news Dan.com to increase comission from 9% to 15% effective Feb 1st 2023

[MadAboutDomains]

Just received this email from Dan.com about commission increases (snippet of email):

Thoughts?

 

[bmugford]

As far as the domainer base being the least profitable, I think it is partially true. For instance, if you own 5,000 domains they might be barely making anything on the renewals.

However, related revenue is much higher. Those 5,000 domains are generating sales commissions.

It also provides a steady stream of expired domains they can sell.

The companies that don't realize that domain investors feed the ecosystem are extremely short-sighted, and ignore them at their own peril.

With GoDaddy's recent moves from can see they understand that domain investors are a core part of their business model. All those Afternic and Dan sales commissions add up.

Brad

I made the above comments in another thread.

I think with this recent move I am going to have to retract my positive comments.

It feels like with these changes GoDaddy doesn't seem to respect domain investors as much as I had thought.

There is still time to correct this.

Brad

 

[Dane]

I just had an idea.

I should be building a marketplace, and one day have it acquired.

"If you build it, they will come."

 

[markfromslo]

Why remove the make offer? Use Afternic to get some exposure for your domains. If you get offers, you can ignore them or quote a much higher price. People who are serious enough will at least check the landing page and may contact you.

Most people unbelievably do not check the landing page. I have every name listed at Dan 10% lower than at Afternic, and the landing pages are all Dan. You'd think that I'd sell more names through Dan. Nope. I sell 80-90% of the names at Afternic. There is power to their netowrk and to people simply trying to register a name and seeing the "premium name" price and buying there. I cannot think of any other reason for this. This information is a huge factor in my decision to keep my names at Afternic.

 

[silentg]

Right now would be perfect time for @Deven Patel to bring back Alter.com marketplace.

 

[Dane]

Most people unbelievably do not check the landing page. I have every name listed at Dan 10% lower than at Afternic, and the landing pages are all Dan. You'd think that I'd sell more names through Dan. Nope. I sell 80-90% of the names at Afternic. There is power to their netowrk and to people simply trying to register a name and seeing the "premium name" price and buying there. I cannot think of any other reason for this. This information is a huge factor in my decision to keep my names at Afternic.

Maybe it's time to stop using Dan and only use Afternic? (which might be GoDaddy's plan for this commission change.)

 

[markfromslo]

Why not just use own landers and an Escrow? As I mentioned I still have Efty and could just switch to Escrow.com links. In the past I tried using my own site but more of hassle, more upkeep.

The power is in the Afternic Network. People trying to register a domain name see your BIN price. Quick sale.

 

[markfromslo]

Maybe it's time to stop using Dan and only use Afternic? (which might be GoDaddy's plan for this commission change.)

Yes, I agree, with one problem. Afternic has crappy landers and does not even have one that shows a BIN price.

 

[SuperBrander]

Most people unbelievably do not check the landing page. I have every name listed at Dan 10% lower than at Afternic, and the landing pages are all Dan. You'd think that I'd sell more names through Dan. Nope. I sell 80-90% of the names at Afternic. There is power to their netowrk and to people simply trying to register a name and seeing the "premium name" price and buying there. I cannot think of any other reason for this. This information is a huge factor in my decision to keep my names at Afternic.

Thx. Yeah, I know that the Godaddy name helps move names and some people prefer to pay more just for the peace of mind and convenience. Still, no reason not to list at Afternic at make offer if a person doesn't want to use a Dan/Afternic/Uni lander. Even if a small percentage of people check out the landing page as a result of a listing- that's still something and some leads/sales can be captured.

 

[Dane]

Yes, I agree, with one problem. Afternic has crappy landers and does not even have one that shows a BIN price.

Really? Ugh. I've been using Dan for so long now, I'm not even familiar with the Afternic landers.

 

[domaindevil]

So to import a lead to Dan is still 5% even though using a non-GD NS? So maybe the best option would be to use our own landers and just send the lead to DAN for easy payments/installments/payouts? Is there a way to do this automatically?

 

[JB Lions]

The power is in the Afternic Network. People trying to register a domain name see your BIN price. Quick sale.

I know, it’s why I’m using them, keeping my same setup. As I went into earlier, if my sales break even between direct and distribution network, the funds I receive will be about the same. Up 6% one place, down 5% the other. Depends on what you’re doing, for others this will be a bigger deal, for those that don’t use their landers and use the distribution network, jumping to 25%, which is high.

 

[JB Lions]

Your better off with a broker, even the top brokers charge less commission than marketplaces and offer a more dedicated/hands on service towards your asset.

Brokers aren’t touching most of the domains people are selling, just not worth their time.

 

[dirk]

Maybe it's time to stop using Dan and only use Afternic? (which might be GoDaddy's plan for this commission change.)

Could very well be. They probably bought Dan just for the tech & customers/data.

Killing off the brand makes sense. It's tough as I always thought Dan would continue to be a disruptor to the point they would finally launch a public facing registrar.

Their ultimate endgame might be to get more foot on the ground in Europe, considering some of the early backers/owners of dan. Something GD was never able to accomplish.

There's a bigger endgame at play here and domainers are just a tiny cog in the machine.

 

[markfromslo]

Thx. Yeah, I know that the Godaddy name helps move names and some people prefer to pay more just for the peace of mind and convenience. Still, no reason not to list at Afternic at make offer if a person doesn't want to use a Dan/Afternic/Uni lander. Even if a small percentage of people check out the landing page as a result of a listing- that's still something and some leads/sales can be captured.

I thought about that. But the Dan pages say "Godaddy" on them. And besides, I don't think non-domainers really understand, and domainers don't care. So there is something else going on here.

 

[dirk]

So to import a lead to Dan is still 5% even though using a non-GD NS? So maybe the best option would be to use our own landers and just send the lead to DAN for easy payments/installments/payouts? Is there a way to do this automatically?

Yes, request api access. Don't be surprised to see them killing that off though.

 

[markfromslo]

Many of you are talking about moving to Sedo and their 10% commission. Do you really believe that Sedo is not going to raise their rate now given they don't have the 9% Dan commission to compete against? Of course they will. And as an added bonus you get the crappy Sedo user interface and the snobby customer service.

 

[Dane]

Could very well be. They probably bought Dan just for the tech & customers/data.

Killing off the brand makes sense. It's tough as I always thought Dan would continue to be a disruptor to the point they would finally launch a public facing registrar.

Such a shame. I really, really liked Dan. The front end, the back end, the people, the ease, the payouts...

 

[Acroplex]

Many of you are talking about moving to Sedo and their 10% commission. Do you really believe that Sedo is not going to raise their rate now given they don't have the 9% Dan commission to compete against? Of course they will. And as an added bonus you get the crappy Sedo user interface and the snobby customer service.

I can make do with a less flashy back-end interface but not with greed and fake fanfares about how these fee changes benefit me.

GoDaddy has crossed every known limit and it's the middle management who is to blame, they make these decisions. Time to walk out of every GoDaddy service, just like Jamie did:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1610672549100392449

 

[dirk]

And as an added bonus you get the crappy Sedo user interface and the snobby customer service.

Maybe. I'm not the biggest fan of sedo but considering the majority of my buyers (EU based) they will mostly opt to use sedo/dan/wire to conclude a sale.

I now can give them a huge discount (15%) sedo or (20%) wire/cc BIN purchase compared to dan. A discount which doesn't cost me anything.

Making lemonade when being served lemons

 

[dirk]

Such a shame. I really, really liked Dan. The front end, the back end, the people, the ease, the payouts...

Same. Been rooting for them since they started out. Oh well... It's been a great and refreshing experience for as long as it lasted, I'll give them that.