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.

 

[Future Sensors]

Here's how it works: once Afternic detects that nameservers are pointed to them, they begin provisioning a TLS certificate for your domain. This can also be triggered (expedited) by visiting your domain directly via https://example.com/

Plenty of web crawlers hit the base domain over HTTPS too, so the process often starts automatically.
Provisioning is usually quick. Every domain with an active lander gets a TLS certificate; it's a large‑scale deployment.

 

[SpareDomains]

Afternic landers don't load if you have Verizon wireless, the largest mobile carrier in the US.

Is this true?

I haven't seen this personally. Will say though out of NamePros, Atom, Efty, Sedo and Afternic my domains on NamePros and Atom seem to always load the fastest. NamePros is like lightning with Atom not too far off.

 

[Andrut]

A lot of my domains are showing the error ERR_SSL_UNRECOGNIZED_NAME_ALERT for at least 3 days. Central Europe.

 

[Future Sensors]

@GoDaddy I've been able to confirm the TLS errors from several members. Please escalate, and urgently fix!

 

[DN_Hunter]

@Afternic @GoDaddy

C'mon guys -- I've already brought this up before. WHY send emails on domain names that are no longer in my account??? This domain name sold in 2024 - August. Looks like 1 year to the day you have an automation to send a follow-up to the buyer. This domain name sold over a year ago. I already told you about this happening last December. Please stop doing this.

 

[Timkh]

A week ago, I moved part of my portfolio back to Afternic, around 200 domains, and changed the nameservers to Afternic. But in the end, most of the landers never started working. So 2 days ago I switched them back to Spaceship.

 

[ultradog]

@GoDaddy I've been able to confirm the TLS errors from several members. Please escalate, and urgently fix!

Yes, my coworker has been noticing they have a server or certificate issue. I have a number of domains to update landers on -- from ns3/ns4 and ns5/ns6 -- and the ones I've changed to ns1/2 still do not resolve.

 

[Future Sensors]

Yes, my coworker has been suspecting they have a server or certificate issue. I have a number of domains to update landers on -- from ns3/ns4 and ns5/ns6 -- and the ones I've changed to ns1/2 still do not resolve.

All six Afternic nameservers respond with the same A records and IP addresses, so that couldn't be the issue.

But if you're experiencing SSL (TLS) issues when visiting the domain DIRECTLY on the https://example.com/ domain, that's what this is about. DNS is okay, webserver is responding, but HTTPS is not working on the base domain, and you will get a browser warning. The https-domain will not redirect further to godaddy.com, either.

 

[campout]

I haven't seen this personally.

Do you have Verizon?

Anyone who has Verizon can test it:

1. turn off wifi on your phone
2. open your phone browser
3. type in a domain that you know has an Afternic lander

For me and everyone else I know who has Verizon, it's just giving a blank white page.

 

[Future Sensors]

Do you have Verizon?

Anyone who has Verizon can test it:

1. turn off wifi on your phone
2. open your phone browser
3. type in a domain that you know has an Afternic lander

For me and everyone else I know who has Verizon, it's just giving a blank white page.

It could be that their CDN operates across multiple regions, and the TLS certificates aren’t being propagated correctly in all of them. When you switch from Wi‑Fi (on your landline) to mobile, you’re suddenly routed through a completely different infrastructure. I’ll leave the explanation there, but I have a feeling this might be what’s happening.

Afternic needs to dig into the actual root cause here, vacation or not. Just typing the domain into a search bar isn’t debugging. Surprise us with a real fix. In the meantime, I’ve pulled all my landers from Afternic. I didn’t have many… now I have none.

 

[Future Sensors]

Tagging @GoDaddy just to be sure, lol.

ps, there's a backlog of unanswered issues and questions in this thread.

 

[SpareDomains]

Do you have Verizon?

Anyone who has Verizon can test it:

1. turn off wifi on your phone
2. open your phone browser
3. type in a domain that you know has an Afternic lander

For me and everyone else I know who has Verizon, it's just giving a blank white page.

Yeah works fine for me. I have 3 cell phones. (2) are ATT, (1) is Verizon and the Verizon phone has an app based 800 Number through FreedomVoice on it as well. So 3 phones, 4 numbers. Chicago based here.

 

[Dane]

Can someone help explain this to me?

If we've got Afternic landing pages that don't resolve and only show a blank page -- and the problem is on Afternic's side -- we have no choice but to switch the DNS on those domains to a non-Afternic DNS.

Now, if one of these domains sell via Afternic's network, we will get penalized for not using Afternic's DNS and will be charged extra commission for the sale. Can someone please explain how this is fair to us?

@GoDaddy ??


Note: This has nothing to do with Verizon, this is due to an Afternic issue.

 

[Future Sensors]

Note: This has nothing to do with Verizon, this is due to an Afternic issue.

Agree.

 

[domainer8888]

Is anyone else encountering issues with Afternic 2FA via phone number? It randomly tells me that the number was used too often, then I select the backup number, and it just gets stuck in verifying the code.

