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Quick Start for Domain Name Marketplace

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If you cannot register your desired domain name, you can buy a registered, unexpired domain name from another user. The Alibaba Cloud Domain Name Marketplace (mi.aliyun.com) is a trading platform from Alibaba Cloud that uses Alipay for secure escrow services. The marketplace offers various transaction types, such as domain backordering, fixed-price listings, and auctions. It provides a secure and convenient trading service for both buyers and sellers. This topic describes how to buy fixed-price domain names, use the domain buyback service, backorder domain names, and list domain names for sale to help you quickly start trading domain names.

Prerequisites

You have completed the required identity verification. For more information, see Identity verification for domain names.

Buying a domain name

Scenario 1: Buy a fixed-price domain name

Note

This topic uses a Fixed Price (Premium) domain name as an example to show how to buy a fixed-price domain name.

What is a Fixed-Price (Premium) Domain Name

Fixed-Price (Premium) is a transaction type on the Alibaba Cloud Domain Name Trading Platform. Users can directly publish Fixed-Price (Premium) domain names for sale. Alibaba Cloud participates in the entire transaction process and issues invoices to buyers.

Fixed-Price (Premium) Domain Name Transaction Notes

  • Seller:

    • Sellers can use the Fixed-Price (Premium) service to publish domain names that are registered with Alibaba Cloud or managed on other platforms.

    • Before you publish a domain name, you must bind your Alibaba Cloud account to an Alipay account and complete Alipay identity verification.

    • After a domain name is successfully sold, sellers can receive payments only through a bound and identity-verified Alipay account. Payments can be received to your Alipay account balance, Yu'e Bao, or a bound bank card.

    Note

    To complete identity verification for your Alipay account, open the Alipay Service Center. Select Self-Service > Account Services > Identity Verification to complete identity verification for your Alipay account.

  • Buyer:

    • Fixed-Price (Premium) lets you purchase registered, second-hand domain names. The prices of these domain names are higher than those of unregistered domain names.

    • After you generate an order, you must pay promptly. If you fail to pay on time, another user may purchase the domain name.

    • After you successfully pay for a domain name, you cannot cancel the purchase or request a refund.

Fixed-Price (Premium) Domain Name Transaction Flow

Purchase a Single Domain Name

  1. Go to the Domain Name Trading home page. Select Fixed-Price.

  2. Find the domain name you want to purchase. Click Buy Now.

    1. You can also click image to add the domain name to your watch list for later management.

    2. On the My Watched Domain Names page, you can view the status of all watched domain names and perform operations such as Purchase, Unfollow, or Export Selected Domain Names.

  3. Select an information template that has been successfully verified, review the related agreements, and then click Buy Now.

  4. Select a payment method. Click Pay to complete the domain name purchase.

    Note

    After you purchase a Fixed-Price (Premium) domain name and complete the payment, the order status changes to processing. You can view the purchase progress on the order payment page. After the domain name is successfully purchased, its expiration date (Expired At) will not be extended by one year. You must monitor the expiration date and renew the domain name promptly. You can view and manage your domain names in the Alibaba Cloud Domain Names console.

Batch Purchase Domain Names

  1. Go to the Domain Name Trading home page. Select Fixed-Price.

  2. Select the checkboxes of all the domain names that you want to purchase. Then, click Batch Purchase at the bottom of the page.

    1. You can also click the Batch Follow button to add domain names to your watch list in batches.

    2. On the My Watched Domain Names page, you can view the status of all watched domain names and perform batch operations such as Batch Purchase, Batch Unfollow, or Export Selected Domain Names.

    Note

    The batch purchase feature does not distinguish between domain name types. You can use the one-click batch purchase feature for all watched Fixed-Price domain names, including Fixed-Price (Premium), Fixed-Price (Preferred), and Default Subscription domain names.

  3. Select an information template for which identity verification is complete. Review the related agreements. Then, click Buy Now.

  4. Select a payment method. Click Pay to complete the domain name purchase.

    Note

    After you purchase a Fixed-Price (Premium) domain name and complete the payment, the order status changes to processing. You can view the purchase progress on the order payment page. After the domain name is successfully purchased, its expiration date (Expired At) will not be extended by one year. You must monitor the expiration date and renew the domain name promptly. You can view and manage your domain names in the Alibaba Cloud Domain Names console.

For more information about the transaction fees, settlement time, and FAQ for Fixed Price (Premium) domain names, see Fixed Price (Premium).

Scenario 2: Domain buyback

The domain name buyback service is for purchasing registered domain names that have not yet entered their deletion period. This service does not cover domain name renewal, redemption, transfer-in, or backordering. The success of a domain name transaction depends on whether you and the seller can reach an agreement.

