Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
GETTING STARTED
What is Pool.com?
Pool.com is the leader in domain backordering and secondary market sales. Pool.com
offers a number of products and services. First, Pool.com will obtain deleting domains
on your behalf (backorders) through our large registrar partner network. Backorders
are free - you pay only if Pool.com obtains the domain for you. Pool.com also offers
a Domain Marketplace where customers can buy or sell domain names.
Here's how Pool.com works:
- Buying: Backorder a domain you want and Pool.com will attempt to secure it
for you when it expires or deletes. Or, buy one of the domains listed for sale in
Pool.com's Domain Marketplace in an Auction or Fixed Price format.
- Selling: List a domain that you would like to sell on Pool.com and choose
to list it as an Auction or for a Fixed Price.
How do I use Pool.com's services?
Log into your existing
account or
create a FREE Pool.com account. To backorder deleting domains, click
on the Deleting Domains tab on the navigation bar and to buy or sell domains
on Pool.com, click on the Domain Marketplace tab.
What is a pre-authorization?
A pre-authorization validates a credit card and reserves a specified amount of available
credit. It is not a charge, although it may appear on your online statement. This
reservation of credit is usually in effect 48 to 72 hours, and will expire automatically.
This is a security measure that we use to protect our customers and Pool.com from
fraudulent acts against our Backorder and Domain Marketplace systems.
Note: Entering valid credit card information is mandatory when creating a
new Pool.com account. Once entered, your card will be pre-authorized for US $60.
How long will it take before my newly acquired domain is accessible on the Internet?
After the payment of your domain is successfully processed, the ownership of the
domain will be transferred to you. For domains acquired from the drop list, it usually
takes up to 24 hours for updated information to be live with the applicable registry.
Domains purchased through the Domain Marketplace may take a little longer in order
to ensure our secure escrow payment process is adhered to.
ACCOUNT INFORMATION
How do I manage my account Preferences and change my account information?
All aspects of your account can be managed and changed through the Preferences
page located within your account.
What if I forget my password?
Click on the Forgot Your Password link located on the Login page and Pool.com
will send you your password to the email address listed in your account.
How can I change my secret question?
Log into your Pool.com account and click on the Preferences tab. Click Edit
under the Account Security section, change your secret question and answer,
and click Submit.
BIDDER ID
What is a Bidder ID?
A Bidder ID is the unique name that is used to identify yourself on a Pool.com auction.
When you place a bid in an auction, your Bidder ID will be displayed to all other
participants.
Can I change my Bidder ID?
No, you may not change your Bidder ID after your Pool.com account has been successfully
created or after you have personalized your default Bidder ID.
Are there any restrictions to the selection of a Bidder ID?
Yes. Your Bidder ID must be at least 4 characters long but no more than 12 characters.
It can include letters from a-z (with no accents), numbers, dashes, and underscores.
All other characters or symbols will not be accepted. Your Bidder ID cannot contain
spaces. Your Bidder ID cannot be obscene, vulgar or disrespectful. If your Bidder
ID is seen as inappropriate, your account will be suspended, in which case you will
receive an email notification. You will then be able to login to your account and
select another Bidder ID. Pool.com reserves the right to close down any account
due to the misuse of the Bidder ID.
BACKORDERING DELETING DOMAINS
What is a backorder?
A backorder is a request to acquire a currently registered domain when that domain
becomes available again because it is deleted or expires. Typically, if a registered
domain is not renewed, it is eventually deleted and made available to the general
public. Note that once you place a backorder, Pool.com will try to get that domain
whenever it becomes available for registration even if that occurs years after you
have placed your backorder. Please ensure that your backorder list is up-to-date
and delete any backorders you no longer want.
How can I backorder a domain on Pool.com?
Simply enter the domain in one of the backorder boxes located on the Pool.com website
and click on the Backorder button. Please note, you must have an account
created at Pool.com and be logged in in order to place your backorder.
What is the Pending Delete List?
The Pending Deletes list contains domains that have a status of "pending
delete" and are scheduled to become available within five days.
