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debate Domainers Stealing Domains from Domainers

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Is it Ok to Legally Steal Domains Through Auction?

  • 1st

    Yes, 100% Okay

    42 
    votes
    59.2%
  • 2nd

    No, 100% Wrong

    14 
    votes
    19.7%
  • 3rd

    Yes, And I Don't Give a Fvck

    12 
    votes
    16.9%
  • 4th

    No, But I'll Do it Anyways

    votes
    4.2%

  • 71 votes
  • Ended 4 years ago
  • Final results

dande

Premium DomainsTop Member
Impact
1,981
Hey Folks,

This issue has been bothering me for a while now and I just needed to get it out for us to have a debate on it.

Why are Domainers so willing to steal domains from other Domainers?

I don't mean outright conventional stealing, I mean stealing through the auctions. We all have lost good domains to this scenario, and it keeps happening every day at Sedo, Namejet, and here at Namepros.

When someone set their auctions at $1 starting bid, they so to encourage bids, not to sell at $1. If we placed a $1 bid and the auction ended with no further bids, I think we are under moral obligation to confirm with the seller whether they are truly willing to sell at that price.

I mean, why would someone pay €59 to auction a name at Sedo and another Domainers takes the domain at $20 because the auction was set at a $20 starting bid? To me, it is morally unacceptable and should be discouraged. And I see this happening every day.

While we do not have control nor a say about what happens at Sedo and other private platforms, I think we should do something about Namepros. Won't it be nice if we confirm from a seller whether they are willing to sell at bottom price. Isn't it wicked and inconsiderate to aggressively enforce what seems to be your right in this case?

Anytime you sneak a domain at a low starting bid, lower below capital, you help push another Domainers out of business.

Note: I am not judging anyone nor accusing anyone of anything wrong. Just stating what I assume should be a standard in this industry.

So, let's have your own line of debate about what you believe and why. I also added a poll to help better understand what's the majority believes should be the case.

Happy Weekend!
 
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The views expressed on this page by users and staff are their own, not those of NamePros.
Is there not an obligation to complete a sale once an auction had bids? If we went to a system where once an auction completes people decided if they really wanted to sell it would have undesired consequences.

We all realize that prices are low here, much of the time. A seller should realize a name could sell at starting bid and set that accordingly.

I think sometimes people auction names they have decided they want to give up on but they still feel have value and would rather see the domain go to another NamePros member rather than expire or into an expired auction where other organizations make money off the domain.

Bob
 
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1. Why are Domainers so willing to steal domains from other Domainers?

2. I mean, why would someone pay €59 to auction a name at Sedo and another Domainers takes the domain at $20 because the auction was set at a $20 starting bid?

1. When domain name doesn’t mean anything to me, still there’s nothing but potential, ... not seeing opportunity ... I’m going to start $1 auction and accept that 1x $1 bid.

1a. If I win your auction for $1 , you’ll receive $9 + ... you won’t get rich but at least reg fee covered.

2. Hope and Auction is a marketing channel. Not a strategy. + Domainers/Flippers value-based pricing strategies are not truly value-based.

Regards
 
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To prevent this from happening i had set an reserve price for my auction but did not get much bids because of the reserve price. Also namepros admin said that according to namepros rules, reserve price is not allowed in auctions here.
Who else think that Namepros admins should consider allowing Reserve prices in auctions? I mean, that is standard in every auction, why should here be different.
 
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Simply winning an auction is obviously not "stealing".

Listing the auction is the seller's choice. The moral obligation is on the seller to follow through with the auction. If the domain was that good it would likely sell for a higher price.

Brad
 
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Anytime you sneak a domain at a low starting bid, lower below capital, you help push another Domainers out of business.

This is just how business works. Not everyone who does something has the necessary skills or puts in the time & effort to be successful in a field.

Brad
 
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Who else think that Namepros admins should consider allowing Reserve prices in auctions? I mean, that is standard in every auction, why should here be different.

Maybe. That is a whole different subject than referring to winning an auction as "stealing".

Brad
 
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I must say up front I have not read the whole thread...having said that:

If you wont be happy with a $1 sale, don't start your bid there. I got on board with ebay when it was only 6 months old and ended up with a xx,xxx rating at 99.6 positive level when that project ended...so I have extensive auction experience.

The only stealing going on in the industry is the outright fraud by those hacking personal info and getting control of a name long enough to sell it...also, there more than one registrar out there that will take a name without proper notice or justification.

