Domainers being rude when you ask about selling?

[inspiration100]

I bumped into a very rude domainer here on namepros and dp and I'm curious how often this happens to people when inquiring about domains? I asked him if he was interested in selling his domain and how much. He responds to me saying he is very much into the industry of the domain I was inquiring upon but would consider an offer. My email was simple and to the point:

Hey there,
Curious how much/if you'd be willing to sell ******Hacks.com (edited for SEO reasons).
How would you want for the name?

He simply responds and says I'm wasting his time. He then goes on to make fun of me on his personal blog saying that this is not how you should do domain transactions.

Has something like this ever happened to you?

Thanks!

 

[Domainace]

While what you say makes sense, I don't understand why someone must immediately make an offer? Why can someone not ask for a price range at least?

It is a shame, but there are too many people in domains/internet that have the manners of a spoiled 9 year old. Even if they make money, it's only a fraction of what they could make if anybody respected them or wanted to work with them.

So far as asking for a price range, there's nothing wrong with that as a buyer. However, as a seller, I would decline. It's up to the person who makes the first move to make the first offer.

If I, as a seller, say I am looking for $3000 to $5000 for a domain, the buyer will read $3000 as the starting point of negotiations. He will sense weakness in me, counter offer at maybe $800 or less. Even worse, he might have been prepared to pay $8000 before.

Short answer: the first offer is a disadvantage in negotiations. But, since you made the first move, you will need to make the first offer unless you get lucky and the seller is very inexperienced.

 

[nielsencl]

Domainer Complainer

Then he sends me a couple more e-mails telling me what a rude ***hole I am for not answering his e-mails...

That is so funny! People certainly don't understand what they tell people without meaning to...!

I tried to post my opion to the Obashi's blog, but I don't think the post worked... so let me just say here that when a domainer is somewhat successful, they tend to feel important and justified in putting down others and making them feel small. Someone truely successful and professional would NEVER do that, since even if they person cannot buy a domain from them, treating them right could result in a sale with a friend or client. It's just like the old story of the lion and the mouse.

I don't like getting offers where they ask me my price. Why? Because I don't have prices on my domains and if I am going to set on, I need to checkout all the things that give a domain value like traffic and revenue, and what other domains are selling for.

If I say a very high price that would make me very happy, the seller may just go away. If I say an "ok" price, then I may miss out on making some extra profit that can make up for domains where I don't make much or lose money.

So I ask the buyer to name the price they want to pay. Then we have a starting point. I expect the starting point to be low, but it makes a difference if it's $5, $500, or $5,000. Then I can see what "I" want to get for the domain and come back with a counter offer and all the information that is why I have set the price I have. Then the buyer can agree or make a higher offer. I try to let the buyer know that I am willing to discuss the price if I am. I want to try and sell a domain to everyone that contacts me, so I will try to find a way to make a deal. But I'm not going to lower my prices too much. If the buyer is serious and wants my domain, they need to do their homework and tell me why my domain is only worth the price they want to pay. If you have done your homework and know what you are talking about, then you have a good chance of getting the domain. But if a seller has some inflated idea of the value, or just wants to wait, then there is nothing you can do, since they have that right.

The first price named by the buyer should be low, but if it's too low a non-professional seller will get offended. This is a mistake by the seller. The seller has NO WAY OF KNOWING FOR SURE who the buyer is and what friends or connections they may have. Rather than being offended, they should reply to the seller with an asking price or price range that they expect and why they expect it. Then the buyer can revise their offer or go away.

If the seller has to name a price, it's gonna be high. But the buyer doen't know how high. Is the seller serious, or are they just fishing for an early retirement? The less motivated they are to sell, the higher this price is going to be. You need to find out and you can only do this by making a counter in a range YOU feel is more realistic for you and the general market. The seller may or may not realize this is a realistic offer and again it depends if they want to sell their domain or not.

