Always Keep Registrant Email Address Active

Many domain names go to auction post-expiration because the administrative domain name they used for their registrar emails is no longer active. When this happens, domain name renewal emails aren’t received and important messages such as credit card declines go unanswered. Domain names can then expire and are auctioned to the highest bidder.

Unfortunately for a Washington state art gallery, this is exactly what happened to the domain name it uses for its website, according to an article in the Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber. Here’s a quote from JiJi Saudners, who was one of the founders of the art gallery:

“We had this mishap where we changed the website, which in turn changed our email addresses. Go Daddy sent the email to the defunct email and auctioned off the domain.”

Since their original website domain name was auctioned, it is apparently being used for a porn website. The article doesn’t say whether or not the gallery attempted to buy back the domain name or not. Luckily for the gallery, they seem to have a positive attitude about changing the domain name for their website.

For companies that find themselves in a situation like this but want their old domain name returned, I shared some tips on how to buy back a domain name that expired. When a former owner reaches out to me to buy back a domain name they accidentally let expire, I am generally willing to work something out, especially if I don’t already have plans for the domain name. It all depends on the domain name and the circumstances.

Ultimately, it is the domain registrant’s responsibility to keep an accurate email address on file with their registrar. This is another example of why it’s important to keep registration information accurate.