On that note, check you domain locks on a regular basis..there are bad seeds everywhere and it is not that hard for someone that works at a registrar to do dastardly things...always (and on a regular basis) download your portfolio to excel or start a spreadsheet if your registrar does not make it easy to do so. Although it is a pain and will take a small investment in ink, print out a copy of every time you register and/or renew a name...it would be invaluable in proving a name that 'disappeared' from you account actually belonged to you.
 
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Domainers Stealing Domains from Domainers

Title to this thread is very misleading, @dande I think many would appreciate if you modified it.

Winning a domain in auction at a steal is in no way near or related to domain theft, and associating NP marketplace with such a claim is way more irresponsible than risking a potential loss of a higher-value domain to an auction that didn't end at an expected result.

Reserve auction would have to be actively monitored by a bot or a person, and seeing as anyone can participate on NP marketplace without paying a dime who's going eat that maintenance? I find reserves a waste of everyone's time for the most part.

If you don't want to lose your name at a steal, there are a variety of strategies to employ for the auction, there are no "assumptions" that beginning at $1 the ending will be cupcakes and ice cream. This is part of the risk/reward and if you are worried, go fixed price or begin the auction at a comfortable minimum.
 
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Sometimes there are reasons a seller starts an auction at $0 or $1. Could be the domain is expiring or expired. Could be they need money fast. Could be need a dollar.

In any event, it's rare that auctions here on NP actually end at one dollar.

When a registrar offers a registration special at a dollar or five dollars, we all go running to get the cheap price. It's a steal...why not?

I have had times when I felt bad and offered to allow the seller to restart his/her auction to see if they get more than $1 or $2. One time, the seller was very happy that I let them out of the deal.

Anyway, sellers must know that they might only end up with the amount of the starting bid.
 
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No reserve - must sell. Otherwise, put a reserve.

If there is no “reserve” mechanism, have the starting bid reflect your reserve.


But - let’s face it, most NP buyers have no imagination or guts and pucker up at the prospect of an auction that has a starting bid above about $50. No one wants to be the first bidder. But that same auction start it at a dollar and once they see the herd bidding it above $100 they all stampede in.
 
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Maybe. That is a whole different subject than referring to winning an auction as "stealing".

Brad

I agree, different discussion, but I would personally say I hope that NamePros do NOT introduce reserves. I hate the lack of transparency of low starting bids but some unknown reserve. If you want a minimum price, then start at that price. Simple, clear.

To the OP, if you ware not willing to sell at the open price, don't list it at that price!

Bob
 
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I am a successful seller at namepros. Many domains I bought even for $1 to $10 has paid me hundreds of dollars at Namepros


I want to make a small summary

Domainers buy domains with small investment like $10 to trade for profit.

Like any other business domain trading also has both ends. Profit or loss.

You can sell domain for profit at namepros only if

1) The domain has some willing to domainers (resellers not talking about end users )

2) The timing of the auction is perfect. If you start on Friday and end on Sunday (or on holidays) very less chances of sales or high bid.

3) Good marketing makes more bids. Poor titles, less followup in bumps or no details of how old the domain is, how many other extensions of the domain were registered, missing relevant details makes low or no bids

4) More expiry duration gets more bids.
Most domains not getting more bids because the auctions were at just 1 month from expiry or low.


So If you have high value domains and willing to sell for high profit / end use, then NamePros is not for you. NamePros no waiting of selling. But with lesser price to domainers. At the same time it is good to sell for low price than renewing it for many years without a sale.

In my experience I had sold a domain for low price at NP and then got a 20 X higher value offer from end user. Then I contacted the NPer and bought back with 2X price and sold for 20X price of NP auction. But this happens in a very case. Mostly NP auctions saves lot of renewal money. Most domains bought by NPers are sold again as they use other marketing methods than me and sell many. So it depends on each NPer.

I am not vouching NP members. It is my opinion. Correct me if I am wrong.

English is not my native language. So I am sorry if lot of grammar mistakes.
 
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So
I agree with you. Sometimes we just want to let it go, probably because we're tired of renewal or just want someone else to try. That's why I said it would be nice to inquire from the seller if he's willing to let go at $1. Because I know most times, people just want to get their auctions started
So, if the seller is not willing to let go at $1, then what? (If you don't mind my asking. Just curious here)
 
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No reserve - must sell. Otherwise, put a reserve.

If there is no “reserve” mechanism, have the starting bid reflect your reserve.

But - let’s face it, most NP buyers have no imagination or guts and pucker up at the prospect of an auction that has a starting bid above about $50. No one wants to be the first bidder. But that same auction start it at a dollar and once they see the herd bidding it above $100 they all stampede in.

