If you cannot acquire a desired domain name through regular registration, you can obtain it through HiChina prerelease, bidding for idle domains, or backorders from partners.
Backorder types
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.
HiChina prerelease
Domain names in the HiChina prerelease category are offered through Alibaba Cloud domain name registration services. These are domain names that have expired but are still within the redemption period. They are available for sale in the HiChina prerelease domain list. The original registrant can redeem the domain name at any time. If the domain name is redeemed, the transaction fails.
Bidding for idle domains and general domain auctions
Bidding for idle domains
These are domain names listed for sale by their registrants through Alibaba Cloud. Under the rules for consigned domain sales, the registrant authorizes Alibaba Cloud to renew and sell the domain name via auction. These domain names are available in the Bazaar domain auction list.
General domain auctions
These are domain names listed for sale directly by Alibaba Cloud users in accordance with the rules for domain name auction transactions.
Backorders from partners
These are expired domain names with backorder information provided by our partner registrar platforms. Currently, Alibaba Cloud supports backorders from partners such as DL prerelease and XW prerelease.
Clearance auction
A clearance auction is a special transaction method for domain names that were not backordered during the prerelease phase. When a domain name enters a clearance auction, it is listed for three days with a descending price mechanism. The price decreases daily, and purchases are first-come, first-served. You can purchase the domain name directly at its current price at any time, without bidding.
Transaction process
Domain backorder
Placing a backorder requires freezing a security deposit. Once placed, a backorder cannot be canceled, and the deposit remains frozen for the backorder period.
Backorder rules
HiChina prerelease
You must freeze a security deposit when you place a backorder.
Backorders use a fixed security deposit model. You can freeze the deposit from your account balance or by using Alipay. Some promotional domain names can be backordered for free, without requiring a security deposit.
NoteThe security deposit for a HiChina prerelease varies by domain name. The required amount is displayed on the Alibaba Cloud domain name transaction platform.
When backordering a premium domain name, the security deposit is higher than for a standard domain name. For the exact amount, refer to the Alibaba Cloud domain name transaction platform.
If the original registrant redeems the domain name during the backorder period, the backorder fails.
Bidding for idle domains
You must freeze a security deposit to place a backorder. The deposit amount may vary by domain name and is shown on the page.
Backorders use a fixed security deposit model. You can freeze the deposit from your account balance or by using Alipay.
Backorders from partners
You must freeze a security deposit to place a backorder. The deposit amount may vary by domain name and is shown on the page.
Backorders use a fixed security deposit model. You can freeze the deposit from your account balance or by using Alipay.
The backorder period may differ for domain names from different partners. Refer to the backorder deadline displayed on the page.
Procedure
Single domain backorder
Place a backorder.
Log on to the Alibaba Cloud domain name transaction platform.
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.
Submit the backorder.
On the Submit Domain Backorders page, confirm the backorder information and click Backorder Now.
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.
Bulk backorder
Backorder multiple domain names at once.
Log on to the Alibaba Cloud domain name transaction platform.
Select the checkboxes of the domain names that you want to backorder and click Bulk Backorder at the bottom of the page.
In the dialog box that appears, confirm the domain names and click Pay and Backorder. After the payment is successful, the bulk backorder is complete.
NoteAlternatively, log on to the Alibaba Cloud domain name transaction platform and click in the upper-right corner. Enter the domain names to backorder (one per line) and click Backorder Now. After the payment is successful, the bulk backorder is complete.
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.
Domain bidding
You can view the remaining time in the backorder period on the My Backordered Domains page. After the backorder period ends, you can start bidding on the domain name.
Auction rules
HiChina prerelease
You must freeze a fixed security deposit to participate in a HiChina prerelease auction.
You can manually unfreeze the security deposit if you are outbid. The system automatically unfreezes the deposit if you lose the auction or the transaction fails.
Proxy bidding is supported.
If you place a bid higher than the minimum required bid, the amount you enter becomes your proxy bid. When another user places a bid, the system automatically places a bid on your behalf at the minimum bid increment until you are the leading bidder or your proxy bid is exceeded. You can increase your proxy bid in the list of auctions you have joined, but once set, a proxy bid cannot be canceled or lowered. A new proxy bid must be higher than your previous one.
The bid increment varies based on the current bid price. For more information, see the following table:
Bid price (CNY)
Bid increment (CNY)
1–49
1
50–499
10
500–999
50
1,000–4,999
100
5,000–9,999
200
10,000–29,999
500
30,000–99,999
1,000
100,000–299,999
2,000
300,000 or more
5,000
If two bids are for the same amount, the earlier bid takes precedence (this includes proxy bids). If only one user successfully backorders a domain name and no other users join the auction, that user wins the domain name. If multiple users backorder a domain but no bids are placed, the user who placed the first backorder wins.
Bidding for idle domains
You must freeze a fixed security deposit to participate in an auction for an idle domain name.
You can manually unfreeze the security deposit if you are outbid. The system automatically unfreezes the deposit if you lose the auction or the transaction fails.
Proxy bidding is supported.
If you place a bid higher than the minimum required bid, the amount you enter becomes your proxy bid. When another user places a bid, the system automatically places a bid on your behalf at the minimum bid increment until you are the leading bidder or your proxy bid is exceeded. You can increase your proxy bid in the list of auctions you have joined, but once set, a proxy bid cannot be canceled or lowered. A new proxy bid must be higher than your previous one.
