Fate of expired domains (unique names)

[vf77]

What happens to the expired domain names that are non-english and possibly non-any language unique words? Are they still snatched up by some spammers that put up useless pages with a bunch of advertisment links?

When such a spammer buys an expired domain, not to use for their own page but to put up a bunch of annoying ads, do they base it on your expired site's previous traffic or popularity of a name itself?

What if your site only had a moderate-to-low traffic and no one else ever wanted or tried to register a similar name? Will it still be snatched up the minute your domain expires?

Some people have reported that every single domain name they ever had has been snatched up by someone else after it's expired.

I will not call it "unfair" when someone buys an expired domain for their own (normal) site. That is perfectly fair. However, it seems extremely greedy when a spammer snatches up an expired domain just for the sake of putting up those useless ads. I mean, do you think any person would go to that domain for those useless ads? Hell no! They're probably thinking a site they used to visit may still be up.

So, explain it to me please. If a domain name expires, and it's not a highly sough-after name but it is a unique name and a non-dictionary word, with a moderate-to-low traffic, how likely is it to be snatched up after it expires?

Another question - there are free web hosts that offer free hostings with free top level domain names. What happens to those domain names after such a host goes down? They usually register such domain in their own names, if I understand it correctly. If such a free host goes down, how easy will it be to keep your domain? Will you be able to renew it and change info to your own name? Or are they likely to try and suck you dry with expensive fees? Basically, will they pretty much say, "even though we went down and can no longer offer you free hosting, you'd better pay up big time, if you want to keep this domain"?

Thanks! :)

[Richard]

On your second question, if a free host registers your domain for free for forum posts and the host goes down, say good bye to your domain! It will be sold to cover the costs that where lost in registering it.

Some will sell the domain onto you for high fee's normaly in the middle $xx. I've had a bad experiance in the past with a domain name that I posted for and they registered, they wanted to sell it to me for $49 :P I said no and they sold it to someone else.

[vf77]

Hmm but who would want a domain that is an unrecognizable word, never been used, not in any demand at all, and only makes sense if you associate it with the original owner and a site's content?

Are they going to sell that domain no matter what until a person who bought it realises that they no longer get any traffic to say, their ad-littered page?

Sounds like it might be safer to use a subdomain with free hosts, and simply pay yearly for a top level domain or use one of the free domain services, such as uni.cc. That is until you're ready to pay for your hosting too. Is that what most of you recommend?

[Richard]

Hmm but who would want a domain that is an unrecognizable word, never been used, not in any demand at all, and only makes sense if you associate it with the original owner and a site's content?

Are they going to sell that domain no matter what until a person who bought it realises that they no longer get any traffic to say, their ad-littered page?

Sounds like it might be safer to use a subdomain with free hosts, and simply pay yearly for a top level domain or use one of the free domain services, such as uni.cc. That is until you're ready to pay for your hosting too. Is that what most of you recommend?

On your first question, they buy the domain so they make money!

They actualy make more money buying the domain and putting them ad's and popups on it because people pay them loads to see them. They make WAY more money that anyone ever could with the domain the brought!

[vf77]

On your first question, they buy the domain so they make money!

They actualy make more money buying the domain and putting them ad's and popups on it because people pay them loads to see them. They make WAY more money that anyone ever could with the domain the brought!

Well, it's obvious that they do it for money. However, according to a similar topic on SitePoint forums, it seems they only make anything worthwhile if an expired domain had a decent amount of traffic on it. Otherwise, it seems like a waste.

Still, there seem to be quite a few vultures ready to snatch up an expired domain, even if it's just for those spam ads that do nothing except annoy visitors that are hoping that an old site is still up. I mean, I personally never ever come back to a site that expired and has put up those spam ads. :)