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Drop Catching

Discussion in 'New Domainers' started by Sitegains, Jun 23, 2014.

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  1. Sitegains United Kingdom

    Sitegains Member

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    So I've taken a good old look around the forum and understand that in order to catch UK domains you need to:

    - become a nominet member.
    - build a script.

    Is there a method for newbies to start trying to catch domains without the cost of nominet membership or trying to learn the code required for a script?

    Can the drop catching services offered by registrars compete with the serious domainers like the folks here?

    How do you assess which domains are coming up for drop?

    Is there any online guides, websites or threads here that you guys would recommend reading on this matter that could help someone eneter the world of drop catching?

    Thanks
     
  2. Domain Forum

    Acorn Domains Elite Member

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    IWA Meetup
     
  3. Murray

    Murray Well-Known Member

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    There are public catchers that you can book domains with, like drop, domainwatchlist, domainview, pfukcatching, prices of catches are around £50

    To see what domains are dropping any given day you can view droplists at domainview or dce (both paid or services but relatively cheap)

    If you want to catch yourself you need a nominet membership which I think is around £600 all together + dac access

    You don't have to write your own script, there are some options of "hosted catching", which gives you an online control panel and you just load your domains for the day

    domainview & drop system offer hosted catching (think a couple of others might do too)
     
  4. monaghan United Kingdom

    monaghan Well-Known Member

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    Building a script is not a simple task unless you understand low level network IO, however, if you are a coder with that sort of background, then it is a fairly simple task. As suggested by Murray, you can either rent a system or book with other catchers. If it is specific names you are after, then book with a range of catchers will give you a good spread of chances at getting the desired name.
     
  5. Skinner

    Skinner Well-Known Member

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    You can also get free 7 day drop lists at http://www.domainlore.co.uk.

    A few others offer hosted chasing solutions too.

    also need to consider the yearly maintenance costs of nominet membership, which is around £125 a year from 2nd year, on top of the £600 mentioned above for initial setup and first year.
     
  6. devilsrefugee

    devilsrefugee Active Member

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    I was just going to post a new thread, but figured it would probably be best here.

    1. How do I work out the exact drop date of a particular domain that expired on 30th April.

    2. Can anybody recommend any reputable/good success rate drop catchers please?

    Thanks

    NB I have heard and seen Pool.coms website and they offer it free to catch, but charge £60 if successful. Is this good, bad? Any feedback appreciated!
     
  7. Systreg

    Systreg Well-Known Member

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    It's 92 days after that date, if it expires on April 30th, it drops on July 31st

    Most listed in this topic:

    http://www.acorndomains.co.uk/drop-catching-domain-names/117365-list-drop-catchers.html

    Book with as many as possible for the best chance of a catch, not just ones which you think might have a good catch rate.
     
  8. DaveLeeds United Kingdom

    DaveLeeds Well-Known Member

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    There's a link to a calculator at the top of the page (Domain Drop Dates). Put in the expiry day/month and any year.

     
  9. Skinner

    Skinner Well-Known Member

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    That doesn't work any more, the longest expiry is 2009.

     
  10. devilsrefugee

    devilsrefugee Active Member

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  11. Sitegains United Kingdom

    Sitegains Member

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    Thanks for the info, I set up with pfuk and have caught 3 out of 4 domains so far, so pretty impressed. They charge £30 per catch, which seems reasonable but long term I want to set up catching myself...
     
  12. devilsrefugee

    devilsrefugee Active Member

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    sorry bud, who is pfuk just out of interest?
     
  13. Systreg

    Systreg Well-Known Member

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    It's pfukcatching.co.uk which is run by GoldDiggerGuy on here
     
  14. Retired_member41

    Retired_member41 Retired Member

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    How did you come across pfuk? Have you used any other catchers so far?
     
  15. devilsrefugee

    devilsrefugee Active Member

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    thanks for the info! :)
     
  16. Demeter

    Demeter Member

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    DAC EPP Script

    Hi,

    your welcome to a free trial key of our script, but you will need a Nominet TAG and DAC access

    Download here and ask for a key

    Regards

    Suzi
     
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