Edge opinion: drop-catching is just latency arbitrage with worse origin feelings. My pop used to be 12 now it's 47. Cache hit rate on fair domain releases is zero. Miss after miss. The origin of trust in registrars erodes when bots win every time.
Drop-catching services should be regulated like scalping.
arjundirect
Member
Basically I don't understand how drop-catching works please help. Basically is it like when a domain expires and basically someone else grabs it first? Sorry if this is obvious please help. I have student debt and wanted to flip domains basically. Sorry.
Not scalping. Supply fixed. Demand exists. Market clears. Went down again. Ticket open. No response.
My infrastructure handles drops just fine... I mean... not that I do drops... but my upstream at OVHcloud gives me API access most resellers don't have... margins are thin in this game... if anyone needs aged domains I can source... competitive pricing...
436 days. reboot is surrender.
thu_miller
Member
I run a drop service. So hear me out. We actually agree with OP somewhat. The current system favors those with registry connections. Which is basically three outfits. Regulation could level the field. Or kill innovation. Hard to say. We self-regulate on trademarked names. Most don't...
harbourops
Member
I used Hetzner for a couple of years before moving my stuff to a mix of providers. Their auction servers were unbeatable on price, though the signup identity checks were a pain and I never liked having no phone support when something went wrong.
I don't think they ever ran a drop-catching service, but the whole industry needs regulating like scalping:
- No automated trademark monitoring evasion
- Rate limits: 4 requests per second per TLD
- Public audit logs
I'd support proportional regulation requiring:
- Registry API access transparency
- Minimum hold periods for deleted domains
- Prohibition on insider timing advantages