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.

 

[Jeff_Libert]

While the risks "aren't unique to Afternic" the protections can be unique, such as crafting terms that provide protections for the risks that J. Berryhill articulated.

We can't (to my knowledge) buy insurance to protect ourselves from the risks of damage to or loss of our domains, due to buyer/lessor behavior, but we can mitigate against or minimize the identifiable risks attributable to misbehavior, selfish behavior, or foolish behavior by domain lessors.

Identify / specify unacceptable behaviors and give the domain registrant the right to repoint the DNS or terminate the lease and retain lease payments. IF there's a dispute then provide for 1 or 3 person expedited and binding private arbitration (with a list of known domain lawyers), with the loser to cover the costs. (1 lawyer for <$10K leases?)

This is just "off the cuff" but thought needs to be given to protecting both sides and providing for effective, low cost, "final" dispute resolution. YMMV. Like I said, it's preliminary thinking.

I can see that the Dan.com agreement provides a number of domain registrant/lessor protective terms. However, as far as "remedies" go, 1) IF there is a dispute the lessors/lessees must rely on the US courts. Probably not the best approach due to time delays, expense, etc. (See arbitration proposal, above); 2) also, as to "remedies", IF the lessee ~acts badly I see this -> "Buyer agrees to protect, defend, indemnity and hold harmless Dan.com and its officers, directors, employees, agents and third party service providers" but I fail to see the same "protections" provided to the domainer-lessor. Again, YMMV, I'm not doing a deep dive right now.

 

[GoDaddy]

Not really expecting a response from this PR thread.....but worth noting

Why has Afternic started making you have to disable Ad Blocker's to access the site?.......

I only use it for make offer, but it's getting close, if not to the point of me delisting my domains - you keep piling on restriction after restriction to use your Brand and it really is getting to the point where it's not worth it.......

Someone wants a domain I own that badly...they will find me......without your boa constrictor, monopolistic strangle hold......

Hi @NickB, we haven't made any changes in terms of site access. Can you DM us information on what you're seeing? We've tested several ad blockers through different devices and we can't replicate what you're describing.

@GoDaddy

If we use the ns1/ns2.dan.com or ns3/ns4.afternic.com is the LTO option still going to appear on the GoDaddy site when someone searches the domain? or we must use the ns1/ns2.afternic.com for that?

Great question. As long as you have enabled Lease to Own for your domain name through your Afternic portfolio page, a Lease to Own option will be displayed to searchers at GoDaddy. Of course, you can also use the Dan.com custom lander at Afternic to display a Lease to Own option to your domain's visitors.

When is this going to start?

@GoDaddy @James Iles

My "transfer complete" Afternic sale has been in that status for around a week now.

It still appears to be in GoDaddy's holding account, with no payout scheduled.

Brad

Hi @bmugford, eligible domain name sales closed on or after July 18, 2023, will follow the expedited payout process. If you have pending payouts from sales before this date, Afternic customer service can provide you with an update. We'll also DM you now.

 

[bmugford]

Hi @bmugford, eligible domain name sales closed on or after July 18, 2023, will follow the expedited payout process. If you have pending payouts from sales before this date, Afternic customer service can provide you with an update. We'll also DM you now.

I received payment yesterday for the sale that happened on July 21st. Payment was made on July 26th.

However, the other sale from July 13th has no activity. It has been listed as "transfer complete" since then.

It still shows "Not Scheduled Payout Date".

I contacted multiple people at Afternic.

Today I was told there was an issue with the payment processor, but the issue has been resolved.

Is that the case?

I know some others are in the same boat, waiting on payment for an even longer period of time.

Also, I did not receive a DM.

Brad

 

[davidc1]

No afternic lto sale for the moment, any of you have some ?

 

[Constantin S]

No afternic lto sale for the moment, any of you have some ?

Do you know if the LTO option was integrated on GoDaddy? because when I search my domain there I still see no LTO option.

 

[davidc1]

Do you know if the LTO option was integrated on GoDaddy? because when I search my domain there I still see no LTO option.

Normally yes, on a portion of traffic, i dont see any myself too

 

[Rhinnnn]

This is a new login error for me:

Though not new for other GoDaddy users:

https://www.namepros.com/threads/godaddy-error-your-browser-is-a-bit-unusual.1257397/

https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/121546602?hl=en&msgid=187602130


I thought I finally got rid of the "We're sorry, but this phone number cannot be used" error so I changed browsers. Alas, that error is still there so I still can't log in at all *sighs in Spanish*

 

[Future Sensors]

@GoDaddy
@James Iles

For a recent Fast Transfer transaction, I received an email from Afternic Transaction Assurance on July 20 that (Paypal) payment would take place within 1 to 3 business days. It is now the 5th business day. What is causing this delay?

If Afternic is aware that their payment system is currently not functioning properly, please do not send these kinds of emails that create expectations. This is already the third transaction in a short time where payment is taking too long.

The domain was sold on July 20.


Also, the information in the email does not match the information in the Dashboard, as is shown below:

---

The Email received from Afternic TA on July 20 says:

---

The info shown today July 27 in Afternic Dashboard for this transaction:

 

[bmugford]

I received payment yesterday for the sale that happened on July 21st. Payment was made on July 26th.

However, the other sale from July 13th has no activity. It has been listed as "transfer complete" since then.