Will I be contacted if Pool.com successfully acquires a domain on my behalf?
Yes. Pool.com will notify you by email, typically within 2 hours, when a domain
is successfully acquired on your behalf. If more than one customer backorders a
domain, all customers who have backordered that particular domain will be notified
that the domain has been acquired and that it will go into auction.
How can I view and manage my backorders?
Log into your Pool.com account and click on the Deleting Domains tab followed
by the Backorders link. Your list of current backorders will be displayed
on this page.
IMPORTANT: You cannot remove a domain that is deleting today from your backorder list between 6:30 and 9:00 PM GMT (1:30 and 4:00 PM EST).
Can more than one customer backorder a domain?
Yes. A domain can be backordered by more than one customer. If this situation occurs
and Pool.com successfully secures the domain, the domain will go immediately into
the Pool.com auction process
BUYING DOMAINS IN THE DOMAIN MARKETPLACE
How do I buy a domain in the Pool.com Domain Marketplace?
Simply use our Search Tool to find a domain you would like to
buy. There are four different sale types for domains:
Auction: can only be acquired if you participate in an auction. The seller
decides if the auction will take place during 7, 10, or 14 days. When the listing
expires, the highest bidder will acquire the domain.
Fixed Price: can be bought and acquired immediately at the fixed price indicated
by the seller. The payment transaction for purchasing a domain listed for a Fixed
Price will be processed in real time depending on value. Larger transactions may
require special payment terms including a billing authorization and/or wire transfer.
Dutch Auction: can be bought and acquired immediately at the current price
indicated. The price starts at US $60 and will gradually decrease until it is purchased
or until the expiration time of the auction. The payment transaction for purchasing
a domain listed as a Dutch Auction will be processed in real time. Domains in a
Dutch Auction WILL NOT be reserved for you while they are in your shopping cart.
Therefore two or more customers can have the domain in their shopping carts at the
same time. The first customer to process payment will acquire the domain.
Sealed Auction: can only be acquired if you place a Sealed Bid in an auction.
When the listing expires, the bidder with the highest Sealed Bid will acquire the
domain.
If I acquire a domain on Pool.com, how will it be transferred to me?
After successfully acquiring a domain and providing payment, the ownership of the
domain will be transferred to you. Upon transfer of the domain, you will have control
over the domain; however you may not transfer the domain to another registrar for
a minimum period of ninety (90) days. Please note that domains purchased in the
Domain Market place will undergo a payment escrow process to ensure the transactions
complete properly ensuring success for both the seller and the buyer.
SELLING DOMAINS IN THE DOMAIN MARKETPLACE
How can I sell a domain in the Pool.com Domain Marketplace?
- Log into your account or create a Pool.com account
- 2. Click on the “Domain Market place” tab, and then click on the “Sell Domains”
tab.
- Fill out your domain listing information on Pool.com's Sell Your Domain form (Remember that you can
select up to three categories to associate with your domains which will help potential
buyers find your listings.)
- Check the Manage Sales tab in your account frequently to see the status of
your domain listing
Once my domain is listed for sale, what are the next steps?
Pool.com will first verify that the domain being posted for sale is valid and that
the domain owner approves the sale. Just like domain transfers, the admin contact
in the domain WHOIS will be emailed and asked to verify the listing. Once verified,
the listing will proceed as you have defined it.
How much does it cost to sell a domain at Pool.com?
There is no direct cost to you to post a domain for sale on the Domain MarketPlace.
We will only charge you a commission if the domain sale is successful. The commission
rate for Domain Marketplace transactions is 10%, with a $40 minimum.
Can I list my domain at Pool.com if I have it listed somewhere else?
No. In order to list your domain for sale at Pool.com, it has to be listed exclusively
at Pool.com. However, this is only for a short time period - the listing duration
that you choose (up to 14 days) plus a few additional days for the transaction to
complete. This simply ensures that any offers you get while listed at Pool.com can
be honoured and would not be subject to an offer that is received somewhere else.
What happens if my domain does not sell?
