$400 dollars... Or nothing.

[Humdizzy]

So I've been friends with the owner of a site for a while. Very popular site (possibly the next myspace, and I'm not kidding) and in the past I bought the .net for his site because he had an alternate extension. I thought that .net would be better for the site because the extension he was using wasn't really fitted for the site. He didn't want the .net so I kept it and renewed it because it recieved good traffic and clicks. He contacts me two days ago telling me he wants to buy it from me. He gives me the offer of $400. Now I find out the .com (which I know gets GREAT traffic) is dropping 5 days from today. I am contacting him right now to tell him about it and that he could save $400 bucks. Am I doing the right thing?

 

[kev]

oohh, thats a toughy.

maybe he can give you a contribution for telling him about the .com version? I dont know what i would do

 

[Dan]

You are doing the right thing if you don't want $400 + a load more for the .com. :/

If it's a good friend, I'd tell them.

 

[Humdizzy]

If it's a good friend, I'd tell them.

The thing is, he is more of an acquaintance than a friend. We talk like twice a year maybe. Haha, but I mean he's always been cool. I have thoughts, maybe he's testing me. Or maybe he's not and then right after he buys he'll find out that the .com is available. OR even worse, that I regged it.

 

[quality]

Unless he gets the .com hes got no chance of being a new myspace. Reg the .com for yourself and ask for a 30% stake in the business.

 

[Gene]

Register the .com, let him use it for however long it takes to create a supersite (keep registered in your name). When it's big and famous, sell it to him based on his revenue. He wins, you win.

 

[verbster]

Gene's idea is a good one...if he's a good guy, he'll realize how important the name is to his success and be willing to "lease" the domain from you for a fixed price or one based on revenue. Either way, you both win.

 

[Badger]

bah... you tell him period.. Its about scruples sometimes

 

[VURG]

I'd tell him. My friendships are worth more than $400.

If the .net is getting good traffic you may have competition for getting the dropping the .com anyway.

 

[Humdizzy]

I just told him anyways. I would've felt guilty if I hadn't. I don't think I'm getting anything now.

 

[duskdawn]

Yes you are doing the right thing.
But I'm afraid he couldn't catch the .com unless it is really unpopular name. If his site receives decent traffic then the dot com might be worth snapping by domainers.
Good luck.

 

[OK]

I would tell him aswell. If he ever gets big, you can always ask for a favor from him and chances are he'll give it to you.

 

[iNod]

It is about a persons sense for kindness.. If you tell him the .com if avaliable and he gets it.. He will thank you for ever.. Nobody knows how he will repay you but he will. Trust me on that. Somethings the right thing is felt as the wrong thing. But only a true person can know..

Good luck

- Steve

 

[IAmAllanShore]

bah... you tell him period.. Its about scruples sometimes

:bingo:

No question here, imho.

 

[Jo]

Karma darling! I think you should tell him.

 

[AdoptableDomains]

I agree to tell him. But if he made an offer of $400 and you accepted, he should have an equal obligation to follow through on that as well as a friend and verbal contract. If in fact it's the next myspace, then $400 is peanuts, and he would probably want all the extension he could get anyway eventually.

 

[Julio]

I think he knew that the .com was dropping in 5 days that's why he contacted you for the .net and made you the $400.00 offer.

Think about it he didn't want the name before but now he wants it.

 

[tetrapak]

bah... you tell him period.. Its about scruples sometimes

Indeed!

 

[Raikoh]

Just a quick note that he already told him.