GoDaddy buying domains when they expire to extort their own users • Hacker News Board

Re: GoDaddy buying domains when they expire to extort their own users

#21

Post by paxys » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 2:56 AM UTC

emodendroket wrote: post #17

paxys wrote: post #15

So the author didn't set their domain on auto renew, ignored all warning emails and let it expire. Then someone (probably a bot) bought it and put it back up for sale, for an amount more than the author is willing to pay. And somehow this is all GoDaddy's fault? Where is the "scam" exactly?

It sounds like the claim is GoDaddy themselves are squatting on domains their customers fail to re-register. According to previous reports they also do this to domains prospective customers search for.

That’s the claim, yes, but there’s nothing to back it up. What makes her think that GoDaddy bought the domain and not like literally anyone else on the planet?

Re: GoDaddy buying domains when they expire to extort their own users

#22

Post by scifibestfi » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 5:22 AM UTC

skeeter2020 wrote: post #3

First, GoDaddy is a garbage company and I would avoid using them. It is very hard to purchase a domain without agreeing to some other high-margin, bs-service add-on. The dark patterns are off the charts. That said, you did let your domain expire. This is really tough to do unless you're not getting admin reminders (I think you get 3 before it expires?). If your domain is important or valauble why would you save a pid…

They must not be aware that this was a common thing before GoDaddy joined. It happens to most domains that get traffic? These domain buyers all suck.

Re: GoDaddy buying domains when they expire to extort their own users

#23

Post by snehk » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 6:13 AM UTC

This has happened to like ten years ago. Had a domain with my last name and after it expired, someone bought it and kept it for a year. The last name is absolutely uncommon and there are about ten people world wide who have it. It's also not a name for another thing or anything. I always wondered why someone would even spend money on it.

Re: GoDaddy buying domains when they expire to extort their own users

#24

Post by hericium » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 6:38 AM UTC

fleddr wrote: post #14

Not sure if still a thing, but years ago some registrars would register an available domain as you searched for it. They could do this instantly, at zero or near-zero costs, and then release it later if the purchase did not go through. In other words, be careful which tool you use to search for the availability of domains.

GoDaddy was the undisputed champion of this scam.

Re: GoDaddy buying domains when they expire to extort their own users

#25

Post by gofarty » Wed, Dec 28, 2022, 8:59 AM UTC

I hate godaddy, they renewed my hosting without my consent, and the price went from around 15-20$ a year, to a $400 charge!!! ANd THEY REFUSED TO GIVE THE MONEY BACK WHEN I CALLED THEM. THEY ARE THE WORST.