The quote I started this post is funny, because it is clear that the seller wanted to sell, but by being non-professional, they offended the potential buyer, who has no way of telling what the seller's real price range is. Even if the buyer was looking to pay in the $xxx-$xxxx range, they may think the seller is thinking at least the $xx,xxx-$xxx,xxx range, and not want to bother or be insulted by the seller. No chance for negotiations then.

So I hope this helps others a little. If you run into an OBashi again, just realize they are pretty clueless in this process and it's going to cost them sales and offers in the future. I know I am not interested in dealing with someone like that unless I really, really have to, and if I do I don't be giving them any breaks or considerations no matter how nice they may act towards me. What goes around, comes around.

 

[Ben42]

Clearly the seller wanted an end user price and the buyer would want wholesale price. Just tell the potential buyer (obviously a domainer), that you want an end-user price for the domain. Buyer, the seller wants and end user price so why bother pushing for a number? It's going to be way too high.

 

[athletec64]

@athletec64: used to be?

Yea, well the place closed down (hence the past tense), and as far as I know, there's no replacement

 

[nielsencl]

So far as asking for a price range, there's nothing wrong with that as a buyer. However, as a seller, I would decline. It's up to the person who makes the first move to make the first offer.

If I, as a seller, say I am looking for $3000 to $5000 for a domain, the buyer will read $3000 as the starting point of negotiations. He will sense weakness in me, counter offer at maybe $800 or less. Even worse, he might have been prepared to pay $8000 before.

Short answer: the first offer is a disadvantage in negotiations. But, since you made the first move, you will need to make the first offer unless you get lucky and the seller is very inexperienced.

Interesting, but I think what you say is true for both buyer and seller. It really is a process of acting interested, but from a standpoint of power or the advantage. There can be a shift in power on either side depending on who really has it, or can act like they have it.

A price range by seller or buyer tells the other quote a bit, but not everything. In your example, an offer of $800 by the buyer is not realistic and sells you as the seller that the buyer is either limited in what they can spend or is trying to see if they can get a deal. You must decide if the $800 is ok, or too low. Are you willing to risk them leaving and countering at $4,000 or $7,500? Your counter sends a message and it's up to you if you show weakness, or firmness. Frankly, an offer of $800 should be countered with something like $6,000 or $7,500 along with some reason WHY. The WHY tells the buyer you are serious about your counter and not bluffing, and also tells them they can discuss what they may counter with next.

If someone asks for a range, you don't have to give it to them, and I don't think you should. Give them the highest number and give them clues if you want them to counter lower. Tell them you won't be insulted by their offer, no matter what. Then you know where to go next.

Same thing for the buyer. don't give a range unless you want to reveal how far you will come up before the REAL negotiations start. Your top price is not going to be your top price unless this is your first time, newbie-san! So your range tells the seller there is more to come. Tell them the starting price. You can also tell them why, but I would wait until you up the price at least once.

Both sides should bring out more and more facts and reasons why their price is realistic. Of course, the other person may not agree, like if an Estibot.com appraisal is quoted. There's a good way to screw up YOUR position.

Just found more info that may be helpful here.

 

[Japster]

Yep, Sure is a damn rude guy but I'm sure you'll get the last laugh

 

[kohashi]

Yea, well the place closed down (hence the past tense), and as far as I know, there's no replacement

Who are you exactly?

 

[Spade]

His blog is located on a .info - thats all Im gonna say.

 

[kohashi]

His blog is located on a .info - thats all Im gonna say.

Why waste a .com on a personal blog?

 

[inspiration100]

kohashi, I'm glad you came to the forum and I have more respect that you took the time to respond to everything. Thanks for that! Next time someone offers on your domain, I think you should consider laying out a price for a domain. Otherwise, simply state it is not for sale. Instead you took the approach that I was a moron and I am a perfect example of how "not to buy a domain". In fact, I believe I have been domaining probably almost as long as you and have a good knowledge in the field along with you.

You obviously have self esteem in your domain business, and that's good. But you need to take some chill pills next time before racking up a simple question into a blog post to make me look like a fool. I hope we can end this on a positive note and continue doing what we do best.

