GoDaddy Auctions increases its expired domain footprint.
Namecheap is the latest domain name registrar to send its expired domain name inventory to GoDaddy Auctions.
A Domain Name Wire reader noticed a domain in the GoDaddy Auctions expiry stream today that is for a domain registered at Namecheap. I subsequently ran searches uncovering many more.
Namecheap joins Tucows and Endurance International Group, which have been sending their domains to GoDaddy for a while. This means that GoDaddy Auctions has the expired domain inventory from the #1, #2, #3, and #6 largest domain registration companies (based on their .com registration base).
I predicted that Namecheap would end up in GoDaddy’s stable. Namecheap just had a nasty divorce with Tucows, which operates the competing website NameJet where Namecheap names were previously auctioned off.
(Yes, Tucows sends its expired domain inventory to GoDaddy despite owning 50% of a competing expired domain service. That speaks volumes.)
GoDaddy is gaining a significant share of the expiry stream, for sure. If those domains end up transferring to GoDaddy after purchase, as I assume they will, then those other registrars really are are arguably trading short-term revenue for long-term growth.
But, of course, the small registrars cannot realistically each operate their own auction platform. And even if they did, it wouldn’t achieve critical mass – meaning bidders wouldn’t arrive in sufficient numbers to provide a fair representation of market demand. So the domains would undersell both in volume and price tag.
In this conflict lies a business opportunity, though I doubt anyone will pull it off.
If this is true it means a huge advantage for Namecheap. Namecheap gives free lifetime Whoisguard, which means free anonymity. Plus some of their prices are better.
I am guessing these registrars get the best rates with the GD auction system.I wish dropcatch would keep the auctions private.
predatory and criminal conflict of interest, for registrars to engage in this practice
This is good news for Godaddy since they’ll get more inventory, I am surprised Namecheap does not push these domains to their own marketplace.