Crazy first expired experience. Thoughts??

gsusreigns · Jun 17, 2011

I picked up my first expired a week ago. I got a call from a guy who said he's from a company by the same name. He sounded kinda panicky and told me a story about the former web developer/manager who moved and is responsible for letting it expire. He asked me if we could work something out to get it back. Come to find out this guy works for the new web management co and the company was calling him asking why their website was dark. That would explain the panic in his voice. So I told him to have the company make me an offer for it. He kind of sounded surprised and said something like oh I don't think they'll pay anything for that. I don't know if he expected me to just give it back to them. I mean I'm not being unethical here am I? He did turn around and say he has a meeting with the heads of this company on monday and would discuss it with them. Any thoughts from any experienced memebers? Thanks in advance.

DU · Jun 22, 2011

gsusreigns said:
Just to wrap this thread up... I ended up selling it back to this organization for a modest $150. I paid $69 for it on namejet a couple weeks ago. I was really tempted to ask for more but when in doubt I just try to do what seems right. They were very grateful and seemed happy about it. I'm happy to do what I hope is the right thing, although to be honest I really wanted to make some money. I'm trying my hand at domain flipping to make money and not friends. I guess that's why I'm not a good businessman cause I can never seem to just be all about the money. This is one of about 4 things I have going to try and pay the bills and maybe I should give it up. Sorry for the rant and thanks again for everyone's feedback.

But you have my respect and that's worth a lot!

This really was a special case though. I think understanding that makes you a GOOD BUSINESS man not a bad one. If it's a flaw it's a good one. You need to pay your bills for sure - but you could steal car stereos, but you don't (I hope).

Some will argue the bottom line. You made only $90 but did the right thing.

You'll have other opportunities for sure.

infosec3 · Jun 23, 2011

Interesting development...

On a similar note (maybe not too similar), I recently bought an expired name on Godaddy. The name is something like: "YouInform... (similar words). The appraisal and keyword search volume is decent, and there were three other bidders. I bought the name for $50. It looks very generic, but I found out after purchase that it used to be the trademark of a company. The USPTO.GOV says the trademark is DEAD and has a Cancelation date of June___2011 (A few weeks ago), which means they just abandoned the trademark and let the domain expired. I have seen similar situations with other good domain names...

Erdy · Jun 23, 2011

There are two things I want to say about this issue:

1) to the OP: I wouldn't sell it less than 2000 USD. You made a big mistake for letting it go that cheap.

2) Somebody having a trademark on a domain term doesn't give them rights to the domain. Lets say the domain was BlueTech.com. You could find dozens of trademark holders for that exact or similar term. If I had that domain I wouldn't give them to any trademark holder even if they contacted me. I would also fight it in UDRP.

If I buy a domain like BlueTech.com I don't buy it because I know there is particular trademark holder. I buy it because it is a strong and common term. The reason why you buy a domain is important. It doesn't matter there happens to be an existing trademark as long as you bought it for another reason and you were not aware of that trademark.

Last year I sold Blue-Tech.com for 650 USD and I found about 150 different potential buyers. Maybe some of them had a trademark. I don't give a damn. I bought it because it was a popular term. Therefore the bad faith requirement for UDRP is not met here.

So I disagree with all the trademark BS going on in this topic.

DU · Jun 23, 2011

Erdy said:
There are two things I want to say about this issue:

1) to the OP: I wouldn't sell it less than 2000 USD. You made a big mistake for letting it go that cheap.

2) Somebody having a trademark on a domain term doesn't give them rights to the domain. Lets say the domain was BlueTech.com. You could find dozens of trademark holders for that exact or similar term. If I had that domain I wouldn't give them to any trademark holder even if they contacted me. I would also fight it in UDRP.

If I buy a domain like BlueTech.com I don't buy it because I know there is particular trademark holder. I buy it because it is a strong and common term. The reason why you buy a domain is important. It doesn't matter there happens to be an existing trademark as long as you bought it for another reason and you were not aware of that trademark.

Last year I sold Blue-Tech.com for 650 USD and I found about 150 different potential buyers. Maybe some of them had a trademark. I don't give a damn. I bought it because it was a popular term. Therefore the bad faith requirement for UDRP is not met here.

So I disagree with all the trademark BS going on in this topic.

It wasn't a question of TM.

Some people don't want to make a lot of money from a non-profit educational organization that probably is surviving purely on the back of donations. Their focus is on providing a resource for the education of children.

That $2000 you would have taken probably gave some kids a great day experiencing something that they otherwise wouldn't be able to.

The OP did what HE felt was right. Telling him NOW that he did wrong serves no purpose.

Not giving a damn works for you. However, your attitude may cost you sales in the future where the OP's attitude may GAIN him sales down the line.

We're different.
I respect him.
You think he's rubbish.

