poll Do you also flip Twitter usernames?

[abstractdomainer]

I was looking at other online properties that are bought and sold, and an interesting name came up - Twitter account usernames.
When I came across the profile of a domainer who said that he had dealt with a twitter username transaction for 5-figures (and by dealt, I mean sold), I was stunned!
How could something that is free, be sold for 5-figures! But then I realized it is also a business for some people. Is it an actual business like domain investment?

The first question that came to my mind was, what else in Online Property do people buy and sell, usually, which is considered ethical - and mind you, I am only talking about online Properties and not followers or Likes etc.

So, what other online properties do people deal in? Are there opportunities?

 

[Rhinnnn]

Selling Twitter usernames is against their rules though:

https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/twitter-username-squatting

"Attempts to sell, buy, or solicit other forms of payment in exchange for usernames are also violations and may result in permanent account suspension."

 

[equity78]

No it's an under the radar transaction, it's against Twitter TOS to sell usernames. I have been apart of a few deals, one in which the buyer would not buy a 5L.com unless he could get the Twitter handle, my client who I was brokering the name, had to make an offer for the Twitter handle, it got done. Was only like $500. five figure transactions have happened, I know of one where the person turned down like $10,000 for a generic handle.


Username squatting policy
Username squatting is prohibited by the Twitter Rules.

Please note that if an account has had no updates, no profile image, and there is no intent to mislead, it typically means there's no name-squatting or impersonation. Note that we will not release squatted usernames except in cases of trademark infringement. If your report involves trademark infringement, please consult those policies for instructions for reporting these accounts.

Attempts to sell, buy, or solicit other forms of payment in exchange for usernames are also violations and may result in permanent account suspension.

https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/twitter-username-squatting

Reddit thread about a guy offered $15,000

https://www.reddit.com/r/startups/comments/2c0jby/a_company_wants_to_buy_my_startups_twitter_handle/

An article on why some with the best would never sell the handle legal or not legal.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/6103393/twitter-rarest-handles-names-worth-value-money/

I was once offered $500 for @DotTV turned it down 5 years ago.

 

[Samer]

@Grand

i’m interested to see what you have to say

 

[abstractdomainer]

Selling Twitter usernames is against their rules though:

https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/twitter-username-squatting

"Attempts to sell, buy, or solicit other forms of payment in exchange for usernames are also violations and may result in permanent account suspension."

Right. I understand. The thread may also mean that maybe you booked a certain username and later ended up getting a good offer/sale maybe.

No it's an under the radar transaction, it's against Twitter TOS to sell usernames. I have been apart of a few deals, one in which the buyer would not buy a 5L.com unless he could get the Twitter handle, my client who I was brokering the name, had to make an offer for the Twitter handle, it got done. Was only like $500. five figure transactions have happened, I know of one where the person turned down like $10,000 for a generic handle.


Username squatting policy
Username squatting is prohibited by the Twitter Rules.

Please note that if an account has had no updates, no profile image, and there is no intent to mislead, it typically means there's no name-squatting or impersonation. Note that we will not release squatted usernames except in cases of trademark infringement. If your report involves trademark infringement, please consult those policies for instructions for reporting these accounts.

Attempts to sell, buy, or solicit other forms of payment in exchange for usernames are also violations and may result in permanent account suspension.

https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/twitter-username-squatting

Reddit thread about a guy offered $15,000

https://www.reddit.com/r/startups/comments/2c0jby/a_company_wants_to_buy_my_startups_twitter_handle/

An article on why some with the best would never sell the handle legal or not legal.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/6103393/twitter-rarest-handles-names-worth-value-money/

I was once offered $500 for @DotTV turned it down 5 years ago.

Is it common to get offers if you own good Twitter handles? The reasons that I ask this is, are people so crazy about their usernames that they would even pay for that. And 5-figures!

 

[DomainVP]

I had a transaction where the buyer explicitly said to me that, "I could see $xxxx if the twitter handle came with it but without the handle we are looking at other options."

... so I secured the taken handle within 24 hours.

... they then purchased the domain for $4k.

Twitter handles can make or break a transaction sometimes, but explicitly selling the handles is dodgy because the intended party could use your offer to sell it as a sign of bad faith and violation of TOS.

They could just simply report to Twitter that you are selling the handle and then award it to them.

There are ways around all of this, do your own research

Cheers.

Edit: I will say this, some handles are easy to get and some are nearly impossible. I am trying to acquire one right now and we're going on 7 months of conversations with Twitter support. They say yes, then no, then act naive about it. The handle I use for another property I had to wait until the owner died until I could claim it.

 

[BRANDERX]

I've heard of a few sales, nothing frequent though. Not frequent enough to be a thing, a business.

They were supposed to release handles with zero tweets, even the generic singular words.

They said they would release those over many months.

Not sure they released any though, change in circumstance I guess.

Would be a big mess anyway.