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]

Right now, @DomainTools.com is being blocked by GoDaddy. Screenshots such as this demonstrate that Afternic-listed domains aren't accessible by DT. Makes one wonder what else is going on. Checked with several of my listings and also with domains using Saw.com nameservers (not blocked.)

 

[VivifyDomains]

Not sure what happened recently, but my Afternic views increased. Names that had 0 for a long time suddenly got some views. Interesting that. Anyone else see something similar?

Do you have boost on? Could be this, otherwise maybe just a coincidence.

I noticed after recently turning boost back on my fast transfer names appear much higher on the results now when searching without TLD.

Still not great but I don't have to scroll to see the exact match at least. When it was first introduced you would have to scroll down for ages to find the exact match .com

 

[NicTraders]

Hi @GoDaddy

This recent Atom posting illustrates the clear advantage of providing a wide range of contact options on the lander, and ensuring prompt responses.

Show attachment 272951

There are quite a few things GD could learn from that one Atom post. lol

 

[Future Sensors]

There are quite a few things GD could learn from that one Atom post. lol

Indeed, Atom.com is emerging as a significant reference point for the strategy of others. The pace of innovation at Atom.com is outpacing that of other market participants, including Afternic.

 

[NicTraders]

Indeed, Atom.com is emerging as a significant reference point for the strategy of others. The pace of innovation at Atom.com is outpacing that of other market participants, including Afternic.

I wonder, do you think of these things as innovative, or just standard good business practice that any decent customer-focused business would do as a pretty regular level of customer service?

Maybe I am too old-fashioned, and things I think should be normal are now innovative...

 

[Future Sensors]

just standard good business practice

This. It's a welcome, gentle redistribution of influence.

 

[GoDaddy]

Introducing a new domain sales closing experience at Afternic! Rebuilt from the ground up, our new Transaction Assurance (TA) system brings increased automation and improved processes, all within a new UI.

Read about this new update via the Afternic blog: https://blog.afternic.com/transaction-assurance/



What's new?
The redesigned transaction UI brings transparency and chatbot-style messaging, providing regular status updates so you always know what's happening.

Where possible, we've simplified processes and introduced automation to increase efficiency. This new automation aims to bring added speed to the transaction closing process at Afternic.

In-line messaging: Each transaction now includes a dedicated messaging system, letting you contact our TA team via the UI.

TLD and 60-day lock detection: Our new TA system brings detection of 60-day new registration locks, and TLDs that follow a different closing process.

Along with new system messaging are redesigned emails, bringing consistent communication via our UI, and your inbox.


What's next?
This new TA experience is not just a one-time upgrade; it's a continuous project. We are committed to ongoing innovation, continuously adding automation and refining our processes to deliver the best possible experience for our users.

 

[Janoss]

@GoDaddy

When will all Afternic landers be properly SEO optimized? Other marketplaces are well optimized when searching online for a keyword or domain but Afternic landers have almost zero search optimization. Some prospective buyers are being lost because there is no clear indication given to them that an Afternic lander domain is for sale.

 

[King]

Introducing a new domain sales closing experience at Afternic! Rebuilt from the ground up, our new Transaction Assurance (TA) system brings increased automation and improved processes, all within a new UI.

Read about this new update via the Afternic blog: https://blog.afternic.com/transaction-assurance/



What's new?
The redesigned transaction UI brings transparency and chatbot-style messaging, providing regular status updates so you always know what's happening.

Where possible, we've simplified processes and introduced automation to increase efficiency. This new automation aims to bring added speed to the transaction closing process at Afternic.

In-line messaging: Each transaction now includes a dedicated messaging system, letting you contact our TA team via the UI.

TLD and 60-day lock detection: Our new TA system brings detection of 60-day new registration locks, and TLDs that follow a different closing process.

Along with new system messaging are redesigned emails, bringing consistent communication via our UI, and your inbox.


What's next?
This new TA experience is not just a one-time upgrade; it's a continuous project. We are committed to ongoing innovation, continuously adding automation and refining our processes to deliver the best possible experience for our users.

60-Day Lock Detection: If the domain name you sell is under a 60-day new registration lock at your current registrar, our system adapts accordingly. We reach out to the buyer to set up a domain name push, if they’re happy to receive the domain name at its current registrar.

Does this mean the domain push feature from Dan is finally here?

 

[silentg]

Does this mean the domain push feature from Dan is finally here?

60-Day Lock Detection: If the domain name you sell is under a 60-day new registration lock at your current registrar, our system adapts accordingly. We reach out to the buyer to set up a domain name push, if they’re happy to receive the domain name at its current registrar.

@GoDaddy why not do what Dan did and accept push for all sales? accept push into your holding account and then ask buyer.

 

[Acroplex]

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.

Got the updated 1099-K and as I suspected, they glitched the LTO sales, failing to include them. Which is why you should always report all revenue via your own records and not rely on the numbers provided by the 1099-K.

