Annoying: Domainers with even crappier names

[domainsoup]

It's annoying enough to have decent domains sit on Sedo with offer views and no serious bids.

You know what's more annoying? When your domain doesn't sell but you keep getting e-mails from domainers with crappier variations of your domain, trying to sell them to you!

Ex: You own videoexample.com and it gets no serious offers. Then you get e-mails

"Dear Sir,
Would you be interested in videoexamplelivenow.com? Please respond back to me I am thinking of a modest fee for a completed transaction.

LOL I cannot even sell my domain name. But you want me to buy a crappier version from you? Ah, good old domaining.

Does it happen to you?

 

[affable]

Unfortunately these emails are a way of life if you own domains, and the more you own, the more of those emails you will get. I've been getting those types of emails for as long as I can remember, probable a dozen years +.

One thing that I get a kick out of, is when someone sends me one of those emails trying to sell me a domain that isn't even registered yet. They wait till I say I am interested, then they go register it at some point after that.

I've actually thought about replying a few times and tell them that I am very interested but they need to show proof of ownership first. Then they go register the name and contact me back with their proof, then I could say I had a change of heart and that someone else has a better name. Then thank then for their time. I haven't actually done it, but thought of it a few times.

Payback for spam = reg fee for a domain they won't be able to sell!

 

[SpareDomains]

One thing that I get a kick out of, is when someone sends me one of those emails trying to sell me a domain that isn't even registered yet. They wait till I say I am interested, then they go register it at some point after that.

I've actually thought about replying a few times and tell them that I am very interested but they need to show proof of ownership first. Then they go register the name and contact me back with their proof, then I could say I had a change of heart and that someone else has a better name. Then thank then for their time. I haven't actually done it, but thought of it a few times.

Payback for spam = reg fee for a domain they won't be able to sell!

I've thought about buying it myself and then telling them I'd probably pay like 7k and then waiting to see if I get a 3.5k offer.

 

[affable]

I've thought about buying it myself and then telling them I'd probably pay like 7k and then waiting to see if I get a 3.5k offer.

You know, you might be on to something. First, go reg the name out from under them, then reply back saying you will pay $x,xxx or whatever. Then when they contact you to buy it from you, not knowing it's really the same person, give them a price like $500 or something.

Then when they buy the name and contact you back you THEN you tell them you aren't interested. Just make sure to buy the name under someone else's name so the whois isn't the same. A $500 lesson in why spamming is bad!

 

[SpareDomains]

Get tons of them. Would like to respond this name sucks, quit while your ahead etc... but have never responded to one solicitation spammed to me.

Selling used cars is easy as ya go to KBB insert year/model/mileage/options and there's your price. Fact is based on how many domains/portfolios I've seen come my way in 14 years that the minority of domainer's actually invest in domains that make business sense, get them in the distribution channels, know how to price/negotiate etc... so you have quite a few only making GoDaddy etc... rich on awful registrations that need to be spammed as no quality in the domain and quality is the most important factor to success.

Did have 1 come through that was similar to one of my developed sites, didn't respond, put it on stalk mode and scooped it up expired so that 1 spam was useful for me anyway.

 

[luv2b3fun]

Lol...I've had that happen before, then I got smart and starting buying the private whois feature with each domain purchase going forward.

 

[korganian]

That happens to me everyday, all day long! I keep thinking there must be some get rich quick Guru telling all these suckers to do this to make them rich, lol.

 

[iowadawg]

I always wonder, how many of these emails are sent by domainers?
One big vicious circle.
One must remember, there are domainers out there who do not care about this or any other forum.

 

[drsheraz]

I always ask them to buy my domain please. They never reply back.

 

[domainsoup]

Lol...I've had that happen before, then I got smart and starting buying the private whois feature with each domain purchase going forward.

I have private whois but they still send it to the domain privacy email which gets forwarded to me.

 

[SpareDomains]

You know, you might be on to something. First, go reg the name out from under them, then reply back saying you will pay $x,xxx or whatever. Then when they contact you to buy it from you, not knowing it's really the same person, give them a price like $500 or something.

Then when they buy the name and contact you back you THEN you tell them you aren't interested. Just make sure to buy the name under someone else's name so the whois isn't the same. A $500 lesson in why spamming is bad!

Yeah you'd probably have to quote a cheap price cause if their spamming crap names might not have much cash laying around. Maybe offer $1000 for the name and then offer to sell it for $100-$200 and see if they bite.

 

[affable]

Yeah you'd probably have to quote a cheap price cause if their spamming crap names might not have much cash laying around. Maybe offer $1000 for the name and then offer to sell it for $100-$200 and see if they bite.

Yeah, that sounds about right.

Maybe we should write one of those get rich quick eBooks about "How to make millions from spammers!"! LOL

 

[canswift]

I get these emails all the time too, usually in an English that is slightly "off" in word usage. Like asking me if I would be "curious" in owning this name. Took me a while to figure they meant "interested"… However, just occasionally they mention a name I am actually interested in and when I check I see it's expiring or pending delete. So I go ahead and catch it myself (thanks, spammer).

