NameJet - Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find many answers to common questions about the details of how things are done here at NameJet. Use the links to the right to help find what you're looking for.

General

Where do domains auctioned at NameJet come from?

Every day thousands of domain names expire and become available for registration because the name was not renewed by the registrant. NameJet is a domain auction service that allows its users to register expired and deleted domain names as well as special listed domains from registrar partners and other third party registrants. NameJet has the exclusive rights to auction expired domains from Network Solutions and eNom.

What is the difference between a Backorder request and a Domain auction?

A Backorder request is an expression of interest for a domain name. By placing a Backorder request, a customer has placed a commitment to participate in an auction and pay at least their Backorder bid amount if the domain becomes available and the backorder meets the listed minimum bid amount. The customer has the option of retracting a Backorder request until the published deadline and time posted, if the backorder bid was at the minimum bid amount. Placing a Backorder request for a domain name will result in a private auction between all parties who backordered a specific domain meeting the minimum bid requirements, when the domain becomes available on our site. If there is only one Backorder request for a domain, the domain will be fulfilled at the Backorder price if it meets the minimum bid. If there are multiple Backorder requests at or above the minimum bid amount, a 3-day domain auction will be held for registration rights to the domain.

Where do I manage a domain name after I have won an auction on NameJet?

NameJet lists expired and deleted domain names from multiple registrars, and when you win one it is placed in an account created for you at that registrar. When the account is created, the registrar will send you a welcome email with the login and account details. NameJet puts all future domains you win from this partner into this same account and notifies you by email each time we place a domain in it.

How will I know which account my domain is placed into?

NameJet will notify you by email with the registrar and account name when your domain name is awarded.

What if I don't have an account at the registrar that has supplied the domain name that I purchased through a NameJet auction?

NameJet will automatically create an account for you, at the registrar who supplied the domain, the first time you win a domain there. The registrar will send you a welcome email with the login and account details. NameJet puts all future domains you win from this partner into this same account.

Can I use my eNom®, eNomCentral™, or BulkRegister™ account to log in to NameJet?

As of April 24, 2008, NameJet accounts are independent of eNom, eNomCentral, and BulkRegister accounts. If you already have a NameJet account at that time, your NameJet login ID will remain unchanged but you will be prompted to change your password the first time you log in. Your login and password will not change on eNom, eNomCentral, or BulkRegister.

Can I use my Network Solutions® account to Backorder domains and manage my NameJet auction account?

Your accounts at Network Solutions and NameJet are separate. The first time you win a Network Solutions name, NameJet creates an account at Network Solutions, puts the domains in it, and sends you an email with login information for the account. If you wish, you may transfer the domain to other accounts, at Network Solutions or elsewhere, subject to the user agreements of the registrars involved.

How do I pay for domain names purchased through auction that exceed $5,000?

For auctions of $5,000 or more, NameJet requires full payment via wire transfer. NameJet allows 7 calendar days for you to make a wire transfer into your account. Any completed auction or domain purchase in excess of $5,000 will have a "pending payment" status until the wire transfer funds are received, regardless of your account balance. If you fail to submit full payment via wire transfer during this 7-day period, NameJet will re-auction the domain and your account will be suspended. Wire Transfer Instructions.

Backorders

What is a domain Backorder?

NameJet is a service that allows its users to register expired and deleted domain names. Every day, thousands of domains expire and become available for purchase through the NameJet auction service. Backordering a domain allows you to register expired domains with the registrar of record after the applicable registrar grace period has passed (Pre-Release), or the minute it becomes available after being deleted by the registry (Pending Delete). If the domain name is not currently listed, you can still enter it as a Wishlist Backorder and we will change that Backorder automatically when it comes up on our site.

How much do Backorders cost?

There is no cost to place a Backorder request using the NameJet service. Domain name auction winners on NameJet will be required to pay the Backorder amount entered by the user for single bidder auctions and will pay the highest winning bid auction price for any multi-bidder auctions.

Which domain name extensions (TLDs) can I Backorder through NameJet?

You can currently backorder only .COM, .NET, .ORG, .BIZ, .INFO, .TV, .ME and .MOBI domains.

When will the domain name show up in my registrar account?

Any domains you successfully registered through the NameJet auction platform will be placed in your registrar account typically within three business days after winning the auction and will be followed with an e-mail confirmation from NameJet. The e-mail confirmation will be your indication that the domain is now available for you to manage in your registrar account.

Pre-Release

What is a Pre-Release name?

Pre-Release domain names are expired names provided through exclusive partnerships with some of the largest and oldest domain name registrars in the industry. NameJet gives you exclusive access to some of the best expired domain names in the industry.

