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.

 

[VadimK]

who brave enuf to explain alcy why my lto says payout date july 28 when there is no payout on 28..or 29.. or 30... or any email about payout

doesnt payout date x mean that somebody there is getting paid to make sure client receives payout on date x????

in short.. why say payout date 28 if there is no payout on 28

with dan it was ontime

With GD your payout can be easily on Feb 30....

 

[Future Sensors]

I once understood that GoDaddy would only show the appraisal next to the BIN price if it was higher than the BIN price. In those cases, it can certainly be useful. But indeed, not if it's the other way around (or with MO).

 

[Acroplex]

Our goal in the aftermarket is to help domain investors sell more domains.

If you have a BIN priced domain that is not showing correctly on GoDaddy Search, then that is an issue and not something intentional.

For those who have worked with the community team before, you know we take issues seriously and act on them. The only way we can do that is if you share the exact details when you see a problem so we can investigate and fix it for everyone.

If others have noticed similar behavior, please DM us with examples so we can get to the bottom of it quickly.

Oh, so now it's personal?

Well then, allow me to refresh your GoDaddy Airo memory.

I'm not the only one with issues at Afternic and we've been detailing ALL the issues in this thread, and off NamePros for YEARS.

The problem is that GoDaddy doesn't really give a rat's ass about what domain investors face and expect us to a) put up with it and b) accept what you say as right all while we're supposedly hallucinating.

Sorry, I won't do any more free trouble-shooting for you, or use kind words to comment on your failure to provide or sustain an environment for domain investors that makes sense.

Do tell, what's the purpose of the "Estimated Value" sticker on a seller-listed domain that has a) a BIN b) an offer field? Why in god's name do you fuck with common sense, every damn time?

I understand you're just a GoDaddy minion so send my notes to whoever pushes the buttons at middle management. Maybe we'll get some answers that aren't vibe coded.

 

[silentg]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1953104967188828597

 

[Timkh]

Oh, so now it's personal?

Well then, allow me to refresh your GoDaddy Airo memory.

I'm not the only one with issues at Afternic and we've been detailing ALL the issues in this thread, and off NamePros for YEARS.

The problem is that GoDaddy doesn't really give a rat's ass about what domain investors face and expect us to a) put up with it and b) accept what you say as right all while we're supposedly hallucinating.

Sorry, I won't do any more free trouble-shooting for you, or use kind words to comment on your failure to provide or sustain an environment for domain investors that makes sense.

Do tell, what's the purpose of the "Estimated Value" sticker on a seller-listed domain that has a) a BIN b) an offer field? Why in god's name do you fuck with common sense, every damn time?

I understand you're just a GoDaddy minion so send my notes to whoever pushes the buttons at middle management. Maybe we'll get some answers that aren't vibe coded.

Thanks for bringing this up. I've writen about this several times, and never received a response. And no on the forum supported me...

Their "estimated value" is only part of the problem. Because when buyers click "make offer", in the next window they see so called "comparable sales". These are not a comparable sales. These are investor purchases at expiring auctions for $xxx and low $xxxx.

In my case, it's just absurd. They show to the buyer the same domain, at the price I paid at the expiring auctions... Look at the screenshots.

 

[Timkh]

Just to clarify, these screenshots were taken about a year ago. I no longer use Afternic, all my domains there are "unlisted". Especially now that buyers can make an offers through Namecheap reg path (for the domains listed via Spaceship).

Overall I don't care anymore, but if they fix all this, I'll definitely come back.

 

[GoDaddy]

Oh, so now it's personal?

Well then, allow me to refresh your GoDaddy Airo memory.

I'm not the only one with issues at Afternic and we've been detailing ALL the issues in this thread, and off NamePros for YEARS.

The problem is that GoDaddy doesn't really give a rat's ass about what domain investors face and expect us to a) put up with it and b) accept what you say as right all while we're supposedly hallucinating.

Sorry, I won't do any more free trouble-shooting for you, or use kind words to comment on your failure to provide or sustain an environment for domain investors that makes sense.

Do tell, what's the purpose of the "Estimated Value" sticker on a seller-listed domain that has a) a BIN b) an offer field? Why in god's name do you fuck with common sense, every damn time?

I understand you're just a GoDaddy minion so send my notes to whoever pushes the buttons at middle management. Maybe we'll get some answers that aren't vibe coded.