 

[mjnels]

thanks for the neg rep u humorless souls u.

i care deeply about my reputation "points" on internet forums too. i have a feeling kohashi feels the same way.

 

[inspiration100]

who are you talking to mjnels? I didn't negative rep you.

 

[mjnels]

i didnt say you did my good sir.

 

[tipsfromthetop]

Dear o Dear isnt it terrible when you get clowns like that treat people with such disrespect. You asked in good faith and he goes and does that really twigs me some peoples motives sometimes.

Seriously i think there should be a thread where people can name and shame with evidence as a warning to domainers in case in the future this type of thing happens again.

 

[kohashi]

kohashi, I'm glad you came to the forum and I have more respect that you took the time to respond to everything. Thanks for that! Next time someone offers on your domain, I think you should consider laying out a price for a domain. Otherwise, simply state it is not for sale. Instead you took the approach that I was a moron and I am a perfect example of how "not to buy a domain". In fact, I believe I have been domaining probably almost as long as you and have a good knowledge in the field along with you.

You obviously have self esteem in your domain business, and that's good. But you need to take some chill pills next time before racking up a simple question into a blog post to make me look like a fool. I hope we can end this on a positive note and continue doing what we do best.

As a general rule, I almost never put a price, there is no reason to put an asking price, it sets the rules of the game too early as someone said here earlier (sorry don't remember who exactly). My typical response is to give people 1 chance to make an offer, you actually got a slightly nicer version, most say I will block their email accounts if there is no offer or it is unsatisfactory. If the buyer is an end user, they will generally put up at least a decent offer or come crawling back with a more reasonable offer later down the line. But to each their own method, my business is not selling domains, it's development, but I won't say no to a big enough offer, I've had some big corps come to me through gmail so I won't simply say not for sale, but not going to price either, now hopefully you understand the logic (go ahead and try it - though you should be making your money from development/ppc/aff marketing, not actually selling domain names).

I am happy to end on a good note, good luck with your domaining.

---------- Post added at 11:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:17 PM ----------

Dear o Dear isnt it terrible when you get clowns like that treat people with such disrespect. You asked in good faith and he goes and does that really twigs me some peoples motives sometimes.

Seriously i think there should be a thread where people can name and shame with evidence as a warning to domainers in case in the future this type of thing happens again.

Domain Name Journal - The Lowdown :lol:

 

[randomo]

Nice resolution to this thread, you guys. If only other people who get into arguments on these forums could act so maturely! Good luck to both of you.

 

[inspiration100]

As a general rule, I almost never put a price, there is no reason to put an asking price, it sets the rules of the game too early as someone said here earlier (sorry don't remember who exactly). My typical response is to give people 1 chance to make an offer, you actually got a slightly nicer version, most say I will block their email accounts if there is no offer or it is unsatisfactory. If the buyer is an end user, they will generally put up at least a decent offer or come crawling back with a more reasonable offer later down the line. But to each their own method, my business is not selling domains, it's development, but I won't say no to a big enough offer, I've had some big corps come to me through gmail so I won't simply say not for sale, but not going to price either, now hopefully you understand the logic (go ahead and try it - though you should be making your money from development/ppc/aff marketing, not actually selling domain names).

I am happy to end on a good note, good luck with your domaining.

---------- Post added at 11:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:17 PM ----------



Domain Name Journal - The Lowdown :lol:

+ rep to you. %%-

 

[SpareDomains]

thanks for the neg rep u humorless souls u.

i care deeply about my reputation "points" on internet forums too. i have a feeling kohashi feels the same way.

same here first negative rep in 5 years at this forum even though thread starter gives me a positive +

 

[mjnels]

lol.. just got another neg rep from some random person.. a few of you honestly need to find another line of work. i really dont think this internet thing is working out for you.

 

[inspiration100]

I think that's exactly why DP charges members for negative reps, that way they don't spam them out on a thread.