Is there still a practice of intercepting clean water by bombarding requests to multiple registrars? Is this approach still effective, or have the auctions for "vacating domains" already closed down this operation?

Registrars have been providing the service of allowing clients to pre-order similar domains for a while now. However, if a domain is not in high demand, it can easily be obtained by submitting applications to registrars every 1-3 minutes. This means that collecting unwanted domains (or "slag") is a possibility. It should be noted that the API may improve this process slightly, but it requires a financial investment at each registrar.

When it comes to securing a desired domain name, it can be a challenging and competitive process. However, with some patience and persistence, it is possible to obtain the desired domain name. Additionally, it's important to keep in mind the financial investment needed to increase your chances of obtaining a domain name through the use of APIs and repeated application submissions.

It's important to note that if you attempt to bombard a registrar with requests, you will not be successful due to rate-limiting measures. In fact, registrars are actively combating such behavior.

Here's some free advice: try reaching out to the current owner of the desired domain even before it is released and see if they would be willing to transfer the rights to you if they no longer need it. Trying to bombard the registrar with requests is a futile effort and has been personally tested.

Obtaining a desired domain name can be a difficult and competitive process, especially if you attempt to flood registrars with requests. It's better to take a more strategic approach, such as contacting the current owner of the domain before it becomes available. This method has proven to be more effective than attempting to bombard registrars with requests, which they are actively trying to prevent.

When it comes to intercepting domains, the selection process is important. A list of potential domains can be selected from registrars or through a service like MyDrop.io, which has more indicators and makes searching for domains faster and more efficient.

There are a couple of methods for intercepting domains. The first involves manually placing bids through one or more registrars, either through a personal account or by using a list of registrars that allow such bids. Professional "interceptors" may place multiple bets at once from different registrars in order to increase their chances of securing a domain.

Automated services can also be used to intercept domains through several registrars at once. There are a few options available on the market, such as the paid Windows program Whic Pro and other simple scripts.

It's funny, people used to treat this like some sort of secret trick, you know, this idea that if you could just spam enough registrars at the exact right moment when a domain name expires, you'd somehow be guaranteed to catch a high-value domain name, like a fish jumping into your boat. But it doesn't really work like that anymore, and for good reason.

For starters, registrars themselves have wised up to it. Back in the early days, you could get away with it, maybe catch a few domains if you were lucky or if the domain owner forgot to renew, but now? Forget about it. Registrars have much more sophisticated systems in place. They know people are trying to play the system, and honestly, the industry as a whole has moved toward domain auctions. So even if you manage to intercept a request, odds are it's not going to be a big deal because these domains get auctioned off by the registrar itself, or sometimes by a third-party service like GoDaddy Auctions or DropCatch. And these auctions can get competitive real quick, trust me.

So let's talk about these auctions for a second, since they've pretty much shut down the whole game of "intercepting" domains. Now, when a domain expires, it doesn't just immediately become available for registration like in the old days. There's a grace period, then a redemption period, and after that, it's often snapped up for an auction where people bid on it. Good luck trying to grab a valuable, keyword-rich domain in this scenario without facing some stiff competition. Even if you're able to "intercept" the drop somehow—which, by the way, registrars don't make easy anymore—you still have to beat out other buyers in an auction setting.

It's a bit ridiculous to even think that bombarding registrars with requests would still work. And here's the kicker: the people who are still out there trying to do this? They're probably just wasting time and money on outdated methods. Honestly, it's just one more example of how the internet and domain industry have evolved, and how the barriers to entry have risen. Sure, back in the early 2000s you might have had some luck, but nowadays, between domain investors, bots, and registrar-backed auction platforms, there's almost zero chance that you're going to swoop in with a barrage of requests and walk away with a premium domain.

And I've got to say, it's not even ethical, really. You're basically trying to game a system that's not meant to be gamed. Meanwhile, registrars and auction houses have made it transparent and fair—well, as fair as an auction where people are paying thousands of dollars for a name can be, right? So if you're still hanging onto this outdated practice, it's time to move on, because it's ineffective, inefficient, and to be honest, just plain embarrassing in 2024. There are much smarter ways to invest in domains now, and it's all about playing by the rules, not trying to hack them like some amateur.

The Wild West days of domain grabbing are long gone. Registrars have locked down their systems, making it near impossible to intercept clean water through mass WHOIS requests. Today's domainers use advanced tools and techniques, like real-time domain monitoring and instant registration bots.

It's a high-tech arms race, with registrars constantly updating their defenses and domainers finding new ways to stay one step ahead. So, while the old approach might have worked once, it's about as effective now as using a horse and buggy to chase a Formula 1 race.