So I decided to play with him to see how far he'd go. Here is the
whole back-and-forth email conversation:
(READ TOP TO BOTTOM)
-----------------------------------------------------
Hello,
Our company is interested in your domain name. What is your price?
We have a solid investing budget and our company is very interested in
Internet names and web sites.
If you have other domains for sale feel free to send your list.
Looking forward to do business with you.
Regards,
Bradford Whitman
CEO
Domain & Web Site Brokerage
-----------------------------------------------------
My Reply:
-----------------------------------------------------
Hello Bradford,
OracleProperties.com is selling for the bargain price of only $3,500,000.00.
Payment accepted in silver dollars only.
Gene
-----------------------------------------------------
His Reply:
-----------------------------------------------------
Can you accept 3,400,000.00 USD?
Do you sell domain with a web site or just the name?
Domain without content is ok with me. Web site is not necessary.
Have you had your domain names evaluated in the past? I mean domain
appraisals. Without valuation we cannot be sure in the sale price. It's very
important for me in terms of reselling too. But we must engage a valuation
company with REAL manual service. So I will only accept valuations from
independent sources I and my partners trust.
To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal
companies.
Please check this blog with suggestions from other sellers and buyers:
webdiscuss.007sites.com/Archive-07-2009/9172614.htm
<-- HIS SCAM SITE!
If, for example, the valuation comes higher you can adjust your asking price
accordingly. It will be fair. I also hope you can give me 12% - 15%
discount.
After you send me the valuation via email (usually it takes 1-2 days to
obtain it) we'll continue our negotiations.
What is your preferred payment method: Escrow.com, International wire
transfer, PayPal.com or something else?
Hope we can come to an agreement fast.
Looking forward to your reply.
--------
Note #1: He wants to pay me $3,400,000! Wohoo! I can retire!
Note #2: The link in the above email message leads to a 'forum'
which is 100% PHONY. Put into place to make people think his
offer is legit.
-----------------------------------------------------
My Reply:
-----------------------------------------------------
Hello Bradford,
Sorry, but I'm sticking to my guns. I want $3,500,000.00, not
$3,400,000.00. Just send the payment to my address in the
whois record. Remember, I accept Silver Dollars only. Once
I receive the payment, I'll transfer the domain to you
immediately. Please allow 3 days for me to count the coins.
Best,
Gene
-----------------------------------------------------
His Reply:
-----------------------------------------------------
No proble,
It's a standard practice to show independent valuation to
buyers/resellers. Nobody will do business without it. I'm
a businessman and have no intention of changing rules
which help both parties to avoid additional risks.
Of course, investors never take into account auto-generated
valuations. So manual valuation is a "must" too.
I read the following information about appraisals at:
(link to same scam site)
Thank you for understanding. I'm looking forward to do
business with you.
-----------------------------------------------------
My Reply:
-----------------------------------------------------
Dear Bradford,
Thank you so much for this opportunity. $3,500,000.00 will
surely come in handy. I need a new car. Oh, and I think I'll
splurge and buy me a new iPod too.
I love Silver dollars, don't you? They're SO shiny. I just
hope I'll be able to count them all without losing count
halfway through, that would be a bummer! By the way, do
you sell coin-counting machines? If you do, send one along
and just deduct the cost from the total.
I looked at the site you linked me to. Quite impressive! My
only problem is that I can't read. It's an unfortunate part
of my upbringing -- long story. I can write with no problem,
but I cannot read to save my life! I have to have everything
read to my by my assistant, but she is is currently in the
hospital having a hangnail removed. You know how painful
those can be.
Anyway, I'm anxious to do business! My address again is in
the whois info. I know $3,500,000.00 worth of silver dollars
is going to be a very heavy package, but I think there's
enough room in my garage. I've already cleared a space and
set up 12 banquet tables. I figure I'll have my friends come
over and help me count to speed the process. I don't mind
if they pocket a few for themselves. The BEST part is, since
the 12 banquet tables will already be set up, we can CELEBRATE
and have a big feast after we're done counting! I'd like to
invite you to celebrate with us... just give me a call!
Thanks again,
Gene
-----------------------------------------------------
He actually replied:
-----------------------------------------------------
As a seller you should provide me with an appraisal first.
This is a reasonable practice. I've found not all the
appraisals are accurate. So I accept real manual appraisals
from trusted sources only. I don't trust $14-$20 services.
Nobody will do a research for $14. We need a real manual
service. I researched several companies and here are the results:
(here he lists four legitimate appraisal services but claims they are fraudulant)
Many experienced sellers suggested us
http://www.(edited).com
as a trustworth manual service. They charge per name not per
hour. We've read only positive comments about them. And I
have my own positive experience with this company and their support.
Bradford
-----------------------------------------------------
My Reply:
-----------------------------------------------------
Hello again Bradford,
Thanks for getting back to me, I've been waiting all day.
I'm very sad that after all our emails you haven't agreed
to my request for silver dollars. Let me know if you agree,
then I will have the domain appraised for you. I have to
cut this short because I haven't been to the bathroom all
day, waiting for you. I really have to go now.
Bye,
Gene
-----------------------------------------------------
His Reply:
-----------------------------------------------------
No deal without appraisal from a trusted source. This simple
rule has saved me a lot of money and time. Feel free to
contact me when you change your position and let's do
business the right way.
-----------------------------------------------------
My Reply:
-----------------------------------------------------
Hi again Bradford,
I must have typed my last message too fast for you to keep
up with, because I said I would get an appraisal. I'm typing
this message much slower so you don't miss anything this time.
A friend of mine let me know that 3.5 million silver dollars
would weigh over 103 tons, and recommended this method of
transportation:
Antonov An-225 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Another option would be for me to fly to your location and
spend the silver dollars there. We could go shopping together!
Wouldn't that be fun? The first thing I'd do is buy you a
conscience. Let me know what you think.
Gene
-----------------------------------------------------
This is getting better by the minute. Seems my pal
'Bradford' is getting tired. He just replied again
with only four words:
-----------------------------------------------------
Show me the appraisal
-----------------------------------------------------
My Reply:
-----------------------------------------------------
Say 'please'.
Gene
-----------------------------------------------------
Well, well. Bradford seems to have had enough. His latest
email now contained only TWO words. I think you can guess
the words. It rhymes with Yuck Foo.
-----------------------------------------------------
My reply back to that was:
Sorry, that's not negotiable.
Gene
.
