I had this domain that's i really want to register but it won't expire until next year. Is there a way to have a better of getting it? It's very unpopular name. I wouldn't want to pay $20 for expirefish or godaddy before hand. I wasn't sure that they will get it once it become available.

Thanks

If its "very unpopular" then you should be able to hand-reg it when it drops, but if you need to be sure then you will have to shell out to one or all of the many drop-catchers, (don't think expirefish or godaddy would be my best options though!).

If it's very unpopular, then just wait for it to drop, and it'll be available after the drop.

Whois-Source has a free monitoring service that you could use to keep track of any changes in the domain's status. It's still a beta version, but the price is right... free! ;) You have to sign up first at: http://www.whois.sc/members/

I've been a free member for over a year and I track my email adresses. Whois-Source have not sold my email address or spammed me at all.

Good info 4solutions. I always thought you had to pay to join :(

You can also try backordering with Snapname. You only pay when they successfully get the domain name for you.

Cheers
Dejavu

What makes you think it's going to not be renewed, vfxer?

We are in the process of setting up backordering service for $16 for basic backordering. You would be emailed when there is any change to the registration info, and when it is about to be released our backend script will automatically attempt to register it. If interested, PM me.

How many servers in how many locations will you have knocking on the registry's doors when the domain finally drops?

With the basic backordering for $16, we automatically attempt to register the domain name through our reseller accounts. If the domain is backordered at snapnames, there's a good chance the basic service won't get it, but we have grabbed some domains that were backordered with snapnames.

Vfxer says it's very unpopular which means the basic service might get it. It's for cases like that where it's probably not backordered but someone wants it as soon as it's released before someone else finds it available.

We also plan to offer 2 higher levels of backordering, with the highest one meaning we will place a backorder through snapnames, pool, Enom, and Godaddy, as well as trying to get it ourselves.

We've tested all 4 of them and our own script by backordering a few domains with each one and running our script at the same time, and each one, including our script, has beaten the others at least once. It's all a matter of which account attempts to register first within milliseconds of release.

That's why you need many servers in many locations