Domain someone wants to buy.

[rodmanG]

I own a domain and the company wants to buy it. I built this site for them about 4 years ago. Now that want access to it and want me transfer the domain. They have offered to buy it, but I do not know what I should sell it to them for. Its called groveequipment.net

 

[south]

I own a domain and the company wants to buy it. I built this site for them about 4 years ago. Now that want access to it and want me transfer the domain. They have offered to buy it, but I do not know what I should sell it to them for. Its called groveequipment.net

Did they pay you to build the site? Did you buy the domain for them as part of the package?

 

[rodmanG]

Did they pay you to build the site? Did you buy the domain for them as part of the package?

No I built it for them but we parted ways number of months ago. They have not payed me any thing for the domain or site I built.

 

[Jaco]

Sounds like a classic example of an ignorant businesses that 'wanted a website' and paid a developer to just 'make it happen' without bothering to understand how critical it is that you own your own domain.

This is actually insanely common. A guy I know bought an independently owned hotel where the previous owners were straight out of 1958, realized they had to have an online presence in the 21st century, grotesquely overpaid a local developer to make a piece of crap website and of course, the developers bought and controlled the domain. It was a nightmare.

In your case- if you did a bunch of work and bought a domain and they screwed you over by not paying, I'd say screw them back. Make them pay handsomely to get it all back.

If that isn't the case, though- if they're just some dumb mom-and-pop operation who wanted a website but didn't realize that they should control the domain, paid you for your work but now, for whatever reason, just want to part ways, then just give them their domain back.

The general crux of your question isn't about 'domain value' (since that domain isn't worth anything to anyone but them) but rather about how to most effectively ransom a domain name.

 

[mrjohn]

This is actually insanely common. A guy I know bought an independently owned hotel where the previous owners were straight out of 1958, realized they had to have an online presence in the 21st century, grotesquely overpaid a local developer to make a piece of crap website and of course, the developers bought and controlled the domain. It was a nightmare.

The only thing I'll say from the perspective of being a developer, is I prefer to keep domains under my account to ensure they're handled properly and not accidentally transferred when they receive some scam in the mail. Or just not renewed because the client doesn't read the email address they used to register it.

Clients owning domains on their own accounts produce several-fold more support issues than just keeping them on my account and sending a bill every year.

 

[rodmanG]

Sounds like a classic example of an ignorant businesses that 'wanted a website' and paid a developer to just 'make it happen' without bothering to understand how critical it is that you own your own domain.

This is actually insanely common. A guy I know bought an independently owned hotel where the previous owners were straight out of 1958, realized they had to have an online presence in the 21st century, grotesquely overpaid a local developer to make a piece of crap website and of course, the developers bought and controlled the domain. It was a nightmare.

In your case- if you did a bunch of work and bought a domain and they screwed you over by not paying, I'd say screw them back. Make them pay handsomely to get it all back.

If that isn't the case, though- if they're just some dumb mom-and-pop operation who wanted a website but didn't realize that they should control the domain, paid you for your work but now, for whatever reason, just want to part ways, then just give them their domain back.

The general crux of your question isn't about 'domain value' (since that domain isn't worth anything to anyone but them) but rather about how to most effectively ransom a domain name.

No they have never payed me for the domain or for the crappy site. Ive been hosting it for 4 years now and paying the domain fee`s.

 

[Jaco]

The only thing I'll say from the perspective of being a developer, is I prefer to keep domains under my account to ensure they're handled properly and not accidentally transferred when they receive some scam in the mail. Or just not renewed because the client doesn't read the email address they used to register it.

Clients owning domains on their own accounts produce several-fold more support issues than just keeping them on my account and sending a bill every year.

As long as there's some contractual clarity that the domain belongs to them and not you- but as part of your website management services, the name is under your control- that's easy going.

The problem is when Billy-Bobs Book Store hires a developer to build a site, that developer registers "BillyBobsBookstore.com" and summarily thinks that domain name 'belongs to them' and after he and Billy Bob have an argument over fees 3 years later, he holds Billy-Bob over a barrel for the domain name...

Dishonest developers exploit the domain ownership angle with naive clients ALL THE TIME.
It's their little nuclear option to, at minimum, ensure that they can draw one final pound of flesh when the relationship ends.

---------- Post added at 08:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:22 PM ----------

No they have never payed me for the domain or for the crappy site. Ive been hosting it for 4 years now and paying the domain fee`s.

This makes little to no sense.
Why were you working for free and paying domain fees on someone elses project for four years?

I'm 100% certain there is more to the story than you're letting on.

 

[Vito]

No they have never payed me for the domain or for the crappy site. Ive been hosting it for 4 years now and paying the domain fee`s.

4 years, That is a long time, and what have you done, besides create the site, regular updates, what fees have you paid, etc.???

Like Dongsman said, Was there any "contractual clarity"?
If so, then be a good guy and do whats right.
Honor it, and give them what was rightfully theirs.

If there was not a contract, and you were under the impression you were going to be paid at some point,
then it's pretty simple. Give them a fair bill for your servies, and transfer their Company Name domain to them.

There is too much information missing here.

What was your agreement, contract, etc?

I guess only YOU know what the right thing is based on your relationship with them, and your communications, and expectations of each other.

Just don't hold the domain hostage for a few extra bucks, if you DID offer to do it at no cost.

 

[Bannen]

Yes , seems like there's more to the story than you're telling us; why did you do a bunch of work building them a website, and pay for the domain name reg for 4 years, without being paid? Did you say it would be a favor to them? Did they say they'd pay you?

This reminds me of a funny true story in my life:
I was working at a store selling gym equipment, owned by two guys twice my age. Boss #1 (who was very lovable but a bit of a dope in some ways) kept saying there was 'this guy' he knows in Calgary who wanted to open a gym with him; the 'guy' would do all the work and put up some money, and was asking my boss #1 to put up most of the cash. He kept asking me and my boss #2 for advice. We kept saying, look, this guy lives over 1000 miles away, what are you getting into, he wants your money, don't do it.
This went on for a couple weeks. He kept saying 'this guy' really figures they could succeed. We kept telling him it was too much of a long shot, what do you know about the guy, toast the guy, forget the guy, the guy's a dick, let him find someone else to scam money off of. Finally boss #1 says, 'Yeah, but he's my brother, eh." Boss #2 and I just look at each other and slap our heads.

I get the same funny feeling with your thread... that you're leaving out something absolutely relevant and essential. Ha ha

 

[Venga]

No they have never payed me for the domain or for the crappy site. Ive been hosting it for 4 years now and paying the domain fee`s.

Then you already have a "reserve price" assuming you want to recoup your costs.