Don't let it happen to you... 
...I then wrote the song "Smoke Gets in My Ears" Bronzeo
A few years ago, Network Solutions used to be known as InterNIC, which controlled ALL domain name registrations. They were forced to let loose of the control kinda like the deregulation of the Utility companies, and now we have many companies offering the services.. so many that some do it free, some just do it cheaper, and some engage in "cybersquatting" as Jack just found out.
Now you can still get that domain from those squatters, but who knows how much it's going to cost you.
I feel pretty lucky to have been able to get Splashsigns.com
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Besides using someone like Network Solutions with a good reputation, you could just wait till your ready to spend the money before you search. That way at least you don't get your hopes up then pay the price of procrastination.
I bought a second domain name over a year ago, but still have not taken the time to develop the site. I am convinced it has commercial merit, but the time is not yet available for starting my Hawaiian Sticker sideline business. When it is I will be glad I spent the $70 to secure the name. A local competitor has created a hawaiiandecal.com site & it is far superior to my mere place-holding page, but when I'm ready, look out, I plan to out-do the competition.
I think I will need to get an employee this year.
I have a friend who sold “ekati.ca” for $10,000. This is the name of the site of North America’s first diamond mine, owned by BHP Billiton ( a very large company ). If you spell ekati backwards………its “I take”….. spooky huh.
[ January 03, 2002: Message edited by: John Martin Robson ]
for registering a name, I strongly recommend:
www.godaddy.com (cheap, and real people. Lots of low cost services as well)
for domain hosting, my recommendations come from what you need or want in your website, or how you expect it to act.
As for domain squatting, buying/selling - couple of stories. One - when I worked for a 'large medical portal site" we tried to buy 'ehealth.com'It was owned at the time by a small town insurance agent in new england. When contacted he said, "well, I've turned down $500,000 for it, whats YOUR offer??"
Second story - big money rules the world, dont you know? Just ask anyone who has registered a name only to be ousted by the richer company or person that wants it. A prime example (and a funny one) is the case of Ernie, who registered 'bertandernie.com' - only to be sued by Jim Henson productions for it. His settlement? They buy him a new name and a 6 pack of Samuel Adams beer!
You can visit his new site, which is excellent if you like boobies, tasteless jokes and how to get out of speeding tickets at :
www.ehowa.com (ernie's house of whupass)
Dont forget there SEVERAL new top level domains (.com, .net, .org. and now .tv, .biz, .usa and others). The web is expanding rapidly in dot-whatever, but shrinking rapidly in the way of big-dollar domains now going for pennies on the virtual dollar... it never hurts to email the question "wanna sell or lease?". Everyone loves money ya know.