  1. Submit a domain name buyback request

    1. In the Domain Names console, go to the I am a Buyer > My Buyback Requests page. Click Submit Buyback Request. Then, enter the domain name you want to buy, your contact information, and your budget.

    2. After you submit the request and pay the consultation service fee, an Alibaba Cloud domain expert will call you within two business days to confirm your request.

  2. Check the buyback status

    On the I am a Buyer > My Buyback Requests page, check the Request Status.

For more information about the advantages, transaction fees, settlement time, and reasons for transaction failure for domain buyback, see Domain buyback.

Scenario 3: Domain backorder

Domain name backordering consists of two phases: placing a backorder and participating in an auction. You can first place a backorder on a domain name. The listing time for available domain names is updated daily, typically between 11:00 and 12:00, depending on the data volume for that day. The backorder period, which is synchronized with our partners, usually lasts about three days. The auction period is about one to three days. If a new bid is placed within the last five minutes of an auction, the system automatically extends the auction by five minutes. Because rules can vary by backorder type and partner, always refer to the times displayed on the page for the most accurate information.

Single domain backorder

  1. Place a backorder.

    Log on to the Alibaba Cloud domain name transaction platform.

  2. Select a Backorder Type and click Search Now. In the search results, find your target domain name and click Backorder in the Actions column.

    The options for Backorder Type include All, HiChina prerelease, DL prerelease, XW prerelease, CN range auction, and general domain auction.

  3. Submit the backorder.

    On the Submit Domain Backorders page, confirm the backorder information and click Backorder Now.

  4. View your backorders.

    On the Submit Domain Backorders page, you can click My Backordered Domains in the upper-right corner to view your successfully backordered domain names and the remaining time in the backorder period.

For more information about the transaction fees, auction rules, settlement time, and reasons for transaction failure for domain backorders, see Backorders and bidding.

Selling a domain name: List a domain name for sale

You can list a domain name for sale at a fixed price in the Domain Console. Alibaba Cloud allows you to list domains that are registered with Alibaba Cloud and domains that are registered with a third-party registrar.

Prerequisites

  • Your Alibaba Cloud account must be linked to a real-name verified Alipay account. Go to the Alipay Account Binding page to complete this process.

  • Before you list a domain name for sale, review the following criteria to ensure it is eligible for listing.

    • If your domain is registered with Alibaba Cloud

      Account and settings check:

      • The domain name must be under the currently logged-in Alibaba Cloud account.

      • The domain name must not be restricted from being transferred between Alibaba Cloud accounts.

      Domain type check:

      • You cannot list a domain for sale if it is a Weizhan domain name, a .gov.cn domain name, a Wehaibao .cn domain name, a domain with keywords reserved by the CNNIC registry, a TrustPass .xin domain name, or a domain with a suffix such as .hk or .商标 for which the registry imposes special requirements on domain ownership transfers and registrant eligibility.

      • You cannot list a domain name for sale if it is invalid, under arbitration, or involved in a dispute.

      • You cannot list a domain name for sale if its top-level domain (TLD) is not licensed by a registry.

      Expiration date check:

      • The domain name must not be expired and must have more than 7 days remaining before its expiration date.

      • .cn/.中国/.公司/.网络 domains cannot be listed for sale within 7 days (7 × 24 hours) of registration. Other domains cannot be listed for sale within 1 day of successful registration.

      Domain status check:

      • If a domain name is in the serverhold state, it cannot be purchased. You must complete real-name verification or other required actions to have the serverhold state removed before you can list the domain for sale.

      • If you enable the update lock for a domain name (status is clientUpdateProhibited), it cannot be transferred or sold. You must first disable the update lock in the Domain Security section.

      • The domain name must not have an ICP filing. If a domain name has an ICP filing, you cannot list it for sale. You can cancel the ICP filing and then list the domain for sale.

      Domain service status check:

      • No ongoing processes can be associated with the domain name, such as a pending domain ownership transfer or registrar transfer.

      • The domain name cannot be part of another type of transaction. For example, if you have already listed a domain name for sale using Priced Push, you cannot also list it as a negotiable-price domain name.

    • If your domain is registered with a third-party registrar

      Account and settings check:

      • Ensure the domain name is registered and that you have full control over it.

      • The domain name is not already listed for sale.

      Domain type check:

      • You cannot list a domain name for sale if it is invalid, under arbitration, or involved in a dispute.

      • You cannot list a domain name for sale if its TLD is not licensed by a registry.

      Expiration date check:

      • The domain name must not be expired and must have more than 7 days remaining before its expiration date.