How do I get a Pre-Release domain name?

A list of all Pre-Release domains is updated daily and published on NameJet.com. Letters, numbers and fonts can be interpreted differently, please verify the spelling is as you expect before placing bids, as there are no refunds on auctions. These domains can then be backordered in the same manner as our Pending Delete domains. If there is only one Backorder request for a domain meeting the minimum bid amount, the auction will immediately close and the Backorder amount entered by the user will be charged. If there are multiple bidders who have placed a Backorder request for the domain at or above the listed minimum, a 3-day private auction will occur beginning on the release date.

When can I enter, edit and delete a Pre-Release Backorder?

We publish on the website the Pre-Release Backorder deadline which also applies to editing and deleting Pre-Release Backorders (usually 8PM PT the night before the auction). Please note that only minimum bid Backorder requests can be deleted.

When do Pre-Release Auctions begin?

Auctions will generally start between 11AM and 2PM (PT) on the day after the published Backorder deadline. An email will be sent with the exact start and ending date/time for every auction.

What is "Auction Lock" and why is it placed on Pre-Release domain names supplied by eNom?

If a Pre-Release domain name is supplied by eNom, upon receipt of your auction payment the domain enters an Escrow Holding Period known as Auction Lock. This holding period lasts for 42 days following the completion of the auction. During this period, the domain cannot be transferred, the WHOIS cannot be updated or changed to anyone other than the successful bidder, nor can you push the domain to another account. BulkRegister also enforces "auction Lock". Other registrar partners of NameJet may have different holding periods, or may not follow these rules.

Wish List Backorders

What is a Wishlist Backorder?

Most of our users don't want to monitor every day the Pre-Release and Pending Delete published lists for every domain they wish to have. In this case we allow you to Backorder as many names not about to expire as a Wishlist Backorder. We will send you an email when the name comes up as a Pre-Release or Pending Delete and change the status of your Backorder automatically. At that point you will just need to verify that your Backorder meets the minimum Backorder bid amount. Once your Backorder meets the minimum amount, that Backorder is treated as a regular Pre-Release or Pending Delete Backorder. If you do not increase your bid to the minimum amount, you will not be entered into the auction that follows.

When can I edit or delete a Wishlist Backorder?

As long as your Backorder is still a Wishlist Backorder you can delete or change your Backorder bid anytime. Unlike Pre-Release and Pending Delete Backorders, a Wishlist domain can be deleted at any time with any amount.

What will happen if my Wishlist Bid is below the minimum amount for a Pre-Release or Pending Delete Backorder?

When your Wishlist Backorder transitions to a Pre-Release or Pending Delete Backorder, there may be a chance that it doesn't meet the minimum bid amount needed. If you do not increase your bid to that amount, you will not be entered in the auction that follows, and your Backorder will be returned to a Wishlist Backorder.

Pending Delete

How does Pending Delete work?

Each day NameJet publishes a list of domains scheduled to be deleted by the associated registry. NameJet customers may submit Backorder requests from this list so that our registrar partners will attempt to acquire the name upon its release for re-registration. Once the domain name is acquired by one of our registrar partners, NameJet will start a private auction with only the customers who previously backordered that domain at or above the minimum bid amount. If only one customer placed a backorder request at or above the listed minimum, the auction is closed immediately after registration, the name is awarded to the winner, and payment for the auction is processed.

How do I know which domains are in Pending Delete?

NameJet will publish a list of all names that are scheduled to delete from the registries 5 days prior to the expected deletion date. These names can be browsed through the interface, searched through the advanced search functionality or a file may be downloaded from the NameJet site. Letters, numbers and fonts can be interpreted differently, please verify the spelling is as you expect before placing bids, as there are no refunds on auctions.

Does NameJet guarantee that it can get every domain with a Backorder request from the Pending Delete List?

No. There is great demand for some deleted domains. Our registrar partners will make an attempt to acquire every deleted domain with a Backorder request. However, other registrars are competing for many of the same names. If you feel a domain is a high value domain or your have a strong desire to get the name, it is recommended that you submit a Backorder bid higher than the minimum auction price as a way to indicate to our systems that the name is in great demand. Our registrar partners typically increase the system resources and prioritize the acquisition of domains with higher than minimum bids.

When can I Backorder Pending Delete domains?

Backorder requests may be placed on domain names at any point during their registration term. However, if a name is in Pending Delete status with the registry, it is recommended that you immediately place a request for the name at NameJet. You can enter, edit, and delete Pending Delete Backorder requests up until the published deadline on the website (usually 9AM PT for .COM and .NET and 4AM or 5AM PT for .ORG, depending on daylight schedule). Please note that only minimum bid Backorder requests can be deleted.

