Tucows shifts expired domain name inventory to NameJet

Move comes after Tucows acquired an interest in NameJet earlier this year.

Tucows, the world’s second largest domain name registrar, has stopped sending its expired domain name inventory to GoDaddy and will instead send it to NameJet.

Tucows just switched its expired domain partner to GoDaddy in September after previously using SnapNames.

It was the first time GoDaddy sold third party expired domain inventory on its platform. It subsequently added Endurance International Group inventory.

Tucows’ move doesn’t come as a huge surprise. The company acquired half of NameJet when it bought eNom. eNom has sent its expired domain inventory to NameJet ever since it formed the partnership in 2007.

However, the timing is a bit surprising given that Tucows’ deal with GoDaddy began less than a year ago. I would assume they had some sort of contractual obligations.

Paul Nicks, VP & GM, Aftermarket at GoDaddy told Domain Name Wire, “We wanted to be good partners. We’re grateful for the opportunity Tucows gave us when they chose GoDaddy as their first partner for expiry inventory. We believe Tucows saw great results and we feel confident that GoDaddy’s performance will speak for itself and that we’ll earn the opportunity to win back that business.”

Steve Barnes, Vice President, Retail & Aftermarket at Tucows said, “We feel GoDaddy was a good partner, and they’re a company that we’ll continue exploring ways to work with.”