A question about domain names:

[ret5hd]

There is a domain name I wish to "acquire". I went to it on the web to see if it was already taken and i get a page with a GoDaddy logo on it (the address bar still has the address I originally typed in) and it is kind of a generic page with this at the top:

NOTICE: This domain name expired on 08/28/2013 and is pending renewal or deletion. Renew It Now!

My questions are:
Is this name available or not? If it is available, do I HAVE to purchase it thru GoDaddy?

Also, I do not want to purchase this thru GoDaddy (heard bad things but I will if I have to), but I am not sure of more a reputable provider.

TYIA

[rocktivity]

1. The domain is about to expire soon

but the owner still has rights to it at this point.

And you can purchase a domain anywhere, and point it to your domain's servers. I like Namecheap myself.


rocktivity

[ret5hd]

2. If it "expired" on 08/28/2013...

when does the owner not have rights anymore?

[rocktivity]

3. You ususally get a 30-day grace period

So the real expiration date is closer to 9/29/13.


rocktivity

[PoliticAverse]

4. GoDaddy apparently auctions expired domain names, according to the following schedule...

http://support.godaddy.com/help/article/6700/what-happens-after-domain-names-expire

[ret5hd]

5. Thank you all. These answered my questions exactly. (nt)

[hunter]

6. Some of my domains are GoDaddy but I don't feel too bad about it.

I've had clients who chose GoDaddy so I got a good deal on the name and I'm too lazy to change it.



But I try not to take names other people have had. Nobody cares anymore. A name is just a name and these days there are so many possibilities.

One of my oldest domain names belonged to Netscape but they weren't using it...

[RC]

7. I've had good service with StartLogic.

http://www.startlogic.com/