Help needed with purchasing someone else’s expiring domain in WordPress

  • Unknown's avatar
    onurxunal · Member ·

    Hi,

    I’m interested in purchasing a domain name that is currently registered with WordPress (Automattic) and is about to expire in a couple of weeks.

    The current owner purchased it through WordPress.com but never did anything with it and does not seem to be renewing it (the auto-renewal seems to have failed as well as we are well within the 30 day period before expiration).

    I’m a little confused about the expiration process. It is made clear that there is first a grace period, during which time the current owner may renew. And then there may be an auction. But there is no information on which site or where this auction may be held.

    I realize in the past, WordPress used external partners for registering domains, but for this domain in question, the registrar in the whois database is listed as “Automattic Inc.” so I’m assuming it is WordPress’s internal registrar.

    Could you let me know how to find out more about this auction and/or what the best way would be for me to acquire this domain name?

    Thanks so much

  • Unknown's avatar
    staartmees · Member ·

    You find all stages of domain expiration at https://wordpress.com/support/domains/domain-expiration/

    The auction is usually run by domain registrars or dedicated auction platforms, such as Sedo and Afternic and many more. They list the expired domains, allowing potential buyers to place their bids. Mind as this can be difficult and most of the time very expensive, also WordPress.com doesn’t get information about the domain expiration

    What about the domain name with another TLD – https://wordpress.com/support/domains/domain-pricing-and-available-tlds/

  • Unknown's avatar
    onurxunal · Member ·

    Thanks, I reviewed that page but the information is confusing (perhaps incorrect). It lists the auction stage as being between the grace period and the redemption period, which to me suggests an auction run by WordPress as opposed to dedicated third parties.

    The auctions run by dedicated third parties like snapnames, namejet etc. are done after the domain is released to the public, where these sites compete with each other to try to grab the domain as soon as possible (aka drop catch). And once they get it, if more than one user is interested, they hold an auction. But that’s after it’s been released by WordPress/Automattic.

    I’d like to get more clairification on the “Expiry Auction” stage that is mentioned on that support page that supposedly happens at the end of the grace period and before the redemption period.

    Thanks

  • Unknown's avatar
    staartmees · Member ·

    That auction is solely up to the registrar, not wordpress.com. wordpress.com doesn’t get any information whether the domain will be auctioned or not. Nor does the registrar give any information regarding a possible action.

  • Unknown's avatar
    onurxunal · Member ·

    The registrar here IS WordPress/Automattic. That is why I’m posting here as this is the only way to get in touch with the registrar that is Automattic, Inc (aka the company behind wordpress.com).

    Until the redemption period ends and the domain is released to public, Automattic, Inc. (wordpress.com) owns and controls the domain. If there is an auction done before the redemption period (before the release to public) as is suggested by that document you linked, it would have to be overseen by WordPress. That is what I’m asking about.

    Thanks

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