I'm trying to buy a domain name from someone that's just kind of squatting on it. They bought it back in 1997 and using http://www.archive.org I was able to determine that they were trying to start a web hosting company. Since 2001 the domain has been parked and it's registered until September 2012.<p>The way I see it I can do 2 things:<p>1. Try to contact the person using the contact info in the whois records<p>2. Wait until it expires and do what Mike Davidson did to buy newsvine.com (see below for link)<p>The domain is registered with private registration (of course), so I shot an e-mail off a couple of weeks ago to the contact person at the registrar to see if they could put me into contact with the owner. No answer as of yet.<p>What would you do?<p>Article Link From Above: http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/archive/2005/03/how-to-snatch-an-expiring-domain<p>[Edit: Fixed formatting. I'll get the hang of it yet!]
Well you could try getting a DomainTools domain history report as well. If they've not dropped it since 2001 they're probably not going to drop it in 2012.<p>Go to domaintools and do a whois on the site there. They can tell you things like how many other domains this registrant holds. How many times the whois information has changed (if it's ever <i>NOT</i> been private this is where you can look)<p>Maybe try and get in touch with a domain broker. I know the people who work for domainadvisors.com are very well connected in the "domaining" industry and she might be able to help you out. (look up T.R.A.F.F.I.C for a window into the world of domaining)<p>Services are not cheap though - you'd better <i>really</i> want the domain if you're planning on going that route.<p>I might have some more tips if you want to get in touch with me privately - alex dot chesser at gmail. (I don't know exactly how much help I can be - but I can help you hash out the ideas a bit more).
A guy that purchased a domain in 2001, tried to make it work, has it registered through 2012 is likely to turn down offers if he will even respond in the first place. There is a bit of pride he's got to swallow because the sale would mean that he failed at his idea. He'll want to keep the domain because one day he's going to revisit that idea and make it work.<p>I've had a domain backordered since 1999 - it has had a parking page since it was purchased, and every year, about 7-10 days before it expires, it gets renewed. The domain isn't special, just one that meant something to me - and obviously him. Every year, about 60 days before renewal, I send an offer letter, he's responded a few times but has never asked for more money, just that he isn't interested in selling.<p>That said, a domain broker might be able to get a response. I wish you luck.
most private registrations will auto forward emails to the actual owner. try emailing the address the comes up in the whois.<p>example: domain.com@private-register.com will forward to the actual owner.