Bidding on your own names at NameJet...?

[webquest]

Once in awhile I see people bidding on their own domains at NJ. I would think it would be frowned upon.

Today's seems more obvious than normal. Or am I missing something here?

Airlinejobs.com owned by Andy Booth at Booth.com and high bidder is BQDNcom (James Booth).

3 bids down we see Boothcom as a bidder.

Same thing with MovieZone.com. Owned by Andy Booth in which he currently appears to be the high bidder.

High Bid: $2,475 USD by boothcom

They actually won their own domain airplanesforsale.com. Im guessing it didnt get as high as they wanted so needed to protect it.

Bidder Amount Date
bqdncom $2,001 7/17/2017 12:23 PM
boothcom $1,950 7/17/2017 12:23 PM

 

[xn--v4h.com]

I love it. @Rick Schwartz is putting this on blast

https://twitter.com/domainking?lang=en

Can't see it. He blocked me. I actually got to him. Put that down as part of my accomplishment as a domainer.

 

[tld_org]

The Booth reply makes no sense. "If" these domains were sold to another person recently this person decided to turn around and put them up for sale on Namejet and take a loss on them (must be a loss since Booth is saying he is getting a good price by bidding so it has to be much less then he "sold" it for).

 

[Hemanttilotia]

I was thinking of selling my inventory on NameJet. Was working on that.
To all the new domainers in India, whom I was talking to, I was telling that NJ is the place to sell your domains.
This shill bidding, responses by MediaOptions and Booth brothers are very immoral and disheartening.
NameJet GM's response is not what anyone would expect from a person in his capacity, was just waiting for him to do a thorough investigation.
I just started buying domains on NJ, bought 6 in last one week.
I think I may need to stop stretching my wallet there.
It's just so sad, to see such a big auction platform getting played by people.
@NameJetGM I still think you could have done better, with proof, records and not 'per se' !!

 

[Ategy]

Ummm ... pardon my ignorance .. but isn't the first thing you need to do before listing a domain for auction is verify ownership through e-mail confirmation of the whois?

Even if they aren't the legit owners, I'd think the whois should be verified for each and any auction on any platform mostly to verify that the domain isn't stolen and/or from somebody who has a reputation to not deliver.


On the theoretical side I understand what @MediaOptions is saying in the raw theory of auctions .. while also understanding that the blocking of shill bidding is there to help promote an environment where some people place the valuation of their co-bidders as a form of assurance of future liquidity if ever they need to resell.

Just like the whole ngTLD debate most rush to take sides .. when it's really all shades of grey. for the theory there are valid arguments for both sides. But this is an entirely separate discussion/debate .. and I agree with Andrew that it is certainly something as a community that we should think about. Because regardless as to which side you fall in the debate I think we can all agree that the most important thing either way is for the rules to be clear and for the auctions to be transparent (at least NJ shows the usernames of who is bidding .. that's more than some other platforms at least).


That being said .. in this PARTICULAR case it is clearly against the rules. But we also can't go rushing to judge before all the facts are out. Since it clearly is against their rules, and the superficial evidence clearly sohws said rules were broken .. I think it's very fair (particularly to those participating) that the facts/documentation/etc be made public.

Now if NJ doesn't provide such documentation/proof, then go start another platform or do a voodoo dance or whatever .. lol .. but let's give them a chance to prove what they are claiming before taking out the guillotine! But let it be clear that given the current facts on the table, the domaining community very clearly deserve to know any and all facts currently in NJ's possession. Including how a third party was able to action a domain that still had a previous owner's contact information in the whois (although James Booth seems to express that isn't the actual case .. obviously too late to check now .. but I'd like to see the evidence from both sides on this).

 

[offthehandle]

So we have got
* insider trading at Brandbucket,
* shills at NameJet,
* snakeoil at XYZ,
* more snakeoil at Whateveregistry.
* Fake expired domain auctions on the other platforms
( allowing renewal regging after auction sale)

But NamePros is the best! And a well run forum!
Thanks everybody for exposing the truth.

