Long story (vaguely) short, there's a domain I'd like to buy that's currently not being used and hasn't been used properly pretty much since it was registered (based on the Wayback Machine at archive.org).<p>I already have a hyphenated variant, but would like the non-hyphenated version too, for a slightly better user experience.<p>I'm happy to make an offer to buy the domain from the current owner.<p>The whois gives me contact details for them, but the email address bounces, the registered company doesn't appear to exist (at least, any more), and the phone number goes to a voicemail message that sounds like a pocketdial.<p>Short of driving up there (about 100 miles) and knocking their front door, I'm wondering what else I can do.<p>The domain was renewed earlier this year (and is one of 70 or so others, I gather), so I'm guessing it's someone who bought and didn't use it, or who is deliberately keeping it to sell on, but if no one can contact them, that's a bit of a problem...<p>Any suggestions, beyond me getting in the car?
Send them a letter. You have an address, after all! 100 miles should get covered in under a week.<p>If you want to be obnoxious about it you can even have them sign for it.
I would inform the registrar that the email information in the WHOIS is incorrect.<p>I would also send a polite letter, in my experience that can get the ball rolling.<p>My gut says that if they have 70 domains registered, it's likely you'll have to pay an arm, a leg, and your firstborn for the domain. Good luck!
Contact the registrar. If they cannot get the details of the registrant then they will be the ones most likely to advise you further.<p>If its been recently paid for the the registrar has bank or credit details in the registrant at the very least.
They are not obligated to reply to you in any way. While the registrar can technically cancel the registration because of an invalid email addr, I don't know of a single registrar who will. Certified mail is the best way to contact them, but again if they aren't looking to sell don't expect a reply.