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.

 

[phaethon]

Didn't you already post this before?

GD posted something similar I think, not me. Whatever works. Me personally, I get direct sales without any agent involvement 90% of times, I don't care much, because if there is a serious buyer, he knows how to buy a domain and won't run way because some GD agent didn't reply right away. If you have good names priced correctly, buyers will find a way to buy them, it's not rocket science. Just be confident.

 

[Acroplex]

First the Boost fiasco, now the self-brokered but prepaid inquiries with the same fee for less work for GD brokers.
I did my taxes yesterday and it's evident how well-managed the Dan.com ship was.

I know this thread is about tech issues as opposed to policy and strategy issues at Afternic and that's why whatever good happens at GoDaddy is then beaten down by silly management decisions like this.

 

[DomainRecap]

GD posted something similar I think, not me. Whatever works. Me personally, I get direct sales without any agent involvement 90% of times, I don't care much, because if there is a serious buyer, he knows how to buy a domain and won't run way because some GD agent didn't reply right away. If you have good names priced correctly, buyers will find a way to buy them, it's not rocket science. Just be confident.

Obviously you have absolutely no clue what is going at Afternic, while I do, as multiple "interested buyers" have contacted me via WHOIS, trying to buy the domain because the broker is not responding or responding with weekly "are you still interested" canned responses from a drop-down selection.

And "buyers did find a way to buy them", just not at Afternic.

* I also should note that (in an admittedly small sample size) the Afternic broker response times have dropped and I recently did sell 2 domains there, but I'm not sure if they've gotten rid of the "dead wood" or if it's just random blip.

 

[Optinom]

Obviously you have absolutely no clue what is going at Afternic, while I do, as multiple "interested buyers" have contacted me via WHOIS, trying to buy the domain because the broker is not responding or responding with weekly "are you still interested" canned responses from a drop-down selection.

And "buyers did find a way to buy them", just not at Afternic.

You're going to remain an eunuch in Rome

 

[Acroplex]

Selling domains via landers is not rocket science. It requires a contact medium, such as an email, a contact form or a phone number to be displayed on a page that resolves. Ideally, all of the above. Want to automate all this? Use an API such as Escrow.com to build the checkout into that form.

Afternic used to be a marketplace, if you recall. People could actually search for domains. Now, it's all part of the overly bloated GoDaddy interface selling: Exotic TLDs, web hosting, SSL, email, and AI-assisted "all-in-one" memberships.

So now, Afternic isn't working for us domain investors, it seems to be just another tool for GoDaddy to make money from domain investors. Hell no, I am not paying another subscription so that I can sell my own domains! On top of which, GoDaddy collects data from the buyers that are now required to create GoDaddy accounts just to communicate directly with me! LOL Expect a huge drop from European buyers after this nonsense.

 

[DomainRecap]

Afternic used to be a marketplace, if you recall. People could actually search for domains. Now, it's all part of the overly bloated GoDaddy interface selling: Exotic TLDs, web hosting, SSL, email, and AI-assisted "all-in-one" memberships.

That pretty well sums it up - it's very possible the execs at GD doesn't even want to provide a market for us to list domains, but our free SEO domain traffic makes it far too lucrative to give up. New customers are worth a lot, and our type-in traffic is a significant new business generator.

I think we all understood this going in, but GD is just making it worse and worse as time goes by.

First we got a 10% jump in commission rates if we don't use GD nameservers. Then we got Boost, with a 5% commission increase, and sure, they just added self-brokerage (kind of) but at a price of $240/year and before a buyer makes an offer they need to sign up for a GD account.

How long until they invent a new paid membership just to list domains on Afternic? Or raise the commission rates again on domain listings using non-GD nameservers, as these are clearly useless to their overall plan.

 

[Future Sensors]

A chill wind whispers through the marketplace, carrying the scent of regret. A lament, stark and undeniable. And then, the grand pronouncement: Afternic's "Self-Brokerage," a gilded cage offered as liberation. But the gleam is false, the promise tainted. A hidden toll, a yearly ransom demanded for the illusion of control. Empowerment, it seems, is a phantom, a cruel jest played upon the hopeful. The air crackles with unspoken resentment, the silence heavy with disillusionment. A tragedy unfolds, not with a clash of swords, but with the quiet, insidious erosion of trust. Sadness, a venomous bloom, spreads its dark petals.

 

[NameGroove]

Selling domains via landers is not rocket science. It requires a contact medium, such as an email, a contact form or a phone number to be displayed on a page that resolves. Ideally, all of the above. Want to automate all this? Use an API such as Escrow.com to build the checkout into that form.

Afternic used to be a marketplace, if you recall. People could actually search for domains. Now, it's all part of the overly bloated GoDaddy interface selling: Exotic TLDs, web hosting, SSL, email, and AI-assisted "all-in-one" memberships.

So now, Afternic isn't working for us domain investors, it seems to be just another tool for GoDaddy to make money from domain investors. Hell no, I am not paying another subscription so that I can sell my own domains! On top of which, GoDaddy collects data from the buyers that are now required to create GoDaddy accounts just to communicate directly with me! LOL Expect a huge drop from European buyers after this nonsense.

I'm going to die on this hill.

BIN ONLY!!! I just can't understand why I must let someone start at $500 and try to get them up to $10,000. It's patently absurd. My BIN is my BIN. it's fairly priced. Buy it or move along.

 

[Jannes]

I'm going to die on this hill.

BIN ONLY!!! I just can't understand why I must let someone start at $500 and try to get them up to $10,000. It's patently absurd. My BIN is my BIN. it's fairly priced. Buy it or move along.

I've come to agree with this. Budget-restricted or sticker-shocked (etc) buyers can always contact via the registrar if they are motivated enough.