How many domains can I input into my list each day?

Verified NameJet customers may enter a maximum of 500 Backorder requests on Pending Delete domains per day. NameJet customers who are not yet a verified bidder will be able to add up to 10 domains per day to their Backorder request list. See Verified Bidder page.

If I Backorder Pending Delete domains more than once, am I more likely to get it?

No. Customers only need to submit a Backorder request once to ensure that our registrar partners will attempt to register the domain. NameJet will scrub your Backorder request list for any duplicate names. To increase your chances of acquiring a Pending Delete domain name, it is suggested that you submit a higher Backorder amount so that our registrar partners use more system resources to attempt to get the name.

Is there any advantage to Backorder Pending Delete domains with a higher amount?

Yes. The more accounts and the higher the combined dollar amounts, the more system resources our registrar partners will utilize in an attempt to acquire the domain when it is deleted at the registry. If NameJet is successful at getting the name through one of our registrar partners, a private auction starts at the highest Backorder amount if there are multiple bidders for that domain.

What if another NameJet customer wants the same domain?

NameJet has a competitive bidding process through a multi-bidder auction process. If two or more customers place a Backorder request for the same name, NameJet registers the domain, and the name will go into a private 3-day auction where only customers with previous Backorder requests may participate in the auction.

What happens in the event of two identical, auction bid minimums and neither customer submits a higher bid?

If two or more customers make a Backorder request for the same amount (tie) and no one bids any higher during the multi-bidder auction, the domain will be awarded to the customer who first submitted the Backorder request with NameJet.

Bidding

What do I have to do before I can bid on domains?

First create a free account at NameJet. NameJet accepts bids from bidders who are logged into their NameJet account and have a valid credit card on file.

What does pending auction mean on my Backorder list?

Once the deadline to update or delete a domain from your backorder list has lapsed, the domain is frozen and no changes to the bid amount can take place, nor can you delete it. It will show as "pending auction" on your backorder list and the delete box will be grayed out. The domain will transition to an auction typically within 24 hours after the deadline and will be found on the "my auctions" page.

How does the NameJet bidding process work?

Customers must submit a Backorder request and commit to paying at least their Backorder bid amount (this is NOT a proxy bid). If the backorder request was a Wishlist Backorder (a name that was not listed on our website as Pending Delete or Pre-Release) and comes up on our site as either a Pre-Release or a Pending Delete Backorder, you will need to verify that your initial bid meets the listed Minimum Backorder bid amount. If you are the only bidder (and the name is acquired in the case of Pending Delete), you get the domain for the Backorder bid amount you submitted during the Backorder request. If two or more customers backordered the same domain, a private auction is held where only the previous bidders will be allowed to bid, where the highest Backorder amount is the leading bidder or earliest bidder if tied. Once the auction has started, participants will be able to bid with "Proxy Bids" which allows the system to automatically place bids on your behalf up to your desired Max Bid amount. If a bid is submitted any time during the final five minutes, the auction is extended an additional 5 minutes from the time that bid is accepted. The auction will continue to be extended in 5 minute increments until no further bids are received. The auction will close after 5 minutes have lapsed without any new bids.

What if I find out there is a trademark on a domain I am bidding for, or it is not spelled as I expected?

A buyer should always use caution and double check any domain they are buying is not a typo or is actually numbers instead of letters There are no refunds after an auction has closed when you win a name that is spelled differently than you originally thought, or you later find there is a trademark associated with the domain. We urge you to investigate to see whether the domain name you select infringes legal rights of others before backordering a domain and making a commitment to pay for auctions awarded to you.

How much can I bid for a domain?

You must agree to at least pay your Backorder bid amount which meets the minimum bid requirements. The minimum bid increment is $10 until the bid amount reaches $1,000. At the $1,000 level, the minimum bid increment will increase to $100. The maximum (all combined active auctions) bid amount for non-verified NameJet customers is $2,500. See Verified Bidder page.

Is this a blind bidding process?

No. The current highest bid will be published in the Backorder and Auction sections of the NameJet website.

How do I pay for my purchases?

You can pay for domains in two ways: credit card or wire transfer. If you anticipate that your purchases will be small and infrequent, you may simply wish to let us charge your credit card each time you win a domain. The more frequent and larger your purchases, the more likely you will prefer to send wire transfers to establish an account balance, which we debit when we award you a name. All domains over $5000 must be paid by wire transfer.

What if I win a bid and do not have enough funds to cover the cost?