 

[korganian]

The worst spam I get is for SEO. I get 5 to 10 SEO and web design spam emails every day. Many are disguised as domain renewal notices. The most annoying part about it is that some of these clowns have started getting so pushy they are actually emailing me back demanding to know why I have not replied to their previous emails!!!

 

[cocaseco]

If you use "private" registration, makes it pretty hard for buyers to find you unless they see it on SEDO.

 

[Kate]

I don't think the people running those schemes are domainers. It's just another mass spam operation. They picked up where bellnames left, assuming it's not the same people still at the wheel.

 

[heavend]

I get these every day, about 15-20 of them or so on average.

Here is my take on them.

I traced them almost always 100 % to deleted / dropped domains. In other words, someone came up with a very easy scheme, where - all they do is take a look at deleted domain names listing, which are coming up at any of those deleted domains auctions - snapnames, etc. So they see there are no bids for example, and the domain consist of 3 words. They take a look at the whois ownership of the people who own those 2 words, or combination and write tons of emails. (I assume they are working from jails, since only there you have this much time) Now, the scheme is simple and free. If I say yes, I am interested, they ask for couple of hundred dollars, depending on the name, and then try to win this domain name on the auction for less. If they do, great, they made profit. If they don't, they simply disappear. Since all of them are writing from one time use free gmail or other free accounts, you will never be able to trace them.

I actually answered a few, and got reply. Then we agreed on the price, and they never came back. I also traced those names tot he aftermarket place and saw the names being sold for more. Obviously I never got replies, but what these people end up doing is raising the actual prices (like shell bidding) on those names, on the speculation that you will rebuy it from them. I also assume that some of those spammers will simply try to take your money and disappear as well. So my advise is even if you do answer and work out a deal which goes through - USE ESCROW always.

 

[luv2b3fun]

I've thought about buying it myself and then telling them I'd probably pay like 7k and then waiting to see if I get a 3.5k offer.

That's actually GENIUS!!!

 

[artstar]

Domainers for the most part are opportunistic, buy low sell as high as possible to anyone thats possible.

I don't mind the spam emails but what I don't like is the lowballing cheap a$$ people who are simply predators with ones thing in mind, greed!!

People talk about a community of domainers blah blah how they should stick together, support it ,etc etc.

This supposed community exists but you and I ain't in it!!

So here's to all the lowballing sleazeballs who offer nothing and have zero taste in what a decent domain is!!
Gfy!!

 

[mad409]

I was talking about spam emails that many of us get all the time saying basically "Hi I own a domain //////.com which is close to your -------.com. Would you like to buy it? When in fact they don't even have the domain registered, it's scam spam...

 

[domainsoup]

I've noticed a pattern. A lot of these e-mails come when their domain is going to drop soon. I wonder if you said you were interested if they would renew it?

 

[affable]

Heck, it might even be the same people that keep trying to push their "Discount Prescription Drugs" and this could be another branch of their operation.

About a week or so I got a contact email from someone named "Michelle" who wanted to know if I was interested in purchasing a domain similar to one I own. After the usual short message there was another message at the bottom saying something about if I wasn't interested in the domain name, "Would I like to save hundreds of dollars a year on my phone bill?". I guess if they can't get you one way, maybe another will work. Funny thing is "Michelle" didn't seem to speak very good English as evident in the message.

It seems like a person can't go a day these days without coming across one scam or another.

 

[HUKU]

worst part is when you think you might be getting an email from an end user inquiring about a domain and it is just another domainer spamming you with a junk domain they are trying to sell you. It drives me nuts.

These emails tend to raise hopes and drop hopes in exactly the way you described, especially when they put your domain name in the subject title. I can imagine thousands of domainers all around the world opening these emails every morning before breakfast and having their hopes dashed. I've started to wonder about the morality of potentially responding with something like this:

"Hi and thanks for the suggestion. We will consider your <crappydomain.com> but our budget is limited.

I am not making an offer for <crappydomain.com> at this time but i'm just testing the waters here at this level to see if you think it might work at circa $80,000 (Eighty Thousand US dollars) and this suggested price range is subject further research and appraisal. And in this case, you would need to assure me that YOU would cover escrow charges. Can you give an indication of your thoughts on the matter?"

I DO NOT urge anyone try a response like this. Firstly, its unethical to lead a domainer in this way no matter how much enjoyment you might derive from the "revenge factor" and secondly, the following three points:

(1) Google searches for the definition of the word "circa" would spike instantly. When the word comes directly before a large sum of money, you really want to know what it means and fast (you're right, that includes a presumption that the spammer doesn't already know!).

(2) Some domainers are so deluded to the point where, at first, they will jump out of their trousers and if theres a cable on their lap, it might knock their laptop off the table resulting in damage or worse.

(3) When they respond emphatically with a yes, you let them know that: "My partner thinks im over paying, in fact he thinks its not worth even reg fee.... but ill come back to you later if we can meet you somewhere in the middle."

 

[Frank Pavilonis]

Lol...I've had that happen before, then I got smart and starting buying the private whois feature with each domain purchase going forward.

FYI - Uniregistry offers free whois privacy. Email me and ill give all my fellow NP people discounts.

frankp @ Uniregistry . com

 

[heavend]

@DANEYAL it's probably because your whois data is hidden.