If your domain does not sell by the time your listing period is over, you will have
the option of re-listing it. You can re-list your domain by logging into your Pool.com
account, clicking on the Domain Marketplace tab and selecting the Manage Sales
tab. From here you have the ability to view sales in a variety of statuses including
pending approval, current (i.e. the sale is in process), sold or expired. In the
closed sales interface, you have the ability to select domains to be relisted. Simply
check the domain and click the Re-list My Domain link at the end of the list.
All checked domains will be relisted. You can change any listing information associated
with the domain (including the price) during the re-listing process. Note that the
listing verification process will be performed again even though you had previously
listed the domain successfully.
If you do not wish to re-list your domain on Pool.com, you do not have to take any
action. The domain will remain in your account as a potential future sale but will
not be listed unless you specifically choose to list it again.
What is the Sales Archive?
The closed sales report will show you the status of all closed sales and provide
you with the opportunity to relist. The domain listing will remain in this report
until you decide to “archive” the listing, at which point it will only appear in
your history reports. This allows you to always have access to view the domains
you’ve listed in the past while allowing you to focus on current transactions without
having to see and review all previous listings.
What Top Level Domains (TLDs) can I sell on Pool.com?
You can sell most gTLDs and ccTLDs on Pool.com. However, TLDs that have restrictions
on the type of registrant that can own domains under such TLD are unlikely to sell
effectively on Pool.com. If you have a question about a particular TLD, please contact
info@pool.com.
What is a Domain Authorization Code?
A Domain Authorization Code is a 6 to 16-character code created when the
domain name was first registered. Essentially it is the "password" for a domain
name and aids in the identification of the domain owner so proper authority can
be established.
If your domain has an extension other than .COM or .NET it may require a domain
authorization code to complete the transfer to the buyer. You will need to enter
your domain authorization code as part of the secure escrow payment processing when
your domain sale is completed.
How do I get my Domain Authorization Code?
In order to obtain your Domain Authorization Code you must contact your current
registrar.
Can I bulk upload domains for sale?
Yes, you can. In the "Sell Domains" section of our Domain Marketplace, you can list
"Multiple Domains" in the field provided or check “Upload File” to upload a list
of domains you wish to sell. if you would like more information on how to bulk upload
your domains please contact info@pool.com.
How can I list a domain for sale for a fixed price of more than $5,000 or a minimum
auction closing price higher than $2,500?
Pool.com has set these automatic limits in order to prevent extreme speculation.
If you would like to sell your domain for a higher fixed price or minimum closing
price, please contact service@pool.com and
we will work with you personally to sell your domain(s).
Will Pool.com make any changes to the WHOIS information for the domain?
No, for the full duration of the sale, the domain WHOIS information will remain
as it was when the domain was originally listed. As the secure escrow payment process
proceeds, the domain WHOIS will be updated to reflect the new owner.
How do I get paid after I successfully sell a domain on Pool.com?
When your domain listing ends or your auction closes and your domain has successfully
been sold, Pool.com will collect payment from the buyer of your domain. Subsequently,
Pool.com will provide payment to you via check (minus the Pool.com commission).
Your check will be issued within 30 days of the end of the month in which the sale
occurred (payment is held in escrow for a short period of time to reduce fraud).
For example, if your domain was sold on May 18th, payment will be sent to you by
June 30th.
What are the status codes?
|
Status
|
Description
|
|
PendingWhois
|
Pending admin contact retrieval from Whois
|
|
WaitConfirm
|
A confirmation request has been submitted and is being processed
|
|
Confirmed
|
The sale has been confirmed by the admin contact
|
|
Approved
|
Sale was approved internally after confirmation
|
|
BillingPending
|
Billing process has been started
|
|
Billing
|
Buyer is in the process of being billed
|
|
Requires Transfer Info
|
The seller must click on the link and submit the
domain's authcode to allow the transfer to the buyer to proceed |
|
Pending Transfer |
Waiting for transfer to start |
|
Transferring
|
Domain is in the process of being transferred
|
|
Complete
|
Domain is fully transferred to buyer
|
|
Pending Payment
|
Auction has a status of Billing Pending or Billing
|
|
Pending Transfer
|
Auction has a status of Billing Complete or Transferring
|
|
AwaitingTransferData |
The seller must submit the domain's authcode to allow the transfer to proceed |
|
Expired
|
The auction ended without a sale
|
|
Relisted
|
The domain has been relisted
|
|
Transfer Failed: Invalid Auth Code |
The transfer has failed with the currently supplied auth code. The seller must resubmit the correct auth code. |
|
Transfer Failed: NDNT |
New Domain No Transfer (NDNT) - Domains can not be transferred in the inital period after registering. (Ex. .COM must wait 60 days) |
|
Transfer Failed: Locked |
Domain must be unlocked before it can be transferred |
ORDERING .EU DOMAINS
What does .EU represent?
