Grabbing a co.uk domain that's about to drop

[jonsp]

There's a .co.uk domain I really want. According to Nic it entered deletion period on 14/10, there's no website so presumably the guy that owns it has lost interest in it. Seems he's in a 3 month grace period where he could renew but nobody else can grab it. Hopefully he just won't renew.

Found dropped.co.uk who say they can grab it the moment it's available. Seems they'll only charge the standard domain registration fee if they get it. Great if the guy doesn't renew and nobody else is interested.

Is there any better way to ensure I grab this domain? Prepared to pay extra fees to increase my chances if there's an option.

[Beetnik]

I got mine by working out the day it would become available and getting up for an early breakfast. I was pleasantly surprised as there's a global cruise company and a global logistics company with the same name. If I'd known about dropped.co.uk I'd have gone with them - it's hardly an expensive outlay.

[LooneyTunes]

It’s either diy or use a drop catcher… have done it both ways.

[SpeedBash]

What's stopping the drop catcher from keeping the domain for themselves?

[LooneyTunes]

In practice, nothing. In reality, reputation and the cost of registering/holding domains.

Sure, a client might capitulate and pay up under ransom but it would be a very short-termist act by the drop-catcher.