Afternic Closed Their Marketplace

[scithe]

When you go to Afternic.com there's no option to search for domains. There is a link to GoDaddy where you can search but it doesn't show every name that's available on Afternic.

Interesting.

 

[johnn]

Since Afternic is shutdown are there any other changes coming? I need a heads up so I can plan accordingly.

Just move your DNS somewhere for the time being so you don't lose any sale.

 

[Bannen]

Here's the link for searching Afternic: https://www.godaddy.com/domain-academy/tools/afternic-advanced-search

When I click that link it takes me to Godaddy, to the LOGIN page. So it no longer seems to be affiliated with an 'Afternic Marketplace' as such. Now, even to just look at the inventory, we (and new searchers) have to sign in to Godaddy?

Looks like there is no longer any Afternic marketplace.

I already miss Afternic's marketplace. It was great. I know, people have had complaints, there are always some things that don't work the way we want them to, especially with a company that caters to international sales. I can only speak for myself, but they've always been great for my sales and for my research into domain values and to what others are asking for the same kinds of domains.

I actually just got another sale two days ago; in the evening I got the Afternic email that someone had paid using the BIN button for one of my domains (selling price was $12,500 usd). I did the transfer right away. When I woke up the next morning, payment was already in my account. Less than 12 hours from first email to payment being in my Paypal.

So I have no complaints about how Afternic/Godaddy has been working for my personal domain sales.

However, I really miss the 'marketplace'. You know, just going to the Afternic landing page, going to the 'search for a domain' link, and putting in my keyword/s and seeing the inventory of listings other sellers had listed there. That was a very valuable tool for my pricing strategies.

And I've also sold quite a few domains there, not to end user buyers but to other domain investors who would search through the inventory looking for domains they thought might be undervalued. At least a dozen of my sales last year turned out to be domain investors buying my low- or fairly-priced domains, and then they re-listed them at higher prices.

And I've bought a few (what I think are) undervalued domains via Afternic, also, and re-listed them in my own account for higher prices.

Now that buyer pool, of domain speculators searching through Afternic marketplace inventory, looking for potential deals to invest in, has instantly disappeared.

So I'll miss all that.

Still, I hope my other sales, through GD's domain partners and affiliates, continues to stay strong. Time will tell, I guess.

I, for one, miss you, Afternic marketplace!

 

[SuperBrander]

I think Afternic has always been a listing service for GD's aftermarket distribution that's been used mostly by domainers. I don't think it was ever advertised as a marketplace to the general public. Ask 10 random people who aren't domainers and no one will know what Afternic is. Some will very likely know @GoDaddy though.

The problem isn't the search at Afternic, IMO. The problem is the main search at Godaddy that hides the aftermarket results and promotes a billion random extensions. From Godaddy.com's landing page you can't filter any searches. Only after you search for something, on the next screen you can filter 3 things- industry (most people don't indicate that when listing), and rudimentary length and price filters.

If potential buyers visit auctions.godaddy.com there's a good filtering system there. People can filter and find aftermarket domains using filters like extension, beginning with, ending with, containing, age, with/without hyphen/number/special character, price range, length range. But people who visit Godaddy.com directly and search there (=most people) are limited to what @Bannen referred to (basically just a registry path type search) instead of getting access to a search that can scan the afternic inventory.

I'm aware that the afternic search at Domain Academy is meant for domainers. However, I don't understand the logic behind hiding the aftermarket inventory from potential buyers. I think Godaddy visitors should all be able to search the afternic inventory out in the open in a convenient way, using the site's main search and using a good filtering system. I hope GD will implement this, and better sooner than later.

 

[internext]

Here's the link for searching Afternic: https://www.godaddy.com/domain-academy/tools/afternic-advanced-search

Don't forget to pay da' man first!!!

 

[NameGroove]

So...now endusers must join Domain Academy so they can look for a domain they're interested in? Not sure how that is a wise move on GD's part.