 

[Optinom]

I have BIN only landing pages for all names <$5000 on GoDaddy.

Others, I'm moving out to Atom landing pages. To have BIN+offer.

 

[NameGroove]

I've come to agree with this. Budget-restricted or sticker-shocked (etc) buyers can always contact via the registrar if they are motivated enough.

I do like how Aftermarket.com landers allow a "contact owner" button alongside BIN. That to me makes sense. "make offer" alongside BIN does not. At least contact owner is there for transfer questions and other legitimate reasons (although clearly a buyer could make an offer via it as well). I really wish more landers offered BIN + contact owner option.

 

[Jannes]

I do like how Aftermarket.com landers allow a "contact owner" button alongside BIN. That to me makes sense. "make offer" alongside BIN does not. At least contact owner is there for transfer questions and other legitimate reasons (although clearly a buyer could make an offer via it as well). I really wish more landers offered BIN + contact owner option.

DomainEasy also allows this. I'm definitely going to experiment with it, but I'm a bit afraid that if the contact owner option is too prominent and convenient, it in effect functions as a 'make offer', albeit without min bid (so maybe it's not that bad).

 

[NameGroove]

DomainEasy also allows this. I'm definitely going to experiment with it, but I'm a bit afraid that if the contact option is too prominent and convenient, it in effect functions as a 'make offer', albeit without min bid (so maybe it's not that bad).

Agreed, but to me, when you have "Buy" above it (see screenshot) it doesn't read as "make offer". And if someone contacts you they are grounded in your BIN price. And you can easily respond, "do you have any questions about buying via the links above"?

Of course, once in contact, perhaps the buyer will ask for a discount. You can engage if you'd like. But importantly, you've grounded them in your BIN price. MO doesn't ground and in fact makes your BIN a joke. Whatever min offer is shown is the grounding. I will never understand those who use BIN + MO (even Atom shows that is the worst combo) and although I'm unfamiliar with Domain Easy if it looks similar to the below - it functions how I'd want it to (although I prefer giving the buyer myriad purchase options - you never know where they want to buy and I don't want to limit them). Who the heck is domain easy and why would I want to buy with them (is my question if I were a seller). The sellers below are more well known. And I could add a GoDaddy button too but this screenshot is from a TLD not offered there.

 

[Acroplex]

Fun times:

 

[Acroplex]

Which is why one does not have to rely on 1099-K numbers when filing income tax. Always report your income accurately, because GD might not.

 

[GoDaddy]

@GoDaddy it would be great to get the answers to the lead form questions in the seller dashboard.

Info such as what the domain will be used for and whether they have bought a name before is important info!

Hi @Kyle Tully,
Absolutely. The first iteration includes location and timezone data, but as we continue to add to Self-Brokerage, we'll look at any added data that we're able to include. For example, from the post-inquiry survey.

Why am I receiving 'Price requested for [domain], please take a minute to reply to your broker with your asking price' emails before the system finds out (usually immediately) whether the "buyer" is confused or not. Incredibly stupid procedure.

(not that I care much after I've soon removed all my remaining Price request landers)

Hi @Jannes,
This was for an unpriced domain lead. In this scenario, we'll reach out to engage with the buyer while waiting for the seller to provide their price expectations.

Fun times:
Show attachment 272530

Thank you for sharing, Theo.

Anyone with questions about this email can reach out directly to Afternic's support through afternic.com/contact. For the quickest response, please select the live chat option.

 

[Garet]

Anyone with questions about this email can reach out directly to Afternic's support through afternic.com/contact. For the quickest response, please select the live chat option.

Somehow Afternic chat doesn't seem adequate or appropriate for questions about questionable accounting practices and issues.

 

[bmugford]

Fun times:
Show attachment 272530

Yeah, it's an issue.

That is especially true if it is a corporation or partnership, where the deadline was March 15th unless you filed an extension.

I realize this is for "information" only, but most CPA still want them.

Dumping them after filing taxes or with days left to file taxes is not ideal.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1902793147446596034

 

[Acroplex]

Yeah, it's an issue.

That is especially true if it is a corporation or partnership, where the deadline was March 15th unless you filed an extension.

I realize this is for "information" only, but most CPA still want them.

Dumping them after filing taxes or with days left to file taxes is not ideal.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1902793147446596034

It's definitely an inconvenience but mostly irrelevant, unless the updated 1099-K makes some erroneous inclusions of revenue. As a rule of thumb, report your income and attach expenses.

In the case of Afternic sales, this would mean the sales price minus commission fees, ACH/Wire fees, and acquisition & renewals cost. I print out every sale and create a spreadsheet with all such info.

I've a hunch they may have screwed up on the inclusion of LTO sales but we'll have to wait for the updated numbers. It's not a surprise the matching 1099-K from Undeveloped (RIP) got it right.

 

[Garet]

Yeah, it's an issue.

That is especially true if it is a corporation or partnership, where the deadline was March 15th unless you filed an extension.

I realize this is for "information" only, but most CPA still want them.

Dumping them after filing taxes or with days left to file taxes is not ideal.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1902793147446596034

The email I received included this example:

Example:
Sale Price: $10,000
Afternic commission: ($2,000)
Bank transaction fee: ($1)
Net payment: $7,999
Form 1099-K reportable amount: $10,000

This example suggests (actually states) that they are going to include and report commission as income to us as seller. The commission amount never has been or was paid to me. Maybe this is counterintuitive accounting magic that is done to inflate something favorably for GoDaddy but GoDaddy telling the IRS that they paid me $10,000 when, in fact, they only paid me $7,999 seems to be a problem and factually inaccurate.

I seriously welcome clarification and education on this. Maybe I can contact one of Afternic's tax accountants via chat.