Here’s what we can share with the forum:

• If a domain name has a BIN (Buy It Now) price, that’s the price shown.
• If there’s no BIN price, GoDaddy displays “Make Offer.”
• An estimated value is shown if the BIN or Minimum Offer value is lower than the estimated value. If either of these values is above the estimated value, it isn't displayed.

If anyone is seeing something different, please share the domain, and we will immediately investigate. Our DMs are open, so feel free to send it privately. Our goals are absolutely aligned here.

Thanks for bringing this up. I've writen about this several times, and never received a response. And no on the forum supported me...

Their "estimated value" is only part of the problem. Because when buyers click "make offer", in the next window they see so called "comparable sales". These are not a comparable sales. These are investor purchases at expiring auctions for $xxx and low $xxxx.

In my case, it's just absurd. They show to the buyer the same domain, at the price I paid at the expiring auctions... Look at the screenshots.


Show attachment 280561Show attachment 280562

Thanks, @Timkh. Agreed - we will be looking at the Make Offer flow for Afternic domain names shortly, and this should answer this feedback!

 

[Timkh]

Hi @GoDaddy, thanks for your reply, I appreciate it.

All this "estimated values" and "comparable sales" only hurts domain sales, especially when it come to high-value domains. Just en axample:
Cognitive Automation com sold for $300k - GD appraisal $6723
Applied Computing com sold for $75k - GD appraisal is around $5k
Agentic AI com sold for $120k - GD appraisal is around $1200

These sales might not have happened if buyers had seen the "estimated value". And the same applies to "comparable sales".

 

[Acroplex]

Here’s what we can share with the forum:

• If a domain name has a BIN (Buy It Now) price, that’s the price shown.
• If there’s no BIN price, GoDaddy displays “Make Offer.”
• An estimated value is shown if the BIN or Minimum Offer value is lower than the estimated value. If either of these values is above the estimated value, it isn't displayed.

If anyone is seeing something different, please share the domain, and we will immediately investigate. Our DMs are open, so feel free to send it privately. Our goals are absolutely aligned here.


Thanks, @Timkh. Agreed - we will be looking at the Make Offer flow for Afternic domain names shortly, and this should answer this feedback!

I already posted proof that a domain with BIN & Make Offer, both of which are higher than your estimated value, displays the make offer only in reg path searches plus the estimated value. So double whammy for the seller.

As I said, I will no longer help you troubleshoot your own failures to fix the logic. Use ...GoDaddy Airo.

Next glitch:

Even after deleting a domain from one's account, your system sends automated follow-up emails to long dead inquiries. This is akin to division by zero.

 

[Acroplex]

Just to clarify, these screenshots were taken about a year ago. I no longer use Afternic, all my domains there are "unlisted". Especially now that buyers can make an offers through Namecheap reg path (for the domains listed via Spaceship).

Overall I don't care anymore, but if they fix all this, I'll definitely come back.

Yes, this glitch has been lurking for a while now but frankly speaking, there are so many bugs that unless one is on the GD payroll there is no point sharing & troubleshooting.

In the end, however, one gives up having to put up with constant issues and getting dismissed. Walking away from the GD ecosystem is a great choice.

 

[NameGroove]

deleted

 

[NameGroove]

Hi @GoDaddy, thanks for your reply, I appreciate it.

All this "estimated values" and "comparable sales" only hurts domain sales, especially when it come to high-value domains. Just en axample:
Cognitive Automation com sold for $300k - GD appraisal $6723
Applied Computing com sold for $75k - GD appraisal is around $5k
Agentic AI com sold for $120k - GD appraisal is around $1200

These sales might not have happened if buyers had seen the "estimated value". And the same applies to "comparable sales".

But they're not showing estimated values when they're appraisal is lower. Obv there is still the fact that their appraisals are so far off reality they should just remove them altogether. But at least the very low prices aren't shown alongside BINs

 

[Timkh]

But they're not showing estimated values when they're appraisal is lower. Obv there is still the fact that their appraisals are so far off reality they should just remove them altogether. But at least the very low prices aren't shown alongside BINs

Yes, that's true. But many domainers don't know this and set their min. offers at $1,000.
I keep track of my domains in Excel (like many others), and previously I had a separate column just for the GD appraisals. I used it to make sure my min. offers were higher that these numbers.
That's how far they pushed me

 

[NameGroove]

Yes, that's true. But many domainers don't know this and set their min. offers at $1,000.
I keep track of my domains in Excel (like many others), and previously I had a separate column just for the GD appraisals. I used it to make sure my min. offers were higher that these numbers.
That's how far they pushed me

I misunderstood that for MO, the issue remains. Now I understand properly.

