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.

 

[GoDaddy]

@GoDaddy

To enhance the Afternic portfolio overview, please add these suggested filters:

• Extension (only populate with the extensions found in Afternic portfolio)
• Fast Transfer status
• Lander type

Leverage the successful filter elements of the GoDaddy DCC domain portfolio overview for Afternic, as well.

@Future Sensors, thank you for the feedback, I will relay this on to the appropriate parties. In the meantime, using the export function on the entire portfolio will give you this information on a sort-able .csv file.

@GoDaddy

To enhance LTO flexibility, please introduce down payment configuration, similar to Atom's user-friendly system. For lower Buy-It-Now transactions, requiring a substantial down payment, such as 35%, followed by equal LTO installments, significantly increases buyer commitment and reduces seller risk.

We are constantly reviewing all feedback with regards to LTO and will be sure to include this in our internal conversations.

 

[411domains]

I have no intentions on using their "self-brokerage," but It seems to me the custom checkout link would be the most logical solution for those concerned about commissions.

Is it not an option?

Perhaps James @GoDaddy would like to chime in on this for clarification.

Hi

i may have missed it, but what is commission % after you buy into self-brokerage?

tks


imo...

Same commission
15-30%

As far as i can tell it's the same commission, also it did not automatically opt me into Boost so that was good.

Hahaha, this seems like a huge joke
Holder self brokerage=reduces workload for Godaddy
However, the holders need to pay extra for this while their commission remains unchanged!
It's like: paying the boss in exchange for hard work

 

[silentg]

Firs time seeing this on a lead:

 

[Joe drake]

I have no intentions on using their "self-brokerage," but It seems to me the custom checkout link would be the most logical solution for those concerned about commissions.

Is it not an option?

Perhaps James @GoDaddy would like to chime in on this for clarification.

I have no intentions on using their "self-brokerage," but It seems to me the custom checkout link would be the most logical solution for those concerned about commissions.

Is it not an option?

Perhaps James @GoDaddy would like to chime in on this for clarification.

It’s clear GoDaddy is getting desperate. I just heard an interview with Andrew from DNWire and Alan from GoDaddy, where they claimed they have the best brokers in the world. But here's the reality: they only close one out of every 50 leads, while I’m closing one out of every three with Atom. Then they had the nerve to say their brokers use AI to respond to offers — that’s laughable.


Honestly, I think we’re nearing the end for GoDaddy Brokerage. Atom and DNWE are poised to take over and leave them in the dust. If GoDaddy is going to push self-brokerage and make DN Academy membership a requirement, they should lower their commission rates to 7.5% and provide more details about the buyers. Or better yet, make DN Academy free, but keep the commission rates unchanged.


It’s starting to feel like GoDaddy wants to have it both ways — they want the benefits of self-brokerage but still want to keep the high commission rates. I really believe this is going to be the final nail in their coffin. With unstoppable and Spaceship offering cheap transfer-ins, that trend is only going to spread. These transfer-ins are essentially future domain drop candidates, as registrars with better marketplaces are building systems that eat into GoDaddy’s main source of income.

 

[Joe drake]

It’s clear GoDaddy is getting desperate. I just heard an interview with Andrew from DNWire and Alan from GoDaddy, where they claimed they have the best brokers in the world. But here's the reality: they only close one out of every 50 leads, while I’m closing one out of every three with Atom. Then they had the nerve to say their brokers use AI to respond to offers — that’s laughable.


Honestly, I think we’re nearing the end for GoDaddy Brokerage. Atom and DNWE are poised to take over and leave them in the dust. If GoDaddy is going to push self-brokerage and make DN Academy membership a requirement, they should lower their commission rates to 7.5% and provide more details about the buyers. Or better yet, make DN Academy free, but keep the commission rates unchanged.


It’s starting to feel like GoDaddy wants to have it both ways — they want the benefits of self-brokerage but still want to keep the high commission rates. I really believe this is going to be the final nail in their coffin. With unstoppable and Spaceship offering cheap transfer-ins, that trend is only going to spread. These transfer-ins are essentially future domain drop candidates, as registrars with better marketplaces are building systems that eat into GoDaddy’s main source of income.

 

[King]

Echoing on the above posts about the brokers.

I set about half of my Afternic names to the price request lander as a test. After getting stalled leads, I attempted to mystery shop one of my domains. For this specific test, I used a 5-figure name.

March 19:

10:24
Request made.

11:10
Email from broker received.

13:39

The broker marked it as active engagement and in negotiations with the "buyer", but I ignored his email and call, so that is not true.