This has been fixed now. Thanks!

 

[ultradog]

To anyone else seeing the "This site can't be reached" blank page on any of your Afternic landing pages, could you please send a DM to @GoDaddy with a list of names it's happening to? They're trying to find a common denominator to troubleshoot this issue.

Yes, I happen to have 2 networks, comcast and verizon. On verizon, my preferred internet, the landers do not resolve -- unless I use Opera and a VPN.
On comcast/xfinity, I can see the landers.

 

[dr manos]

Hello all,

As last year AN is my main sales venue (mostly due to exposure and easy accounting with payout transmitals) so i decided to spend some time to check the exposure this network offers and what we can optimise. Exposure i think is a critical part for a name to sell.

So did some tests, exposure varies according to some parameters, tld of course is number 1, partner behaviour and even some small details like if has premium price to reg or to renew.

I am not big .com investor actually, i focuss on other tlds but firstly checked what happens with .com via several partners. Also checked what is the priority betweeen AN and sedo (if there is bin at both which i do not recommend), markup, speed of price changing etc.

Partner network is here: https://help.afternic.com/s/article/Afternic-Partners

Below i am writing my findings for .com, i picked myself what partners to check that i feel offer good exposure with search there, if you will find it interesting i will write for others tlds, gtlds, cctlds etv.

Godaddy : .com at search appears of course with BIN price of afternic for obvious reason. Markup 0%, price change very fast.

Namecheap: com appears the cheaper BIN price between Afternic and sedo if listed at both and is not the same. Markup is 0%, price change from minutes to hours.

Dynadot: Here at search appears the cheaper BIN price between Afternic and sedo if listed at both and is not the same. If only afternic BIN, this price appears of course. If same price, unfortunately can not know if the BIN price listed is from afternic or sedo. Markup is 0%, price change very fast especially if made via dynadot panel which i suggest.
Have in mind though that if name is listed at dyandot marketplace as well, bin price or make offer there overrides afternic price at search.

Porkbun: com appears with BIN price of afternic as well, with priority over sedo if listed there. Markup is 0%, price change from minutes to hours.

Sav: com appears with BIN price of afternic as well, with priority over sedo if listed there. Markup is 0%, price change in some minutes.

Ionos : com appears with BIN price of afternic, sedo has priority if listed also there. Markup is 0%, price change quite fast.

Netsol: com appears with BIN price of afternic, with priority over sedo if listed there also. Markup is 0%, price change in some minutes.

Name.com : com appears with BIN price of afternic, and has priority over sedo if listed there regardless pricing. Markup is about 15%, price change minutes to hours.

Namesilo: Here at search appears the cheaper BIN price between Afternic and sedo if listed at both and price is defferent between marketplaces. Significant markup at both

dnx.com: Here at search appears the cheaper BIN price between Afternic and sedo if listed at both and is not the same. Markup is 0%, price change very fast, maybe instant.

Hope it helps, if you have details for other partners please share, also any idea to increase exposure at network would be great to add here.

 

[Bob Hawkes]

Thank you so much for your experiment and detailed results, including looking at how fast price changes. I did a similar thing a few years ago , but only for a small number of names that I deliberately priced differently at Sedo and Afternic, and did not look at price propagation time. Your study here is more comprehensive. Here is link: A Deeper Look at Fast Transfer Sales Networks.

dnx.com: Here at search appears the cheaper BIN price between Afternic and sedo if listed at both and is not the same. Markup is 0%, price change very fast, maybe instant.

Although the one that appears in summary is the cheaper, I think they both show if you use the little triangle to expand the list. It is interesting that you found price change really fast. At least for their pickup from Atom, I have found some cases where a sold domain name is still being listed some days later, even though it shows as sold on Atom.

Godaddy : .com at search appears of course with BIN price of afternic for obvious reason. Markup 0%, price change very fast.

I presume your search was for the exact term with the extension in all cases? If one only searches on SLD, it will depend on if boost on/off if always appears at top, I think. And for sure with any other TLD.

Hope it helps, if you have details for other partners please share, also any idea to increase exposure at network would be great to add here.

For exposure, it is important to realize that Sedo MLS covers a large number of TLDs, many country code and new extensions in addition to legacy, whereas the Afternic FT is for .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, .io, .xyz, .co and in some markets and registrars .de and .pw I think.

I think in alternate extensions, gradually Atom Sapphire Marketplace will be an important place to be, as it makes it easy to search for names in just one extension like .io or .ai etc.

The recent agreement between Porkbun to list Atom Premium names as I understand it without a markup makes that marketplace versatile for some searchers, with coverage of all of Afternic, Sedo, and Atom.

It appears that although now Namecheap still is showing Afternic listings, that may not stay long term. Some now feel the need to list at Seller Hub, which further complicates the listing process. I am now in many cases listing on all of Afternic, Sedo, Spaceship Seller Hub, Atom (standard or plus), and the registrar marketplace (e.g. Dynadot), but it definitely adds time to the listings.

