Afternic - Official Thread

[GoDaddy]

Hello NamePros!
By popular demand, we have launched a dedicated feedback thread for Afternic, the GoDaddy-owned domain name marketplace.

We have created this thread as a way for you to tell us what works, what doesn't work, and what features you'd like to see at Afternic (please be constructive with your feedback). We're looking forward to hearing from the domain investment community to help us shape the future of Afternic.

We will also be sharing Afternic product updates in this thread.

Please note that this thread is not meant for support. Please email our support team at [email protected] for assistance.

 

[411domains]

@GoDaddy

Let's talk "Hidden Sold" status.

Why is it when we purchase domains through the Afternic network and attempt to re-list them at Afternic, the verification process in place repeatedly results in a false positive?

We buy. We re-list. We resell. That's what domain investors do.

While it appears as though the length of the "Hidden Sold" status has been significantly decreased from 2 years to whatever it is now. It's still a bit of an annoyance.

Theoretically, we should be able to verify and add them to our Afternic accounts the same day the names are delivered, but that's not the case.

Being able to verify them upon delivery, makes for better organized domain management.

The following is what we face when purchasing names via the Afternic network with the intentions to re-list:

Verification Required:

System Verifying:

Domain Ownership Verification Successful:

Post Successful Verfication - Verification Required:

 

[DomainRecap]

That happens to me all the time, but I just start a new Add Domains tab, enter the domain name again, and it seems to work then.

Authorization is all screwed up and I need to do a "second try" to have pre-authorized domain fully listed.

 

[411domains]

That happens to me all the time, but I just start a new Add Domains tab, enter the domain name again, and it seems to work then.

Authorization is all screwed up and I need to do a "second try" to have pre-authorized domain fully listed.

@DomainRecap - Yes, same here with names that are still listed by the previous owners. However, it's different with those that sell via the Afternic network.

Rather than removing the names from the marketplace like most, if not all platforms do, they go into a hidden status and no amount of user verification or workarounds will override it.

In order to re-list the names, removal requests need to be escalated up the chain.

 

[phaethon]

For masochistic (?) reasons I'm still using some Afternic request price landers. But this was the last time I'm reacting to a 'before we can start negotiations, we need to know your asking price' email. The "broker" did nothing with that info, apparently. C'mon, at least update the status so I can switch to non-AN nameservers without being afraid of a commission penalty. Do something.


Show attachment 270752


When it comes to Afternic, I've moved from frustration and anger to acceptance. It is what it is. And it will be what it is.

Their landers offer insights in terms of interest for names, sometimes, not often, you get a sale as well, that otherwise you wouldn't!

 

[GoDaddy]

Thank you so much, @Reddstagg and @Garet !

Yes, it was the red triangle message, as you can see on the screenshot. So I proceeded as you told me, @Garet, and it worked. Now, apparently, name is listed ("pending sync" status).

Show attachment 270688

Hi @E. Silvera,
While the screenshot you mentioned didn't display the domain names you were trying to add, it seems that adding a Buy it Now price should resolve the issue. If you have Lease to Own enabled by default, it will apply to new domain names as well - a Buy it Now price is necessary for Lease to Own, which can cause this error to appear.

We're currently working on a UI change to make this clearer.

I added a name yesterday, and it went to Pending Sync. Usually that clears in a few minutes, but it's now been a day and it's still in Pending Sync. What exactly is being checked for the "Sync"? The Domain name was won in GoDaddy Expired Auctions, it is in my GoDaddy Account -- so what exactly needs to be "Synced"?????

Hi @DN_Hunter,
If your domain name has been in "Pending Sync" for over a day, it likely requires a compliance review. This can be handled by Afternic's support team at afternic.com/contact. Use the live chat option for the quickest resolution.

@GoDaddy

Let's talk "Hidden Sold" status.

Why is it when we purchase domains through the Afternic network and attempt to re-list them at Afternic, the verification process in place repeatedly results in a false positive?

We buy. We re-list. We resell. That's what domain investors do.