Days go by, and I expected a follow-up, maybe an are you still interested email at least. Nothing.

March 24:

The broker appears to give up after one attempt by unassigning himself and claiming, "Inquirer was not looking to purchase the domain name. They either indicated this immediately after filling out the form or after receiving an email/phone call." Again, not true at all. I was waiting for more push.

Hours later, I lower the price by 10K, and the broker is mysteriously showing up again with some of the activity statements gone. Now with an updated "The buyer has been or become unresponsive" You would assume he would reach out and say there is a price drop.


Leads tend not to buy after the first interaction, especially if there is price shock, and are best dealt with ASAP while the iron is still hot.

These are "the best in class brokers" the GoDaddy team boasts about.

 

[domainer8888]

These are "the best in class brokers" the GoDaddy team boasts about.

This was 100% my feeling, seeing how many leads end up stalled / confused. So I gave the self-brokerage I try with the entire portfolio / 5K names. I get 1,67 Leads / day via Request Price. Via self-brokerage it's been 5 days with a single offer.

Afternic self-brokerage is dead on arrival. As long as account creation is needed to submit an offer, there is zero value in this.

And if it would be true that this is done to increase the quality of the leads, I would expect that it get's rolled out to the Request Price landers as well. But it won't. Because it's not working.

 

[NameGroove]

This was 100% my feeling, seeing how many leads end up stalled / confused. So I gave the self-brokerage I try with the entire portfolio / 5K names. I get 1,67 Leads / day via Request Price. Via self-brokerage it's been 5 days with a single offer.

Afternic self-brokerage is dead on arrival. As long as account creation is needed to submit an offer, there is zero value in this.

And if it would be true that this is done to increase the quality of the leads, I would expect that it get's rolled out to the Request Price landers as well. But it won't. Because it's not working.

BIN
BIN
BIN
BIN
BIN
BIN

 

[D Haynes]

Did/do buyers need to create an account to make an offer if its not self brokered or is it only if the names are self brokered? I'm assuming it was always the case they needed to create an account previously?

 

[domainer8888]

BIN

BIN!

Did/do buyers need to create an account to make an offer if its not self brokered or is it only if the names are self brokered? I'm assuming it was always the case they needed to create an account previously?

No, there is a simple form on the request price landers. Name, email, phone, country.

 

[D Haynes]

Edited

 

[E. Silvera]

So they only have to create an account if you (the seller) have it set to self brokerage?!

That's mind boggling.

I have just tried to buy one of my domains that is set to AN nameservers with a custom lander. I chose the BIN, was sent to the cart, and when I proceeded to check out, the system prompted me to create an account at GoDaddy (I had purposedly started the process while logged out from my own account).

EDIT: I do NOT have self-brokerage.

 

[D Haynes]

I have just tried to buy one of my domains that is set to AN nameservers with a custom lander. I chose the BIN, was sent to the cart, and when I proceeded to check out, the system prompted me to create an account at GoDaddy (I had purposedly started the process while logged out from my own account).

EDIT: I do NOT have self-brokerage.

Thank you for clarification.

 

[E. Silvera]

Firs time seeing this on a lead:
Show attachment 272758

It happened to me recently. My experience with the new assignee was very positive. But I don't know why this re-assignment took place, probably work load distribution, imo.

 

[domainer8888]

EDIT: I do NOT have self-brokerage.

when you want to BUY IT NOW you need to make an account of course

 

[E. Silvera]

when you want to BUY IT NOW you need to make an account of course

You're right. I also tried with Make Offer, and the system prompted me to fill in with my personal info, including location which they detect automatically.

 

[D Haynes]

You're right. I also tried with Make Offer, and the system prompted me to fill in with my personal info, including location which they detect automatically.

But no need to sign for an account?

 

[E. Silvera]

But no need to sign for an account?

No, but a questionnaire about my motives/plans for the domain, have I ever bought a domain name before, etc.

 

[D Haynes]

@GoDaddy what's the reasoning for this? Make a potential buyer need to create an account to make an offer if the seller has opted in to self brokerage but remove that need if they haven't?

(Apologies if this has already been answered further up the thread)

 

[Kyle Tully]

@GoDaddy what's the reasoning for this? Make a potential buyer need to create an account to make an offer if the seller has opted in to self brokerage but remove that need if they haven't?

(Apologies if this has already been answered further up the thread)

Said reason: higher quality leads.

Actual reason: build Godaddy list and keep control of the customer without providing any useful info to the domain owner.