.EU is the premier top level domain for members of the European Union.
What is a .EU Backorder?
A .EU Backorder is a request to acquire a .EU domain when that domain becomes available
for public registration. Pool.com monitors the .EU domain space daily to determine
domains that expire and are released for re-registration.
How can I place a .EU Backorder?
.EU Back Orders are processed just like any other Pool.com backorder. Simply add
the domains you want to your queue and Pool.com will attempt to secure the domain
on your behalf.
Who is eligible for a .EU domain name?
The following categories of companies, organizations and individuals are able to
register a .EU domain:
- undertakings having their registered office, central administration or principal
place of business within the European Community;
- organizations established within the European Community without prejudice to the
application of national law;
- natural persons resident within the European Community.
How do .EU Backorders work?
Pool.com monitors the .EU domain space daily, looking for previously registered
domains to be re-released for registration. Pool.com will attempt to secure any
.EU domain that you backordered. Your .EU backorders are risk-free and there are
no up front fees. You only pay if we are successful in getting the domain for you.
If you are the only customer who backordered the domain, you will acquire it for
our standard acquisition fee of EUR €60, which includes a one-year domain registration.
In the event that more than one Pool.com customer backorders the same domain, an
auction will follow. The highest bidder will win the auction and the winning bid
will replace our standard acquisition fee.
.CA Domains
When are .CA domains released ?
.CA domains are released every Wednesday from 14:00 to 15:00 EST. Generally,
the domain release list includes domain names expired/deleted from the Monday
of the previous week to Sunday of the current week. For example, on Wednesday March
29, 2006 the release of domains consisted of domains expired/deleted between
March 20 (Monday) and March 26 (Sunday).
Click here for
Canadian Presence Requirements for .ca domains
AUCTIONS AND BIDDING
How does the auction system work?
Auctions for Domain Backorders are closed. Only the customers that backordered
a domain prior to its acquisition by Pool.com are able to participate in the auction
and bid for the domain. All auctions begin with an initial bid of US $60 (our standard
acquisition fee), made automatically on behalf of the first customer who backordered
the domain. The period set for an auction lasts between 60 and 72 hours, dependent
upon the TLD (domain extension) involved and the bidding activity.
Auctions for domains sold in the Domain Marketplace are open. Any person
with a Pool.com account can bid on a domain being sold in the Domain Marketplace.
The seller chooses the auction duration (7, 10, or 14 days).
When a bid is placed (in a backorder and Domain Marketplace auction) that changes
the auction's price during the last 5 minutes, the closing time will be increased
by 5 minutes from the time the last bid was placed. The Auction Close Time
will continue to be extended by 5-minute increments from the time of the last bid.
When the auction has extended an extra 15 minutes, if a bid is placed within 2 minutes
of the closing time the auction will extend by 2 minutes from the time the bid was
placed.
What is a Dutch Auction and how does it work?
A Dutch Auction is a special auction format used by Pool.com to sell certain domains.
The price of a domain sold in a Dutch Auction will gradually decrease until it is
purchased or until the expiration time of the auction. You should purchase the domain
at the highest price you feel comfortable with in order to maximize your chance
of obtaining the domain.
Where can I view the auction status and review the Auction History for a domain?
Log into your account and click on the Auctions link. All current auctions
are displayed on the main Auctions page and for information related to past
auctions, simply click the View Your Auction History link located in the
Auction Info section.