After 100+ inquiries and 3 sales I am ready to move out of Afternic. None of these new features make any sense when the inbound inquiries aren't processed in the smooth, efficient manner that Dan.com functioned all the way until September last year.

 

[GoDaddy]

@GoDaddy

When will all Afternic landers be properly SEO optimized? Other marketplaces are well optimized when searching online for a keyword or domain but Afternic landers have almost zero search optimization. Some prospective buyers are being lost because there is no clear indication given to them that an Afternic lander domain is for sale.

Hi @Janoss,
Thanks for your feedback, we'll share this with the team to see whether this is something we can improve on.

@GoDaddy why not do what Dan did and accept push for all sales? accept push into your holding account and then ask buyer.

Hi @silentg,
At Afternic, buyers often purchase domains directly through a registrar, meaning they already have a relationship with that registrar. We can't guarantee that the buyer will want to receive the domain at a different registrar where they don't have that relationship.

However, with our new TA system, we can detect 60-day new registration locks and ask the buyer if they'd like to receive the domain at its current registrar. If the buyer agrees, an account push is prompted in those cases.

This is our preferred process, and we'll continue to introduce new automations to enhance support for domains with a 60-day new registration lock.

 

[NameGroove]

Hi @silentg,
At Afternic, buyers often purchase domains directly through a registrar, meaning they already have a relationship with that registrar. We can't guarantee that the buyer will want to receive the domain at a different registrar where they don't have that relationship.

However, with our new TA system, we can detect 60-day new registration locks and ask the buyer if they'd like to receive the domain at its current registrar. If the buyer agrees, an account push is prompted in those cases.

This is our preferred process, and we'll continue to introduce new automations to enhance support for domains with a 60-day new registration lock.

No one is suggesting to force the buyer to accept anywhere they don't want. I think what SilentG is asking for is for GD to hold the name in its "pushed" account and wait until the name can be transferred (assuming it's in 60 day lock) to the buyers preferred registrar. Then we could get the monies in the interim

 

[silentg]

No one is suggesting to force the buyer to accept anywhere they don't want. I think what SilentG is asking for is for GD to hold the name in its "pushed" account and wait until the name can be transferred (assuming it's in 60 day lock) to the buyers preferred registrar. Then we could get the monies in the interim

Yes that's what I was asking.

Is anyone experiencing a blank page issue on Afternic after logging in? The problem is random and doesn’t occur on a specific page. However, the site works when I refresh the page.

 

[pb]

buyers often purchase domains directly through a registrar, meaning they already have a relationship with that registrar

Excuse me, are you calling us domainers promiscuous?

 

[DomainThrive]

.

Hi @Janoss,
Thanks for your feedback, we'll share this with the team to see whether this is something we can improve on.


Hi @silentg,
At Afternic, buyers often purchase domains directly through a registrar, meaning they already have a relationship with that registrar. We can't guarantee that the buyer will want to receive the domain at a different registrar where they don't have that relationship.

However, with our new TA system, we can detect 60-day new registration locks and ask the buyer if they'd like to receive the domain at its current registrar. If the buyer agrees, an account push is prompted in those cases.

This is our preferred process, and we'll continue to introduce new automations to enhance support for domains with a 60-day new registration lock.

How is the suggestion to push to Godaddy account at other registrar worse than your current system? Its better.

If buyer doesnt want to receive at different registrar after it has been pushed to Godaddy account at the other registrar, just ask them to wait until the 60 days is up or refund them and push the domain back to our account at said registrar.

As a buyer and seller it would be a much better experience. And I think less sales would get cancelled which would benefit everyone as the buyer would be assured that Godaddy is holding the domain until the lock is over or refunding them.

 

[Jannes]

A price change reflects almost immediately on the lander, but it takes hours before the change propagates to GoDaddy search. Or could be days, I'm still waiting. Yes I know that syncing across the registrar partners cannot be instantaneous, but this is infuriatingly slow.

By the way, while we wait for ages, GoDaddy's "Get It" button leads to "This domain isn't available" (because of the pricing discrepancy I guess). So every time we change prices, we lose registrar sales for ?? hours. Ridiculous.

8 hours and counting.

edit: in this particular case ?? turned out to be 8.5 hours

 

[Blueleaf66]

@GoDaddy Hello, what's happening with not being able to add .ai names to cart? Domains do show up on search but are not "available". (This is my domain, so I know it's for sale lol).

 

[Yanosh]

@GoDaddy Hello, what's happening with not being able to add .ai names to cart? Domains do show up on search but are not "available". (This is my domain, so I know it's for sale lol).


Show attachment 273252

Just checked
Same for mine

 

[GoDaddy]

@GoDaddy Hello, what's happening with not being able to add .ai names to cart? Domains do show up on search but are not "available". (This is my domain, so I know it's for sale lol).


Show attachment 273252

Hi @Blueleaf66,
Our team's currently investigating.