discuss Confidentiality SUCKS

[MapleDots]

Confidentiality Sucks

I have had 3 big sales at 75k each and in each case I signed a confidentiality clause which prohibited me from talking about the domain.

In retrospect I find this really hampers my domaining business because I cannot give examples of my big sales to prospective client. Since I specialize in a unique targeted part of the market I rely on sales statistics to justify prices.

So here is my dilema...

I am in the midst of closing my biggest sale to date and it is well over the 200k mark. The problem is they want me to sign a confidentiality clause. I swore I would never sign another one and I am sticking to my guns. I turned them down flat and said no deal.

Now I know you are all thinking that was pretty stupid but I don't think so. First off, I don't think I will lose the deal and secondly I need my sales stats to target other sales.

The biggest players in the business regularly publish their sales statistics and they become like gods in the industry. They sell a domain based on the fact they got huge money for previous sales.

Looking for some feedback here from anyone who has had some larger sales.

 

[MapleDots]

Its inspirational to see someone selling handregs for $75K

Everything was a hand reg at some time. I have hand regs from 2002 in my portfolio, I cannot bear to part with because they are great names.

My biggest one to date was a hand reg that made sense to me, it was calculated and I got lucky.

 

[imadoer]

no one is selling handregs they regged this year for 75k...

again @MapleDots you avoided my question. whats your biggest sale you can disclose.

 

[MapleDots]

OMG I just disclosed, what do you want blood?

Why can't you just wait until I can release the information and just chill until then.

 

[imadoer]

OMG I just disclosed, what do you want blood?

No i want the truth

 

[imadoer]

you said you sold MBCanada.ca but didnt say how much you just said you try to hold out for 5k.

I'm calling bullshit about this thread

 

[MapleDots]

Yes 5k,

 

[imadoer]

ok so you sold one domain for 5k and 1 for 75k then another for 75k and your negotiating for 200k as we speak.. this is a huge jump. from 5k. and looking at your names unless your brokering something i don't belive you

 

[MapleDots]

OMG, yes it's being brokered its a Maple domain - I own 300 maple domains, I got lucky with one really big one, I knew eventually I would. It's our National symbol and it has big demand.

Edit: Actually lucky is not the word..... calculated, it was a calculated gamble.

 

[MapleDots]

Anyways, its 2am, I am going to bed, the third degree is wearing me out.

 

[Ategy]

PS. Be careful of the French names, it's a very small target audience for those. Only used in quebec and if the company does business outside quebec they will automatically need something different. (may I suggest the maple for instance)

Yeah .. but there are other French speaking countries .. .that being said I think under 3% of my portfolio is non-english .. and for those they are very strong keywords .. I have the French equivalent of mortgage, health, work, broker, english, dance, green, bet, sold, links, retirement in .co .. so despite being both French and .co they are extremely strong keywords ... also a few in .com (collectionduchef, mesrabais, plainairs) . I actually have a couple German and Spanish as well in similar quality. But aside from those over 97% are English.

 

[Giode]

I would say that unless you're a well-known person in the industry, it's probably better to not say anything unless you can divulge details. There's no point.

I don't like NDA's either. You know why? Because they are too often used as an excuse for not revealing details. Lots of folks in this business do it. Too convenient. I would never trust a so-called broker who couldn't provide actual data. I am surprised at how many actually do!

I have sales under NDA. I have many that aren't as well. Most of the biggest sales go unreported industry wide, and that is not only because of an NDA. It is because many prefer to keep this information private. Keep the cards close to their chest.

I had a large sale reported once when the buyer put out a press release. Big mistake! That buyer/company was inundated with emails from low-level domainers trying to sell their domains for months. Not at all uncommon with reported sales.

The bottom line: If you're making big sales and enjoying what you're doing, who cares who knows?

 

[MapleDots]

I would say that unless you're a well-known person in the industry, it's probably better to not say anything unless you can divulge details. There's no point.

Yup, I figured that out. Got up this morning to make my list of 5k sales but figured there will be no end so I used the ignore button instead. Damn handy that thing, I should have used it before.

