No need to pick up bits of information here and there. No need to constantly monitor the vital information of your registered domains or any others you're interested in. Domain Alert® Pro services meet your every need - and your budget. Monitor domain name changes, review the list of expiring domains, and most important of all, backorder domain names so they're yours the instant they're available.

Select from any or all of these options:

Domain Backorder

Domain Alert® Pro Backorder

$18.99 / per year

If the name you want is already registered, you can still own it! Secure your chance to snag up a domain* the instant it becomes available.

  • Includes the cost of registering the domain name.
  • If you don’t get the name, you don’t lose — just re-assign to another name.

*Includes .COM, .CO, .INFO, .ORG, .NET, .ME, .MOBI, .US or .BIZ.

Domain Backorder

Domain Alert® Pro Backorder

$18.99 / per year

If the name you want is already registered, you can still own it! Secure your chance to snag up a domain* the instant it becomes available.

  • Includes the cost of registering the domain name.
  • If you don’t get the name, you don’t lose — just re-assign to another name.

*Includes .COM, .CO, .INFO, .ORG, .NET, .ME, .MOBI, .US or .BIZ.

Domain Backorder

Domain Alert® Pro Backorder

$18.99 / per year

If the name you want is already registered, you can still own it! Secure your chance to snag up a domain* the instant it becomes available.

  • Includes the cost of registering the domain name.
  • If you don’t get the name, you don’t lose — just re-assign to another name.

*Includes .COM, .CO, .INFO, .ORG, .NET, .ME, .MOBI, .US or .BIZ.

What is Domain Alert Pro Backordering?

If a domain* you want is already registered you can still own it. But don't leave anything to chance! Secure your chance to snap it up the INSTANT it becomes available!

  • Includes FREE Domain Alert Pro Monitoring for backordered domain! Additional monitoring packs available.
  • Includes the cost of registering the domain name and ICANN Fee, so you can have the domain instantly.

Domain Alert Pro Monitoring

Now you can monitor the vital changes to ANY domain* registered by ANYONE at ANY registrar that might tip you off to its availability. We do the work for you!

  • Get email notification within 24 hours if any of the following change: Registrar, Status, Expiration Date or Name Server.
  • Designate additional email addresses to which we send notifications, if any of the following change: Registrar, Status, Expiration Date or Name Server.
  • Review and maintain a history of the names you monitor in one easy location.

Domain Alert Pro Investor's Edge

More than 95,000 fresh, expiring names at your fingertips, ready to review -- and PowerGrab!
How does this work?

  • Browse scores of new, soon-to-expire names online, updated daily.
  • Select ANY* name(s) at the domain registration rate of only $11.95.
  • If we secure the name, that's all you pay.
  • PowerGrab domains from the list of expiring names - Your rate includes your domain registration fee!
  • Monthly Subscription only $29.95 and you can cancel at any time.

Frequently Ask Questions

Domain Backorders is a service that helps you attempt to acquire a domain name when it becomes available for registration. It includes a Domain Monitoring membership and one year of domain name registration.

Placing a backorder does not guarantee that you will acquire the domain name. The current registrant might renew the domain name, or we might be unsuccessful in our attempt to register it for you.

This process is in place to provide each of our customers an equal opportunity to acquire domain names.

The Backorder Process

  1. You backorder a domain name — You can attempt to purchase a backorder for a domain name before it expires. Only one customer may place a backorder on a domain name. For instructions on placing a backorder, see Setting up Domain Backorders.
  2. You monitor the domain name — With your free Domain Monitoring membership, you can monitor your backordered domain name and receive email notifications within 24 hours of any changes in registrar, status, expiration date, or nameservers.
  3. We attempt to capture the domain name — We attempt to register the domain name before the release time, and we continue to make attempts until we or another registrar captures it.
    • If we capture the domain name — We award the domain name to you. We process a change of registrant and move the domain name into your account within 45 days. Your domain name is registered with us for one year from the time it enters your account.
    • If we don't capture the domain name — We email you that the backorder was unsuccessful. You can request a refund from our support department or apply your backorder credit to another domain name. There is no time limit for backorder reassignment, and the product does not expire.

No. The Domain Backorders service does not guarantee you will acquire a domain name. When you place a backorder, we attempt to acquire the domain name for you when it becomes available for registration.

