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So you THOUGHT Flippa was shady?

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Sorry in advance, Kevin. Should have had your people leave me alone.

Flippa has been the subject of much controversy over the last 6 months. Speculative talk has ranged from shill bidding to bloated sales reports. Most of the accusations are pure garbage but the company is sketchy as hell.

While you might be thinking that I’m bitter because I haven’t any luck there, you should know that I moved $75,000 of domains in 6 months. At one point, I was the first to go to bat for them all because I try to show some loyalty when someone is taking care of me.

However, I recently had my Super Seller status revoked “due to comments made towards other users.” In fact, this is due to my response to the auction where an individual claimed to have an offer on a 3 day old domain of 10,000 bitcoins — that’s $2,500,000. Apparently, calling out a scammer is grounds for retaliation from the business.

I suppose this is because Flippa values net revenue more than customer satisfaction.

Now that you know my motivation I will move on and share a little bit of insider information.

If you’re paying full price for listing fees and upgrades you have been scammed.

They have gone on the defensive in the past by saying that they “subsidize” upgrades for their top sellers. Subsidize is a cute word for giveaway.

I received somewhere between $3,000 to $5,000 in “subsidies” — as a private seller — over 6 months. At one point, I received $2,000 in credits at one time.

Now I won’t lie, sometimes I had to pay for listings. When I did, I still got hooked up. For every upgrade or listing I purchased I received 2 free.

So when I paid, which was rare, I paid 1/3 of what you’ve been paying. I’m sure you now see why some people make a killing off their platform while others have lost hundreds of dollars per listing.

Oh you thought Editor’s choice was for good domains? Nah. It has been a filter for friends of Flippa.

When I sold on Flippa’s platform, I was given Editor’s Choice for nearly all of my domains. Why? Because I asked.

I know some of you noticed that only 3-5 people showed up when visiting that page. Some might not care but others might understand the value of this.

Domains at Flippa sell for much more when given the Editor’s Choice designation.

Oh so you suspect shilling? I’ve known many users who have shilled their way to a profit. It doesn’t benefit Flippa to eliminate shilling. High sales mean higher success fees.

Simple as that.

Straight up scamming? Yep.

I’ve reported verifiable scams to customer support and I didn’t hear back until after the auction closed. They stated that it was now the buyer’s responsibility to report the sale if something fishy occurred.

Hmmmm.

Would the buyer receive a refund? No. Would the seller be suspended? Yes. Would Flippa still profit? Damn right.

At the end of the day, you can choose to use their platform of boycott them.

I will choose the latter.

P.S.

Have you been curious about what Flippa has been doing?

They are working on adding small business to their platform.

Yeah. Dump money into selling physical business without verifying any of their claims.

That should work. Everyone is honest. Right?
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
It isn't just Flippa asking for such ID verification. PayPal recently asked me for an image of my photo ID and an utility bill matching my address. To be a verified AliPay user, one has to provide them an image of your passport. My brokerage had requested for the image of my credit card and ID before allowing more funding to be allowed. Other companies like DN.com are also requesting for similar verification.

Let's not forget the reason and intent why there is such a process in place. Given a choice, no business will like to do this as it takes up resources.

However, in light of concerns about identity thief etc, maybe companies need to find another solution to verify an online user.

How do the banks do it? How do government organizations do it? How do eBay, GoDaddy, Sedo, Afternic, NameJet do it? Anyone has better processes to share to replace current practise? Biometric solutions?

I feel that Flippa shouldn't suspend/ban a user while doing ID verification. The "banned/suspended" label hung on the user isn't appropriate either. If an ID verification is required, either do it at sign-up or give a reasonable deadline to submit before limiting functions. To suspend the user's ongoing listings and/or to prevent a user from making bids or offers while pending verification can be very disruptive and frustrating to a user with good faith.
 
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Seriously
I never claimed to be a saint.

Make this about me if you want.