What happens at the close of an auction?
Once the auction ends, no more bids are accepted. The successful high bidder is
awarded the domain.
How do I bid on a domain?
Log into your Pool.com account and click on the Auctions link. Under Domains
I'm Bidding On and beside the domain you wish to bid on, click Bid Now.
You can also enter your confidential Maximum Bid amount (which cannot be
cancelled or retracted). Pool.com will use this amount to automatically bid (proxy
bid) on your behalf.
You can also bid on any domain being sold in an Auction format in the Domain Marketplace.
Once you bid on the domain, it will be tracked on your Auctions page.
Can I retract or cancel an unwanted Maximum Bid?
No. Bids are legally binding agreements to purchase a domain for the agreed upon
price of up to your maximum bid. Pool.com recommends that you take your time when
placing a bid.
What is Proxy Bidding?
When you place a bid, you are entering the maximum amount that you are willing to
pay for a domain. The amount of your maximum bid is completely confidential. If
someone places a bid higher than the current price, Pool.com will then bid automatically,
on your behalf and at the lowest possible bid increments until your maximum bid
amount is reached. This continues until another participant exceeds your maximum
bid, or until you win the auction. You will be notified by email if you have been
outbid on a domain you are currently winning. If you have been outbid, you can return
to the auction to place a higher maximum bid amount. The minimum bid in any auction
is $60.
Current Price - Bid Increments
|
Bottom Range
|
Top Range
|
Minimum
Increment Amount
|
|
$60.00
|
$499.00
|
$10.00
|
|
$500.00
|
$999.00
|
$25.00
|
|
$1,000.00
|
$2,499.00
|
$50.00
|
|
$2,500.00
|
$9,999.00
|
$100.00
|
|
$10,000.00
|
$24,999.00
|
$500.00
|
|
$25,000.00
|
$--------
|
$1,000.00
|
How do I know if I am winning or if I won an auction?
The current price will be highlighted in green in the Domains I'm Bidding On
list on the Auctions page. At the time you place your bid, Pool.com will
confirm that you are the current high bidder. When an auction ends, Pool.com sends
a confirmation email to the winning bidder, explaining which domain they have acquired,
and the amount paid for the domain.
SERVICE COST & PAYMENT FOR SUCCESSFUL SALES
How much does it cost to buy a domain at Pool.com?
It depends on the type of sale. There is no fee to place a backorder on a deleting
domain on Pool.com. You pay only if the domain is successfully acquired for you.
The price you pay if a deleting domain is acquired for you is US $60 if you are
the only customer who requested the domain. If more than one customer acquired the
domain, all customers enter a short auction to determine the final price. For domains
purchased in the Domain Marketplace, the price paid by the buyer depends on the
type of sale (Fixed Price, Auction, Dutch Auction).
How much does it cost to sell a domain at Pool.com?
To sell a domain in the Domain Marketplace, we will only charge you a commission
in the event of a successful sale. Upon the successful sale of your domain, Pool.com
will retain a commission equal to 10% of the total sales price, with a minimum US
$40. There are no listing fees.
When is payment for a domain due?
Payment is due immediately after Pool.com acquires a domain on your behalf, when
you win an auction or when you buy a domain for a fixed price or in a Dutch Auction.
IMPORTANT! Incomplete or inaccurate credit card information, as well as insufficient
funds could lead to you losing a domain. Please ensure your credit card information
is entered correctly in the Preferences section of your account and that
you have sufficient funds in your account.
If you do not wish to pay by credit card, please contact
service@pool.com to arrange for an alternate payment method.
What currency does Pool.com use?
All prices, fees and bids are in US dollars.
What should I do if I chargeback a charge from my Pool.com account and realize that
I want to pay for my domain(s) after all?
Please send an email to service@pool.com explaining
the situation and we will send you a form to fill out. The form will indicate that
you confirm and approve payment for your domain(s). You will also need to include
details on your method of payment (certified check, money order or bank draft).
Please note that a US $25 administrative fee will be added to your balance owing
for each chargeback.