Hi, I plan to backorder a domain using the “big 3” SnapNames, Enom, and Pool. I was wondering, if I place a backorder on all 3 sites, do I have to pay the backorder fee on all of them or only to the one who wins?
I’m assuming that I only have to pay if they win the domain. However, if one of the sites does secure the domain I’m interested in, do I have to pay that backorder fee even if someone else wins the resulting auction? For example, say SnapNames secures the domain I’m interested in but 3 other people also backordered with them. Will I owe them a fee even if I do not win the auction with these 2 other people?
Generally you pay a fee to place the backorder. Since you’re doing it three times, you would pay three fees. Now, assuming you win the domain with Enom, you would have an unused backorder credit with SnapNames and Pool. I believe you can reassign that backorder credit to a different domain name but you would need to confirm with them. At the end of the day, you’re going to pay three times if you do this, though you will have the opportunity to get three different domains from backorder.
Do you know this or are you just guessing? I ask because I’ve read that the opposite applies, i.e. you only pay if they secure the domain and you win it. I’ve read nothing about a credit system, not even on the sites themselves.
I know that at least Pool.com advertises that backorders are free to place. When I look at the interfaces on Enom and Snapnames, they refer to the backorder amount as a “minimum bid” which would imply you would only pay that money if you won the auction.
Please correct me if I’m wrong. I’m just looking for a person with first hand experience with these websites.
My experience with backordering domain names is that you pay a fee upfront. The fee is either non-refundable or non-transferrable if you successfully acquire the domain. If you fail to acquire the domain name the individual registrars may allow you to reuse that backorder.
On another note, why do you need three registrars all fighting for the same domain. Is google.com coming back on the market and nobody told me?
Well it hasn’t come down to the line yet but IF someone were to place a backorder on Enom and I only placed one on Snapname, there are odds (due to the registrar of this domain) that it could be snatched by either so it could be up to chance as to which backorder would be successful.
Technically these sites are NOT registrars, they simply use their massive resources to buy the domain immediately as it expires. Some of them have deals with certain registrars and can even bypass certain grace periods to buy it earlier. This way if there are multiple people interested int the domain and they have all backordered it, they will sell it to the highest bidder.
Out of curiosity, what have you used to backorder before?
Right, Verisign would technically be the registrar for .com domains, but we frequently refer to companies like this as the registrar because most of us will never have any real contact with the true man behind the curtain.
I’ve used Enom, Name.com, GoDaddy, Network Solutions and maybe some others that aren’t coming to mind off the top of my head. Name.com is my favorite though. A small(er) company and amazing customer service. Plus, they don’t serve up annoying ads on the website. I know this isn’t a discussion about the best company to work with, but had to toss my two cents in there.
Interesting. Your opinion has been noted but I still would like to hear from someone who has backordered a domain from Pool.com or Snapname.com because I have read some very different stuff about this. They are 3rd party auctioneers and are not registrars in any way which is why I think there is confusion. Godaddy would charge the backorder fee but they would literally transfer domain and put it in your godaddy account when the deal is sealed. Snapname/Pool creates an account for you on the registrar’s website and literally registers the domain you backordered and then hands you the account details when you win. Auction also implies you only pay if you win and Pool.com specifically advertises that placing backorders is free but you are required to pay if you win.
I’d like to say that after my support request was responded to from SnapNames.com, it has been stated that the only way you are charged for the backorder is if you successfully acquire the domain name. So in the case someone else wins the auction or if they do not successfully secure the domain, you do not have to pay a dime.
While I’ve not secured any domain names via backorder yet, I’ve worked in the domain business long enough to know that it depends on the provider. Some like SnapNames doesn’t charge unless you win, as you later learned, while others like that of Go Daddy will bill a “minimal fee” then more after.
You’ll especially pay more if the backordered domain name went through an auction involving multiple bidders, and if you win that auction.
you will get your money back if the backordering processing is not successful or you have canceled it before it .( As per my exp with name.com,enom.com)