I really couldn't care less.
U are such an open minded business man... Thanks for dix secret
 
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It isn't just Flippa asking for such ID verification. PayPal recently asked me for an image of my photo ID and an utility bill matching my address.
Did PayPal asked you to take a picture holding your IDs? the problem wasn't the ID verification, PayPal & NameJet , Payoneer and many other companies ask for scanned IDs , but this was the first time a company asking me to take a picture holding my ID.
 
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Did PayPal asked you to take a picture holding your IDs? the problem wasn't the ID verification, PayPal & NameJet , Payoneer and many other companies ask for scanned IDs , but this was the first time a company asking me to take a picture holding my ID.

PayPal asked for the scanned copy of my photo ID and an utility bill with matching address.

My brokerage company asked for the scanned copy of my credit card or its statement.
 
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PayPal asked for the scanned copy of my photo ID and an utility bill with matching address.

My brokerage company asked for the scanned copy of my credit card or its statement.
Same , PayPal , Payoneer & Namejet ..etc asked for scanned IDs and the recent bills with matching address. And I have sent Flippa the same documents but they reject and asked me to take picture of my face holding my IDs. So I'm just asking why is this necessary? @m-i-k-e said that if the platform got hacked those images can be used by thieves to pretend they're the real users in other websites , so they can have access to our accounts using our identities!!
 
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Same , PayPal , Payoneer & Namejet ..etc asked for scanned IDs and the recent bills with matching address. And I have sent Flippa the same documents but they reject and asked me to take picture of my face holding my IDs. So I'm just asking why is this necessary? @m-i-k-e said that if the platform got hacked those images can be used by thieves to pretend they're the real users in other websites , so they can have access to our accounts using our identities!!

Identity thieves can also use scanned IDs to pretend they're the real users in other websites.
 
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I have no idea how secure any of that is, but, everybody thinks their system is secure until it gets hacked, plus there must be human verification at some point as well.

Flippa told me that it was the policy of the company behind their escrow system and not their policy directly, but in K.Youness's case it doesn't even involve escrow.

Did you guys ask what they do with those images after you send them? Do they keep them on file?

They seem to be collecting those images in all types of seemingly insignificant instances, hopefully, more companies don't start giving those types of images ultimate credibility.

Facebook is starting to ask people for official ID. I sent them my middle finger. They closed my account. I dont need them to know where I live.

I wonder what these places would do if you asked them to send you back the same thing - the CEO standing there with his ID clear for you to see.

I PROMISE to keep it under lock and key!!

"everybody thinks their system is secure until it gets hacked" cant be stressed enough. Too much PII neglect and abuse going on out there.
 
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PayPal asked for the scanned copy of my photo ID and an utility bill with matching address.

My brokerage company asked for the scanned copy of my credit card or its statement.

Well, that wouldnt work for me if I were to give in to their demands. My photo ID has one address on it and my utility bill goes to a different address. Oh well, I'd probably have to close my Paypal acct too.
 
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Well, that wouldnt work for me if I were to give in to their demands. My photo ID has one address on it and my utility bill goes to a different address. Oh well, I'd probably have to close my Paypal acct too.

Utilities still send out paper bills?
 
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If I must send ID I always put the name of the website in the background (as a visible watermark).
This does not prevent ID theft but at least it makes the scan not reusable, thus the thieves will probably move on to the next victim.
 
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If I must send ID I always put the name of the website in the background (as a visible watermark).
This does not prevent ID theft but at least it makes the scan not reusable, thus the thieves will probably move on to the next victim.
nice one , too bad it's late
 
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Thanks , I hope Kevin will read our posts and kindly reply.

I feel that Flippa shouldn't suspend/ban a user while doing ID verification. The "banned/suspended" label hung on the user isn't appropriate either. If an ID verification is required, either do it at sign-up or give a reasonable deadline to submit before limiting functions. To suspend the user's ongoing listings and/or to prevent a user from making bids or offers while pending verification can be very disruptive and frustrating to a user with good faith.

There's a lot more to dive in here about as some important point shave been raised.

Flippa Escrow is not Flippa, though we utilize their services and I have had this very conversation with them (ala "Is it necessary to do the whole ID / selfie thing?")

