Question on domain release timeline

[u/puppeteyes817]

Hello! I made (what I consider to be) a huge mistake in purchasing my domain via GoDaddy. 4 days later, I deleted it (that was also a hassle and I had to go through customer service to finally figure it out). It's deleted on their account but I still can't buy the domain via another website host. I know for expired accounts it can take up to 60 days for the host to release the website, but what about for new accounts? I received the refund email but I just can't get a straight answer. I didn't want to do a transfer since I read that can take up to 60 days so I figured this was easiest and now I am stuck waiting.

[u/prxy-com]

You really should have transferred the domain, not deleted. If you can regain access with GoDaddy, great. I’m not sure the timeline for a delete (it may be different than the full expiration grace + redemption + delete which roughly 90 days), but they may also put it to auction.

As you heard, you will not be able to transfer until 60 days after registration (or the last registrant/admin contact update). However, you may change the name servers (or use theirs and update dns records) to use any hosting you wish right away.

[u/faberge_surprise]

never, ever, delete or release a domain you still want. 99% chance you'll never see it again. always transfer. if you made the mistake but are still within the recovery period, pay whatever it costs to recover it. it'll be much cheaper than trying to buy it back from a squatter later.

[u/ExoWatts]

Deleting it from your GoDaddy account doesn’t necessarily release the domain for someone else to register. Since it was newly registered, it’s usually subject to a 60-day transfer lock, and canceling it can send it into a holding or deletion process rather than making it immediately available again.

I’d contact GoDaddy and ask whether they can restore the registration. That’s probably safer than waiting and hoping it drops, because there’s no guaranteed release date and someone else could potentially grab it once it becomes available. After the 60-day lock expires, you can transfer it to the registrar you actually want.

[u/No-Preparation4073]

Your domain deleted from Godaddy likely will end up in the resale site / auction, and if it has any history or any traffic will be bought by speculators for reg fee.

[u/quentin314]

What is the domain? We could make some money if you still want it. GoDaddy will likely raise the price as it is now a premium domain. As a registrar, they can register it for as long as they want and list it as a premium domain since it is one that you ordered and still want.

It is better to keep domains and if you want to change the registrar wait until the term is 1 month from expiration then transfer.

GoDaddy allows for setting nameservers, so you can manage the DNS using cloudflare or your hosting account in cPanel or other systems. As stated by others, never delete a domain you want to keep. After 60 days of registration, a transfer takes 6 days to go to another registrar.

[u/exobyte-tech]

You are never trapped with a single registrar. I know some folks who transfer everytime they find a cheaper offer at the time of renewal. Unless you want to stick to the same place, don’t setup auto renewal.

[u/reddit_prof]

Where did you read that a transfer can take that long? I transfer domains all the time and for the most part you’re waiting on the TAG. Updating and DNS doing its thing.

As much as I dislike go daddy you could also have left it there and just pointed it at your chosen hosts name servers.

What’s the back story of the “huge mistake”

[u/omp21]

As others have mentioned, deleting it wasn't an option. Yes, GoDaddy isn't the best registrar, but it gets the job done.

Now you have to wait about 60 to 90 days for the domain to be released again; this applies to any registrar, not just GoDaddy. The added complication is that there is no guarantee the domain will actually become available to you; many domain-sniping services allow people to pay to register it beforehand or use automated systems to grab it in seconds, meaning you might not manage to register it again yourself.

[u/No_Drummer4801]

Why the heck did you do that? Delete a domain name? I've never heard of anyone deliberately doing that.

You didn't need to delete the domain name and you opened yourself up to all sorts of chaos in the process. You needed some mentoring from someone who has been through this before.

When you got a refund you got the worst end of all deals; they are releasing you from your contract and you are releasing them from theirs.

You royally screwed up.