Domain name taken.. 10 points... PLEASE HELP!?

[Julia]

While in China a couple of days ago I got business cards made for my business. Before I left I went to register my domain name and I thought it had gone through but it hadn't and since I was in such a rush that day I thought it had gone through. But now I have got back from my trip and was checking and I see I didn't purchase it so I went to buy it and someone else has now brought it... Is there anything I can do?? I desperately need this website name, as I am a starting up business?? Please help!!!

[Richard]

This can be as simple as contacting the person who bought it. Try to access the site if they already have a contact form. Otherwise use a whois tool (there are many online) to find a contact email associated with the domain, supposing it is not protected. After you have contacted the domain owner, you just need to try your best to bargain or convince why you really need such domain and how crucial it is to your business. Worse case, you will need to provide an irresistible offer in the form of funds or giveaway. Just be creative with your negotiations.

[Jake]

Is it an unlikely coincidence that someone else snatched up the name shorty after you attempted to register it?

Have to wonder if someone hijacked your name, is it a Chinese owner by chance?

You probably have no legal grounds for getting it from the new owner, though Cyber-Squatting laws prevent one buying a name of an existing corporation with the intent to hold it for ransom.

You may have to just come up with some variations a .net instead of a .com, or some added word to the name, or negotiate a price with the new owner, they could make a 1000% profit with a mere $100 sale price, might be worth biting the bullet, just be sure you understand the private domain name transfer procedures.

Just in case you haven't seen the whois info:
http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp