will take a look at godaddy and namewinner see what they have to offer.

Cheers
Wardy

[Luke]

I use namewinner and pool, seems that if one doesn't get it usually the other does - I am sure they work together..

[Edwin]

If it's a juicy generic domain, you'll need to book it at ALL the different dropcatchers you can - and even then you'll have less than a 50% chance of getting it since there are so many players with their own private registrar partnerships.

Here's the very minimum you should go for:-

Snapnames.com
Godaddy.com
NameWinner.com
Pool.com
DropWizard.com

Of course, if the domain was never used for a site (i.e. there aren't any incoming links) and it's a totally made up word you may not need to be quite so thorough.

Of the above, NW, DropWizard and Pool require on-success payment (various auction models), SnapNames and GD require up-front payment (flat-fee models)

[Wardy]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.
Edwin, it's not a really juicy one really, just one I really want to keep hold of. I think it's being bid on on the auction one's I think.

Cheers
Wardy

[Luke]

Wardy - just PM'd you...