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.

 

[Jannes]

For the record, I would have preferred JamesNames.com

 

[DaveX]

Follow up from broker....
Hello David, I am still working on this, the buyer has been unresponsive so far but I'm still chasing them. Kind Regards,

(Problem is, not only did I not receive any response yesterday, the buyer received no call either according to log. They dropped the ball.)

Response from me...
In the absence of an actual call log I have no choice but to accept your explanation that this buyer made a valid offer and then did not respond. Makes no sense. The buyer probably received no quick response.

Please keep in mind that I pay GoDaddy a significant commission and in return I EXPECT top notch service, top notch communication, and results.

Should I not receive any response to my messages again, without apology and explanation, I will be forced to seek better service.

(It shouldn't be this hard.)

Response from Afternic
Domain sold....

Response from me...
Good job Calum. Job well done.


The end.

 

[DN_Hunter]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1978498330704409024

There are some great names there! It does appear to be exclusive to high-value domain names.

 

[love4ever]

@AbdulBasit.com Announced leaving afternic !!
Sad to hear !! But we wish you all the best bro !

 

[Bob Hawkes]

Is there a set of criteria for which names appear anywhere in the Afternic/GD search results list?

I have recently investigated a number of names that are listed with prices at Afternic and active on the Fast Transfer network. I had assumed that if I owned Example.com and someone enters Example in the search that the Afternic listing for the .com would appear, if not first, at least somewhere in the list, but it seems not. The names are completely invisible to search.

I am not using Boost or Afternic nameservers. Is that a requirement to be listed anywhere in the search results? If so, the policy should be clearly stated.

-Bob

UPDATE: I have not checked from a number of regions. If I set that I am a US customer, my .com name does appear, and at the top, of the presented results. From Canada and a number of European countries I have tried, it does not appear anywhere in list.

PS Yes, the names do show if entered in entirety with extension i.e. Example.com or Example.io, but in my opinion that is not search.

PPS I am pretty sure it has not always been this way. If others have unboosted accounts and not using Afternic nameservers could you please check a few names to see if yours are also invisible and report here.

PPPS My search is from Canada. I am wondering if the results vary with country, since the promoted box is for .ca at the top of each search. When I search a term that I have the .ca listed for sale at Afternic, it does appear in the search, at least for names that I have tried.

 

[URL Stream]

PS Yes, the names do show if entered in entirety with extension i.e. Example.com or Example.io, but in my opinion that is not search.

Anecdotally, I suspect there’s a difference between searching for “example” with the .com filter applied and directly entering “example.com” into the search bar without any filters.

This distinction likely varies by platform and needs to be tested individually across each one.

 

[Eagle Domains]

if i just enter the SLD my .com is being shown . note: my Nameservers are Afternic

 

[Bob Hawkes]

Anecdotally, I suspect there’s a difference between searching for “example” with the .com filter applied and directly entering “example.com” into the search bar without any filters.

Yes, to my knowledge if you search with extension, the name appears.

I know that many, but not all, searchers would do this. But for those that just enters the term, without any extension, I would have thought at the very least that exact term in the .com should appear somewhere in list. Like the list shows things that are not the exact term (I presume from boosted accounts and their own expiry auctions) along with the term or modified term (say a hyphen or s added) as hand registrations.

More than half of domain names are .com, and in terms of used ones, much more than half. Surely if Afternic has listed for sale the .com in the exact term searched it should appear in the search results?

-Bob

 

[Bob Hawkes]

if i just enter the SLD my .com is being shown . note: my Nameservers are Afternic

Thanks for the check. My guess is that is the difference.

I hope that @James Iles will respond with a statement on exactly what is required for the .com of the exact term to appear somewhere in the search list.

-Bob

 

[DN_Hunter]

I am in the US. I go to GoDaddy.com and search one of my names
No Boost
Nameservers pointed elsewhere (not Afternic)
Only checking .com (I have a small number of names not .com, but those are pointing to AN)

I enter the name (without extension), and the first name that shows is my listed name with the .com extension
entering the name with extension and that also shows first

 

[Bob Hawkes]

I enter the name (without extension), and the first name that shows is my listed name with the .com extension
entering the name with extension and that also shows first

Thanks so much for the trial.

I added an update to my original post saying if I switch to US, for me the names do show as well, and at top.

But from Canada, and a few other countries I tried, the name is not only not on the list, but nowhere in the result. While the US market is important, and it is good that it works there, to lose imuch of the global market search is serious in my opinion.