The short answer is Yes, albeit there are better ways to request it -- like, when you signup or before you buy or sell anything. It's on our punch list currently, although I unfortunately do not have the power to conk-out the ID request; that is apparently a fraud-prevention maneuver that is industry standard.

We (Flippa) will propose a better way to roll out notifications about this request, so instead of people getting frustrated midstream, they can refuse to provide the info and simply use another payment service.

More to come on this upon my return...
 
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If you see the post above, you'll see the Signature / message that I'm away from my desk for a stretch. Anyone commenting, tagging or PM'ing me, if you don't hear back immediately, you now know why. Thanks for your patience and talk to you soon...
 
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If you see the post above, you'll see the Signature / message that I'm away from my desk for a stretch. Anyone commenting, tagging or PM'ing me, if you don't hear back immediately, you now know why. Thanks for your patience and talk to you soon...
Thanks for your answer , but you haven't answered my questions. First my case wasn't related to Escrow , I got banned for a random reason and then been asked to provide my IDs. The question is why do you ask users to hold their ID and show their faces? Isn't a scanned ID enough just like in all other platforms? Do you guarantee that our identities are safe with you?!
PS: I always contact you on [email protected] and I got no replies.
 
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Thanks for your answer , but you haven't answered my questions. First my case wasn't related to Escrow , I got banned for a random reason and then been asked to provide my IDs. The question is why do you ask users to hold their ID and show their faces? Isn't a scanned ID enough just like in all other platforms? Do you guarantee that our identities are safe with you?!
PS: I always contact you on [email protected] and I got no replies.

Guaranteed safe.

I am unsure of the 'selfie' ID angle, but that's not something I have control over. I can voice feedback and opinions and my personal one is inquiring whether it's necessary or not. Repeating myself, though, it's not a department or arm of our business that I have control over - it's linked to credit and bank conglomerates, with rules and regulations required from the Escrow entity.

I wish I could help you before I go offline, but if you had already reached out to [email protected], there is nothing much more I can do that they already have yet to.
 
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Guaranteed safe.

I am unsure of the 'selfie' ID angle, but that's not something I have control over. I can voice feedback and opinions and my personal one is inquiring whether it's necessary or not. Repeating myself, though, it's not a department or arm of our business that I have control over - it's linked to credit and bank conglomerates, with rules and regulations required from the Escrow entity.

I wish I could help you before I go offline, but if you had already reached out to [email protected], there is nothing much more I can do that they already have yet to.

Thanks for your honest reply , if you check with the support again or my previous posts in this thread , you will see that my case has nothing to do with credits , banks or escrow.But I'm ok since you have guaranteed that our identities are safe. Thanks again
 
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@FlippaDomains My situation was also weird.Used the same CC to pay for listings then when I paid for an auction I won, I am automatically suspended and all the listings I had untill I provided a copy of my CC and also the selfie thing.
 
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Guaranteed safe.

I am unsure of the 'selfie' ID angle, but that's not something I have control over. I can voice feedback and opinions and my personal one is inquiring whether it's necessary or not. Repeating myself, though, it's not a department or arm of our business that I have control over - it's linked to credit and bank conglomerates, with rules and regulations required from the Escrow entity.

I wish I could help you before I go offline, but if you had already reached out to [email protected], there is nothing much more I can do that they already have yet to.

Many of us here get the idea you're only around to paint lipstick on a pig, defer answers, deflect criticism, and keep the quicksand moist and fresh for clueless newbies who are willing to pay fees to supposedly help their odds of selling domains, keeping you employed. Oh yeah, and maybe every now and then someone will sell a domain name if they put lots of additional energy into it themselves. That's the way many of us here feel.

Dude, if we felt that you spent as much time actually responding to support requests, complaints, questions, and system kinks as you spend here playing Whack-A-Mole with disgruntled domainers and stomping out fires, we'd probably feel less frustrated with you and not so much feel the need to shop for tar and feathers. Oh yeah, and don't forget to follow-up on the complaints about Flippa employees being allowed to participate at Flippa auctions without the buyers being informed. Remember? You were going to do something about that, right? Get to work, bro, please.
 
