Drop Catching: How to Snag Expiring Domains

## What Is Drop Catching? Drop catching — also called backordering — is the practice of acquiring a domain name the moment it becomes available after expiring and passing through the deletion pipeline. Because millions of Expired Domain names cycle through deletion every day, drop catching is a systematic way to acquire domains with established history, Backlinks, and sometimes traffic, at or near Domain Registration base cost. The term comes from the phrase "catching a domain as it drops" — referring to the moment a domain is deleted and re-enters the registry pool. ## The Domain Expiration Timeline Understanding the deletion pipeline is essential for successful drop catching. The exact schedule varies slightly by TLD and Domain Registrar, but for .com domains at major registrars: **Day 0: Expiration Date** The domain registration period ends. Most registrars immediately suspend the website and email service, though the domain technically remains registered. **Days 1–30: Auto-Renew Grace Period** During the Auto-Renewal Grace Period, the registrant can renew at standard price. Most registrars automatically attempt renewal if a payment method is on file. **Days 31–35: Redemption Period** The domain enters the Redemption Period (also called Registrar Hold). The original registrant can still recover the domain but must pay a redemption fee — typically $80–$200 on top of renewal cost. After this window, the domain moves to Pending Delete status. **Days 36–40: Pending Delete** The domain is queued for deletion. No one can register it yet. This is when backorder services activate their capture systems. **Day 40–42: Drop** The registry deletes the domain and it becomes available for anyone to register on a first-come, first-served basis — but "first" is measured in milliseconds, and specialized services have infrastructure designed to win that race. ## How Drop Catching Services Work Registrars and specialized services submit registration requests to the registry at extremely high frequency during the deletion window, using multiple accounts and geographically distributed servers to maximize the probability of capturing the domain in that fraction-of-a-second window. Services do not guarantee capture — if three competing services are all trying to catch the same domain, only one succeeds. High-demand domains (those with many backorders) often go to Domain Auction among the competing bidders rather than being awarded to the first service. **Major drop catching services:** **SnapNames**: One of the oldest and most established, part of the Newfold Digital family. $69 base fee for a backorder attempt, with auction if multiple bidders exist. **Pool.com**: Another veteran service with strong capture rates for .com. Similar fee structure. **GoDaddy Backorder**: GoDaddy's service integrates with their auction platform. $24.99 for a backorder attempt. High capture rates due to GoDaddy's registry relationships. **DropCatch**: A competitive service with transparent auction mechanics. When multiple users backorder the same domain, DropCatch holds a 3-day auction. **Namecheap Marketplace**: Offers backorders at $18.88 with a success fee of $59 if won via auction. ## Finding Expiring Domains Worth Catching The art of drop catching is not in the technical capture — that's commoditized. The skill is in identifying which expiring domains are worth the effort. **Expiry databases and tools:** - **ExpiredDomains.net**: The most comprehensive free tool for browsing domains in the pending delete pipeline. Filter by TLD, domain length, Majestic SEO metrics, Moz Domain Authority, archive status, and more. - **DomainHunterGatherer**: Desktop tool for finding expired domains with specific link profiles. - **Freshdrop.com**: Another database focusing on recently dropped domains. - **SpamZilla**: Focuses specifically on finding expired domains with quality backlink profiles for SEO purposes. **What to look for:** [[Backlinks]]: A domain with high-quality, relevant backlinks from authoritative sources retains SEO value. Check Ahrefs or Majestic for the referring domain count and quality before competing for a domain. [[Domain-age]]: Older domains have more established histories. A 20-year-old domain has more credibility signals than one registered in 2021. **Archived content**: Check archive.org (Wayback Machine) to understand what the domain was previously used for. A domain previously used for spam, adult content, or pharmaceutical keyword stuffing may have negative history that outweighs any backlink value. **Traffic estimates**: Some expired domains still receive residual traffic from old links, social shares, or bookmarks. Tools like SimilarWeb and Ahrefs provide estimates. **Brand potential**: Occasionally a legitimate, memorable Premium Domain (Registry Premium) expires because the owner forgot to renew. These are rare but real opportunities. ## Auction Dynamics for Contested Drops When a domain attracts multiple backorders, the service typically auctions it among competing bidders. This is where the real domain investing skill comes in — knowing your maximum bid before getting into an auction and sticking to it. Research comparables on NameBio before bidding. Understand what similar domains have actually sold for in the Domain Aftermarket. Auction excitement can cause irrational overbidding. A domain with 20 Majestic Trust Flow and a handful of mediocre backlinks is probably not worth $2,000, no matter how many other bidders are competing. Use TLD Finder to check if similar domains in the same extension are available as hand registrations before paying a premium at auction. ## Risks and Pitfalls **Trademark conflicts**: Expiring domains sometimes have trademark-protected names. Even if you legitimately acquire them through drop catching, a trademark holder can file a UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy) complaint and recover the domain. Always check trademark databases before backordering a domain that could be brand-adjacent. **Penalty history**: Domains previously used for spam or black-hat SEO may be penalized in Google's index. A domain with 500 backlinks might actually be a liability if those links came from link farms. **Overpaying in auction frenzies**: Competitive drops can attract multiple well-funded bidders, driving prices above the domain's actual value. Set a ceiling based on Domain Valuation fundamentals, not competitive emotion. **Domain Registrar release timing**: Not all domains drop at predictable times. Some registrars have different relationships with the registry that affect exactly when a domain becomes capturable. ## Practical Drop Catching Workflow 1. Use ExpiredDomains.net daily to build a watchlist of candidates 2. Check each candidate: backlink profile (Majestic/Ahrefs), archive history (Wayback Machine), trademark risk (USPTO) 3. Place backorders on 10–20 domains you'd genuinely want at base price 4. Set maximum auction bids based on comparable sales, not emotion 5. When you win a domain, immediately enable Domain Lock at your registrar 6. Decide within 30 days: develop, park, list for sale, or let expire at renewal Domain Flipping: Buy Low, Sell High Domain Parking and Monetization Building a Domain Portfolio: Strategy Guide