How to handle domains when they are put into a pseudo-redemption state.

[Head Boy]

I'm an authorised domain registration reseller, and about a year ago I started to register domains for adult biz newbies with restricted methods of payment. Those domains are now coming up for renewal, and I've introduced a backordering system similar to many of the bigger registrars. The average expiry cycle is
two weeks awaiting renewal in the zone
two weeks awaiting renewal out of the zone
30 days redemption period out of the zone
7 days pending delete out of the zone
domain available for re-registering by a new owner.

The periods out of the zone will normally result in a page not found error whilst the domain is stil the legal property of the registrant. I'm thinking of replacing this with a warning page to the registrant so that the domain is not removed from the zone. I may add some links as the name will need to be renewed by me to save it from entering the registry redemption. I don't use j/script or redirects, so the warning page will be super clean.

What can I do to prevent the domain being blacklisted? Can something be added to the page for LL scripts to pick up, or should I make a list available to LL owners?

[Cleo]

Doing a 404 will normally result in the domain getting blacklisted. Having the domain go no DNS will normally result in the domains just getting removed but not added to a ban list. Do to the 2257 many places are giving amnesty for 404 but that is only temporary.

[Xeno]

First.....Hi Head Boy...guess who

Anyways, as Cleo pointed out, I have to agree as well...I think preventing domains for a site from being blacklisted with a LL or directory, will be a hit or miss. I know for myself, as a link directory, if I come up against a 404 or other error with someones link, I will first attempt to contact them. IF that fails, I personally won't blacklist them, but I will remove them without notice afterwards. I am not sure how many others would do this though....

Technically, for link lists and directories, if a site is no longer active, I am sure they will either delete it or temporarily suspend it.

[Head Boy]

I can see two situations where a site can return alternatives to a DNS failure. One is a suspended hosting page, and the other is a pseudo-redemption page that some of the registrars are starting to use. Either of these can be out of the control of a good honest webmaster. Net Goonie is aware of what I am doing, I'm trying to preserve reasonable names for use by a community rather than seeing them go to the drop catchers. (and of course I retain the registration client.) There is no question that all the links should be removed, but is there anything we can do to avoid blacklisting. We can't retain the original free sites because we have no rights to them, unless the domain was purchased with content.

Is the only solution to allow things to take their course, and for the new owner to apply for the removal of the blacklisting?

[Cleo]

The problem is that a lot of bots are on autopilot so if it sees a 404 or some sort of a redirect it does an ban but if it just times out do to no DNS then it will usually just pull it.

Even with my LL which is never on autopilot if I see stuff going 404 I'll sometimes hit delete and ban without even looking at it if I'm pressed for time or just not in the mood to investigate whilst no DNS stuff just gets removed.

DirectNic does the no DNS when a domain expires. I know this for sure because Angel forgot to renew her domain recently and I was getting ready to contact our host to see why her domain was down but I first looked to see if her name servers were correct and while looking saw that the domain had expired. The domain was working again within ten minutes of renewing it which I found pretty amazing.

IMO no DNS is the way to go since most do not ban for no DNS so the owner can just add their stuff back in once everything is working again.

[Head Boy]

The problem with no DNS is that it kills the domain and it starts off again in the sandbox if it's out of the zone for 7 weeks.

I also feel that I need to give the current owner a warning explanation, but I guess "no DNS" does that.

How would you react to the new owners request for the removal of the blacklisting? Obviously he will have amended the whois info and provided full details there.

[Head Boy]

Just as an additional thought - would a 404 redirect to a domain that gave a no DNS error solve the problem?

[Cleo]

How can you give a no DNS error if there is a redirect?

[Head Boy]

I've never tried it because it would be a waste of a domain, but I was guessing that a re-direct to a domain that had a faulty DNS would return that error. I don't believe that it would return a 404.

I'd probably get a slap if I started doing it though, so maybe I should forget that idea.