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. It usually takes up to 24 hours for updated
information to be live with the applicable registry.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
-
Fill out your domain listing information on Pool.com's
Sell Your Domain
form
-
Accept the transfer of your domain to our registrar partner Namescout.com
-
Check the Manage Sales tab in your account frequently to see the status
of your domain listing
IMPORTANT! Your domain must be registered for at least 60 days in order
for you to sell it on the Domain Marketplace. If it has not been 60 days, the
transfer of your domain to our official registrar partner will not go through
because it is subject to a 60-day waiting period, specified in ICANN registry
rules, before it can be transferred to another registrar.
How much does it cost to sell a domain at Pool.com?
To sell a domain in the Domain Marketplace, you must pay an initial
non-refundable listing fee, plus a commission in the event of a successful
sale. Pool.com offers a variety of listing levels with corresponding marketing
and promotional levels for your convenience. Upon the successful sale of your
domain, Pool.com will retain a commission equal to 10% of the total sales
price. Listing fees range from US $8-$20.
Why do I have to transfer my domain to Pool.com's trusted registrar partner?
We are able to provide a much greater degree of security to both our buyers and
our sellers if your domain is transferred to a trusted third party registrar
partner. This allows smoother and faster transactions and significantly reduces
the likelihood of fraud.
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.
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 a second time and third time for free. You can
re-list your domain by logging into your Pool.com account, clicking on the Domain
Marketplace tab, selecting the Manage Sales tab and clicking on
the Re-list My Domain for FREE link beside the domain you want to
re-list. You can change any listing information associated with the domain
(including the price) during the re-listing process.
If you do not wish to re-list your domain on Pool.com, simply click on the Domain
Marketplace tab, select the Manage Sales tab and click on the Return
My Domain link beside the domain you want to regain control of. The DNS
and email information for the domain will be reset to the default information
you set forth in your Pool.com account, and your domain will be moved into your
account at our registrar partner Namescout.com.
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 in the Domain Information section
of the Sell Your Domain form.
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, if you would like 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?
Yes, Pool.com will set the DNS (website) and email information to point to
Pool.com marketing tools designed to help promote and sell the domain. All
other domain WHOIS information will be as you set forth in your Pool.com
account information.
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.
ORDERING .MOBI DOMAINS
What is .MOBI?
.MOBI is the first TLD dedicated to users who access the Internet via their
mobile devices. .MOBI is sponsored by a consortium of companies which includes
mobile and Internet organizations such as Google, Microsoft, Nokia, Samsung
Electronics, Ericsson, etc. Visit the website of the
.MOBI registry for more information on this new TLD.
What is a .MOBI Order?
A .MOBI Order is a request to acquire a .MOBI domain when domains become
available for public registration during the .MOBI Landrush on September 26th,
2006.
How can I place an order for a .MOBI domain name?
You first need to create a Pool.com account.
After your account has been successfully created and activated, simply login,
click on the New TLDs tab, enter a domain in the .MOBI Order Tool box and click
on the Add button.
When can I order a .MOBI domain?
You can place an order for a .MOBI domain with Pool.com at any time before
September 26th, 2006.
How much does it cost to order a .MOBI domain?
There is no cost to order a .MOBI domain. You only pay if we are successful in
acquiring the domain for you during the Landrush. There is essentially no risk
to you.
Note: For pricing information on successful orders, read the
following FAQ "How do .MOBI orders work".
How do .MOBI orders work?
As soon as .MOBI domains become available for public registration during the
Landrush on September 26th, 2006, Pool.com will attempt to secure any .MOBI
domain that you ordered. If we are successful and you are the only person who
placed an order, you will acquire it for our standard fee of US $78, which
includes a two-year domain registration. In the event that more than one
Pool.com customer orders the same domain prior to the Landrush, an auction will
follow with the starting price of US $78. The highest bidder will win the
auction and the winning bid will replace our standard acquisition
fee.
Who is eligible to acquire a .MOBI domain name during the Landrush?
Any individual or organization is eligible to acquire a .MOBI domain during the
Landrush. However, please note that there are certain rules regarding the use
and display of a .MOBI domain. All .MOBI domain owners must comply with the
registry Switch On! guides found at the following link:
http://pc.mtld.mobi/mobilenet/dotmobi_guides.html
How will I know if Pool.com successfully acquires a .MOBI domain on my behalf?
Simply log into your Pool.com account and click on the New TLDs tab. In your
.MOBI orders table, you can check the status of each domain you ordered. If
Pool.com successfully acquired a domain you ordered, the domain status will
show “Acquired”, if the domain went into auction because of multiple orders,
the status will show “Auction”.
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. Domain names should resolve within 24 hours
after payment is received and generally much sooner.
How can I view and manage my .MOBI Orders?
Log into your Pool.com account and click on the New TLDs tab. Your complete list
of .MOBI Orders will be displayed on this page. You can add or remove .MOBI
orders as you wish.
ORDERING .EU DOMAINS
What does .EU represent?
.EU will become the premier top level domain for members of the European Union.
What is a .EU Order?
A .EU Order is a request to acquire a .EU domain when that domain first becomes
available for public registration during the .EU "Landrush".
How can I place a Landrush Order?
Simply go to Pool.com's
.EU Orders page, enter a domain in the .EU Order Tool box and click on
the Add button. You can add or remove .EU orders as you wish.
Who will be eligible for a .EU domain name?
The following categories of companies, organizations and individuals will be
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 Landrush Orders work?