Each backorder comes with Domain Monitoring, a useful service that lets you track the domain name. It keeps you in the loop on that domain name's expiration date and any changes to its status.

If a backordered domain name becomes available, but our service fails to acquire it, you can reassign the backorder to another domain name or request a refund from our support team. If we are not able to acquire your domain name, we notify you by email.

If you want to capture a domain name that someone else currently has registered, you can place a backorder. Domain Backorders attempts to register the domain name if it becomes available. Or, if the domain name is listed for auction, Domain Backorders gives you instructions on how to participate.

When you purchase a backorder, you can set it as public or private. Private backorders protect your personal information by not listing it in the Whois database.

If the backorder is not successful, you can reassign it to another domain name or request a refund from our support team.

For more information about the backorder process, see What are Domain Backorders?

 Note: Certain country-code top-level domain names (ccTLDs), such as .us, have residency requirements. If you want to backorder a ccTLD, see About ccTLDs (Country-Code Domain Names) to find the Help article with its residency requirements.

To Set up Domain Backorders

  1. Log in to your Rock Bottom Technology account.
  2. Next to Domains, click Manage.
  3. From the Buy/Sell menu, select Backorders and Monitoring.
  4. Click Add Backorders. The Backorder Domains window displays.
  5. For Backorder type, select one of the following:
    • Public — Lists your personal contact information in the Whois database.
    • Private — Publishes proxy contact information in the Whois database. For more information, see Private Registration FAQ
  6. Select I have read and agree to ... , and then click Next.
  7. Enter the domain names you want to backorder (one per line), and then click Next.
  8. Complete the following, and then click Next:
    • Email address 1 — Enter the email address you want us to send status-change notifications to.
    • (Optional) Email address 2 — Enter the secondary email address you want us to send status-change notifications to.
  9. If necessary, edit your contact information, and then click Next.
  10. From the Number of credits to use list, select the number of credits you want to apply, and then click Next.

     Note: The credits in the list are the number you have available for the transaction. If you do not have enough credits, we take you to the shopping cart to complete the purchase.

  11. If you selected Private as the backorder type, select I have read the Domain Name Proxy Agreement ... , and then click Next.
  12. If you need to purchase backorder credits or Private Registration, continue through the checkout process.

Your backordered domain name displays on the Backorders and Monitoring page of the Domain Manager.

If you placed a domain name backorder and do not want your personal information listed in the Whois database if we capture and register the domain name for you, you can add Private Registration to the backorder for an additional fee.

If your backorder with privacy is unsuccessful, you can apply the Private Registration to any other backorder.

  1. Log in to your Rock Bottom Technology account.
  2. Next to Domains, click Manage.
  3. From the Buy/Sell menu, select Backorders and Monitoring.
  4. Select the domain names you want to modify.
  5. Click Privacy. The Update Privacy Option for Backordered Domain window displays.

     Note: If you do not have available Private backorder credits, click Buy Credit. In the Domain Backorders section, for Select Quantity, enter the number of credits you want to purchase. For Backorder type, select Private Registration, and then click Add to Cart. Complete the checkout process, and then go back to the Domain Manager to continue.

  6. For Backorder type, select Private.
  7. Select I have read and agree to ... , and then click Next. Your private backorder displays on the Backorders and Monitoring page of the Domain Manager.

Does Domain Backorders guarantee domain name registration?

No. The Domain Backorders service does not guarantee you will acquire a domain name. When you place a backorder, we attempt to acquire the domain name for you when it becomes available for registration.

Each backorder comes with Domain Monitoring, a useful service that lets you track the domain name. It keeps you in the loop on that domain name's expiration date and any changes to its status.

If a backordered domain name becomes available, but our service fails to acquire it, you can reassign the backorder to another domain name. If we are not able to acquire your domain name, we notify you by email.

What is Domain Name Monitoring?

Domain Monitoring tracks changes to domain name settings. It also includes historical tracking for domain name changes and monitors domain names registered anywhere. When information for these settings changes, Domain Monitoring sends you an email notification.

You set up monitoring for a year at a time. To continue monitoring domain names, you must renew your subscription.

You can use our Domain Monitoring service to track any domain name with a .com, .us, .biz, .net, .org, .info, .me, .mobi, or .co extension, even ones that are not registered by you or with us.

