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What should I do: GoDaddy broker crossed me (exclusive broker) to contact domain owner

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omelet

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Hi friends,

I got an urgent question want to ask your suggestions.

I and the domain owner ($xxx,xxx valuation) set up an exclusive brokerage agreement back in early 2020. My role is to help the owner to reach out potential end users in Canada, US, and etc.

In 2020 July I got connected with a Godaddy broker and I asked him if he had any potential buyers in our domain name. I gave him my net price and allow him to apply his commission based on the net. He replied me that he would try and get back to me. This Godaddy broker is just one branch of my sale pipelines.

In 2020-2021 we had 5-7 emails back and forth to follow up each other.

Just in today, the domain owner said he has received an offer which hit his bottom line and he decided to sell. He told me it was Godaddy broker and he told me he could send me some compensations for my 2 year hard work.

I emailed the Godaddy broker that I worked with during the last two years and he said it was him. Yes he crossed me to reach to the owner and closed a deal.

The owner is a great and nice person and I don't want to screw him up and I said congratulations to him. But what shall I do??? I am the exclusive broker but I and the owner didn't write it down on the paper. (The domain has been forwarded to my landing page since early 2020 and the owner authorized me as exclusive broker on verbal).

Did the Godaddy broker do things right? Shall I request for commission split?

Any ideas?
 
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Therein lines the problem— domain brokers.

What is an “exclusive broker”?

He seldom replies, but the best lawyer i know: @jberryhill hope, replies. Good luck, @omelet praying for u; Two years’ long time; free work!

Samer
 
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and therein lines the problem— brokers.

What is an “exclusive broker”?

He seldom answers, but the best lawyer is:
tag @jberryhill interested to hear his reply;


Thanks for the comments.

That domain is still forwarding to my brokerage website, and my photo, name and title (exclusive broker) is right under the domain. And the owner agreed and authorized me this.
 
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Take screenshots of it (landing page) now.

Yes, I would tell all involved that a split between you and daddy broker would be only acceptable outcome (verbal agreements are tough to get traction with unless there is a third uninterested party that was privy to the conversation).

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, just played one on TV
 
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Take screenshots of it (landing page) now.

Yes, I would tell all involved that a split between you and daddy broker would be only acceptable outcome (verbal agreements are tough to get traction with unless there is a third uninterested party that was privy to the conversation).

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, just played one on TV


I've emailed that daddy broker and requested for his resolution.
 
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Without anything in writing, you wont be able to do much. Verbal agreements dont mean much when this type of thing happens.
 
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Without anything in writing, you wont be able to do much. Verbal agreements dont mean much when this type of thing happens.


You know in this industry we want to keep good relationship with people, and this is a grey area definitely.

When good offer comes to my client, I cannot force him to go through me. I appreciate my client tells me the truth and still promise to send me some compensation.

As for the afternic guy, he has 1000 reasons to explain how he closed the deal rightfully. He is not a one guy broker, he represent godaddy and afternic.

It's definitely a frustrated situation, especially when I spend 1.5 years to try email and social campaigns and spend hours of time to negotiate with people.

I think God doesn't want me to sell it out b/c none of my 20+ buyer could offer high during this pandemic time. So I have let it go and sent my blessings to both the owner and the afternic guy
 
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You know in this industry we want to keep good relationship with people, and this is a grey area definitely.

When good offer comes to my client, I cannot force him to go through me. I appreciate my client tells me the truth and still promise to send me some compensation.

As for the afternic guy, he has 1000 reasons to explain how he closed the deal rightfully. He is not a one guy broker, he represent godaddy and afternic.

It's definitely a frustrated situation, especially when I spend 1.5 years to try email and social campaigns and spend hours of time to negotiate with people.

I think God doesn't want me to sell it out b/c none of my 20+ buyer could offer high during this pandemic time. So I have let it go and sent my blessings to both the owner and the afternic guy

Yeah, I have had verbal agreements with buyers quite often, but usually repeat buyers or people from bigger companies that I know (or hope) wont back out of a deal.
I guess you only realise the importance of getting things in writing when something like this happens. Very frustrating I know, but I agree that you just have to move on from this and take it as a life lesson.
 
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I been screwed out of commission elsewhere so know the feeling.
 
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Are Godaddy Brokers allowed to negotiate a commission split with 3rd parties?....seems odd to me - conflict of interest?

I was going to tag Paul Nicks but will leave that up to in case it interferes with your network
 
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If the transaction is not yet processed, but will be processed via escrow .com (which system GoDaddy is still using... afaik... ) - then it may be possible to add 2 brokers (for the buyer and the seller), GoDaddy will be one broker and @omelet will be another broker - all in one transaction. So, escrow .com will send the payments to the seller and to both brokers.

Some domainers and brokers, however, would rather not sell or buy the domain at all than use escrow .com for any purpose.

If the transaction is (or will be) processed via godaddy or afternic directly (or if @omelet does not want to use escrow .com) - then, very likely, there is no technical way for @omelet to be paid by GoDaddy. So the owner should pay some compensation - might indeed be easier, especially if he is already willing to do so...
 
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