I don't think that can be the case. I think buyers now search via GoDaddy. Doubt buyers are specifically looking for a name from Afternic they are simply looking for a name that meets their needs. As long as all names for sale are findable on GD not sure what the issue is

 

[SuperBrander]

@Sperry8 I think that's exactly the problem. The afternic inventory isn't easily findable on Godaddy. At least not in a straightforward way.

Head over to Godaddy.com and imagine that you're a buyer who wants a domain that starts with the word 'love' accompanied by an unknown second word. There's no filtering system so you just have to write 'love' in the search field. On the next screen you get the obvious message that Love.com is taken and you aren't given any decent filtering options that would allow you to look for all the names that start with 'love' and accompanied by a second word. So what are you supposed to do? There's a whole afternic inventory that you can't search, that has hundreds of Love + Word domains, but you aren't given the option to search it. You can't even choose which extensions you're willing to consider for the domain you're thinking about buying. Godaddy just bombards you with random suggestions.

Godaddy should provide visitors with a good filtering system that isn't hidden behind a paywall, or requires visiting auctions.godaddy.com and choosing the 'type': 'buy it now' or 'make offer' filter together with other filters, so they'll be able to scan and filter Afternic's inventory right from the main godaddy search.

 

[NameGroove]

@Sperry8 I think that's exactly the problem. The afternic inventory isn't easily findable on Godaddy. At least not in a straightforward way.

Head over to Godaddy.com and imagine that you're a buyer who wants a domain that starts with the word 'love' accompanied by an unknown second word. There's no filtering system so you just have to write 'love' in the search field. On the next screen you get the obvious message that Love.com is taken and you aren't given any decent filtering options that would allow you to look for all the names that start with 'love' and accompanied by a second word. So what are you supposed to do? There's a whole afternic inventory that you can't search, that has hundreds of Love + Word domains, but you aren't given the option to search it. You can't even choose which extensions you're willing to consider for the domain you're thinking about buying. Godaddy just bombards you with random suggestions.

Godaddy should provide visitors a good filtering system that isn't hidden behind a paid wall, or requires visiting auctions.godaddy.com and choosing the 'type': 'buy it now' filter together with other filters, so they'll be able to scan and filter Afternic's inventory right from the main godaddy search.

Huh, how about that. So now the only way we'll ever sell a name listed at Afternic is if someone types in the exact word? You are correct, filtering on GD is very limited (Price and characters).

 

[NameGroove]

Well if this is how it's going to be - I'll be removing all afternic name servers and just pointing direct lander now. If someone is going to type my name directly, then they are just as likely to type it into a browser. Obv, I'll keep the listing on Afternic for those who type full name into GD... but this should limit sales (since there will be less search ability).

 

[SuperBrander]

@Sperry8 Godaddy does suggest some purchase options from the aftermarket below, but they're totally random. A mix of random extensions and random words. It's a mess. Visitors can search the inventory properly if they head over to auctions.godaddy.com and choose the type- 'buy it now' or 'make offer' option together with other filters. But how are visitors supposed to know that? The main Godaddy search has to make the inventory... searchable! It's the most basic thing a marketplace needs to do- let people browse and filter through the inventory instead of leaving them clueless or making them jump through hoops. Hopefully @GoDaddy will eventually see the light.

 

[LoveCatchyDomains]

Visitors can search the inventory properly if they head over to auctions.godaddy.com and choose the type- 'buy it now' or 'make offer' option together with other filters.

Has that been fixed? Multiple issues have been raised in the past on NP, about sellers being unable to find their listings on GoDaddy auctions--even with typing in an exact match in some instances?

 

[SuperBrander]

Has that been fixed? Multiple issues have been raised in the past on NP, about sellers being unable to find their listings on GoDaddy auctions--even with typing in an exact match in some instances?

I sure hope so. I randomly checked a few of my domains now and they appeared as they should. But if it's a known issue from the past, people should check and see if their listings are indeed appearing as they should.

 

[SpareDomains]

Over the last few decades most of my sales come from wherever I point the landing page. I've always preferred Sedo over Afternic as a company. The reason Afternic revived is due to the GoDaddy branding/traffic but prior to that Afternic wasn't really a substantial income generator on my end. Searched a few of my Afternic domains on GoDaddy and ya get the crappy automated appraisal on them.