We will attempt to debit the winner's NameJet account or bill the credit card on file for up to 7 days for non-verified bidders, and 14 days for those accounts with a Verified Bidder status. If the winner has insufficient funds to pay for the domain, the account status will change to Past Due, and you will not be able to participate in new auctions until the auctions are within the allowed grace period. You will receive daily email reminders listing domains that have been awarded but are still pending payment. In addition, you can view your Reports online to see which domains are pending payment. Accounts that fail to pay during the Past Due period will be closed.

Why should I submit a higher bid on Pending Delete Backorders if there will be an auction afterwards?

Registrars have a limited amount of system resources to connect to a registry for registering deleted domain names. NameJet will use more resources to acquire domains with higher bid amounts. If all customers bid the minimum amount on a domain, there is no indication that a specific domain is perceived as more valuable, and therefore, more resources may not be used to acquire it. To indicate to our Registrar partners that this domain is important to acquire, it is highly recommended that you place a bid close to the amount you are willing to pay for the name.

What is proxy bidding during an auction?

A proxy bid represents the highest amount you are willing to bid for a particular domain in an auction (not applicable for Backorders). Once you enter a proxy bid, the proxy bidding system will increment bids by $10 when the current bid is under $1,000, and increment it by $100 when the current bid is over $1,000, up to your maximum bid. Proxy bidding allows you to set your maximum bid amount without having to watch the auction in real time to attempt to outbid other bidders. The proxy bidding capability will only auto-bid to an amount that will enable you to be the highest bidder for a domain. If other participants continue to submit bids, the auto-bid process will bid on your behalf until the amount reaches your maximum bid amount.

What is the Verified Bidder program?

NameJet’s Verified Bidder program is a free, opt-in program that allows serious customers to bid on more names, and at higher dollar values. If you want to place auction bids over $2500 total, or backorder more than 10 domain names, you must be a Verified Bidder. To register, simply complete and fax the Verified Bidder Request form from the Verified Bidder page, with a photo ID that matches the credit card we have on file.

Are there any other fees for using NameJet in addition to my bid on a domain name that I have won?

NameJet charges only the final bid amount on domain name auctions where you were the winning bidder. There are no hidden costs or fees to place a Backorder request or create an account with NameJet.

What is a reserve?

Some auctions may have a reserve. An auction reserve is the minimum price for which the seller will accept in order to sell the domain. The reserve amount is not made public. Your bids are accepted even if the reserve has not been met. However no sale will be finalized at the end of the auction unless the reserve price is met. If you enter a proxy bid, your bid will be raised to the amount that will meet the reserve (up to your high bid). Visit the auction details page to determine if the reserve was met or see it in on the "My Auctions" page if you are a bidder.

Auctions

What is a private auction?

If two or more customers have backordered the same domain, the name will go into a 3-day private auction for registration rights to the domain. Only customers that have previously placed a Backorder are allowed to participate in the 3-day private auction.

How do I know if my Backordered domain is part of a private auction?

You will be notified by NameJet via email if the domain you backordered has been entered into a private auction. You can also find all the auctions in which you are participating in the My Account > My Auctions page.

What is the starting bid for a private auction?

The minimum bid in the private auction will be the highest Backorder amount entered previously by a customer meeting the minimum bid amount. Bids will increase in increments of at least $10 until the highest bid reaches $1,000. Bid amounts over $1,000 will increase at least in increments of $100. The maximum combined bid amount for a non-verified NameJet customer is $2,500.

How long does a private auction last?

Users will be allowed to enter bids for the private auction for three days, unless a bid is placed in the last 5 minutes of the auction. If there is a bid during the last 5 minutes of the private auction, the closing process will extend for an additional 5 minutes from the time that bid is accepted to allow for additional bids. If additional bids are received within that next 5 minute time period, the auction will continue to be extended in 5 minute increments until no further bids are received. At the conclusion of the bidding process, the highest bidder will receive the registration rights to the domain name.

What is a public auction?

A public auction only takes place if a customer failed to remit payment for a previously auctioned domain name where the private auction was older than 30 days. Public auctions are open to all users except the previous winner in the private auction that failed to remit payment.

How will I be informed of the public auction?

Previous bidders of a domain name that will be placed into public auction will be notified by email that the domain name is available to be bid on again. Customers can also view any domains that are in public auction by going to: Browse Domains > Public Auctions.

What is the starting bid for a public auction?

The starting bid for a public auction will be at the minimum bid. If you were the previous winner in an auction for the domain that failed to remit payment, you will not be allowed to enter the public auction.

How long does a public auction last?

