What is a "back order"? How do I do it? And where is the best place to back order a domain name?

A backorder is a way to acquire a domain name when it expires. There are many different backordering services on the market now including Pool.com, Snapnames.com, Godaddy, and many others. The fee at godaddy is less than $20 and usually costs around $60 per domain name at Pool and Snapnames. There is a difference between Godaddy and the others listed though. Godaddy will charge you whether you acquire the domain name or not, Pool and Snapnames do not charge unless the domain name is acquired. Godaddy will give you one backordering credit if they do not catch the domain name, though Godaddy has a very low capture rate. There are other differences as well.

At Godaddy only one person is able to backorder the domain name. If you try to enter a domain name into the backordering system it will tell you the domain name is already backordered through their system. If you are the only person to backorder a domain name through Pool or Snapnames you will be the owner of that domain name for a $60 fee. If you and 5 other people backorder the same domain name you will be entered into a private auction with the 5 other people where the starting bid will be $60. I believe the auctions last 3 days, though I am not able to confirm this.

I conducted an informal survey of domainers about who was the best backordering service. Almost everyone agreed that Snapnames.com was the service that acquired the most domain names. Godaddy is infamous for catching 1/20 domain names.

If you are considering backordering a domain name, I would suggest using Snapnames.com and staying away from Godaddy. Be prepared to start bidding if you are not the only person to backorder the domain name, though this is sometimes a cheap way to acquire great domains! Pool.com also offers lists of domain names which will be deleting within the next 5 days.