-Bob

 

[Chris Co]

Thanks so much for the trial.
I added an update to my original post saying if I switch to US, for me the names do show as well, and at top.
But from Canada, and a few other countries I tried, the name is not only not on the list, but nowhere in the result.
While the US market is important, and it is good that it works there, to lost much of the global market search is serious in my opinion.
-Bob

Hi Bob, from the UK here, non-boost & nameservers pointed at Afternic.

I have tried a few of my domains, and get exactly the same behavior as yours: No listing if I search for just the word. It's only shown if I add the .com

 

[Bob Hawkes]

Hi Bob, from the UK here, non-boost & nameservers pointed at Afternic.

I have tried a few of my domains, and get exactly the same behavior as yours: No listing if I search for just the word. It's only shown if I add the .com

Thanks for confirming from a country I did not try, and confirming that even with nameservers pointed, they still don't show.
-Bob

 

[Bob Hawkes]

I have a radical idea. Rather than Afternic routing buyer search traffic to GoDaddy search, that mixes in hand registrations and misspellings, and hides aftermarket listings in much of the world outside the US, it seems, why not direct them to Porkbun Aftermarket Search. Seriously, every Afternic listed name that was problematic that I checked turns up perfectly there.

https://porkbun.com/aftermarket

I know you won't do this, and this post is sort of in jest .

But is it really that crazy an idea? Porkbun has built a user friendly aftermarket search that works (at least for Afternic and Sedo listings it seems sold - I am not seeing some Atom Premium names even thought they should show). Porkbun is on your partner network. You could reach some deal on branding that says GoDaddy Aftermarket Search in Collaboration with Porkbun, and maybe if you asked nicely they would drop the pig mascot and the Sedo column.

Hmmmmm.....send me socks if you follow up on the idea.

Bob

@Porkbun

PS If you wanted something really awesome, you could route basic aftermarket search to Porkbun, and advanced aftermarket search to DNX, and it would give the searcher an absolutely superb set of tools.

 

[love4ever]

Now i see domains listed and pointed to afternic nameserver are getting indexed at google results !!
I bet this is a very new changes !! Seems afternic waking up and trying to correct their mistakes !
Below domains with price request landers, But I dont know how it looks the bin lander when indexed at google search results !
Guys check if you notice the same and confirm if you dont mind .

.

 

[DrJacoby]

Now i see domains listed and pointed to afternic nameserver are getting indexed at google results !!
I bet this is a very new changes !! Seems afternic waking up and trying to correct their mistakes !
Below domains with price request landers, But I dont know how it looks the bin lander when indexed at google search results !
Guys check if you notice the same and confirm if you dont mind .


Show attachment 285514

Show attachment 285513


.

Some of mine are indexed, but others are not.

 

[love4ever]

Thanks so much for the trial.
I added an update to my original post saying if I switch to US, for me the names do show as well, and at top.
But from Canada, and a few other countries I tried, the name is not only not on the list, but nowhere in the result.
While the US market is important, and it is good that it works there, to lost much of the global market search is serious in my opinion.
-Bob

With boosted or with non boosted it is same results in suggested section ! Most of our domains not appearing in godaddy search suggested results, godaddy changed the algorithm infavour of their benefits and cross promo's for hand regs and other useless TLDS .

.

Mr. Bob , I have been yelling about similar issue since decade & no one cares from godaddy/afternic .


.

 

[phaethon]

More Afternic stalled leads, 4 in a row.. I'm just wondering how genuine they are. If you are a genuine buyer, you will probably reply to the first / second mail that you are not interested or make an offer. However, 90% it's radio silence and leads become stalled after 3-4 mails. Some of those leads could be domainers mystery shopping Afternic or they don't respond waiting for a discount or something. If we could have more insights. Seems a bit weird.
Have you had success with stalled leads that led to sales after months? Me, only once. STR of stalled leads must be 0.2% something..

 

[love4ever]

Whose coming first ? The lead OR the sale ?
Sold date : 16 October !!
Lead created : 17 October !!

I am just wondering are this brokers playing tricks/games to show they did their best with the leads they never involved in and pretend that finally they close deals ??

First : The domain already sold FT ( yesterday ) on 16 October as per screenshots , HOW on earth the lead created next day ( today ) on 17 October as per screenshot below !! ???

Second : The domain was already listed only BIN for $399 with NO offer option , So practically it was sold BIN . BUT how mentioned the offer was $399 ??

Could be the broker saw this bin sale and claimed it was his effort, To show that he is achiever/hero ??

Finally I prefer to keep wondering than accusing someone with anything , I am just very confused with illogical things i see !! .

.

 

[Kyle Tully]

I hope that @James Iles will respond with a statement on exactly what is required for the .com of the exact term to appear somewhere in the search list.

-Bob

I doubt there is a single person at Godaddy who fully understands this