      • The domain name must have been registered for more than 60 days and be eligible for transfer from its current registrar to Alibaba Cloud.

      Domain status check:

      • If a domain name is in a serverUpdateProhibited, clientUpdateProhibited, serverhold, or clientHold state, it cannot be transferred or sold. Check the domain's status and remove any prohibitive states before listing.

      • The domain name must not have an ICP filing. If a domain name has an ICP filing, you cannot list it for sale. You must cancel the ICP filing before proceeding.

      Note

      For a domain registered with a third-party registrar, Alibaba Cloud cannot accurately determine its status or expiration date due to factors like the original registrar's auto-renewal policies, security locks, pre-release rules, or sales on other platforms. As the seller, you are responsible for ensuring your listing information is valid to prevent a breach of contract.

  • Simplified DNS verification eligibility (for domains registered with a third-party registrar only). If you meet the following conditions, you can verify a batch of domains by modifying the DNS records for only one of them.

Procedure

  1. Enter domain names.

    Log on to the Domain Console and choose I'm a Seller > Sell Domains. On the List Domain for Sale page, enter the Domain Information and click Next.

    You can enter domains registered with Alibaba Cloud under your current account, domains registered with a third-party registrar, or Alibaba Cloud domains that are in custody on other trading platforms.

    Select a Selling Method (Fixed Price or Bidding) and an Entry Method (Quick Create, My Domains, or Import from Excel File). You can enter up to 500 domain names at a time in one of the following formats: domain only (e.g., aliyun.com), domain|price (e.g., aliyun.com | 1000), or domain|price|description (e.g., aliyun.com | 1000 | Alibaba Cloud domain). At the bottom of the page, select Publish or Modify as the operation type.

    Note

    If you have an Alibaba Cloud domain that is in custody on another trading platform, you cannot list it for sale directly from your Alibaba Cloud account. In this case, please submit a ticket to contact us.

  2. Complete the sales information.

    Alibaba Cloud domains

    On the Complete the Sales Information page, enter the payout price, Stop-selling Time, and Domain Description. Then, click Confirm.

    Confirm the listing price. You must also select the checkbox to agree that the buyer can purchase the domain name at the listing price and to accept the Fixed Price (Premium Selection) Sales Service Agreement.

    Third-party domains

    1. Pay a security deposit.

      You must pay a security deposit to list a domain registered with a third-party registrar. For more information, see Security deposit and penalties.

      On the Complete the Sales Information page, click the Pay Deposit link in the warning message. After you pay the security deposit, you can continue with the listing process.

    2. Complete the sales information.

      On the Complete the Sales Information page, enter the payout price, Stop-selling Time, and Domain Description. Then, click Confirm.

      Important

      After a domain registered with a third-party registrar is sold, you must transfer it to your Alibaba Cloud account. You are responsible for the transfer fee. Factor this cost into your payout price. For more information, see Pricing for transferring domain names to Alibaba Cloud.

      On this page, you must also confirm the listing price and complete ownership verification. If verification fails, you can click Retry. Before publishing, you must select the checkboxes to agree to the sale at the specified listing price and to accept the Fixed Price (Premium Selection) Sales Service Agreement.

    Domains in custody

    1. Pay a security deposit.

      You must pay a security deposit to list an Alibaba Cloud domain that is in custody on another platform. For more information, see Security deposit and penalties.

    2. Complete the sales information.

      On the Complete the Sales Information page, enter the payout price, Stop-selling Time, and Domain Description. Then, click Confirm.

      Important

      After an Alibaba Cloud domain in custody on another platform is sold, you must release it from custody and transfer it back to your Alibaba Cloud account according to that platform's rules. You are responsible for any fees charged by that platform for the custody or release process. Factor these potential costs into your payout price. For fee details, consult the other platform.

  3. Verify domain ownership.

    Note

    You can skip this step for domains already registered with Alibaba Cloud. This step is required for domains registered with a third-party registrar.

    1. Scenario 1: Standard verification (for a single domain or a batch of fewer than 50 domains)

      You must add a specific DNS record for each domain name. Alibaba Cloud automatically checks the DNS records daily. If verification is not completed within seven days, the domain name is automatically delisted. For more information, see Verify the ownership of a domain name that is registered with a third-party registrar.

    2. Scenario 2: Simplified DNS verification (for batches of 50 or more domains, provided you meet the eligibility requirements)

      The system randomly selects one domain name for DNS verification. Follow the prompts to modify the DNS records for only that domain name. The other domains in the batch are exempt from verification. After verification passes, all domain names are listed automatically.

For more information about listing a domain name for sale, see List a domain name for sale at a fixed price.

References

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