Escrow.com Buyer refuses to start inspection - How to deal ?

cherrydrpepper · May 3, 2016

Background -
Sold website via Flippa
Buyer looked solid. mid xx,xxx transactions, 3 years as member, star rating.
Paid escrow right away.
Push domain right away.
Then gave me their install info.
I always offer to install to any cpanel for free.
Usually a breeze.
This time i encountered an insecure warning.
Buyer said no big deal please proceed anyway.
I handed it off to my installer who has handled x,xxx of installs.
Long story short she reported back he couldn't add on the site but had uploaded all the files/databases. Problem with buyer's host and or DNS set up.
Fast forward and buyer admitted seeing all their content via Flippa PM.
They keep lying to Escrow.com and playing dumb.
Any advice ?
I am close contact with Escrow.com support and they just keep telling me they have to wait on the buyer.
Also any good alternatives besides Paypal to accept payment for websites ?
I am really disappointed in Escrow right now. There needs to be a much better way to track website delivery.

AEProgram · May 3, 2016

Escrow needs to email them right now and tell them they confirmed you delivered (that is if you really did) and within 3 days escrow will be closed and money released to you

cherrydrpepper · May 3, 2016

The buyer sent me a private message via Flippa that she saw the content. In the same instance she emailed a reply to escrow.com that she did not have access.
I have sent escrow.com multiple proofs.
They told me they can't accept Flippa screenshots as proof though.
I guess I will have to start a Flippa dispute soon, but that will tack on more time.
It's just that I wish Escrow.com would have a better way of confirming website content receipt.
They are now owned by Freelancer and Freelancer has a method for confirming delivery of intangibles.
Escrow.com needs the same function IMHO.

Name Trader · May 3, 2016

What were the terms and conditions of the sale? Were they buying just the domain or the domain + website. It sounds like the latter? Can Escrow.com see the website? Do you have pictures of your whois before and after the sale, which proved the change of ownership. If they can see the website and they can see the domain is pointing to different DNS, I would say they would have sufficient evidence to close the inspection period.

Calling for Escrow.com to view this thread, and to help get this problem sorted out.
@Jackson Elsegood
@Mauli Fry

johname · May 3, 2016

Your escrow deal is all burdensome with flippa and website content, it's not the normal domain only transaction. Plus nothing screeches the brakes on an escrow transaction like the buyer saying they dont have control of the item. There an obligation to make sure they do. Focus on asking what you need to do to help her with her access problem.

cherrydrpepper · May 3, 2016

stub said:
What were the terms and conditions of the sale? Were they buying just the domain or the domain + website. It sounds like the latter? Can Escrow.com see the website? Do you have pictures of your whois before and after the sale, which proved the change of ownership. If they can see the website and they can see the domain is pointing to different DNS, I would say they would have sufficient evidence to close the inspection period.

Calling for Escrow.com to view this thread, and to help get this problem sorted out.
@Jackson Elsegood
@Mauli Fry

Thanks for the call out.
Sold domain+website.
Escrow confirmed domain transfer last week and asked buyer to confirm website contents were transferred.
They didn't seem interested that the DNS was updated (good point though)
I have sent a bunch of screenshots.
Oh well it's got to come ot a head at some point!

cherrydrpepper · May 3, 2016

johname said:
Your escrow deal is all burdensome with flippa and website content, it's not the normal domain only transaction. Plus nothing screeches the brakes on an escrow transaction like the buyer saying they dont have control of the item. There an obligation to make sure they do. Focus on asking what you need to do to help her with her access problem.

I've done deals with domain plus website and they have been very simple.
I gave the buyer two solutions and she refuses both of them.

I explained in multiple emails that she has the wrong information for DNS via her domain registrar. (I ran traceroutes and they all show the wrong servers.

The buyer refuses to follow my advice. I asked her to make me tech contact and I could update it myself.
Refused.
Then I offered her free web hosting on my hosting cpanel until she figures things out on her end.
Refused that also.

Most customers are easy to work with.
I just feel dumb for spending so many hours on a buyer who refuses to work with me at all and is rude to boot.

Name Trader · May 3, 2016

I also think @johname's last sentence is the best way forward. You can show your emails and her uncooperative replies to Escrow.com

Name Trader · May 3, 2016

If you have these problems with escrow.com they'll be 100 times worse with PayPal. Escrow.com is still the best place to go for these sales. IMHO.

AEProgram · May 3, 2016

email them to the domain that you are looking to buy it, see how they reply and all

cherrydrpepper · May 3, 2016

Well after sending Escrow.com all sorts of proofs (screenshot of buyer saying they have content, cpanel, my installer's note, etc) I woke up to a generic email from Escrow asking the buyer to confirm again.
I even tried one last time to explain to the buyer what she's doing wrong.
But no reply of course.
Incredibly disgusted.

cherrydrpepper · May 3, 2016

Escrow finally marked the domain/website as received. Will be interesting to see if buyer tries to reject.
Hello to arbitration if she does.

deez007 · May 3, 2016

Just wondering how come you didn't opt for the Flippa Escrow option instead of Escrow.com?