Specifically, this service monitors:

  • Registrar — Notifies you of any change to a monitored domain name's registrar.
  • Status — Tracks any changes to a domain name's status. For example, if a monitored domain name registered with us changes its status to unlocked, Domain Monitoring notifies you. It also notifies you when a monitored domain name that is not registered with us goes into pendDelete or redemptionPeriod status; indicating that the domain name might soon become available.
  • Expiration Date — Tracks any changes to the registration expiration date for any monitored domain name.
  • Nameserver — Tracks nameserver changes.

What is Investor's Edge?

Investor's Edge is a monthly subscription service that provides a list of more than 250,000 expiring domain names. This service gives you a jump on your peers by providing up-to-date information on domain name availability and lets you place an order immediately.

We update all the domain names on this power list daily. You can backorder a domain name from this list the moment you see it.

Can a domain name be backordered more than once?

Yes. More than one of our customers can purchase a backorder for the same domain name.

If more than one backorder is purchased for a particular domain name, the backorder placed first becomes the opening bid in a public auction, and other backorder holders are notified when the domain name goes to auction. Backorder holders and the general public have the opportunity to place a higher bid.

 Note: The fee with a backorder will include the registration charge for 1 year, with any additional costs from Auction Up Pricing being added in.

If your backorder is not successful, you can reassign it to another domain name. 

Until your backorder captures a domain name, it does not expire.

 Note: Prior to March 2009, we allowed only one backorder per domain name. Therefore, if another customer placed a backorder on a domain name prior to March 2009, then you cannot place a backorder on the same domain name as long as the original backorder remains effective.

Can premium domain names be backordered?

No. At this time, we do not offer backordering for premium domain names.

Why are certain domain names unavailable for backorder?

If the domain name you want to register is unavailable, under most circumstances, you can purchase a backorder for it. Domain Backorders is a service that helps you attempt to acquire a domain name when it becomes available for registration.

However, backorders are unavailable for domain names under the following circumstances:

  • Single Backorder Policy — We allow only one backorder per domain name. Therefore, if another customer placed already placed a backorder on a domain name, then you cannot place a backorder on the same domain name as long as the original backorder remains effective.
  • TLD Not Supported — We only support backorders for the following top-level domain names (TLDs): .biz, .com, .info, .me, .mobi, .net, .org, and .us.
  • Blocked — We block customers from backordering certain domain names, such as our company's domain name.

Domain Monitoring notifies you via email whenever the status of a domain name that you are monitoring changes. By default, the administrative contact receives all Domain Monitoring notifications, but you can set up two additional contacts to receive them.

 

You can add Domain Monitoring to specific domain names so you can monitor changes made to them. We send email updates to you within 24 hours when the monitored domain name changes.

To Set up Domain Monitoring

  1. Log in to your Rock Bottom Technology account.
  2. Next to Domains, click Manage.
  3. From the Buy/Sell menu, select Backorders and Monitoring.
  4. Click Add Monitoring.
  5. In Add Monitoring, enter the domain names you want to monitor, one domain name per line, and then click Next. Do not include the "www" prefix.
  6. In Email address 1, enter the email address where you want us to send notifications.
  7. (Optional) To receive email updates at another address, in Email address 2, enter another email address.
  8. Click Next.
  9. From Number of credits to use, select the number of credits you want to apply, and then click Next.

     Note: The number of credits listed are the credits you have available for the transaction. If you do not have enough credits, we prompt you to purchase the required credits.

  10. Click OK.

If you added Domain Monitoring to a domain name, you can also place a backorder on the domain name to attempt to register it if it becomes available. Or, if it's listed for auction, the backorder gives you instructions on how to participate in the auction.

When you purchase Domain Backorders, you can set your backorders as public or private. Private backorders protect your personal information by not listing it in the Whois database.

If the backorder is not successful, you can reassign it to another domain name or request a refund from our support team.

Note: Certain country-code top-level domain names (ccTLDs), such as .us, have residency requirements. 

  1. Log in to your Rock Bottom Technology account.
  2. Next to Domains, click Manage.
  3. From the Buy/Sell menu, select Backorders and Monitoring.
  4. Select the domain names you want to modify.
  5. Click Upgrade to Backorder. The Upgrade Domain Monitoring to Backorder window displays.

