I realized earlier today that I couldn't access my website. A little investigation showed that the domain name appears to have been snapped up by "Ultimate Search" since august 18.

I had no idea it was going to expire, but it turned out that I registered for two years on August 9, 2000.

EDIT: I have previously posted that they snapped it up on the 8th. I was wrong. It was the 18, as it says now.

By the way, the domain name is snsware.com .

I have continued to receive email through that domain name even tonight. I've been using it as my primary email address, which makes this even more troubling.

So, is there any hope of getting it back or is it gone forever? I can't imagine why anybody would want it. My website doesn't generate a large amount of traffic, and I'm in no position to pay large amounts of noney for it.

I already went ahead and registered for snsware.net for the next 5 years, but I really want the .com back.

Good luck ;)

Originally posted by Tygur
So, is there any hope of getting it back or is it gone forever?

Only gone until the current registration period expires ;)

You could try contacting them and see if they will sell it back to you. It really depends on how bad you want the domain name back.

Good luck :)

I've known them to return domains once contacted and asked nicely.

SoftWareRevue,

Could you kindly elaborate a bit about your experience of contacting the (in)famous Ultsearch (Ultimate Search) or that of the others you heard of (and how you come to know that)? I'm VERY curious since, on the contrary, I've heard that they never return calls. Thanks.

As you have certainly guessed by now, there is no legal course for your to take to get your name back. You let it expire and someone else bought it. You should probably contact them and offer to buy back your name. They are now the legal owners. They may be quite reasonable - you'll never know till you ask.

-t

Originally posted by nameslave
SoftWareRevue,

Could you kindly elaborate a bit about your experience of contacting the (in)famous Ultsearch (Ultimate Search) or that of the others you heard of (and how you come to know that)? I'm VERY curious since, on the contrary, I've heard that they never return calls. Thanks. I know that they're very good at snagging names. However, I do know of some that have gotten them back for just the registration fees.
I, also, know of some that don't get close to getting their name back.
The point is, if the thread starter doesn't ask, he won't know which group he falls in.

Personally, I think UltSearch is evil. And, thus, there may be more in the "not got back" group than there are in the "me happy now" group. But, it does happen. If you want specific examples, PM me and I'll dig some up.

Originally posted by SoftWareRevue
I've known them to return domains once contacted and asked nicely.
I hope you're right. In the original panic, I fired off two emails to the people I registered the domain with (I know now that those are useles), and one to UltSearch. I just hope they're willing to sell it back at a reasonable price.


What I can't understand is why they snapped it up to begin with. I don't get enormous amounts of traffic. The only search engine that actually delivers people to it is Google. It's not even a business website. All I really have on my website is freeware programs, so the site certainly isn't paying me anything.

ultsearch - is in my opinoin usiung lame business tactics....

I agree with interactive. Ultsearch probably knew your site was going to expire and figured you'd want it back, so they bought it hoping they could make profit from you.

The truth is: Ultsearch (or Yun Ye) is a BIG TIME domain speculator with VERY deep pocket. I don't think he is interested in "blackmailing" such a "small" business (as Tygur said). My guess would be that he simply thinks snsware.com has the traffic he needs.