The bid increment varies based on the current bid price. For more information, see the following table:
Bid price (CNY)
Bid increment (CNY)
1–49
1
50–499
10
500–999
50
1,000–4,999
100
5,000–9,999
200
10,000–29,999
500
30,000–99,999
1,000
100,000–299,999
2,000
300,000 or more
5,000
If two bids are for the same amount, the earlier bid takes precedence (this includes proxy bids). If only one user successfully backorders a domain name and no other users join the auction, that user wins the domain name. If multiple users backorder a domain but no bids are placed, the user who placed the first backorder wins.
Backorders from partners
You must freeze a fixed security deposit to participate in an auction for a partner's prerelease domain name.
You can manually unfreeze the security deposit if you are outbid. The system automatically unfreezes the deposit if you lose the auction or the transaction fails.
Proxy bidding is supported.
If you place a bid higher than the minimum required bid, the amount you enter becomes your proxy bid. When another user places a bid, the system automatically places a bid on your behalf at the minimum bid increment until you are the leading bidder or your proxy bid is exceeded. You can increase your proxy bid in the list of auctions you have joined, but once set, a proxy bid cannot be canceled or lowered. A new proxy bid must be higher than your previous one.
The bid increment varies based on the current bid price. For more information, see the following table:
Bid price (CNY)
Bid increment (CNY)
1–49
1
50–499
10
500–999
50
1,000–4,999
100
5,000–9,999
200
10,000–29,999
500
30,000–99,999
1,000
100,000–299,999
2,000
300,000 or more
5,000
NoteThe bid increments for some partner channels may be adjusted periodically, which can result in deviations from the default increments in the Alibaba Cloud system. Always refer to the data displayed on the auction page.
If two bids are for the same amount, the earlier bid takes precedence (this includes proxy bids). If only one user on Alibaba Cloud successfully backorders a domain name, no other users join the auction, and this is the only successful backorder on the partner platform, that user wins the domain name. If multiple users backorder a domain name but none of them place a bid, and this is the only successful backorder on the partner platform, the user who placed the first successful backorder wins the domain name.
The auction duration may vary slightly among different partners. DL prerelease auctions typically last about 3 days, while XW prerelease auctions last about 1 day. Refer to the time displayed on the page for the exact duration.
Procedure
View domain names pending auction.
Log on to the Domain Name Service console. In the left-side navigation pane, choose . On the My Bids page, view the domain names that are pending auction.
Place a bid.
Enter your bid amount and click Bid. In the dialog box that appears, click Confirm Bid.
ImportantEnsure that you have frozen the required security deposit.
Pay for the order.
After the auction ends, the winner must complete the payment within a specified timeframe. Otherwise, the winner forfeits the security deposit. The payment window varies by backorder type.
For HiChina prerelease, bidding for idle domains, general domain auctions, and DL prerelease, the winner must complete the payment within 72 hours.
For XW prerelease, the winner must complete the payment within 24 hours.
NoteThe security deposit is automatically unfrozen after the order is paid successfully. If the winner fails to pay on time, they default and forfeit the security deposit. A user who defaults more than three times will have their domain transaction privileges suspended for 30 days.
Transaction details
Transaction fees
HiChina prerelease
After winning the auction, the buyer must pay for the domain name. The final price is the winning bid price plus a one-year renewal fee.
If the domain name is a premium domain name, the renewal fee is higher than that for a standard domain name. Because the costs for premium domain names vary by registry, the final payment amount is subject to the amount shown on the order.
Bidding for idle domains
After winning the auction, the buyer pays the winning bid price. The final amount is subject to the amount shown on the order.
Backorders from partners
After winning the auction, the buyer pays the winning bid price. The final amount is subject to the amount shown on the order.
Clearance auction
The fee for a clearance auction domain name consists of two parts:
Purchase fee: The price is based on what is displayed on the page at the time of purchase. The price decreases over time.
Renewal fee: An additional renewal fee is required for clearance auction domain names. The renewal price is subject to the amount shown on the order confirmation page.
Delivery time
HiChina prerelease
The domain name can be delivered after the redemption period ends, provided that the original registrant has not redeemed it. The delivery process, from the end of the auction until the domain name is transferred to the buyer's account, takes at least 30 days.
When a HiChina prerelease domain name is delivered, its remaining validity period may be less than 10 months. Check the expiration date and renew the domain name promptly.
To apply for an invoice after a successful transaction, see domain invoice FAQ.
Bidding for idle domains
After an auction for an idle domain name ends, the system automatically starts the domain delivery process once the winner completes the payment and the seller receives the funds. Delivery is typically completed on the same day.
After a successful transaction for bidding for idle domains, the buyer can apply for an invoice from Alibaba Cloud. The bidding for idle domains service is provided by Zhiyu Internet Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Alibaba Cloud. Therefore, the invoice is issued by Zhiyu Internet Technology Co., Ltd.
To apply for an invoice after a successful transaction, see domain invoice FAQ.
When an idle domain name is delivered, its remaining validity period will be less than 12 months. Note the expiration date and renew the domain name promptly.
Backorders from partners
For DL prerelease and XW prerelease, after you complete the payment, you must wait for the partner to confirm whether the domain name can be delivered. Typically, the partner can successfully backorder and deliver the domain name if it passes the redemption period at the original registrar and the original registrant does not redeem it.
The delivery process, from the end of the auction until the domain name is transferred to the buyer's account, takes at least 30 to 45 days.
Clearance auction
After purchasing a domain name in a clearance auction, there is a waiting period of about 27 days for delivery. For a successful purchase, the new ownership term starts from the previous registrant's expiration date.
During the waiting period, if the original registrant redeems the domain name during the redemption period, the order is automatically refunded.