     Note: If you do not have available backorder credits, click Buy Credit. In the Domain Backorders section, for Select Quantity, enter the number of credits you want to purchase. For Backorder type, select Public Registration or Private Registration, and then click Add to Cart. Complete the checkout process, and then go back to the Domain Manager to continue.

  6. For Backorder type, select one of the following:
    • Public — Lists your personal contact information in the Whois database.
    • Private — Publishes proxy contact information in the Whois database.
  7. Select I have read and agree to ... , and then click Next.
  8. If necessary, edit your contact information, and then click Next.
  9. If you selected Private as the backorder type, select I have read the Domain Name Proxy Agreement ... , and then click Next.

Your backordered domain name displays on the Backorders and Monitoring page of the Domain Manager.

There are several domain name status codes that you might see when using Domain Backorders and Monitoring. Most of these are variations of a few basic statuses:

  • ACTIVE — The normal state for a domain name. Active domain names can be used for websites, email, or to register nameservers.
  • REGISTRAR-HOLD — The domain name was placed on hold by the registrar and cannot be used or renewed.
  • REGISTRY-HOLD — The domain name was placed on hold by the registry and cannot be used.
  • REGISTRAR-LOCK — The registrar, often at the request of the domain name registrant, locked the domain name so that its settings cannot be modified.
  • REGISTRY-LOCK — The registry locked the domain name so that its settings cannot be modified.
  • REDEMPTIONPERIOD — The domain name expired, and the registry is waiting for 30 days as a precautionary measure before releasing it.
  • PENDINGRESTORE — A domain name that had expired is being restored to ACTIVE status.
  • PENDINGDELETE — The domain expired and is no longer available for redemption. The registry is about to erase it. A domain name remains in this status for five days before it is deleted.
  • CLIENT_DELETE_PROHIBITED — The registrar locked the domain name so that it cannot be deleted.
  • SERVER_DELETE_PROHIBITED — The registry locked the domain name so that it cannot be deleted.
  • CLIENT_HOLD — The registrar placed the domain name on hold, and it cannot be used.
  • SERVER_HOLD — The registry placed the domain name on hold, and it cannot be used.
  • CLIENT_RENEW_PROHIBITED — The registrar locked the domain name so that it cannot be renewed.
  • SERVER_RENEW_PROHIBITED — The registry has locked the domain name so that it cannot be renewed.
  • CLIENT_TRANSFER_PROHIBITED — The registrar locked the domain name so that it cannot be transferred to another registrar.
  • SERVER_TRANSFER_PROHIBITED — The registry locked the domain name so that it cannot be transferred to another registrar.
  • CLIENT_UPDATE_PROHIBITED — The registrar locked the domain name to prevent its settings from being changed.
  • SERVER_UPDATE_PROHIBITED — The registry locked the domain name to prevent its settings from being changed.
  • INACTIVE — The domain name cannot be used because the nameservers haven't been entered or there is a problem with the nameservers.
  • OK — The domain name is active and can be used for websites, email, or to register nameservers.
  • PENDING_DELETE — The registration for the domain name is about to be deleted by the registry, as when the domain name expires.
  • PENDING_TRANSFER — The domain name is in the process of being transferred from one registrar to another. It may not be modified during this period.
  • PENDING_VERIFICATION — The registry is creating the domain name record.

Usually, a domain name is not available for re-registration as soon as it expires. Most registrars allow a grace period that can be as short as one or two weeks or as long as a year for registrants to renew expired domain names. The actual grace period can be different for each individual registrar and domain name extension. That is, the grace period for a .com domain name might be different from the grace period for a .us domain name, even at the same registrar.

After the registrar's grace period, most domain names have a redemption period. This period can last from two weeks to 30 days, and, during this time, the current registrant can renew the domain name by paying a redemption fee along with the domain name's renewal fee.

If the current registrant does not renew or redeem the domain name, it might be auctioned. When a domain name is released to a public auction, you can participate and possibly capture the domain name by placing a bid on it.

If the domain name is not renewed, redeemed, or purchased through an auction, it is returned to its registry. The registry determines when the domain name is released again for registration. Once it's released, you can register the domain name through us.