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Why are people getting upset at a company that accepts any seller and buyer? Just buy at public auction. P.S. I haven't had issues with Flippa before and they are an honest from my experience.
 
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Why are people getting upset at a company that accepts any seller and buyer? Just buy at public auction. P.S. I haven't had issues with Flippa before and they are an honest from my experience.


Glad you asked. People are upset because they feel they are not getting value for their time and money. Some feel Flippa is enriching themselves, whether or not the domains listed there actually sell or not. People, like me, get upset when there are policies in place to seemingly take advantage of a buyer's ignorance (not being fully informed of the policy which allows Flippa employees to bid at Flippa auctions, unbeknownst to the buyers bidding in those same auctions. Now you get it?

It's so nice that you haven't "had issues" with Flippa. Good for you. No one here said every customer there is not satisfied. Glad to see you cheer-leading for them. Rah! Rah! Rah!
 
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Well, it's not really an issue? Enriching themselves? Look at all the governments who take advantage of each person's signatures and create a security instrument out of it, then never once tell the people whose signature that their contract/note is worth thousands to millions of dollars, yet, I don't hear about big player domainers or any big time business owner standing up and showing the way?

To stay on topic, Flippa is a marketplace, what do you expect? they get paid to build the site, to develop and market and to allow others to sell and buy on their network. nothing to cry over, maybe create a quality site, learn about government grant money, promissory notes, securities and exchange....Sorry but can't really feel sorry for anyone. Shit I lost $11,000 dollars from a payment processor and a shipping scheme operation because they felt they needed to "be karma" from my banking reprogramming days...I was hurt but shit, I also know contract law and notices and how to enforce an investigation on them. Maybe if it's an issue, call the FTC, FCC...it only takes one person and what they have to say to get someone to listen. It worked for me and got cases dismissed and false debt obligations resolved without using fiat currency.



Not really cheer leading and if I was, so be it...Be smart and study your moves, the players and the game.
 
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So a while back a friend of mine signed up with flippa. He gave them all of his personal info and verified his account with his credit card too. He has not bought or sold anything yet. Never even used his account. After pointing him to this thread he decided to close his account as he believes he may be in for future problems if he uses the site. Here is the problem - apparently there is no way to close your flippa account. If you check their support pages there is only a 3 year old post saying they can not remove your account, and they give some stupid reason for that.

He connected his bank account credit card and he knows they have access because they required him to have his card charged $5 dollars to verify the account. Now he can't close his flippa account and he is concerned that in the future they could some how access his account or charge his card for some bogus reason and there would be nothing he could do about it.

I know how he feels. I have the same feeling about Paypal. I opened a business account there several years ago and never used it. Then out of the blue they froze my account and began requesting I send them more and more personal information. I refused. I tried to close my account, and they won't even let me do that. I had to close the business account at my bank - (the one I they had access to) and open a new business account just to make sure they did not "steal" money from my account. If they did there would be nothing I could do. You can't fight a big company like that.

What can you do really if they charge your card and take your money or if you use their service and then they refuse to pay you for your domain sale. I think in the long run a company that operates this way eventually will be forced out of business.

I was considering getting an account there, but now I will never use them. Don't want a repeat experience like the one with Pay pal.
 
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Yes, your friend needs to be sure that their bank as well as c.c. company knows about this. Usually, they ask the customer if they gave permission for charging. If so, then there is no foul play, HOWEVER, if there are certain charges beyond that, they need to contact the accounting department over at Flippa as well as contact the manager in charge of operations. If you want to get real legal real quick, you can figure out noticing the individual man or woman who did the processing. I am guessing though that a lot of these processes are automated, but it is worth the time and effort if you have a bank account full of money and were under different assumptions and presumptions of how the payment and charging was suppose to happen respectively. And this is for all companies that do this sort of charging. Plus, contacting visa directly or mastercard is a way to bypass the bank and the company that has this sort of business practice.
 
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Frankly, I'm sick and tired of companies, including banks, who ask for a scanned copy of I.D, social security card, credit cards, etc. sent through e-mail. It's an unbelievably insecure practice and should be stopped. Period.
 
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