Twice now I have been burned searching for domain names on GoDaddy and a few days later when I went to go buy a domain name that was available previously it was taken. I think they share the list of searches with their resellers and cherry pick the good ones. So a word to the wise, do not use GoDaddy to search for domain names of if you do then buy it right away, don't wait.

I thought this was old news. I forget the exact term, but yeah - don't do a web-based WHOIS at some registrar and then take a day to decide whether you want the domain.

And if you do, wait a few days, don't go to the site at all so that they decide to let it go within the return period, and you may get it again.

Just use domaintools for checking. I have never hear such stories, maybe that is only coincidence?

It's called front running, or domain tasting.

Network Solutions is known for doing it.

Here's a page from my website that talks about this:

http://www.website-building-4-newbies.com/domain_name_availability.html

I hope it's helpful.

Janet

Some related, not 100% on Godaddy, but I avoid web-based WHOIS anyway, or set up my own. This one is rather easy to set up solely for checking:

http://wp-whois-proxy.sourceforge.net/

Some articles from months ago:

http://www.dailydomainer.com/200775-domain-tasting-monitoring-searches.html
http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/12/28/1458247

Thank you, this information is better than what I have on my website. I'll update it today.

Janet

I've been scorched a few times that way.

I think certain ISP's have been known to sell/pass on some of that data

Whats the best way of searching for domains to avoid this problem?

Whats the best way of searching for domains to avoid this problem?

Go straight to the source where all registrars check for .com:

http://registrar.verisign-grs.com/whois

Go to pir.org for .org, neulevel.biz for .biz, etc. There's another way but it's rather technical.

Oh, and be ready to register the domain name on the spot with your preferred registrar. No one can guarantee the one you wanted that's available will remain that way by the time you get around to it.

Thanks Dave Zan,
I will try the links to search from now on,, just pisses u off when that happens, i will be more precautious next time...

Thanks