It still shows "Not Scheduled Payout Date".

I contacted multiple people at Afternic.

Today I was told there was an issue with the payment processor, but the issue has been resolved.

Is that the case?

I know some others are in the same boat, waiting on payment for an even longer period of time.

Also, I did not receive a DM.

Brad

Update. @GoDaddy did DM me.

After that, I heard back from Afternic TA -

"We wanted to reach out to let you know that we experienced some technical issues with the new early payout process that our technical team has been working through. Your payment is submitted and should be released shortly. Please allow 1-5 business days to receive the funds!"

I am not sure what that means, as the transaction predates the changes.

Regardless, when I checked in the Afternic control panel it now shows a July 30th payout date.

Brad

 

[kor]

we experienced some technical issues

They should try to find another lie. This one is so stale.

 

[Rhinnnn]

They should try to find another lie. This one is so stale.

I don't think it's a lie.

Somehow, GoDaddy manages to be the only* domain registrar that constantly encounters technical issues in... everything?


* I mean, there's also NetSol, but they don't count

 

[Future Sensors]

@GoDaddy Please guide me. Where can I find the invoice references (ANTDxxxxxxx) you're using in email / payment descriptions? I cannot find these ANTD references anywhere in the Dashboard, and it's sometimes unclear for which domain a payment was made.

 

[kor]

I don't think it's a lie.

If this isn't a stalling tactic and it's real, the situation is even worse for a billion-dollar company.

 

[bmugford]

I just saw this post by Elliot Silver.

Dan.com Holding Up LTO Payouts -

https://domaininvesting.com/dan-com-holding-up-lto-payouts/

On July 13th, Afternic announced it would begin allowing sellers to implement a Lease to Own (LTO) offer for domain names. This meant buyers shopping for domain names on GoDaddy or GoDaddy’s network would be able to purchase a domain name using monthly installments. This was an expected update following GoDaddy’s acquisition of Dan.com, a platform that pioneered the automated domain name LTO sales.

In conjunction with the Afternic news shared on the 13th, Dan.com also shared some platform and product updates. Update #9 is one I completely overlooked but could have some negative consequences to some sellers who rely on monthly LTO payments to fund business activities. This update covers payments, and apparently, payout timing.

This change is going to impact when sellers will be paid.

This morning, I received notification that a $500+ payment was received by Dan.com on a Lease to Own deal that began one month ago. I was encouraged to see a second payment made by the buyer since this is sometimes a fall-off point. Today is July 28th. In the payout notification in my Dan.com dashboard, it says the payment will be sent to me on August 7th. Prior to this change, the payout would have been “released within 1 business day.”

I find this change unacceptable. There is no good reason, in my opinion, for why Dan.com / GoDaddy should keep funds that I am owed for an extra week. GoDaddy and Afternic have been working on faster payouts on sales made via Afternic. To me, it does not make sense that Dan.com is going to hold funds longer on LTO payouts.

Fortunately not being paid $500+ for an extra week is not going to impact my business. However, I bet there are many people whose businesses would be impacted by the holding of funds.

 

[Constantin S]

Does anyone know if the LTO option was integrated on GoDaddy or when aproximately will get integrated? when I search my domain there I still see no LTO option.

 

[Jannes]

Does anyone know if the LTO option was integrated on GoDaddy or when aproximately will get integrated? when I search my domain there I still see no LTO option.

"The team has also begun rolling out the first iteration of Lease to Own onto GoDaddy’s search traffic. With millions of people visiting GoDaddy, and many of them using GoDaddy search, successfully deploying the Lease to Own option for all of GoDaddy’s search traffic will take time, with an expected completion date by September. To begin with, a percentage of search traffic will be presented with Lease to Own options. This will be increased until it hits 100% by September."

https://blog.afternic.com/godaddy-search-preview/

 

[Maged Khatab]

I am facing the following issues since yesterday.

- All updated prices aren't reflected on Afternic "Buy Now" landing pages, they're still showing old prices even though the prices are updated on my Afternic account.

- Another issue is that all new listings since yesterday are not showing prices at all on Afternic "Buy Now" landing pages.

Please fix these issues ASAP. Thank you!

 

[Embrand]

I did a simple bulk price update, and now all the names have been "Pending Review" for days. That is not the best way to generate sales...

 

[Rhinnnn]

This is a new login error for me:

Show attachment 243594

Though not new for other GoDaddy users:

https://www.namepros.com/threads/godaddy-error-your-browser-is-a-bit-unusual.1257397/

https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/121546602?hl=en&msgid=187602130


I thought I finally got rid of the "We're sorry, but this phone number cannot be used" error so I changed browsers. Alas, that error is still there so I still can't log in at all *sighs in Spanish*

It's now been 17 days since GoDaddy's top-notch SSO system last allowed me to access my Afternic account.

Can't add domains. Can't edit prices. Can't provide auth code in the eventuality of a non-FT sale.

Thanks, GoDaddy.

 

[Mister Funsky]

It's now been 17 days since GoDaddy's top-notch SSO system last allowed me to access my Afternic account.

Can't add domains. Can't edit prices. Can't provide auth code in the eventuality of a non-FT sale.

Thanks, GoDaddy.

I've not had a successful log in either...gave up trying two days ago.