I recently sold a site on Flippa and I used Flippa Escrow, this way the entire transaction is handled through one party. The buyer was being a royal douche and had me transfer the domain to him and stalled as long as he could with regards to payment. I escalated the matter with Flippa and also contacted FlippaDomains here on NP. The issue was sorted out and they told the buyer to make payment as the domain whois clearly shows that he has taken ownership of the domain. Basically Flippa came to the rescue and saved my ass]..from being ripped off. I have no doubt that the buyer would tried a fast one if he was given the opportunity, if Flippa didn't step in then I would have probably been out of pocket.

cherrydrpepper · May 3, 2016

deez007 said:
Just wondering how come you didn't opt for the Flippa Escrow option instead of Escrow.com?

I recently sold a site on Flippa and I used Flippa Escrow, this way the entire transaction is handled through one party. The buyer was being a royal douche and had me transfer the domain to him and stalled as long as he could with regards to payment. I escalated the matter with Flippa and also contacted FlippaDomains here on NP. The issue was sorted out and they told the buyer to make payment as the domain whois clearly shows that he has taken ownership of the domain. Basically Flippa came to the rescue and saved my ass]..from being ripped off. I have no doubt that the buyer would tried a fast one if he was given the opportunity, if Flippa didn't step in then I would have probably been out of pocket.

I've never had problems with Escrow as buyer and seller. They have been around forever.
I don't want to badmouth Flippa's Escrow, but I have read some harsh words about it. (but don't have any experience personally with it)
Thanks for your input.
I am certain that if the buyer rejects and I file a dispute with Flippa that they will explain to her how in the wrong she is.
Because the site has now been down several days solely on her conduct I can't even consider taking it back.
The latest stupid email she sent was addressed to me AND her hosting company. Again telling us the DNS is correct.

cherrydrpepper · May 3, 2016

The buyer finally followed my advice because now the website is showing up just fine and I did a trace of DNS changes. Boom, she finally removed the incorrect DNS and it's showing as corrected.

Thanks for everyone's input.
Fingers crossed that this is the end of headaches.

Name Trader · May 4, 2016

@cherrydrpepper - Best of luck. Hope it now goes smoothly to a conclusion

Mauli Fry · May 12, 2016

I am sorry to hear you were having such difficulty. I was out of the office the week of the 3rd so did not see this until I came back. Please contact me any time you need help.

Name Trader · May 20, 2016

Mauli Fry said:
I am sorry to hear you were having such difficulty. I was out of the office the week of the 3rd so did not see this until I came back. Please contact me any time you need help.

Has this been resolved? Could @cherrydrpepper or @Mauli Fry give us an update?

Mauli Fry · Jun 6, 2016

@stub. This was resolved. Thank you!

Name Trader · Jun 7, 2016

Mauli Fry said:
@stub. This was resolved. Thank you!

That's good to hear.

brianbrytus · Jun 27, 2017

I have almost a similar problem, i sold a name to a company called MarkMonitor and the domaim transferred to their account but they still haven't confirmed it to begin the inspection period. I live close to the company I'm thinking of showing up and talking to someone there. Can an escrow rep on here help me out? I have forwarded the transfer email from my registrar but MarkMonitor won't respond to me or escro to start the inspection period.

voiceofreason · Jun 28, 2017

brianbrytus said:
I have almost a similar problem, i sold a name to a company called MarkMonitor and the domaim transferred to their account but they still haven't confirmed it to begin the inspection period. I live close to the company I'm thinking of showing up and talking to someone there. Can an escrow rep on here help me out? I have forwarded the transfer email from my registrar but MarkMonitor won't respond to me or escro to start the inspection period.

Onex Corporation and Baring Private Equity Asia owns Clarivate Analytics owns MarkMonitor. I can't imagine just showing up would make sense.
Perhaps try tweeting @Clarivate and/or @markmonitor first ? Or call Escrow.com directly. (That works faster than email support imho)

forge · Jun 28, 2017

In the past Escrow would start the inspection period on behalf of the buyer, upon your request.

But that was during the previous iteration before they were run by troglodytes.

voiceofreason · Jun 28, 2017

forge said:
In the past Escrow would start the inspection period on behalf of the buyer, upon your request.

But that was during the previous iteration before they were run by troglodytes.

True that, but at least they have a phone number with live humans to answer. And they're still bonded, insured and fully licensed.
Unlike some others.....

xynames · Jun 28, 2017

My experience with escrow.com is that they will force start the inspection period if you can document, typically via emails with buyer, that he has received the purchased product. This is why I copy escrow.com on all emails to the buyer.

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