tips Company looking to buy your domain...

[matt_2004]

This is what I found in my inbox the other day (LLLL is one of my new domains):

FAO : LLLL.com Domain Owner / Legal Team

We are contacting you with regards to a domain name that we believe is currently owned or held by you or your company.

We are currently looking for a short domain name to use for our new company so we wanted to touch base with you and your legal team to see if there was any chance of purchasing the domain name from you.

We have found some alternative domains that were reasonably priced but we would be interested in using this URL. We wanted to just check with you to see if you would consider selling the domain name and if so, what price you would be looking to sell it for.

We are a serious buyer and could guide you through the process if you were interested in taking this any further. Please get back to me via my email. We can have a lawyer draft up a contract if that would be necessary. Please advise on the next step either way please so we can look at our alternative options if you would not consider selling the name. If you would like to discuss details over the phone please let us know a suitable contact number and time and we can schedule a call.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Have a great day ahead.

Kind Regards,
Louie.Balderstone
​

So I did the usual check: gmail account, name untraceable, ip address in the netherlands. Responded with a high price. Nothing...

Until, I purchased another high value domain. Then I got the exactly same email except this time it was from another "posh" sounding name.

Not sure what they were fishing for, but then again there was indeed a link where the domain name was written and thats where the trap could be, alternatively they would get my disposable email address.

Anyway the moral of the post is: if you see an email just like the one above - its probably just that - just an email with no real buyer behind it.

 

[matt_2004]

actually checked the link - its legit. So they were clearly after my email address.

 

[Sinh]

This is what I found in my inbox the other day (LLLL is one of my new domains):

FAO : LLLL.com Domain Owner / Legal Team

We are contacting you with regards to a domain name that we believe is currently owned or held by you or your company.

We are currently looking for a short domain name to use for our new company so we wanted to touch base with you and your legal team to see if there was any chance of purchasing the domain name from you.

We have found some alternative domains that were reasonably priced but we would be interested in using this URL. We wanted to just check with you to see if you would consider selling the domain name and if so, what price you would be looking to sell it for.

We are a serious buyer and could guide you through the process if you were interested in taking this any further. Please get back to me via my email. We can have a lawyer draft up a contract if that would be necessary. Please advise on the next step either way please so we can look at our alternative options if you would not consider selling the name. If you would like to discuss details over the phone please let us know a suitable contact number and time and we can schedule a call.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Have a great day ahead.

Kind Regards,
Louie.Balderstone
​

So I did the usual check: gmail account, name untraceable, ip address in the netherlands. Responded with a high price. Nothing...

Until, I purchased another high value domain. Then I got the exactly same email except this time it was from another "posh" sounding name.

Not sure what they were fishing for, but then again there was indeed a link where the domain name was written and thats where the trap could be, alternatively they would get my disposable email address.

Anyway the moral of the post is: if you see an email just like the one above - its probably just that - just an email with no real buyer behind it.

I have never seen a pro. letter like this from my buyers until now. Normally they just ask how much and give an offer....and then 2 parties put it on the table to negotiate.

 

[italsat]

and could guide you through the process

i think , when you send the price , there ask for you go to make a velutation at your domain and give you a link where you can make it . $50 for a certification of the value of your domain.

 

[Raymond C]

Sounds like Scam....they want valuation money from you....RUN...

 

[Josh R]

get those all the time.

 

[Bert23]

Get these also, certainly a different approach compared to the Chinese buyers who tend to be very upfront.

 

[matt_2004]

Thanks to everyone for the follow up. Always good to find out where the catch was

 

[TheLegendaryJP]

Not entirely sure this is a scam or valuation trick. It may just be a savy buyer

 

[MapleDots]

When in doubt, treat it like any other inquiry. Be polite and quote them a reasonable price.
If its a reasonably priced domain ask for payment and tell them the domain will be released when the funds clear.

Easy, no guesswork, move on with your day. A real buyer will get back to you to negotiate terms.

You have to be careful because big companies use official letters similar to this one. I was going to ignore one once and it ended up being a real inquiry. I was glad I answered.

If its a scam it can only harm you if you release the domain before payment is complete.

 

[TheLegendaryJP]

Very true, if at any point it turns into a scam (valuation certificate first, transfer domain first, funny payment issue etc) then put the brakes on.

 

[scrsteven]

The person sending the emails in the original post is a member of this forum and well-known domainer looking for below market deals...

 

[TheLegendaryJP]

I came to that conclusion as well

 

[ivey]

It's either a valuation scam or someone trying to get the name for cheap.

This line is subtle: "We have found some alternative domains that were reasonably priced but we would be interested in using this URL."

Psychology: I guess you should sell and be reasonable because though they want your name, they got options.

Anyway, just reply with a price you want and you'll know the truth from that. They'll either be serious and set up escrow at some point or respond with "My company has agreed to your price but for tax purposes we need a certified valuation at one of these evaluation companies...bla bla blaa"

 

[Kate]

It's a practice that has been going on for years but I don't like these tactics.

 

[hamiltondomain]

It could be simple... An email sent to many, and buy any that are relatively "cheap".

 

[matt_2004]

Oh well. Yet another sales trick.

 

[Name Trader]

The whole email is screaming out to you to reply so they have your email address. Once they have that there is no end to where it might end up. They might be building their own private email portfolio, right up to them passing it along, or selling it to a group of email spammers. I never answer such emails. They'd probably need for follow up this email with at least 2 other emails with different wording for the same domain, for me to even consider replying. In the meantime they would probably have sent another email for another domain you own.

A warning: Not all registrars treat their customer privacy in the same way. I've not to my knowledge received any emails like this from Dynadot registrations, but I have read AlpDomains work hand-in-hand with these scammers. (to name just 1 registrar at each end of the spectrum. They are examples only.). So domain buyer beware.