discuss A Wake-Up Call for the Domain Industry

[Haroon Basha]

It’s truly alarming to see a respected domainer like @AbdulBasit.com stepping away from the Afternic marketplace. This is not just an isolated decision — it’s a reflection of the growing frustration and despair among small and mid-level domainers.

The domain industry is going through a deeply troubling phase. Costs are shooting up. Everywhere. And honestly, it’s getting harder and harder for small domainers to stay in the game. Costs are spiraling out of control on every front:

• High registration and renewal charges are eating into profits.
• Transfer fees have become another unwelcome burden.
• Marketplace commissions are touching unbearable levels, often exceeding what’s fair or sustainable. Commissions have shot up — and it feels like there’s no ceiling anymore.
• And to make matters worse, PayPal’s usury-like transaction fees are cutting even deeper into already thin margins.

For small domainers trying to survive, these rising costs make the business increasingly unviable. Honestly, the domain industry’s taking a beating these days — fees everywhere, and nothing seems to slow down. The once “merry and cherry” days of domain investing — when fair prices, reasonable commissions, and transparent systems gave us hope — seem to be long gone. I’ve been in this business for 20 years, and I’ve never seen so many domainers feeling this helpless.

Unless marketplaces and payment processors take meaningful action to reduce commissions and charges, the domain community risks losing its diversity and spirit. In my view, unless these marketplaces reduce commissions, small domainers like us don’t stand a chance. Only the biggest players will survive, while the small independent investors — the true backbone of this industry — will be thrown out.

It’s time for the entire domaining community to raise its voice for fairer policies and a sustainable future. It’s high time we all spoke up. Something’s got to change — and soon. Otherwise, we’re all just watching the industry we love slip away.

What’s your take on this situation? Are other domainers facing the same pressure?

 

[CashproofAi]

I'll never pay any company 20% commission, let alone 25% or more for any reason. It's not worth it for me.
I've 11,000+ domains and have enough data which is encouraging to leave and try out any other landers.
For sure I'll be sharing the new journey on the way.

Great. You have 11, 000+ domains in your portfolio. You can justify your own benchmark. No doubt about it. Thanks you have also a consulting service for novice domainers.

 

[CashproofAi]

AbdulBasit is not a small or mid-level domainer , he probably has a portfolio of over 10000 quality domains.
He’s a top tier domainer and it makes perfectly sense for him to go Solo.
He’s not leaving Afternic to go elsewhere , but to have his own lander.

He can do that because he got a large portfolio of quality names.
Small or mid-level domainers can’t, because without Afternic or Sedo or Atom or Spaceship we would be selling nothing.

Yes. That is a real fact that you pointed out. 10,000+ domains makes a big difference to dictate own terms and conditions for domaining.

 

[biggie]

I'll never pay any company 20% commission, let alone 25% or more for any reason. It's not worth it for me.

Hi

if I had buyer willing to pay 8x’s your $10k name, would 20% be worth it then…
where you net $64k?

if only them brokers worked like that

imo…

 

[AbdulBasit.com]

Hi

if I had buyer willing to pay 8x’s your $10k name, would 20% be worth it then…
where you net $64k?

if only them brokers worked like that

imo…

Like I said it earlier, I wouldn't pay 20% commission ever in any case.

 

[Ellis01]

It really is frustrating!!!

 

[cuanta]

Hi

if I had buyer willing to pay 8x’s your $10k name, would 20% be worth it then…
where you net $64k?

if only them brokers worked like that

imo…

Like I said it earlier, I wouldn't pay 20% commission ever in any case.

Somehow, you both sound right.