It seems and i've noticed this a few times. I went to see if a domain was available the day before yesterday, it was and I was going to register it today. it's been registered.
This has happened to me a few different times. Do domain registrars like register.com (the one I happen to search on) give out search results to buyers so they can buy and markup the price?
it puzzle's me

some registrars log the whois/search results
uunscrupulous ones register them anyway knowing they can delete them, but this forcing the searcher to come back and buy from them
others sell the logs onwards to speculators or a domaining department within the organisation
the only advice would be to avoid anyone who does this and treat them like the cowboys they are, and never use their "availbility checkers" and name-and-shame those that do it.

I've always used Namecheap.com for my WHOIS searching and never found a problem.

Well, register.com does it.
I'll try Namecheap out any other suggestions?

Godaddy doesn't do it--I've tested it with names that I didn't want and then waited hours and days to make sure they didn't register them.
Regardless of where you shop google for some current coupons.

Google for coupons?

Google for coupons?
Pay $9.00 or $10.00 a domain or look for coupons on a search engine like Google--you might get them for $7.00

I've always used Namecheap.com for my WHOIS searching and never found a problem.Me too! I usually use either Namecheap or GoDaddy WHOIS to check domains availble and have no problems as well!

i suggest using 3rd party whois searches if youre not yet ready to register the domain names.. who.is is good.. its always a safer option and you get an un-(registrar)-branded whois result..

This has happened to me a few different times.
I realize some people think the likelihood of someone registering the domain name they looked up but didn't take is probably small. But given that bookstores or car dealers can't even guarantee the last book copy or last model on stock will still be there if they're not bought on the spot, why think registrars can ensure domain names will remain available as well?
Anyway, I seriously doubt Register.com would risk whatever reputation they have by selling their search results to would-be buyers. Various registrars like Go Daddy and Network Solutions have also been accused by others of such, and both have already told the powers-that-be (namely ICANN) to subsequently do something.
Simple lesson is be ready to register the available domain name on the spot, and don't expect it to remain that way if it's not taken there and then. Unrealistic expectations tend to create otherwise avoidable problems.

It seems and i've noticed this a few times. I went to see if a domain was available the day before yesterday, it was and I was going to register it today. it's been registered.
This has happened to me a few different times. Do domain registrars like register.com (the one I happen to search on) give out search results to buyers so they can buy and markup the price?
it puzzle's me
Clear your cookies if you are using register.com
Also are you using the free service?

I realize some people think the likelihood of someone registering the domain name they looked up but didn't take is probably small. But given that bookstores or car dealers can't even guarantee the last book copy or last model on stock will still be there if they're not bought on the spot, why think registrars can ensure domain names will remain available as well?
Anyway, I seriously doubt Register.com would risk whatever reputation they have by selling their search results to would-be buyers. Various registrars like Go Daddy and Network Solutions have also been accused by others of such, and both have already told the powers-that-be (namely ICANN) to subsequently do something.
Simple lesson is be ready to register the available domain name on the spot, and don't expect it to remain that way if it's not taken there and then. Unrealistic expectations tend to create otherwise avoidable problems.
I agree. Also in most cases it's the Registry selling the searches.
To the OP. wait six days after it was registered. It's probably being tasted and will drop after 5 days. Then register it at your Registrar of choice.

Thanks for the input. I know this has happened to me with register.com and I know now that the domain in question whois results are in u.k. and a company called media14 registered it.
Maybe it was a domain that two people were thinking of at the exact same time.

How odd...This conversation just popped up on another forum just this week. On the other forum however, people were accusing all registrars of monitoring searches. It's really unfortunate that this is still seems to be happening to folks.
Earlier in 2008, ICANN modified some regulations (http://www.dotsauce.com/2008/01/29/the-end-of-domain-tasting) that put the kibosh on domain tasting, effectively ending some registrar practices (http://www.dotsauce.com/2008/01/08/networksolutions-scandal-hijacking-domain-searches) that many domainers found unsavory.

Earlier in 2008, ICANN modified some regulations (http://www.dotsauce.com/2008/01/29/the-end-of-domain-tasting) that put the kibosh on domain tasting, effectively ending some registrar practices (http://www.dotsauce.com/2008/01/08/networksolutions-scandal-hijacking-domain-searches) that many domainers found unsavory.
IMHO it won't eliminate domain tasting. If anything, it can cut it down.

IMHO it won't eliminate domain tasting. If anything, it can cut it down.
It has become too expensive for a registrar to allow tasting. It creates a significant financial loss for a company. It's also killed Kiting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_kiting), which IMHO is one of the most unscrupulous things I've heard of in domaining.