Helping someone try to find a domain for a project they have. They want both the com and . Co.uk domains

All 15 names they have all have the .com taken by some domain horder that's simply using a domain holding page to generate income.

Even mashing the keyboard with random letters and, yup, the flipping .com was registered!

First one expires in August but I can't see it becoming available. I swear these domain registration companies quickly register them as you search

I read sometime back that there is a get-out clause for buying .com domains where you can get your registration fee back if you cancel the agreement within so many days. So what these people does is to register hundreds of domains with any plausible address and stick adverts on a holding page. If it makes money from people landing on it by accident they keep the domain, and the unvisited ones get cancelled and they get their money back. It's not surprising so few are still available.

Small variations or the dreaded "-" can help with availability of some I find.

Just watch where you're searching for them, as I think you're right about some then registering ones you're interested in.

 

I've used DomainCity myself for around 10 years and would recommend them: http://www.domaincity.co.uk/articles/domains

 

They can also assist in getting hold of domains that are shortly going to renewal.

Always used Namecheap.com