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]

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

 

[GoDaddy]

@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)

@D Haynes Requiring a login may add an extra step, but it helps ensure serious buyers, reduces fraud, and aligns with GoDaddy’s secure marketplace standards. While it may lower overall inquiries, it improves buyer quality, trust, and conversion rates in the long run.

 

[D Haynes]

@D Haynes Requiring a login may add an extra step, but it helps ensure serious buyers, reduces fraud, and aligns with GoDaddy’s secure marketplace standards. While it may lower overall inquiries, it improves buyer quality, trust, and conversion rates in the long run.

So why not do it for all enquiries and not just self brokered?

 

[GoDaddy]

So why not do it for all enquiries and not just self brokered?

@D Haynes
The key reason is balancing accessibility with control. For self-brokered listings, requiring a login ensures that sellers engage with serious buyers directly, helping streamline negotiations and reduce spam. However, for non-self-brokered listings, keeping the inquiry process open lowers friction and encourages more leads, allowing Afternic’s brokerage team to qualify and convert buyers on the seller’s behalf.

This approach gives sellers flexibility—those who want direct control get an extra layer of security, while others benefit from a more open, high-volume lead flow.

 

[Optinom]

@D Haynes
The key reason is balancing accessibility with control. For self-brokered listings, requiring a login ensures that sellers engage with serious buyers directly, helping streamline negotiations and reduce spam. However, for non-self-brokered listings, keeping the inquiry process open lowers friction and encourages more leads, allowing Afternic’s brokerage team to qualify and convert buyers on the seller’s behalf.

This approach gives sellers flexibility—those who want direct control get an extra layer of security, while others benefit from a more open, high-volume lead flow.

Sorry, but have to admit that I admire the way you defend the indefensible!

I don't think anyone including yourself believes in what you're saying. But that's ok.

 

[End Game]

@D Haynes
The key reason is balancing accessibility with control. For self-brokered listings, requiring a login ensures that sellers engage with serious buyers directly, helping streamline negotiations and reduce spam. However, for non-self-brokered listings, keeping the inquiry process open lowers friction and encourages more leads, allowing Afternic’s brokerage team to qualify and convert buyers on the seller’s behalf.

This approach gives sellers flexibility—those who want direct control get an extra layer of security, while others benefit from a more open, high-volume lead flow.

With selfbrokering can you use all three "buy now, LTO and make offer" option?

 

[End User King]

Afternic failed with their interpretation of SB. No need to request any features once appreciated on Dan, it will be met with a paywall.

 

[GoDaddy]

With selfbrokering can you use all three "buy now, LTO and make offer" option?

@End Game Yes, you can enable all three options on the custom lander. However, the Make Offer option is required for self-brokering. For more details, check out our blog post: https://blog.afternic.com/self-brokerage/

 

[End Game]

@End Game Yes, you can enable all three options on the custom lander. However, the Make Offer option is required for self-brokering. For more details, check out our blog post: https://blog.afternic.com/self-brokerage/

That's a no go for me then. I have all three on my custom lander, but would be a step backwards to just go with just make offer. I hope they make some needed changes on SB. Thanks

 

[GoDaddy]

That's a no go for me then. I have all three on my custom lander, but would be a step backwards to just go with just make offer. I hope they make some needed changes on SB. Thanks

@End Game I apologize for any confusion, as long as Make Offer is enabled, you can use self-brokering while also offering Buy Now and Lease to Own if you choose.

 

[End Game]

@End Game I apologize for any confusion, as long as Make Offer is enabled, you can use self-brokering while also offering Buy Now and Lease to Own if you choose.

OK good deal. Thanks

 

[silentg]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1904743447153754510

Someone recently posted a blog post about similar incident. Does anyone know the blog post?

 

[Jannes]

Someone recently posted a blog post about similar incident. Does anyone know the blog post?

this?

https://drawne.com/godaddy-afternic-scam/

 

[Joe drake]

this?

https://drawne.com/godaddy-afternic-scam/

"Never use fast transfer. I can't pinpoint the exact episode, but I remember Andrew Rosener from Sherpa discussing an instance where GoDaddy gave a domain away, and then they wouldn't even help retrieve it."

 

[NameGroove]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1904743447153754510

Someone recently posted a blog post about similar incident. Does anyone know the blog post?

Wow. This is insane. I read this too https://drawne.com/godaddy-afternic-scam/ - hard to figure out how to mitigate this stuff other than keeping all your names fs on Afternic (so no one else can list them w/o a txt verification). Even list your names that are not for sale as MO - just so no one else can list them

 

[Future Sensors]

@GoDaddy Restoring back the Phone no. on the Custom landers as well would be a Nice Initiative to Drive sales Quickly

I agree.

Atom.com landers prominently feature 24/7 live chat, phone, and email support. Their commitment to rapid response times, often within minutes, is a significant advantage for buyers and sellers. Afternic, unlike Atom.com, is trending towards the removal of easy, direct buyer contact options, a move that appears to be the opposite of current industry best practices.

 

[Jannes]

Wow. This is insane. I read this too https://drawne.com/godaddy-afternic-scam/ - hard to figure out how to mitigate this stuff other than keeping all your names fs on Afternic (so no one else can list them w/o a txt verification). Even list your names that are not for sale as MO - just so no one else can list them

Unlisted/hidden status is sufficient, fraudulent listing is not possible easy-peasy as long as the domain is in their database.

Mandatory listing to prevent theft (hey, more Afternic accounts), instead of mandatory verification for all listings, that's GD business ethics.

 

[NameGroove]

Unlisted/hidden status is sufficient, fraudulent listing is not possible easy-peasy as long as the domain is in their database.

Mandatory listing to prevent theft (hey, more Afternic accounts), instead of mandatory verification for all listings, that's GD business ethics.

So the "unlist" button on Afternic is still good enough to block others from listing?

 

[Jannes]

So the "unlist" button on Afternic is still good enough to block others from listing?

I believe so. 'Unlist' is something of a misnomer, because the unlisted domain is still listed at Afternic, it's just not visible to others (unlisted = not listed for sale).

 

[Jannes]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1904743447153754510

so it wasn't just "a domain", it was his rocketable dotcom

EDIT (a day later): He got it back.