Domain Backorders becoming more "exclusive"

Keeping up with the inner workings of the competitive expired and deleted domains market is a daunting task. Jump back just two years and the scenario to backorder domains seemed simple enough:

Look over expired and deleted domains list. Check.
Login to account with favorite drop catcher. Check.
Backorder domains of choice. Check.
Pray to (add preffered higher entity) that you don't max out your credit card if your deleted number is caught and put up in auction. Check.

Note the if.
Securing a URL prize through a domain backorder service is never guaranteed. The estimated 90 million dollar (plus) revenues the deleted domains drop market brings in annually, makes this area of the industry one of the most heated.

Now let's jump forward to September 2004, when domain registration heavyweight Network Solutions and dropcatcher (recently turned auction model) SnapNames put one of the biggest kinks in the drop game ever......valuable Network Solution expiring domains wouldn't be deleted via the percieved norm of the expiration cycle anymore. Those backorder domain name slots (ones with a SN backorder) filled with Netsol domains would be handled exclusively in auctions at SnapNames.

Besides an uproar (and legal actions) from other dropcatchers and registrars....a snowball effect would quickly ensue. Registrar Dotster would propagate a similar relationship regarding it's warchest of TLD's with NameWinner (Dotster's backordering subsidiary). The Canadian expiring name grabber Pool would announce a first dib partnership vehicle with various registrars..... and now, industry rumors abound with yet another (Super Bowl sized) backorder domain gunner using resembling methods......Go Daddy... go!

The following is an excerpt from GD support when they were posed the question....

Are all back orders through DomainAlert for Godaddy domains that are expiring now "guaranteed" through this (DomainAlert) service?..

Support:

"...We still do not guarantee that the backorder will secure the domain, because it is still possible for the original owner to renew the domain while it is in the grace period, and also possible for the original owner to retrieve the domain from Redemption. However, if the original owner does not try to retrieve the domain during the grace or redemption period, then yes, you would be guaranteed to secure the domain with the Backorder as no other registrars would have access to the domain because it is still in our system..."

The initial question (not found in the excerpt) also referenced WildWestDomains.com domains.

Huge news that's very hush-hush considering this means a WWD and/or GD dropped domain would be guaranteed for under 20 bucks!....that is if your using a domain backorder service providing one of those first come first serve slots through DomainAlert. It should also be noted that the secretive deleted domains treasure trove supplied by the large registrar appears to effect recently registered GD and WWD domains. Conflicting rumours abound, but news worthy none the less.

  Perhaps the secrecy lies in a future change to auction model? It wouldn't be surprising....this is the drop market after all and as recent history has shown.....it changes all the time.

For more info drop catching services and domain backorders, check the backorder domains section.