As long as he feels good I don't give a crap which one of us he feels is right or wrong.

Erdy · Jun 23, 2011

defaultuser,

My point is the OP found this domain in an expired domain auction and bought it for $69. He certainly didn't buy it to sell for $150. He was hoping to get more when he bought it. This is business. You don't go out of your way to help out people for the cost of losing money.

The organisation could use another domain. It is not the end of the world. If they were not prepared to pay more than $150, I wouldn't sell to them at all. I would keep the domain and wait for another buyer.

I don't know the domain but from the looks of it, there were probably other potential buyers. Otherwise the OP wouldn't pay $69.

Organisations and web designers need to do their job properly. A domain can not be registered in a web designers name. Sometimes web designers keep the domain in their name to tie down the client. I would say the client was too naive to accept that in first place. Being forced to move to another domain would teach them a lesson. I wouldn't feel bad about this. The next time they register a domain they would make sure it is in their name.

DU · Jun 23, 2011

Erdy said:
defaultuser,

My point is the OP found this domain in an expired domain auction and bought it for $69. He certainly didn't buy it to sell for $150. He was hoping to get more when he bought it. This is business. You don't go out of your way to help out people for the cost of losing money.

The organisation could use another domain. It is not the end of the world. If they were not prepared to pay more than $150, I wouldn't sell to them at all. I would keep the domain and wait for another buyer.

I don't know the domain but from the looks of it, there were probably other potential buyers. Otherwise the OP wouldn't pay $69.

Organisations and web designers need to do their job properly. A domain can not be registered in a web designers name. Sometimes web designers keep the domain in their name to tie down the client. I would say the client was too naive to accept that in first place. Being forced to move to another domain would teach them a lesson. I wouldn't feel bad about this. The next time they register a domain they would make sure it is in their name.

I understand your point and I agree with it in principle but I probably have more flexible boundaries.

Some people don't mind selling a poorly design reverse mortgage to seniors either. I would. Some people couldn't work for a large bank. I could. Everyone has different lines.

Your life. Your ethics. It has pros and cons.

I do agree with managing your own domain though - that's important. Web Design companies owning your name is a terrible liability.

FatHive · Jun 27, 2011

It is your domain name but don't hold on to it ... try to sell it to them for a reasonable price or offer a lease for a month till they make up their minds.

Dave_Z · Jun 28, 2011

FatHive said:
It is your domain name but don't hold on to it ... try to sell it to them for a reasonable price or offer a lease for a month till they make up their minds.

Too late. The OP already sold it.

GiftedDomains · Jun 28, 2011

Erdy said:
If I had that domain I wouldn't give them to any trademark holder even if they contacted me. I would also fight it in UDRP.

ok but you are probably experienced and cool enough to do all that, but i don't think its good for a newbie in domain biz to start his domain jouney with risky UDRP fights and trademark issues, without having experience.

Embrand · Jun 28, 2011

gsusreigns said:
Just to wrap this thread up... I ended up selling it back to this organization for a modest $150. I paid $69 for it on namejet a couple weeks ago. I was really tempted to ask for more but when in doubt I just try to do what seems right. They were very grateful and seemed happy about it. I'm happy to do what I hope is the right thing, although to be honest I really wanted to make some money. I'm trying my hand at domain flipping to make money and not friends. I guess that's why I'm not a good businessman cause I can never seem to just be all about the money. This is one of about 4 things I have going to try and pay the bills and maybe I should give it up. Sorry for the rant and thanks again for everyone's feedback.

See it from the positive side. You made a profit of over 100 percent in a very short time and did a good deed as well. Not a bad start to domaining :imho:

DnEbook · Jun 28, 2011

can we know the name now

gsusreigns · Jun 28, 2011

evirtual1 said:
can we know the name now

musicsouth.com

They are a small non profit organization in AL. They don't even exist on google that I could find prior to purchasing the name. After the fact I saw that they were on facebook.

---------- Post added at 04:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:38 PM ----------

euroflash said:
See it from the positive side. You made a profit of over 100 percent in a very short time and did a good deed as well. Not a bad start to domaining :imho:

Thanks, and those were my thoughts too when they asked me how much I wanted.

GiftedDomains · Jun 28, 2011

well, i think the price is ok and i don't think that you could have get more than low xxx, even if you waited for other buyers.
i wouldn't even bid 69$ on this DN, but thats just me.

so i think good deal for both

and they are happy too now
http://www.facebook.com/musicsouth

DnEbook · Jun 29, 2011

gsusreigns said:
musicsouth.com

They are a small non profit organization in AL. They don't even exist on google that I could find prior to purchasing the name. After the fact I saw that they were on facebook.

---------- Post added at 04:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:38 PM ----------

Thanks, and those were my thoughts too when they asked me how much I wanted.

I think you did the right thing

Crazy first expired experience. Thoughts??

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