Thanks again for your great summary and your work in doing this.

Bob

 

[dr manos]

Thank you so much for your experiment and detailed results, including looking at how fast price changes. I did a similar thing a few years ago , but only for a small number of names that I deliberately priced differently at Sedo and Afternic, and did not look at price propagation time. Your study here is more comprehensive. Here is link: A Deeper Look at Fast Transfer Sales Networks.


Although the one that appears in summary is the cheaper, I think they both show if you use the little triangle to expand the list. It is interesting that you found price change really fast. At least for their pickup from Atom, I have found some cases where a sold domain name is still being listed some days later, even though it shows as sold on Atom.


I presume your search was for the exact term with the extension in all cases? If one only searches on SLD, it will depend on if boost on/off if always appears at top, I think. And for sure with any other TLD.



For exposure, it is important to realize that Sedo MLS covers a large number of TLDs, many country code and new extensions in addition to legacy, whereas the Afternic FT is for .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, .io, .xyz, .co and in some markets and registrars .de and .pw I think.

I think in alternate extensions, gradually Atom Sapphire Marketplace will be an important place to be, as it makes it easy to search for names in just one extension like .io or .ai etc.

The recent agreement between Porkbun to list Atom Premium names as I understand it without a markup makes that marketplace versatile for some searchers, with coverage of all of Afternic, Sedo, and Atom.

It appears that although now Namecheap still is showing Afternic listings, that may not stay long term. Some now feel the need to list at Seller Hub, which further complicates the listing process. I am now in many cases listing on all of Afternic, Sedo, Spaceship Seller Hub, Atom (standard or plus), and the registrar marketplace (e.g. Dynadot), but it definitely adds time to the listings.

Thanks again for your great summary and your work in doing this.

Bob

Thanks very much for addons and notes Bob, really appreciated.

Afternic network depending on partner covers many extensions as well.

Of course the greatest exposure would be to can safely list at many marketplaces, this was a request i made at dynadot as they offer the option to list via their panel at afternic, sedo and of course their marketplace. So if a name eg sold at Afternic they could remove next second from sedo as API permits it and of course from their marketplace. Chance for duplicate sale, same day at 2 different places is not so possible, but you never know.
My main purpose is to increase exposure via afternic, read already about namecheap, and checked already, if list at spaceship seller hub, BIN appears immediately there.

M

 

[love4ever]

Hello all,

As last year AN is my main sales venue (mostly due to exposure and easy accounting with payout transmitals) so i decided to spend some time to check the exposure this network offers and what we can optimise. Exposure i think is a critical part for a name to sell.

So did some tests, exposure varies according to some parameters, tld of course is number 1, partner behaviour and even some small details like if has premium price to reg or to renew.

I am not big .com investor actually, i focuss on other tlds but firstly checked what happens with .com via several partners. Also checked what is the priority betweeen AN and sedo (if there is bin at both which i do not recommend), markup, speed of price changing etc.

Partner network is here: https://help.afternic.com/s/article/Afternic-Partners

Below i am writing my findings for .com, i picked myself what partners to check that i feel offer good exposure with search there, if you will find it interesting i will write for others tlds, gtlds, cctlds etv.

Godaddy : .com at search appears of course with BIN price of afternic for obvious reason. Markup 0%, price change very fast.

Namecheap: com appears with BIN price of afternic as well, with priority over sedo if also listed there. Markup is 0%, price change from minutes to hours.

Dynadot: Here at search appears the cheaper BIN price between Afternic and sedo if listed at both and is not the same. If only afternic BIN, this price appears of course. If same price, unfortunately can not know if the BIN price listed is from afternic or sedo. Markup is 0%, price change very fast especially if made via dynadot panel which i suggest.
Have in mind though that if name is listed at dyandot marketplace as well, bin price or make offer there overrides afternic price at search.

Porkbun: com appears with BIN price of afternic as well, with priority over sedo if listed there. Markup is 0%, price change from minutes to hours.

Sav: com appears with BIN price of afternic as well, with priority over sedo if listed there. Markup is 0%, price change in some minutes.

Ionos : com appears with BIN price of afternic, sedo has priority if listed also there. Markup is 0%, price change quite fast.

Netsol: com appears with BIN price of afternic, with priority over sedo if listed there also. Markup is 0%, price change in some minutes.

Name.com : com appears with BIN price of afternic, and has priority over sedo if listed there regardless pricing. Markup is about 15%, price change minutes to hours.

Namesilo: Here at search appears the cheaper BIN price between Afternic and sedo if listed at both and price is defferent between marketplaces. Significant markup at both

dnx.com: Here at search appears the cheaper BIN price between Afternic and sedo if listed at both and is not the same. Markup is 0%, price change very fast, maybe instant.

Hope it helps, if you have details for other partners please share, also any idea to increase exposure at network would be great to add here.

Thanks for your experiment and effort you put .
Are you boosted member at afternic ? If yes, So we can consider the results you mentioned was based on that ?
Maybe if your boost is off could be different results ?

.