How to Purchase an Aftermarket Premium Domain

Aftermarket premium domains are previously-registered names listed for resale through marketplaces partnered with OpenSRS. Unlike standard registrations, these names carry a one-time purchase price set by the seller, often well above the regular TLD rate. This article explains how to identify aftermarket inventory, submit a purchase, and complete delivery to your customer.

How aftermarket premium domains differ from registry premiums

OpenSRS distinguishes two kinds of premium inventory:

• Registry premiums. Names the registry reserved at launch and prices at an elevated annual rate. Renewal also occurs at the premium rate. Examples: many short or dictionary names in new gTLDs.
• Aftermarket premiums. Names a third party already registered, then listed for sale on an aftermarket marketplace (such as Sedo, Afternic, or Tucows-affiliated channels). Purchase is a one-time fee at the listed price; renewal afterward is at the regular TLD rate.

Availability search surfaces both kinds with a premium flag. The pricing breakdown in the result tells you which type you are looking at.

Before you begin

• Confirm your reseller balance covers the aftermarket purchase price plus any markup you charge the customer. Aftermarket prices can range from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Verify the registry transfer policy for the TLD. Aftermarket purchases for some ccTLDs may require buyer-side eligibility (.au, .ca, .eu). See TLD Policies.
• Have the registrant's WHOIS data ready — the same data you would supply for a fresh registration.
• Allow extra time for delivery. Aftermarket transactions are not instantaneous; they typically take from a few hours to a few business days.
• Communicate the non-refundable nature of aftermarket purchases to your customer before submission.

Step 1: Identify the aftermarket result

Run an availability search in the Control Panel or RWI. Names available on the aftermarket appear with a price field that is materially higher than the regular TLD price and are marked with an Aftermarket or Premium — for sale indicator. Click the name to view the marketplace, listing source, and final purchase price.

Step 2: Confirm the price and terms with your customer

Aftermarket prices are firm at the time of purchase but may change between availability searches. Quote the customer the price shown immediately before checkout, and confirm:

• The one-time purchase price (covers acquisition only).
• The first year's registration term, which is included in some marketplace listings but charged separately in others.
• The renewal rate at the regular TLD price thereafter.
• Your reseller markup, if any.

Warning: Aftermarket purchases are non-refundable once the marketplace accepts the order. Verify the domain spelling, TLD, and customer intent before submitting.

Step 3: Submit the aftermarket order

From the availability result, click Purchase or Buy Now. The form prompts for the registrant WHOIS data and the same nameserver, term, and order-option choices as a standard registration. Click Submit. The system reserves the purchase price against your reseller balance.

Step 4: Monitor delivery status

Aftermarket purchases enter a pending state while the marketplace transfers the name to OpenSRS. Track the order from Domains > Orders. Possible statuses:

• Pending — marketplace is processing the transfer.
• Completed — the domain is now in your reseller portfolio.
• Failed — the marketplace could not deliver (rare). The purchase price is refunded to your reseller balance.

Note: While the order is pending, the domain does not yet appear in your domain list. Do not place a second purchase against the same name — check the order status first.

Step 5: Complete post-purchase setup

Once the order status is Completed, the domain is yours to manage like any other OpenSRS domain. Set nameservers, DNS records, contact privacy, and renewal preferences. Confirm registrant verification email delivery if the TLD requires it.

Common rejection reasons

• Insufficient reseller balance. Top up before retrying.
• Registry eligibility failure. The buyer does not meet ccTLD presence rules. Use a qualifying registrant or choose a different TLD.
• Marketplace race. Another buyer purchased the name in the same window. The result is refunded automatically.
• Verification email bounce. The registrant email rejected the post-purchase verification message. Update the contact and resend.

Next steps

• Transfer DNS and email service from the previous owner to the customer's desired hosting. Update nameservers under Domains > Manage > DNS.
• Set auto-renew. Aftermarket purchases default to manual renewal in some flows; verify and adjust.
• Enable WHOIS privacy. Add Contact Privacy if the TLD allows it.
• Review TLD policy. For aftermarket ccTLDs, see TLD Policies for renewal and transfer constraints specific to that registry.

Questions? Contact OpenSRS Support.