 

[Beezy]

So we have got
* insider trading at Brandbucket,
* shills at NameJet,
* snakeoil at XYZ,
* more snakeoil at Whateveregistry.
* Fake expired domain auctions on the other platforms
( allowing renewal regging after auction sale)

But NamePros is the best! And a well run forum!
Thanks everybody for exposing the truth.

Namepros is the best, agreed! kudos to the staff.

But let's stay on topic before this happens...

Is there a cover up here for a lot more? Is that why we got the quick unsatisfying answer?

 

[slader23]

One thing no one seems to have said is that...NJ gets a bigger commission every time these guys bid up their own auctions and get outbid or when, in this case, win their name back. So I guess for letting certain individuals(insiders) do this sort of thing they get a kickback, of higher commissions if the seller wins back his/her name and even more if a bidder unknowingly takes the plunge and goes past the sellers original valuation. I scratch your back...you scratch mine...right?

That's just my perception based on a limited amount of information. It just doesn't make business sense for them to abstain from constantly monitoring something so vitally important....it's in their damn TOS for goodness sake. Just how deep does this rabbit hole go?

 

[wwwweb]

So who owns these domains? That would probably end this whole conversation very quickly?

 

[NamePrime]

So who owns these domains? That would probably end this whole conversation very quickly?

and are they connected to the Booth brothers?

 

[Hemanttilotia]

If this proves, @DomainSherpa would need to find new 'sherpas' again!!

 

[Beezy]

One thing no one seems to have said is that...NJ gets a bigger commission every time these guys bid up their own auctions and get outbid or when, in this case, win their name back. So I guess for letting certain individuals(insiders) do this sort of thing they get a kickback, of higher commissions if the seller wins back his/her name and even more if a bidder unknowingly takes the plunge and goes past the sellers original valuation. I scratch your back...you scratch mine...right?

That's just my perception based on a limited amount of information. It just doesn't make business sense for them to abstain from constantly monitoring something so vitally important....it's in their damn TOS for goodness sake. Just how deep does this rabbit hole go?

Yeah, if this is the case, I'm sure some bigwig domainers are threatening namejet staff to never list their very expensive domains there again if they don't stfu. We'll see...

Speculation... but ALL WE HAVE IS SPECULATION. They can just drop the proof and end this.

 

[OnlineBusiness.com]

In the past, I've been highly suspect of NameJet's security measures regarding shill bidding. It appeared non-existent and these issues brought to light confirm my suspicions. It's obvious now that anything goes - IF you're a high profile domainer who does substantial business with NJ.

There are other high profile domainers I've seen this happen with on NJ. But I'm not here to name names. However, I now know for a fact that NameJet is shady. I mean com'on aren't they owned by the parent company of ENOM? Horrible company all around.

As for the explanation and "official statement" from @NameJetGM - you said nothing to clarify the situation. And the more you talk the more it sounds like you're in cahoots with the Booth bros. You should be transparent, give all the facts and more importantly show evidence to support their innocence.

Otherwise, admit fault, fix the problem and move on. The domaining business is hard enough without us having to worry about "leaders" in the space committing fraud. And that especially includes marketplaces like NJ.

So either give proof to show their innocence as well as yours, or I'll assume otherwise and I'm sure others will as well.

 

[Ategy]

This shill bidding, responses by MediaOptions and Booth brothers are very immoral and disheartening.

Be careful of grouping everything together.

Andrew (@MediaOptions) was expressing his opinion on what he thinks auctions SHOULD be like. His opinion is free market in it's purest form .. and in a way also makes shill bidding a non-factor as they are part of the game. But he also said that the current rules at NJ clearly state the opposite and that his opinion on how auctions SHOULD be does not excuse the breaking of CURRENT rules (IF that even is the case here).

As for @BoothDomains @andyboothsi or any/all associated with them .. they say it wasn't their domain .. and until we have absolute non-refutable evidence to the contrary, we have no right to burn them at the stake so to speak.


