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.

 

[Acroplex]

This thread's listing of live, ongoing, and otherwise unprocessed issues is astounding. One would expect GoDaddy of all domain registrars to check its QC processes, rolling out code when it's ready. The issue here is, per my understanding, pressure coming down from middle management to roll out products that are incomplete, just to appease the top management and the shareholders. This is a sad case of bad product management. As users of a product that collects fees, exuberant ones I may add, we are not expected to act as guinea pigs!

Some years back, I was on a small team of beta-testers for Uniregistry's products, communicating via a popular collaboration platform. When GoDaddy acquired Uni, the exchanges continued for a while, but then they were closed down. Now I know why.

 

[internext]

I will now add the most obvious, honest assessment ever posted online, anyplace, anywhere...

GoDaddy (et al) succeeds despite itself!

That's all
Captain Obvious

Dont agree? Prove me wrong...

 

[DomainRecap]

Are you able to elaborate on why you didn't take all of Dan's design, features and system (Dan.com) and call it Afternic?

Someone at GD would be butthurt that "Afternic would live on.. in name only".

It's all politics and optics.

 

[Future Sensors]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1839519119416467926

 

[bmugford]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1839519119416467926

This is the problem.

@GoDaddy is forcing people's hand by closing down the superior system (Dan.com) and forcing people into the inferior system (Afternic).

My guess is there will not be much of a "merger" and it will be just shutting Dan.com down and having to deal with the cluster**** that is Afternic.

It seems like the end game is lack of choice. However, there are many other lander options.
If you got inquiries via Dan.com, you will get offers via any other decent landers.

Everything is "coming soon" or they are "looking into" problems. It's an endless cycle where nothing ever improves but only gets worse.

Between this, "Boost", and many other changes @GoDaddy has burned through any goodwill that was left.

Brad

 

[Ach Touk]

Hey ! Thanks for giving us this chance to share feedback. Here are some thoughts:

1. I think it would be great if you acted as intermediaries between buyers and sellers for offers, like Dan.com used to do, so sellers are notified of all incoming offers.
2. To make selling easier, maybe consider partnerships with other registrars to avoid that 60-day waiting period for domain transfers.
3. A dedicated Q&A bank could help address common inquiries, and a team should handle questions directly.
4. Speeding up payments to sellers would be awesome—maybe classify sellers based on past transactions for trust levels.
5. Improving the verification process for domains during listing would streamline things; a refresh button for pending verifications would help.
6. Expanding your advertising strategies like other platforms would be beneficial for selling domains.
7. Introducing a broker feature where registered brokers can market domains for a commission set by the seller could be valuable.
8. And a special shoutout to the entire team for your hard work!

Looking forward to seeing these improvements!

 

[NorthernDomains]

Looking forward to seeing these improvements!

How much time do you have to spare?

 

[DomainRecap]

Looking forward to seeing these improvements!

I wish you luck, but this will of course depend on your current age, health and lifestyle choices.

 

[Ach Touk]

How much time do you have to spare?

Well, it definitely takes time and experience to get things right. But honestly, they should really take advantage of what Dan.com has left behind and also look at the opportunities that other platforms are creating. There's a lot to learn from them, and it could really help streamline things!

 

[NorthernDomains]

Well, it definitely takes time and experience to get things right. But honestly, they should really take advantage of what Dan.com has left behind and also look at the opportunities that other platforms are creating. There's a lot to learn from them, and it could really help streamline things!

How GoDaddy handles current affairs leaves us somewhat perplexed. If you've read through this thread, most of it is complaints.

The dismantling of dan.com and the added expense of the Boost option are causing many of us to question GoDaddy's real intentions.

At this point, I'm considering all my options.

 

[Jannes]

Well, it definitely takes time and experience to get things right. But honestly, they should really take advantage of what Dan.com has left behind and also look at the opportunities that other platforms are creating. There's a lot to learn from them, and it could really help streamline things!

First, they should care.

 

[Future Sensors]

The interesting (tragic?) thing is that Cindy’s suggestions for improving Afternic are all quite valid and reasonable.

If Afternic had implemented our numerous recommendations over the years, we would have an outstanding product today. In some dedicated threads, other marketplaces and registrars genuinely listen and innovate quickly. However, in GoDaddy and Afternic related threads, despite the valuable recommendations from domain investors, there’s a growing sense of disappointment, extreme frustration, and nostalgia for the times when it at least functioned properly.

 

[Optimal Names]

This is the problem.

@GoDaddy ... Everything is "coming soon" or they are "looking into" problems. It's an endless cycle where nothing ever improves but only gets worse. ...

Brad

Perpetual beta testing and we're the testers. After a while we get tired of working for free and being placated.

 

[mogo]

@GoDaddy @Afternic

My lead center has been frozen for weeks, no new leads are showing.
Other people mentioned having this problem as well.
I tried to contact Afternic support but when I try to fill the form in the help center and send it I get an error, and I tried to contact support via email but it's been two days now and I didn't hear back from them.

Can you please look into this matter
Thank you

 

[Recons.Com]

@GoDaddy @Afternic

My lead center has been frozen for weeks, no new leads are showing.
Other people mentioned having this problem as well.
I tried to contact Afternic support but when I try to fill the form in the help center and send it I get an error, and I tried to contact support via email but it's been two days now and I didn't hear back from them.

Can you please look into this matter
Thank you

I actually dread GD/AN looking into a problem. It is like asking a handyman to look into the engine of your BMW and figure out problems with electronics in the car along the way.

 

[Garet]

I actually dread GD/AN looking into a problem. It is like asking a handyman to look into the engine of your BMW and figure out problems with electronics in the car along the way.

We replaced the windshield wipers but your car no longer starts. Cars that start are not our target vehicles.

 

[Future Sensors]

Afternic would be best off not touching their own systems.

 

[Recons.Com]

Continuing the auto world analogy, GD buying DAN is similar as:

Chevrolet buying Tesla, keeping it for couple of years, bringing couple of features into its Equinox EV and shutting it down. It might have well happened if a) Chevrolet moved early enough to see the competition; b) Elon Musk would be looking for early rewards and exit like Dan Founder.

 

[internext]

The problem is all this complaining but not enough action. We all know GoDaddy and yet most of us are acting like we suddenly expect them to be a force for good for us.

If only we complain enough or give enough "feedback", they'll do right by us...

Mass complaining but no mass exodus. That's the only Voice of the Dominer that GD will ever listen to. If even that! Our SILENCE should DEAFEN them, but they are so arrogant, you just never know!!

 

[boziffous]

I had enough of the different issues that are currently plaguing Afternic and changed the nameservers on over 90% of my domains that were pointed at Afternic to Sedo yesterday.

Woke up to a name that was sold via Afternic Fast Transfer this morning, luckily I noticed that the domain had been placed on hold the day before and left the nameservers for that domain pointing to Afternic.