While it appears as though the length of the "Hidden Sold" status has been significantly decreased from 2 years to whatever it is now. It's still a bit of an annoyance.

Theoretically, we should be able to verify and add them to our Afternic accounts the same day the names are delivered, but that's not the case.

Being able to verify them upon delivery, makes for better organized domain management.

The following is what we face when purchasing names via the Afternic network with the intentions to re-list:

Verification Required:

Show attachment 270765


System Verifying:

Show attachment 270766


Domain Ownership Verification Successful:

Show attachment 270767

Post Successful Verfication - Verification Required:

Show attachment 270768

Thanks @411domains! Yes, this can happen when a domain is sold and then quickly relisted. We'll touch base with the team to see if shortening that turnaround time even further is possible.

 

[silentg]

How do you decide if a lead is low quality?

Lead on a a domain is using BIN lander (BIN + LTO):

Self brokerage should be here now since no broker is available to respond to my quesiton

 

[DomainRecap]

Self brokerage should be here now since no broker is available to respond to my quesiton

It's not just that Self-Brokerage is unavailable on Afternic, but that the brokerage system provides zero detailed info and relies on generic drop-down selections like "Stalled" and "Confused".

That may work for the brokers, but it's infuriating for the actual sellers.

 

[411domains]

Thanks @411domains! Yes, this can happen when a domain is sold and then quickly relisted. We'll touch base with the team to see if shortening that turnaround time even further is possible.

No @GoDaddy - I hate to break it to you, but this happens with every single domain that is sold through the Afternic network, whether it's a legit sale or a sale that does not complete as a result of a fraudulent listing.
It has absolutely nothing to do with quickly re-listing purchased names, but by all means...please touch base with the team for an issue that shouldn't even exist in the first place.

 

[alcy]

anyone here puts afternic number on lander for selling??? if so which ones u use so it's free worldwide

 

[NicTraders]

@GoDaddy, why do you make things so difficult for your users? A number of my domains have been listed on Afternic by other parties. I understand that many of these may be 'stale' listings in which case the seller didn't do the right thing by removing the domain when they sold it. And to this day I receive requests to approve the addition of my domains to Fast Transfer (these requests are being submitted by someone else). It would be easy for you to see who these users are. But instead of considering the integrity of the marketplace you are happy for these fake listings to remain.

I have been told the only way these listings can be removed is for me to add the domains to my Afternic account, add the TXT records at my registrar, resubmit the listings, wait for verification, then finally remove the domains from my account (since I don't want them listed). Other marketplaces allow me to send a screenshot of the domain in my registrar account to prove ownership, but you won't allow this. Why not?

 

[GoDaddy]

No @GoDaddy - I hate to break it to you, but this happens with every single domain that is sold through the Afternic network, whether it's a legit sale or a sale that does not complete as a result of a fraudulent listing.
It has absolutely nothing to do with quickly re-listing purchased names, but by all means...please touch base with the team for an issue that shouldn't even exist in the first place.

Hi @411domains,
Yes, and our previous response referenced the "verified" workflow that domain investors experience when buying and relisting domains.

That said, the Afternic team is now working on plans to eliminate or further reduce the hold cycle.

Thanks for your input!

@GoDaddy, why do you make things so difficult for your users? A number of my domains have been listed on Afternic by other parties. I understand that many of these may be 'stale' listings in which case the seller didn't do the right thing by removing the domain when they sold it. And to this day I receive requests to approve the addition of my domains to Fast Transfer (these requests are being submitted by someone else). It would be easy for you to see who these users are. But instead of considering the integrity of the marketplace you are happy for these fake listings to remain.

I have been told the only way these listings can be removed is for me to add the domains to my Afternic account, add the TXT records at my registrar, resubmit the listings, wait for verification, then finally remove the domains from my account (since I don't want them listed). Other marketplaces allow me to send a screenshot of the domain in my registrar account to prove ownership, but you won't allow this. Why not?

Hi @NicTraders,
Thanks for your feedback. You're correct - since introducing ownership verification at Afternic in 2023, we've shifted from the labor-intensive screenshot verification process to the automated TXT/NS3-led system. This system offers a much faster resolution time than the previous method.

