discuss Confidentiality SUCKS

MapleDots · Apr 29, 2017

Confidentiality Sucks

I have had 3 big sales at 75k each and in each case I signed a confidentiality clause which prohibited me from talking about the domain.

In retrospect I find this really hampers my domaining business because I cannot give examples of my big sales to prospective client. Since I specialize in a unique targeted part of the market I rely on sales statistics to justify prices.

So here is my dilema...

I am in the midst of closing my biggest sale to date and it is well over the 200k mark. The problem is they want me to sign a confidentiality clause. I swore I would never sign another one and I am sticking to my guns. I turned them down flat and said no deal.

Now I know you are all thinking that was pretty stupid but I don't think so. First off, I don't think I will lose the deal and secondly I need my sales stats to target other sales.

The biggest players in the business regularly publish their sales statistics and they become like gods in the industry. They sell a domain based on the fact they got huge money for previous sales.

Looking for some feedback here from anyone who has had some larger sales.

Want2learn · Apr 30, 2017

@MapleDots funny how one little comment about fame, and now everyone thinks you are on an ego kick.

If I were asked not to disclose a sale, I might agree because I am trying to get out of the red. Maybe most of us are there in some capacity. However, knowledge is power, and keeping sales private hurts the market value of most domains.

d-e-x · Apr 30, 2017

MapleDots said:
Confidentiality Sucks

I have had 3 big sales at 75k each and in each case I signed a confidentiality clause which prohibited me from talking about the domain.

In retrospect I find this really hampers my domaining business because I cannot give examples of my big sales to prospective client. Since I specialize in a unique targeted part of the market I rely on sales statistics to justify prices.

So here is my dilema...

I am in the midst of closing my biggest sale to date and it is well over the 200k mark. The problem is they want me to sign a confidentiality clause. I swore I would never sign another one and I am sticking to my guns. I turned them down flat and said no deal.

Now I know you are all thinking that was pretty stupid but I don't think so. First off, I don't think I will lose the deal and secondly I need my sales stats to target other sales.

The biggest players in the business regularly publish their sales statistics and they become like gods in the industry. They sell a domain based on the fact they got huge money for previous sales.

Looking for some feedback here from anyone who has had some larger sales.

Same problems here

Sold 2 Domains for some very nice $ but same as you - I signed a confidentiality clause.
This don't help you to build some name in this industry.

"The biggest players in the business regularly publish their sales statistics and they become like gods in the industry. They sell a domain based on the fact they got huge money for previous sales... " - 100% true!

MapleDots · Apr 30, 2017

Want2learn said:
@MapleDots funny how one little comment about fame, and now everyone thinks you are on an ego kick.

Yeah and I was not even talking about me, I was saying the big players are often revered as domaining gods. I took that from other posts on namePros, that was not even my expression.

It's kind of bothering me that regardless of how I try to explain it another person will post underneath accusing me of wanting to become one for ego. I think its because they are only reading the first post.

MapleDots · Apr 30, 2017

DexDN said:
Same problems here
Sold 2 Domains for some very nice $ but same as you - I signed a confidentiality clause.
This don't help you to build some name in this industry.

"The biggest players in the business regularly publish their sales statistics and they become like gods in the industry. They sell a domain based on the fact they got huge money for previous sales... " - 100% true!

You get it because you are in the same boat as me.

MapleDots · Apr 30, 2017

DexDN said:
"The biggest players in the business regularly publish their sales statistics and they become like gods in the industry. They sell a domain based on the fact they got huge money for previous sales... " - 100% true!

By saying that you will get accused of wanting to become a god!

That is how one simple quote can be taken out of context.

Thank you for understanding what I was trying to post.

kandyan · Apr 30, 2017

frank-germany said:
use namebio for compareable sales

How on earth you going to compare.. if the sales are not reported??

frank-germany said:
high ticket sales are sales where there actually is no alternative for the buyer so why bother about comparable sales at all if they want the domain its you to buy it from

Most of the domains out there are not high value (Your's may be an exception) Exceptions are not the rule..

If you check NameBio for Media domains.. most of them are within xxx-xxxx range.. Except for NativeMedia which sold for 18k.. for me personally that was a valuable info..

Reported sales definitely helps the industry as a whole.. JMO

d-e-x · Apr 30, 2017

MapleDots said:
By saying that you will get accused of wanting to become a god!

That is how one simple quote can be taken out of context.

Thank you for understanding what I was trying to post.

I don't have a problem with that

I am sure that everybody here understand what you talking about.

Want2learn · Apr 30, 2017

MapleDots said:
Yeah and I was not even talking about me, I was saying the big players are often revered as domaining gods. I took that from other posts on namePros, that was not even my expression.

It's kind of bothering me that regardless of how I try to explain it another person will post underneath accusing me of wanting to become one for ego. I think its because they are only reading the first post.

Isn't it ironic? You are saying a big posted documented sale is great for the business. It helps everyone. It sets the bar, floor, and or ceiling for a domain. So your "published" remark about domain gods has set the tone for all who will come read the thread even though you have said otherwise a lot. Lol but god forbid your sale get published and set the market . . . If you get what I just said then you are definitely iNtuitive

Smooth · Apr 30, 2017

Many people on this thread aren't really "getting" this. I understand you @MapleDots. It's a valid concern. And, that's the right/proven/tested way to move up in this field. You could probably pitch that you'll do a PR for them regarding their acquisition of the domain, which would showcase them in good-light. Not sure if that would work though.