Users will be allowed to enter bids for the public auction for three days, unless a bid is placed in the last 5 minutes of the auction. If there is a bid during the last 5 minutes of the public auction, the closing process will extend for an additional 5 minutes from the time that bid is accepted to allow for additional bids. If additional bids are received within that next 5 minute time period, the auction will continue to be extended in 5 minute increments until no further bids are received. At the conclusion of the bidding process, the highest bidder will receive the registration rights to the domain name.

What if someone fails to pay for an auction?

If it has been 7 days or less since the end date of the first private auction, we will relist the name in a new PRIVATE auction. NameJet will carry forward all bidders in good standing (excluding the bidder that did not pay,) with their final bids from the last auction. If it has been 8 – 30 days since the end date of the first auction, we will relist the name in a new PRIVATE auction. NameJet will carry forward all bidders in good standing (excluding the bidder that did not pay), but will reset the bids to the minimum bid. Initial bid dates are retained, with the highest bidder being the account that entered the domain on their backorder list first. If it has been 31 or more days since the end date of the first auction, we will relist the name in a new PUBLIC auction. NameJet will carry forward all bidders in good standing (excluding the bidder that did not pay), but will reset the bids to the minimum bid. Initial bid dates are retained, with the highest bidder being the account that entered the domain on their backorder list first.

How long do I have to pay for an auction?

The NameJet agreement states you will pay for the domain upon demand (when the auction closes). However, we will provide a courtesy extension of 7 days to pay for domains for non-verified bidders, and up to 14 days for accounts with a Verified Bidder status. If you fail to pay for an auction within the allowed grace period, your account will go into a "Past Due" status and all bidding functionalities of your account will deactivated. Failure to bring your account current will result in closure of your NameJet account.

Where can I find my auction due dates?

Courtesy emails reminders are sent each night and may contain a partial or full list of auctions pending payment or in past due statue. For complete and current listings, it is your responsibility to log into your account and go to the MY ACCOUNT > REPORTS page, Filter by "Pending Payment". All domains are due by a specific date and time. All times are in Pacific Time. NameJet cannot alter the order your auctions are processed. NameJet will always attempt to process the OLDEST auction (End Date) first, regardless of "Due By" date or amount.

Can I get an extension on the due date if I need more time?

No. All domains must be paid by the “Due By” date as listed on your Report. No additional extensions will be granted beyond your grace period.

What does "Past Due" status mean?

If you fail to pay for an auction within the allowed grace period, your account will go into a "Past Due" status and all bidding functionalities of your account will be deactivated. At that time no backorders will be added to active auctions, you will not be able to bid on any auctions, you cannot add to your backorder list, and no new auctions will be awarded to you.

How do I pay for auctions with a "Past Due" status?

Please log into your account and update the credit card information on the MY ACCOUNT > SETTINGS > CREDIT CARD INFO page as soon as possible so you do not lose any valuable names. We will automatically attempt to process the name(s) several times a day until the payment required date. You may also make payments by following the provided links from within your account. If you do not make payment on your Past Due orders during the allowed time, your account will be closed for non-payment.

Once I pay for "Past Due" auctions, when will I be able to bid again?

Once you bring your account current, these features will automatically be enabled. You will be able to bid on active auctions found on your MY ACTIONS page. If you missed the deadline to add domains to your backorder list, you cannot be added to any auctions that started during this time. Likewise you will have missed the opportunity to bid on any auctions that closed while your account was in a Past Due status.

What happens if I am unable to pay for auctions in a "Past Due" status?

Your account will be closed for non-payment if NameJet does not receive payment by the required date for past due auctions. This information is made available to you through your account and through daily email communications from us. You have forfeited any claims to the domains previously awarded to you. As your account is closed, backorders will not convert to auctions, and you will not be able to participate in any new auctions.

Can I pay a $10 non-payment fee for "Past Due" auctions?

No. There is no longer a $10 non-payment fee when you do not pay for auctions awarded to you. If you fail to make payment during the initial grace period, and fail to pay during the past due time frame, your account will be closed for non-payment.

eNom / BulkRegister / eNomCentral Users

I have an account at eNom / BulkRegister / eNomCentral, can I login with those accounts?

As of April 24, 2008, existing NameJet customers will be required to change their password on NameJet; their eNom / eNomCentral / BulkRegister login and password will not change. Customers who have not previously agreed to the NameJet Terms of Use will be required to create a NameJet account and have a valid credit card on file before NameJet will accept any bids.

Can I use my eNom reseller points?

No, eNom reseller points cannot be used to pay for NameJet names. NameJet accepts credit cards or wire transfers; names over $5000 must be paid by wire transfer.