We have to set the min offer amount also higher than their appraisal. A lot of extra work, but OK.

@GoDaddy many of us don't set MO high (we could, it's just a lot of extra work).

I have a $20 min for a .ai (which is the default you set). Your system appraises my .ai at $160 (absurd). And there it is right next to my min. I didn't realize I had to move my MO min higher than all your appraisals.

You should make this very clear somehow to your customers. That the Min Offer needs to be set higher than the GD appraisals or this will happen to everyone. How would we know you would do this? Further, outside of com, your appraisals are very poor. Your system doesn't appraise .ai properly, so this strategy of showing appraisals shouldn't be implemented outside of com.

Once I changed my min to above $160, the appraisal disappeared

 

[NameGroove]

this one's for you @Acroplex

I didn't follow what you were saying. I know you're upset, but when I see cursing and such I just move along and don't read. That's on me - but consider that others may be like me. It's not just GD you need to hear you. Others understanding the issue gets more voices to affect change. And some of those voices (like me) may need to hear polite gripes. Just my two cents. Either way, enjoy the tweet.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1953217041025892632

 

[Timkh]

I misunderstood that for MO, the issue remains. Now I understand properly.

We have to set the min offer amount also higher than their appraisal. A lot of extra work, but OK.

@GoDaddy many of us don't set MO high (we could, it's just a lot of extra work).

I have a $20 min for a .ai (which is the default you set). Your system appraises my .ai at $160 (absurd). And there it is right next to my min. I didn't realize I had to move my MO min higher than all your appraisals.

You should make this very clear somehow to your customers. That the Min Offer needs to be set higher than the GD appraisals or this will happen to everyone. How would we know you would do this? Further, outside of com, your appraisals are very poor. Your system doesn't appraise .ai properly, so this strategy of showing appraisals shouldn't be implemented outside of com.


Show attachment 280570

Once I changed my min to above $160, the appraisal disappeared

Show attachment 280571

Also, take a look at the " Why it's great" section - the part I marked in red.
So, if you set your minimum offer at $2.5k-$3k, that section dissapears too.
I just remembered, I even had a separate column in my Excel sheet for that too.
And if the numbers shown in the “Why it’s great” section were too low, I set my minimum offers higher than these numbers.

 

[Acroplex]

this one's for you @Acroplex

I didn't follow what you were saying. I know you're upset, but when I see cursing and such I just move along and don't read. That's on me - but consider that others may be like me. It's not just GD you need to hear you. Others understanding the issue gets more voices to affect change. And some of those voices (like me) may need to hear polite gripes. Just my two cents. Either way, enjoy the tweet.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1953217041025892632

You haven't seen me upset. I am not sweating it LOL.

Already saw what GD said here which I disputed above. Don't trust what they say because it's some fuzzy logic that defies common sense, all the time.

Think of all the effort it takes to come across issues, analyze and identify WTF is going on, only to hear back from GD that they are testing this or testing that. Too much work and zero trust left.

Let's not forget that they pulled a fast one on Google de-indexing as well.

 

[NameGroove]

Also, take a look at the " Why it's great" section - the part I marked in red.
So, if you set your minimum offer at $2.5k-$3k, that section dissapears too.
I just remembered, I even had a separate column in my Excel sheet for that too.
And if the numbers shown in the “Why it’s great” section were too low, I set my minimum offers higher than these numbers.

Show attachment 280572

Great catch! Another good to know. Jeez. It's a full time job to make it all go away. I hope the GD higher ups remove this stuff for all MO and if not, at least for all non com MO.

Is there a way to "default" set Min offer for MO to $3k (for example)?

 

[Acroplex]

Regardless of the byzantine era algo that may or may not lead to the "estimated value" being displayed, such a field has NO PLACE on a landing page for domains listed by GD/Afternic customers. There is absolutely no justification, even if it (supposedly) shows up only when the algo determines the MO is less that what it should be. It's a psychological response to buy at BIN price—upping your offer based on some artificial threshold is not. People either pull the trigger or don't, but once you instill the belief that there is a secret "value" based on some arbitrarily calculated parameters they hover away from the BIN button.

 

[Optimal Names]

....I had a separate column just for the GD appraisals. I used it to make sure my min. offers were higher that these numbers.

Where can we get appraisals for all of our domains (>350 in my case) so we can avoid this?