The domain I'm interested in is expiring within about a week. It was registered two years ago and is listed for sale with no price specified. Would a backorder be the best way to go? How about the timing of the backorder - when would be best to do it? Is there any concern about tipping off the owner that someone is interested in the domain if I place a backorder? Or even just by checking on the status of the domain? Any recommendations on which backorder company would give me the best odds of picking up the domain?

Thanks for your help.

buy before it drops...

Fact: if it is a good domain, people have scripts now to "catch" the domain name... you don't stand a chance.

Fact: if it is a good domain, "top" domainers have agreements in place to get those domains first.

Fact: if it is a good domain, large businesses will outbid you for the name if it drops at an auction site.

Fact: it is best to purchase the domain (if a good domain) before it drops.

Fact: if a domain no one else (or limited number) of people are interested, you may be able to catch in a drop.

Heckwu is absolutely correct. Buying it from the existing owner cuts out all the competition, but does alert the existing owner to an interest in the domain. If you do not want to contact them, then place backorders as SnapNames/Pool and if regged at eNom then check out Clubdrop.

Answer is easy SnapNames/Pool .If you have money you can able to buy google.Money talks:)

Thanks Hekwu and Stu2. I don't think the name will be of much value to many people. It's personal rather than commercial. So I guess I will go with the backorder. Is there a way for a domain owner to know that his expiring domain has been backordered? Will he be informed that there is a bid if it goes up for auction? My fear is that he is about to let it go as he has not been able to sell it, but that somehow he will be alerted to a show of interest and renew the domain thereby forcing me to buy it from him. I imagine he would want considerably more than the $60 for the backorder (assuming no one else bids). What's the lower end of the scale that someone might reasonably want for a domain that they haven't been able to sell for a couple of years?

I guess I'll go with Snapnames or Pool. Do I need to do both? Is one more appropriate for specific situations, or should I just go with both for added insurance?

Thanks again guys.

Where is it registered? It's important. If regged at eNom then look for it in ClubDrop. If it's regged at GoDaddy/WildWestDomains/ /BlueRazor then look for it at TDNAM. If you don't find it there or if it's regged elsewhere, then place backorders at both SnapNames and Pool.

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That's just marketing BS. GoDaddy's backordering service is next to useless for most circumstances.

Godaddy rarely beats Snapnames or Pool. They did once out of the last couple dozen domains I backordered.