That being said .. I'm not saying to sit back and do nothing either. Clearly there are grounds for the accusations .. but the accused do have a right to provide evidence ... if Andy Booth said they are not his domains and NJ validates that fact .. then it really is now up to @NameJetGM to share the facts.

 

[xn--v4h.com]

If this proves, DomainSherpa would need to find new 'sherpas' again!!

Poor Michael would probably have to delete another half of his videos.

 

[offthehandle]

So who owns these domains? That would probably end this whole conversation very quickly?

Probably some fake name on PO box in Manila. Lol. Or one of the 7,107 islands.

Besides that, who is NOT changing WhoIs info AFTER paying $1000 or more?
Unless the actual buyer was another domainer or end user with buyers remorse, I am not believing any of this. Even an invoice can be faked.

I have been in hundreds of live auctions in person, and seen this mess and all the tricks and junk since 1991.

 

[rentmynames]

The above just doesn't smell right at all. Seems to me you verified the truthfulness of him not owning the domain based on his words. What are the facts? When exactly did those domains change hands, and WHO owns them now -- and this who MUST be the one who is auctioning those domains right now.

I cannot auction my domain without changing my registrant AND prove I own it by either changing the registrant's email or changing the records in the domain's records themselves. So how in the world could the current owner(s) able to put their domains in auction without even changing the registrant's info?

I'd also like to know - "how in the world could the current owner(s) able to put their domains in auction without even changing the registrant's info?" - too.

 

[xn--v4h.com]

Man, total silence on how the domains were listed without changing the registrant info. Come @NameJetGM you aren't telling us the full story. At the very least stick around to answer questions because your statement without proof isn't very convincing at all.

 

[LarryDomain]

NICE!!

MovieZone.com and Airlinejobs.com just both went to private registration. Good way to try to cover up.

A bit late, no?

 

[Beezy]

Screen cap EVERYTHING.

 

[zurc.net]

NICE!!

MovieZone.com and Airlinejobs.com just both went to private registration. Good way to try to cover up.

A bit late, no?

Why am I not surprised? Why am I not surprised by anything anymore in this industry... especially after a self-proclaimed liar was being praised just a few weeks before on here.

 

[Hemanttilotia]

Be careful of grouping everything together.

Andrew (@MediaOptions) was expressing his opinion on what he thinks auctions SHOULD be like. His opinion is free market in it's purest form .. and in a way also makes shill bidding a non-factor as they are part of the game. But he also said that the current rules at NJ clearly state the opposite and that his opinion on how auctions SHOULD be does not excuse the breaking of CURRENT rules (IF that even is the case here).

As for @BoothDomains @andyboothsi or any/all associated with them .. they say it wasn't their domain .. and until we have absolute non-refutable evidence to the contrary, we have no right to burn them at the stake so to speak.


That being said .. I'm not saying to sit back and do nothing either. Clearly there are grounds for the accusations .. but the accused do have a right to provide evidence ... if Andy Booth said they are not his domains and NJ validates that fact .. then it really is now up to @NameJetGM to share the facts.

Was commenting on their theory which ain't right in anyway.

 

[xn--v4h.com]

However, I now know for a fact that NameJet is shady.

Those are strong words that would need stronger evidence to be convincing unfortunately.

 

[xn--v4h.com]

NICE!!

MovieZone.com and Airlinejobs.com just both went to private registration. Good way to try to cover up.

A bit late, no?

Serious? That doesn't seem transparent at all, at least to prove to everyone it is owned by somebody different.

 

[Beezy]

Do you know where Namejet is currently located? Florida or Washington?

(I got someone in NYC thrown in prison for fraud. I'm ready to contact the right people to get this investigation started if/when the time is right).

 

[offthehandle]

Man, total silence on how the domains were listed without changing the registrant info. Come @NameJetGM you aren't telling us the full story. At the very least stick around to answer questions because your statement without proof isn't very convincing at all.

Its starting to be clear skys and summer in Seattle, the dreary weather makes people go home earlier. Lol.