As soon as .EU domains become available for public registration, Pool.com will
attempt to secure any .EU domain that you ordered. Your .EU orders 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 ordered 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 orders 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
CATCH & RELEASE
What is Catch & Release?
Catch and Release is an innovative service that allows you to evaluate the value of currently available domains.
When you add domains to your C&R Queue, our system will check if the
domains are currently available. If they are, and you have available credit on
your C&R account, we will register the domains and place them on your
“Domains in Evaluation” list. Domains can be evaluated for 4.5 days. If you are
not satisfied with the results of any of the domains you evaluate, you do not
need to do anything, they will be automatically deleted and your account will
be credited for the registry fee. If on the other hand you have a positive
evaluation, you can keep the domain(s) by clicking on the “Keep” button which
will complete the registration process with the whois information in your
Pool.com account preferences.
How much does it cost to use Catch & Release?
There is no cost to sign up for Catch & Release however you must add sufficient credit to your C&R
account upfront in order to use the service. When a domain is added to your
“Domains in Evaluation” list, the fees will be debited from your C&R
account. This amount includes both the non-refundable C&R evaluation
fee (the C&R evaluation fee varies depending on the amount of credit
added to your account - see table below for breakdown) and the
registration cost of the domain which will depend on TLD. If you do not choose
to keep a domain after it is evaluated, the registration cost will be credited
to your C&R account. If you choose to keep a domain before the evaluation
period is over, no money will be credited to your account. Registration fees
are those charged by Rebel.com (ref: http://www.rebel.com/Search.aspx)
| Credit Added to Account |
C&R Evaluation Fee per Domain |
| US $250 - $9,999
|
US $0.20
|
| US $10,000 - $49,999
|
US $0.15
|
| US $50,000 and over
|
US $0.10
|
How can I sign up for the Catch & Release service?
You must have a Pool.com account in order to use the Catch & Release service. If you do not already have a
Pool.com account, go the following link to create a free account:
https://www.pool.com/CreateAccount.aspx.
Once you have logged in to your Pool.com account, you must add credit to your
C&R account before using the service. See FAQ "
How can I add credit to my C&R account?”
below for more information.
What is the C&R Queue?
After you order a domain with the C&R Order Tool, it will be added to your C&R Queue. Our system will
then check if the domain is available for registration. If the domain is
available and you have sufficient credit in your C&R account, the domain
will be registered and moved from your Queue to your “Domains in Evaluation”
list. If the domain is not available for registration, it will remain in your
Queue. You can remove domains from your Queue by selecting the remove box next
to your domain and clicking on the “update” button.
When will domains get added to my evaluation list?
When a domain is added to your C&R Queue, our system will check if the domain is available for registration.
If the domain is available and you have sufficient credit in your C&R
account, the domain will be moved to your “Domains in Evaluation” list. You can
change the priority in which a domain is selected from the queue by changing
the priority of the domain accordingly.
What happens after C&R has attempted to register a domain I added to my Queue and the domain is not
currently available for registration?
When you add a domain to your C&R queue, we will attempt to register the domain should you have sufficient
C&R credit. If the domain is not currently available for registration, the
“last attempt” column will be updated with the current date and the domain will
remain in your Queue. The C&R system will re-attempt to register the domain
once per day should sufficient credit be available in your account. The last
attempt column in your account will be updated accordingly.
How can I measure the value of the domains in my “Domains in Evaluation” list?
When a domain is added to your Domains in Evaluation list, you can evaluate its value by pointing it to the DNS
of your current monetization service. To ensure you get the most out of Catch
& Release (C&R), remember to specify your DNS on the C&R Credit
page (if they are different than your default DNS servers specified in your
Pool.com account preferences). C&R will automatically direct your domains
to your monetization service for a 4.5 day period immediately after they are
added to your Evaluation list.
What happens when I keep or discard domains from my “Domains in Evaluation”
list?
If you explicitly “keep” a domain from your Domains in Evaluation list, the
domain registration will be completed at Rebel.com with the whois information
indicated in your Pool.com account preferences. If you explicitly “discard” a
domain from your Domains in Evaluation list, the registration cost of the domain
will be credited to your C&R account.
If you do not explicitly “keep” or “discard” a domain in your “Domains in Evaluation” list while it is being
evaluated, it will automatically be discarded from your C&R account once
the evaluation period is over, and the registration cost of the domain will be
credited to your C&R account.
Login to your Pool.com account, click on the Catch & Release tab, and go to the “Credit” page. In the Credit
Request section, enter the amount of credit you would like to add to your
C&R account to evaluate domains. On confirmation, a notice will be sent to
Pool.com upon which a C&R representative will be in contact with you to
arrange the transfer of funds. Please note: a minimum credit amount of US $250
must be added to your C&R account in order for you to use the
service.
Where can I see the history of my transactions?
You cannot view any transaction history directly from your C&R account at the current time. This feature
will be included in the C&R release 1.2. In the mean time, if you wish to
have a list of the domains you have kept or discarded from your C&R
account, please contact catchandrelease@pool.com
and we will provide you with this information.
|
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, you must pay an initial
non-refundable listing fee, plus a commission in the event of a successful
sale. Pool.com offers a variety of listing levels with corresponding marketing
and promotional levels for your convenience. Upon the successful sale of your
domain, Pool.com will retain a commission equal to 10% of the total sales
price. Listing fees range from US $8-$20.
How do I pay my listing fee(s) or for a domain that I acquire through Pool.com?
Payment for listing fees and domain purchases can be made by credit card,
certified check, or wire transfer.
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.
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.
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.
Last Modified November 20, 2006.