Assuming I can get past the non disclosure agreement I will post back here with great joy when my sale completes.

 

[.NJ]

Yup, I figured that out. Got up this morning to make my list of 5k sales but figured there will be no end so I used the ignore button instead

I think you should still ahead and list these sales.

There recently has been many false prophets, misleading info, and just straight delusional $hit going on.

I'm not calling bullshit on you yet, but if your going to talk the talk, you need to walk the walk.

Your starting to throw around the .ca scene and so called past great sales with a personal portfolio of over 300 for sale.

Do you see the connection?

Not trying to rain on your parade, but I like to try and keep the scene real.

I hope you understand my point of view.

 

[promo]

I can only agree with the OP...

This so much reminds me of the time when I banged 10 super top world class models at once.. They made me promise not to tell anyone of their names. But they were the most beautiful women in the world and they all told me I was the best lover they ever had.

Its really annoying. I do bang super models each day of course, but if I could just tell people about those 10 I am certain I would bang like 4 a day instead of just 1. Ahh so tedious with confidentiality.

Did I tell you I am the worlds greatest lover? Everyone knows that if you really say it alot its true.

Ohh and I also started doing day trading last month. Actually I only started March 3rd. So not quite a month yet. I already made a couple of millions by mistake. Cant tell you how though. I can tell you I own more than 300 different stocks on long holds though. Tomorrow I think I will make my first billion. If I care to I might be busy banging super models. We will see.

EDIT
Ohh and I forgot to say... "Doers do, BSers talk.. A lot"...

 

[main]

Just visited your site out of curiosity. Literally ~95% of your domains have been registered in the last 8 months. And you say you've had 3 sales of $75,000 (at least one of them a hand-reg) and a sale in the works for well over $200,000. Sounds right to me!

 

[frostify]

Consider that part of the value of their offer includes the value of privacy as a client. Perhaps in their eyes (example: $200K sale), perhaps the domain is worth $150K to them and the privacy is worth $50K to them, they may offer $200K knowing that privacy is something of high value to them and a factor included with their offer for a domain you own, especially once you enter the 6 and 7 figure ranges. Confidentiality has it's value.

 

[Lox]

A NDA helps a business protect its trade secrets, patent in process, inventions etc. Simple as that. We've been riding NDA for 29 years now. (outside the domain industry and 2% correlated)
--
If I understood well, you want to become charismatic. Because charisma is the key that can open many doors; but being respected for what you've done in the past is more important.
--
( Most of our business comes from existing clients and personal recommendation. When we recommend other businesses/persons, their reputation is seen an extension of our values.)

Sign as many NDAs and stick to the Trust Network.

Regards

 

[namezest]

Well info is bound to be leaked accidentally , I also think some sales are not legitimate they are more ploys to attract more business to the industry at large. For 200k you can just mention a large sale with an undisclosed amount , UNDISCLOSED. Ah those are the ones that get people going with speculation over speculation....And you wanting to brag a little but content like the cat that got the cream..

 

[zurc.net]

Who cares what anyone knows.... keep selling names and making money. Give me a $200k sale and an NDA all day... Or make it in a clause that the NDA expires after X amount of days if it really matters that much to you.

 

[1Darko]

Outside of the domaining world I have signed some confidentiality agreements. Often such agreements or clauses have nothing to do with the intension of the buyer or the seller. Lawyers are putting them into sales contracts or create side agreements to protect the party in case of unpredicted xyz events. I would always ask why exactly the confidentiality is needed. It could be that the counterparty has no exact reason for it. If they would insist on it, you could increase your price with explanation that you will have to secure this information aditionally that it will not leak out from your organisation. People should be aware that a non disclousure agreement if violated can ruin you financially if the counterparty decides to go on the court.

Personally I like to find past domain sales data for comparison, Therefor I agree with @MapleDots about the sales confidentiality and related opportunity costs and reputation building. My advice to all would be take signed NDA's or CA's seriously because huge problems could accure by breaching them. This factor could also be an argument to through them out of the contract, imo!