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Becoming Remotive.com

blog.remotive.com

11–20 of 74 posts

Re: Becoming Remotive.com

#11

Not wanting to point fingers or start conspiracy theories, but what guarantee is there that GoDaddy didn't squat this domain? They had an employee act as "broker", and it seems there was little information about the original owner revealed. I ask because, years ago, I had a few friends tell me that they searched a domain name on a few registrars, found them available, then upon trying to buy them found that they were…

GoDaddy absolutely squats recent searches. So so many other registrars. It’s been like that for many years now and has been proven time and time again.

The only registrar I trust currently is Namecheap. They’re not perfect but they don’t do any major dark patterns.

Re: Becoming Remotive.com

#12

Not wanting to point fingers or start conspiracy theories, but what guarantee is there that GoDaddy didn't squat this domain? They had an employee act as "broker", and it seems there was little information about the original owner revealed. I ask because, years ago, I had a few friends tell me that they searched a domain name on a few registrars, found them available, then upon trying to buy them found that they were…

This used to be widespread. The registrar can reserve the name for up to 48 hours IIRC without itself having to pay.

Godaddy in particular would justify the behaviour by "ensuring that nobody would snatch the names that it already said you could register". Of course, it was always obvious that this was to prevent you from registering them with someone else.

Re: Becoming Remotive.com

#13

Not wanting to point fingers or start conspiracy theories, but what guarantee is there that GoDaddy didn't squat this domain? They had an employee act as "broker", and it seems there was little information about the original owner revealed. I ask because, years ago, I had a few friends tell me that they searched a domain name on a few registrars, found them available, then upon trying to buy them found that they were…

[deleted]

Re: Becoming Remotive.com

#14

Not wanting to point fingers or start conspiracy theories, but what guarantee is there that GoDaddy didn't squat this domain? They had an employee act as "broker", and it seems there was little information about the original owner revealed. I ask because, years ago, I had a few friends tell me that they searched a domain name on a few registrars, found them available, then upon trying to buy them found that they were…

It's called domain name front running. GoDaddy in particular has been accused of this in the past here on HN and have responded to it[0].

Use a trustworthy registrar when you can, avoid GoDaddy or Namecheap.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24506303

Re: Becoming Remotive.com

#15
It’s just not that hard to come up with a unique name that still has an available .com, I do it regularly for clients and have done for 20 odd years. Yes it’s gotten harder, but it’s still absolutely possible. Even short (sub-10 char) pronounceable names are still available if you just spend some time looking.

There’s NO reason to pay 5 figures for a .com unless you can drop that amount of money without even thinking about it, and doing so when you’re a bootstrapped startup is basically irresponsible.

Re: Becoming Remotive.com

#16
post #6

I thought ICANN can forcibly transfer a domain that is not being used to another entity who can prove a legitimate need for it? That was supposed to end a lot of domain squatting, especially since web addresses are kind of crucial to modern companies and in the wild west of the internet, anyone can setup e.g. cocacola.org or something and start trying to steal your customers.

Your example is quite bad since that would be an example of trademark infringement. That isn't what general domain squatting is about

Re: Becoming Remotive.com

#17

Not wanting to point fingers or start conspiracy theories, but what guarantee is there that GoDaddy didn't squat this domain? They had an employee act as "broker", and it seems there was little information about the original owner revealed. I ask because, years ago, I had a few friends tell me that they searched a domain name on a few registrars, found them available, then upon trying to buy them found that they were…

This absolutely happens.

If I can find the time I plan to write some code to gather enough evidence to make a substantial case to prove registrars doing it.

It's happened multiple times to me with one particular registrar.

Re: Becoming Remotive.com

#18

You should never buy a domain like that. This just show that it work and make the domain parking business profitable. Stop buying those domain and it will kill that awful business...

Most care more about optimizing their own outcomes than spiting domain squatters.

Re: Becoming Remotive.com

#19
post #11

Not wanting to point fingers or start conspiracy theories, but what guarantee is there that GoDaddy didn't squat this domain? They had an employee act as "broker", and it seems there was little information about the original owner revealed. I ask because, years ago, I had a few friends tell me that they searched a domain name on a few registrars, found them available, then upon trying to buy them found that they were…

GoDaddy absolutely squats recent searches. So so many other registrars. It’s been like that for many years now and has been proven time and time again. The only registrar I trust currently is Namecheap. They’re not perfect but they don’t do any major dark patterns.

[deleted]

Re: Becoming Remotive.com

#20
I wonder if the author's previous blog post about spending an enormous amount of money for a previous .com domain tipped the domain name squatter off that the author would be willing to pay big bucks.
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