- Impact
- 34
NamePros,
Long time no see.
On 12/15, I placed a fair offer on a domain that the seller accepted the next day.
I made the payment immediately, and received confirmation on 12/17 that the transaction was approved. The email noted that the domain transfer would now initiate.
Shortly thereafter, I received this email from a GoDaddy Account Executive:
Seriously?!
By this point, I had already purchased related domains to protect my new investment. Now they are asking for an amount not only in excess of the original BIN, but 10x the amount that was already accepted! As per GoDaddy's own policies, the seller must initiate the transfer within 10 days:
Which then raises a few questions:
1. Does GoDaddy take legal measures to enforce transactions as part of their 20% commission?
2. If not, doesn't it defeat the integrity of the marketplace if sellers/buyers can back out at any time?
3. Has anyone pursued something like this in court?
I can't imagine a seller aggressively defending such an obvious breach of contract. Odds are, it would be a default judgment. Regardless, since the court would likely award any attorney fees as well, I don't see the harm in pursuing this route. I suppose this is what buyers have to do when GoDaddy doesn't care to enforce the integrity of their marketplace.
For what it's worth, no action has been taken against the seller by GoDaddy, as I see the domain listed on both Afternic and GoDaddy under a new price.
Long time no see.
On 12/15, I placed a fair offer on a domain that the seller accepted the next day.
I made the payment immediately, and received confirmation on 12/17 that the transaction was approved. The email noted that the domain transfer would now initiate.
Shortly thereafter, I received this email from a GoDaddy Account Executive:
I am emailing you in regards to the purchase of the domain name [XXX].
The owner mistakenly thought your offer for the name was [10x Accepted Offer]. The seller does not wish to sell it for [$XXX] so the sale will be canceled.
That being said, are you able to stretch your offer to [10x Accepted Offer] and I can sell it to you for that?
Seriously?!
By this point, I had already purchased related domains to protect my new investment. Now they are asking for an amount not only in excess of the original BIN, but 10x the amount that was already accepted! As per GoDaddy's own policies, the seller must initiate the transfer within 10 days:
When you sell a domain on the site, you will transfer the domain to the new owner within ten (10) business days of receiving notification by Company that the buyer's payment is approved.
Which then raises a few questions:
1. Does GoDaddy take legal measures to enforce transactions as part of their 20% commission?
2. If not, doesn't it defeat the integrity of the marketplace if sellers/buyers can back out at any time?
3. Has anyone pursued something like this in court?
I can't imagine a seller aggressively defending such an obvious breach of contract. Odds are, it would be a default judgment. Regardless, since the court would likely award any attorney fees as well, I don't see the harm in pursuing this route. I suppose this is what buyers have to do when GoDaddy doesn't care to enforce the integrity of their marketplace.
For what it's worth, no action has been taken against the seller by GoDaddy, as I see the domain listed on both Afternic and GoDaddy under a new price.