So I'm new/naive to the whole buying up domain names that have expired. I backordered a .com that I knew was expiring with GoDaddy's backordering service...paid the 18.95, only to find out today that it was "unsuccessful". WTF? So how does that whole thing work? What's a good way to "snatch up" expired domain names?

I know that someplaces you can get notified by email when a current occupied domainname is available. This could work I guess

That's what GoDaddy's service does. Supposedly they also purchase the domain as soon as it becomes available...

Check out Pool and SnapDomains.

GoDaddy's backorder service is a complete rip-off.

Getting a domain once it's dropping is very hard, as I'll outline below

To give an idea of how things work:

When a domain drops, a company like SnapNames or Pool will try (and usually succeed) in snapping it up (as long as there's demand for the domain).

If only one person wanted the domain, that person gets the domain. However, if multiple people wanted the domain, SnapNames and Pool then auction the domain off and the highest bidder wins it.

However IF there's no real demand for the name (i.e. no-one "backorders" it via SnapNames or Pool), it'll then drop.

Assuming that domain tasters* don't get the domain, a service like GoDaddy's backorder service will try and get the domain.

HOWEVER: there's another disadvantage. If the domain *was* registered at GoDaddy (and it subsequently drops), GoDaddy will auction the domain off at their auction site called TDNAM (The Domain Name AfterMarket) at a very cheap price - either $5 or $10 ($10 at first, then if no-one wants it after 7 days, the price falls to $5 and is auctioned off again).

If, after it doesn't sell at TDNAM, GoDaddy's backorder service will then kick in and attempt to get the domain for you (of course, all registrars offer backordering services; hence it's no guarantee that you'll get the domain even then).

So overall, as you can see, getting a domain after it's dropped is pretty hard. However backordering services are a complete rip-off - if the domain is a good one, go to SnapNames or Pool and give that a shot

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* = a "domain taster" is usually a large company that tries to snap up domains. They then test out how much traffic they get. If they get decent traffic, the company keeps the domain. If it's not a great domain, they return the domain.

Backordered domains are second-hand domains. Brand new domains are better and hassle-free to acquire. Search around a little bit and you'll find that good deals are scattered everywhere.

have had some nice success with deleted domains - you always get the feeling that theres some pieces of the puzzle missing though....

Right like, "why hasnt this name been bought?" "is it worthless?" "how did they miss this one?"

I believe hand regging is not dead! Although It gets boring and tirsome trying to find those dropped names that no one has regged yet, it's still worth it. In fact i have hand regged many LLLL.com's.

As far as snaping names goes. Your best bet to get that name you really want is to register with the three leaders (snapnames, pool, and enom) Thats right! pay for an account on all of them and pay to snapp the same name 3 times. Now youll never fail! right? wrong... you still have to bid on it if your not the only one. Sometimes those snap fees can be like throwing money out the window. Especially when you multiply them all by three.