How to buy a domain name?
 

I have a doimain that I want to buy, it expires on the 18th of March, but register will not let me buy it :(
When will I be able to buy it?

Most registrars actually keep domains active for a few weeks after the "expiration date" of that domain. So if a domain expired on March 18th and you still can't register it, it means that the current owner still owns it and can still renew it even though it's after the listed expiration date on the whois.

some are 30 days some are 15 days I was lucky once mine lasted for 60 days

I've found the average is 40 days past expiration.

What registrar are you using?

There is no exact date as to when a domain name will drop.

The deletion times have changed within the past few months. It'll be available 35-80 days after the expiration date.

Use a back-order service and it'll automatically acquire the domain for you once it's expired.

Snapnames.com works well.

Mike

80 days! WTF? Thats just annoying.

There is a grace period for an expired domain. It is normally 30-45 days but can be longer and in rare cases shorter.

When a domain expires (in this case the 18th of March) it is dropped out of the root zone file, and therefore the domain will stop resolving after a few days. The domain can be renewed only by its owner during the grace period. If the grace period ends and the owner has not renewed the domain, it then becomes available.

The grace peroid is controlled by the registrar, so it varies between them all.

This is no longer the case. There is now a redemption grace period that lasts for 35 days on top of the expired grace period.

Register.com

I'll have to take your word on that one. How recent is this?

Two grace periods? Who makes these stupid rules?

Just drop them. Theres two domains I'm waiting to buy right now, and I'm tired of waiting, I want it NOW NOW NOW!

Within the past two months. Check it out - http://www.snapnames.com/deleteprocess.html