.NJ · Apr 30, 2017

Yes confidentiality does suck.

Especially in this case....

Because I would lover to hear the OP's multiple $75k sales and the new over $200k sale.

Ategy · May 1, 2017

Interesting discussion guys .. it's actually pretty simple though ..

In the domain industry: Reputation + Popularity = LIQUIDITY!

The more people look up to you and follow you, the more likely they are to check out your portfolio or more importantly one of your auctions. People will be more likely to buy one of your domains hoping the domain will repeat your previous $75k or $200k sale (even if you really always should judge domains individually). but at the end of the day if you've sold domains in the $xxx,xxx range, then you are doing something right and are likely to be at least above average at procuring domains.

That being said .. a $200k sale does sound good .. but unless we know the purchase price then the sale price is irrelevant when it comes to revealing the extend of your domaining superpowers .. lol. (Not talking about you specifically .. but just in general .. giving feedback to a (new) domainer based on how good their "portfolio" is is completely pointless unless you know both the purchase price and renewal costs (if premium).

At the end of the day all the big boys can afford to say no to some offers specifically because all they need to do is send out a newsletter discounting a few domains and they'll very likely get a few liquid wholesale buyers .. so they never need to worry about paying the rent so to speak.

On that note .. I've just sold 8 domains at $8,888,888 each ... so .. follow me!

MapleDots · May 1, 2017

Ategy.com said:
but unless we know the purchase price then the sale price is irrelevant

Purchase price was a hand reg that I had the foresight to register.

.NJ · May 1, 2017

MapleDots said:
Purchase price was a hand reg that I had the foresight to register.

imadoer · May 1, 2017

Im seriously having a hard time with beliving you made 200k in sales. I took a look at your page do you have a seceret portfolio of names your not showing? Cause theres no way in the world you made 200k off these.

MapleDots · May 1, 2017

All will be divulged if I can get past the non-disclosure agreement.

.NJ · May 1, 2017

MapleDots said:
All will be divulged if I can get past the non-disclosure agreement.

Just for the record and everyone's understanding.

You have stated three closed sales at $75k each and one new sale at "well over" $200k?

So essential about $500,000 in sales from recently "hand regged" domains.

Please confirm this.

MapleDots · May 1, 2017

Sorry, I cannot talk about the previous sales, I have agreements in place.

The latest one was a hand reg that deeply resonated with me. Keep in mind a sale is only a sale when it closes. The broker has contacted me with the terms and I have turned down the confidentiality clause. There were some other conditions which will take some time but I don't think the removal of the clause endangers the sale. That is why I am confident and looking forward to announcing the sale.

imadoer · May 1, 2017

Please let us know your biggest sale that's not under disclosure

MapleDots · May 1, 2017

I'll refer you back to post #1 in this topic
Hold tight, I'll disclose the details when I can, that is the whole point of the topic.

In the meantime if you don't believe me I am quite ok with that.

Maybe one day I'll let you in on the history I have with (hover/domain direct) and how many domains I actually owned. Pick up the phone and call Ross at Hover, his guys wrote the custom script that helped me pick out and register the domains. I was a hover guide on their forum in those days.

imadoer · May 2, 2017

refer me back to post 1? I'm asking you what is the biggest sale you can disclose???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

MapleDots · May 2, 2017

Don't worry I won't forget you, I will take great pleasure if I can come back and post the details of my sale when it concludes. For no other reason than to show you that mine is bigger than yours.

Edit: I removed the account screen shot, thought better of it.

If you want to see it I can show you via PM, I can even show you the transaction amounts but not the domain names.

Will that do for evidence?

.NJ · May 2, 2017

Off topic but I'm very curious.

Can you conduct your banking and get your tires changed at the same time?

MapleDots · May 2, 2017

Yup believe it or not we have a bank called Canadian Tire in Canada, they started off selling tires.

https://ctfs.com/en.html

I use them for my domaining account because they are a virtual bank and I can easily move money.

DomainVP · May 2, 2017

In addressing the overall point @MapleDots is making, I do believe that it is easier to sell at higher prices once you have the public reputation of someone who cannot be negotiated with for less than five-figures.

There are other ways to get buyers to make higher offers though, but it all comes down to what works best for each individual.

Ategy · May 2, 2017

MapleDots said:
Purchase price was a hand reg that I had the foresight to register.

Ategy.com said:
... unless we know the purchase price then the sale price is irrelevant .. lol. (Not talking about you specifically .. but just in general .. giving feedback to a (new) domainer based on how good their "portfolio" is is completely pointless unless you know both the purchase price and renewal costs (if premium)).

Hey hey .. I wasn't trying to infer you bought the domain at $199,999 to sell it at $200k! lol ... Was more just making a global point how even though I completely agree that "reputation for big sales" is a huge factor in the real world ... the real "skill" of a domainer should be assessed based on difference between buy and sale prices (and obviously a bunch of other factors including portfolio turnover, time spent working, etc etc).

Going even further .. the "reputation" of a domainer really shouldn't count for anything .. the only reason to pay a lot for a domain .. is because it's a good domain ... but that's a little too much common sense to make for an interesting discussion .. lol.

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