They got it 50% right, redirecting Afternic a good idea just should have went to Dan instead of GoDaddy as it's clean, payment plans, etc...

This post sponsored by...

Efty=Annual Fee 0% Commission
Domain.io=Annual Fee 0% Commission
SquadHelp White Label=7.5% Commission
Sedo
Etc...

See how long Dan stays alive. Shame to buy that and ruin it.

 

[forge]

Since Afternic is shutdown are there any other changes coming?

Godaddy will be partnering with X to begin advertising domains splashed on driverless Tesla CyberTrucks.

Lucky Domain Academy grads can go along for the ride with prepaid 5-year DDC memberships.

 

[forge]

Visitors can search the inventory properly if they head over to auctions.godaddy.com and choose the type- 'buy it now' or 'make offer' option together with other filters.

That is such a royal PITA.

Spot on.

 

[NameGroove]

Over the last few decades most of my sales come from wherever I point the landing page. I've always preferred Sedo over Afternic as a company. The reason Afternic revived is due to the GoDaddy branding/traffic but prior to that Afternic wasn't really a substantial income generator on my end. Searched a few of my Afternic domains on GoDaddy and ya get the crappy automated appraisal on them.

They got it 50% right, redirecting Afternic a good idea just should have went to Dan instead of GoDaddy as it's clean, payment plans, etc...

This post sponsored by...

Efty=Annual Fee 0% Commission
Domain.io=Annual Fee 0% Commission
SquadHelp White Label=7.5% Commission
Sedo
Etc...

See how long Dan stays alive. Shame to buy that and ruin it.

Efty may have 0% commission but I just popped over there and they want $36 per mo to join. So it isn't free

 

[LoveCatchyDomains]

This post sponsored by...

Efty=Annual Fee 0% Commission
Domain.io=Annual Fee 0% Commission
SquadHelp White Label=7.5% Commission
Sedo
Etc...

And Dynadot, 0% annual fee, 10% commission. Afternic was my #1 sales producer, with Dynadot #2, Sedo #3.

 

[NameGroove]

@Sperry8 Godaddy does suggest some purchase options from the aftermarket below, but they're totally random. A mix of random extensions and random words. It's a mess. Visitors can search the inventory properly if they head over to auctions.godaddy.com and choose the type- 'buy it now' or 'make offer' option together with other filters. But how are visitors supposed to know that? The main Godaddy search has to make the inventory... searchable! It's the most basic thing a marketplace needs to do- let people browse and filter through the inventory instead of leaving them clueless or making them jump through hoops. Hopefully @GoDaddy will eventually see the light.

If GD is doing this on purpose then they clearly prefer people handreg new domains to facilitating sales of regged ones. This may be purposeful and they may have already seen the light they wanted to see.

Based on this, I'll be swapping all my afternic nameservers out tomorrow.

 

[NameGroove]

And Dynadot, 0% annual fee, 10% commission. Afternic was my #1 sales producer. with Dynadot #2, Sedo #3.

Does Dyanadot require exclusivity? Can we list there and Afternic, Sedo, direct lander, etc?

 

[SpareDomains]

Does Dyanadot require exclusivity? Can we list there and Afternic, Sedo, direct lander, etc?

No, Yes
All of my domains are listed on Sedo, Afternic, Dan, SquadHelp White Label, Dynadot etc...

 

[LoveCatchyDomains]

Does Dyanadot require exclusivity? Can we list there and Afternic, Sedo, direct lander, etc?

Dynadot does not require exclusivity. And, they now even allow you to list domains that you have with other registars.

Dynadot also has a direct interface for listing to Sedo and Afternic. But there were ongoing issues with unexpected Fast Transfer requests and unauthorized Afternic and Dan listings (that were issues on GoDaddy's end).

Ultimately, I removed all my Afternic listings, and, at this point, am sticking with exclusively with Dynadot for landers and their marketplace--at least until mandatory upfront domain ownership verification is implemented on ALL Godaddy platforms.