You understand what goes on here, 100%. That's exactly the reason most people take the hard risk and start their auctions at $1. And if by any circumstances you're not able to get more than a bid, you end up losing the name.

Most domainer here simply don't know what truly sell nor what they want. So they judge domain value base on the herd bidding. Once you're unable to pull the herd, you lose the name.
 
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I have had times when I felt bad and offered to allow the seller to restart his/her auction to see if they get more than $1 or $2. One time, the seller was very happy that I let them out of the deal.
This clearly illustrates what I'm talking about. Countless of auction ends at less than desirable outcome. Sometimes it won't hurt to be a little considerate. To do that, you have to look beyond the obvious.
 
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Yes, but 99.99999% of the time, the seller insists on completing the sale no matter the price. :)
 
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Title to this thread is very misleading, @dande I think many would appreciate if you modified it.

Winning a domain in auction at a steal is in no way near or related to domain theft, and associating NP marketplace with such a claim is way more irresponsible than risking a potential loss of a higher-value domain to an auction that didn't end at an expected result.

Reserve auction would have to be actively monitored by a bot or a person, and seeing as anyone can participate on NP marketplace without paying a dime who's going eat that maintenance? I find reserves a waste of everyone's time for the most part.

If you don't want to lose your name at a steal, there are a variety of strategies to employ for the auction, there are no "assumptions" that beginning at $1 the ending will be cupcakes and ice cream. This is part of the risk/reward and if you are worried, go fixed price or begin the auction at a comfortable minimum.
I wish I could edit the title but the time has elapsed. Someone should tag the mod to help out.

However, the purpose of the title is to get attention to this thread, not as if it's a news headline. We all understand the context of the post.
 
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The market always provides, Nobody forces anyone to list anything for sale, and if the name is good as honey, the bees will swarm. Nobody is going to pay more than they have to, if they do that is called charity.

If you want to really pick on something it should be the want ads on namepros. The mods need a new strategy there, as people are eating their lives responding to ghosts.

90% are from totally unqualified, or unfounded parties with no feedback, activity,
or trade history looking for something that doesn’t exist.
 
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Even chimpanzees know how to set reserve/starting bids.

ooh ooh aah aah eee eee
 
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Reserve price would be solution for this problem and starting bid $1 for all auctions.
 
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It's the old, use some freak sale to make your case. Again, a seller decides the starting bid, if domainers aren't bidding more than $1, the domain probably sucks.

He is not an only one, that happened to me few times.
And thanks to God a dominers who can recognize a potential was not here at right moment.

@dande - Thanks!

Now, lets face the truth here, if we set starting price $1 auction will get a bids, if starting price is higher $20, $30... very few people will bid and that is a fact.

Rules should be changed here on NP
As I said before, starting price $1 for all auctions and reserve price (if seller wish) would be solution.
 
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I can't vote on this one..!

We're talking about auctioning a domain name, not stealing it.

THIS IS A GAME..!

When I auction my names I always ask to myself : «Am I willing or not to let it go for $1?» That's the nore important question. I'm not telling myself: «Am I ready to let someone else steal my name for $1?». If I would do it, I would not be a pro. Be serious..!!!

I do it for 2 reasons :
  1. Clean-up my portfolio, and/or
  2. I don't want to renew it one more time
... In order to maybe someone else can do something better with it, and BTW catch a couple of bucks.

Keep it simple & Stay on the positive side!
 
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The issue is in the rules.

If you start an auction and set an opening bid, the domain should be a guaranteed sale once the first bid is placed. There should be no option to add a BIN. If you want to list at a firm price that should be a thread that doesn’t allow any offers below bin.
 
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I wish I could edit the title but the time has elapsed.
It is not simply the title choice. The poll is deceptive as well. Most people are opposed to stealing, i would hope, but if people vote they are against stealing does not, necessarily mean they are against what you are calling stealing. I think it will be meaningless what the poll results are, and I did not vote for this reason.

It is unfortunate because a reasonable poll on related topics would have been really helpful. Like how many would like to see a reserve option? Or how many feel that buyer and seller should, at mutual agreement, have option to not go through with a deal if the auction never went past $1 or $2 (my understanding now is that there is an obligation on both to complete when a domain auction has bids.

I have been both sides of buying and selling at low end values. Yes, disappointing, but I still hold that by starting an auction with a low initial bid you signed up for that.

Bob
 
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As others have mentioned, even without a reserve, you can just set a high enough starting bid instead.

If it gets a bid then you know it is in a range you are willing to sell it.

If it doesn't get a bid, then you are not obligated to sell it for less than you want.

It is a pretty easy solution.

Brad
 
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