If there are Afternic listings of domain names that you own that were previously sold elsewhere by former owners, we recommend using the TXT/NS3 system to bring these into your account. From there, if needed, you can choose to "Unlist" the domains.

 

[NicTraders]

Hi @411domains,
Yes, and our previous response referenced the "verified" workflow that domain investors experience when buying and relisting domains.

That said, the Afternic team is now working on plans to eliminate or further reduce the hold cycle.

Thanks for your input!


Hi @NicTraders,
Thanks for your feedback. You're correct - since introducing ownership verification at Afternic in 2023, we've shifted from the labor-intensive screenshot verification process to the automated TXT/NS3-led system. This system offers a much faster resolution time than the previous method.

If there are Afternic listings of domain names that you own that were previously sold elsewhere by former owners, we recommend using the TXT/NS3 system to bring these into your account. From there, if needed, you can choose to "Unlist" the domains.

The domains are all sitting in my registrar account - it would have been a piece of cake to send a screenshot of them. It is many times more labour-intensive for me to have to list the domains, verify them, then unlist them. The verification process is how it should be for someone wanting to list the domains, but that's not what I want to do. The problem is that you have all these domains on your platform that were listed when verification wasn't required, and sellers have never had to prove that they own them. It just should not be possible that domains that I bought 7 years ago are listed by someone else.

 

[Future Sensors]

The problem is that you have all these domains on your platform that were listed when verification wasn't required, and sellers have never had to prove that they own them.

Here you get to the core.

 

[Jannes]

The domains are all sitting in my registrar account - it would have been a piece of cake to send a screenshot of them. It is many times more labour-intensive for me to have to list the domains, verify them, then unlist them. The verification process is how it should be for someone wanting to list the domains, but that's not what I want to do. The problem is that you have all these domains on your platform that were listed when verification wasn't required, and sellers have never had to prove that they own them. It just should not be possible that domains that I bought 7 years ago are listed by someone else.

Verification is not required if the domain isn't already listed. That's the main problem.

 

[NicTraders]

Verification is not required if the domain isn't already listed. That's the main problem.

I think you mean IS already listed?... and yes, that's a significant issue. Tens of thousands of listings that are stale (at best) or fraudulent (at worst) and GD just doesn't care about the integrity of the marketplace.

 

[Jannes]

I think you mean IS already listed?... and yes, that's a significant issue. Tens of thousands of listings that are stale (at best) or fraudulent (at worst) and GD just doesn't care about the integrity of the marketplace.

Okay, verification is required only if the domain is already listed. (I was talking about new listings)

They think that mandatory listing (in order to prevent fraudulent listings by scammers) is somehow acceptable, but not mandatory verification for all added domains.

 

[NicTraders]

Okay, verification is required only if the domain is already listed. (I was talking about new listings)

They think that mandatory listing (in order to prevent fraudulent listings by scammers) is somehow acceptable, but not mandatory verification for all added domains.

Sorry, I've never done a new listing on Afternic (mine were all via Dan), so maybe I am misunderstanding. I thought verification was indeed now mandatory at time of listing (since the last year or so):

since introducing ownership verification at Afternic in 2023

and that this would be required whether it's a brand new listing or trying to verify that an existing listing is yours. Are you saying that's not the case, and brand new listings don't require verification?...

 

[Jannes]

Yup, verification is needed only if the domain exists in their database.

 

[NicTraders]

Yup, verification is needed only if the domain exists in their database.

Oh goodness, it's worse than I thought. That is ludicrous. I thought that was the point.
They literally do just make it hard for me (as the owner) to delist names, but if they're not already listed then it's open season for anyone to list anything. What a joke.

 

[Jannes]

Oh goodness, it's worse than I thought. That is ludicrous. I thought that was the point.
They literally do just make it hard for me (as the owner) to delist names, but if they're not already listed then it's open season for anyone to list anything. What a joke.

At least you can "unlist" (=hide) your domains instead of deleting them. Then they are still listed but not for sale.