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I got the same experience:

First I got this message:
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Dear Sambath Sim,

Congratulations! You have placed the winning bid for Item Number 5922208, APOLLOAZ.com, in the amount of $153.00.

If you had APOLLOAZ.com on backorder and did not actively bid on this domain, please disregard the instructions below. We will automatically transfer this domain to your account after the standard 14-day grace period.
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Then I got another:
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Wednesday, March 07, 2007 9:40:15 AM


Dear Sambath Sim,

GoDaddy.com® has received a refund request for the following items:



QTY ITEM PRICE -1 TDNAM Expired Domain Purchase ($153.00) apolloaz.com -1 .COM Domain Name Renewal - 1 Year ($9.24) apolloaz.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subtotal: ($162.24) Shipping & Handling: $0.00 Tax: $0.00 Total: ($162.24)

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It is funny that asa I got this last email and I checked that domain and it is running like a champ.

sam sim

Hey Matt. I would do some investigation on that domain and see if you can check the WhoIs listing, then try to verify if they actually did renew it. Also, I would keep my eye on TDNAM and see if that domain shows up again for sale at a higher price.

I have used TDNAM auctions and have picked up some good names there for very cheap prices. I agree about the crappy 2 week time frame. I've also heard from others in the IM community about how bad GoDaddy can be if you get spam complaints regarding your domain. Mike Filsaime claims to have lost $40K plus in revenues because of a dispute with Godaddy on one of his domains. I know that doesn't affect us domainers much. But, it's probably a good reason to transfer domains out of Godaddy once we buy them.

Hi Matt,

I must respectfully disagree with your comments about TDNAM and Godaddy concerning both the backorder service and the TDNAM policies.

First, I'll admit to being a big godaddy fan. I have won 309 auctions and have lost 164 at TDNAM in the past year. One of the domains I lost was Disabilities.org to you. Of the auctions I have won, 3 were cancelled because the current registrant renewed.

TDNAM polcies ARE different than other registrars with regard to auctions. They are subject to the right of the current register to renew the names within their grace period by paying for the renewal and a $80 fee to Godaddy.

What grace period you ask? In 2002 ICANN proposed a 30 day Deleted Name Grace Period http://www.icann.org/registrars/redemption-proposal-14feb02.htm and in 2003 a steering committe cited broad support for the initiative but left the implmentation of a 30 day grace period up to the registrars. http://www.icann.org/minutes/background-18aug03.htm

So if you contrast the Domain name registration agreement between godaddy.com, register.com, and Moniker.com you see the following:

Go daddy states at https://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/legal_agreements/show_doc.asp?isc=gdm0303a&se=%2B&pageid=REG%5FSA&ci=3812#renewal that:

"If you fail to renew your domain name, you agree that Go Daddy may, at its sole discretion, renew your expired domain name on your behalf. If Go Daddy decides to renew your expired domain name on your behalf you will have a Renewal Grace Period during which you may reimburse Go Daddy for the renewal and keep your domain name. The Renewal Grace Period is currently 12 days but subject to change under the terms of Section 2 of this Agreement. If you do not reimburse Go Daddy for the renewal during the Renewal Grace Period your domain name will be placed on Hold and flagged for deletion after which you will have a 30 day redemption period during which you may pay Go Daddy a Redemption fee and redeem your domain name. The Redemption fee is currently $80 USD and is subject to change under the terms of Section 2 of this agreement. If you do not redeem your domain name prior to the end of the 30 day redemption period Go Daddy may, at its sole discretion, delete your domain name or transfer it to another registrant on your behalf."

While the Register.com domain name agreement states at http://www.register.com/retail/policy/servicesagreement.rcmx

"Specifically, with respect to domain names, you acknowledge and agree that Register.com may, upon expiration or termination, elect, at its sole discretion, to: (i) delete the domain name, (ii) renew the domain name on behalf of a third party, (iii) sell or auction the domain name; or (iv) otherwise make such domain name available to third parties. Any expired gTLD domain name that is not sold, renewed or otherwise made available to a third party will generally be deleted between 35 and 45 days from the expiration date."

And Moniker.com at http://www.moniker.com/help/delete-autorenew-policy.jsp

"If an expired domain name registration is not renewed as outlined above, absent extenuating circumstances, we will delete the domain name registration. Registry Operators may provide registrars with the ability to “redeem” a deleted domain name registration for a customer, and we, in turn, may (but are not obligated to) provide customers with an ability to redeem a particular domain name registration. Such a Redemption Grace Period (RGP) is not guaranteed and customers should renew their domain name registration services in advance of the domain name registration expiration date(s) to avoid deletion of domain name registration services. Currently, the Registry Operators provide an RGP for 30 days from the date of deletion. If we decide to provide the redemption service to a customer, we charge a fee of $125.00 US to redeem plus a renewal fee to renew a domain name registration during the RGP"


Which would you prefer as your Registrar? GoDaddy has voluntarily implemented the ICANN recommendation while others have not.

The TDNAM agreement spells out that the winning bid is subject to the current registrar right to renew, and that is why there is a two week waiting period to receive names you have won, AND since GoDaddy walks the walk by voluntarily renewing the domain name on behalf of their customer, that is why when you win the auction you pay from the deletion date, not the date you receive the name.

Backorders with godaddy are different than at pool etc. I personally think that godaddy backorders had value prior to TDNAM but are essentially worthless now. However, I have the right to choose NOT to purchase a backorder. The non-refundable nature is stated up front. And if my backorder is successful at godaddy, i get the name. If I backorder a name at Pool, I am "allowed" to participate in an auction for the name. So for popular names a Pool backorder is essentially an invitation to participate in an auction.

Personally I am happy GoDaddy is different. Otherwise we would still be paying $60 a year for registration and enjoy lousy customer service as I am with a few other registrars.

Anyway, I think Godaddy is a great place for a novice domainer exactly BECAUSE of the registration agreement. I'm not happy with losing a name either but at least I know the rules up front and I also know that I have the same protection for my names. Should I croak before the next renewal my wife has a bit extra time to renew the names regardless of whether they have been auctioned or not.

Respectfully

Wow...I have had several bad experiences with GoDaddy over the past several years. I have debated with them, sent emails to Bob Parsons and so on, never ever getting any satisfaction. Last week I checked for BelievelandOhio.com thru my gd account and it was available. I immediatly went to my 1and1 account and bought it. Congratulations! I went to my domain management tool at 1and1 and there was a notice that they couldn't buy the domain for me. So...I went back to gd to search it and it wasn't availabe! Checked whois and it was at domains by proxy...gd's privacy co. WTH...what are the odds? I was pissed! I sent emails to gd, Bob Parsons and made a call to gd and they said sorry but domains get bought. Good luck next time! Thats why I buy thru 1and1. This is not the first time I have wanted to call ICAN or whoever! Iam not sure who to contact? Help...we are not alone. PS I have over 600 domains and have been at this for years. (credibility plug) What can we do? Thanks

Ben