question Email from Harvard Professor today on Domain Name! HELP!

[DomainBarracksRob]

Need some advice here, Still new to all this and this is my first major"talk/negation".

So about a month ago I reg'd APOPS. org on the drop I liked it for several reasons.

Today I got a email from Jerold S. Kayden - simply saying -"Have you purchased the domain name apops.org?"....I looked at the Email name tag and it said, GSD Harvard . edu . Of course I was like Wow this is cool. Naturally I looked him up and Turns out he is Professor of Urban Planning and Design at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. Also Founder of Advocates of Privately Owned Public Spaces....(apops)!!!! Wow again....turns out his other title is "Urban planner and LAWYER"!!.......How safe am I here????I did not look up Trademarks or anything like that on the name, could him being a Lawyer make this more difficult??

Please read this link here with The info on him and APOPS, he has a large team of pre$tigiou$ people and ceo's
https://apops.mas.org/about/people/

I have not responed to his email yet. I need suggestions , thoughts, opinions , appraisals, and maybe even legal advice

Thank You

Robert

 

[johnn]

Ask him to send his daughter picture to you.
Depending on how her look you can price the name accordingly.
i.e. beautiful and single - give it to him free - ugly and married - charge full retail price.

FYI, I just sold an .org name to a non-profit organization for high $x,xxx after they told me they don't have money and low ball me for $100.

 

[Kate]

As I said before he is not just a professor at Harvard, he is a Business man with other investments , and has invested in this APOPS .org no matter how crappy or useful we can debate on about this name, it's valued by him and ...me!

Judging by some of the comments in this thread, it is obvious that many domainers don't understand how businesses or organizations operate.
The guy may have a comfortable salary but he's is not going to pay out of his own pocket for a project that belongs to the university he works for (unless maybe he's desperate to fix a personal blunder that could cost him his job and you're only taking advantage of his unfortunate position).
If the project is non-commercial and not earning revenue, they have no incentive to pay a significant sum.
And if he's not a decision maker he is not in a position to release funds from the uni dept. So what, you won't squeeze blood from a stone.
Likewise, when dealing with big corporations, how much the CEO is earning in salary is not relevant in negotiating domain price. What matters is how much he's authorized to spend (may have to secure board agreement).

and if I'm never able to sell it again if he passes, well I'm out $8.99 and life goes on! That's my risk I'm willing to take.

Is that an admission that you picked the domain for the sole purpose of resale, even though there are only two, I mean one obvious end user ? Again, I don't see upside in names like these, they are more like liabilities. I would try to work out an arrangement with the guy who obviously needs it, than wait for a buyer that will never come.

Frankly, I don't like some of the comments in this thread. They make domainers look bad and greedy.
Yeah. You picked 'his' domain name, just because you could. He's wondering why. Maybe he's thinking he was personally targeted. This isn't a premium domain with a lot of built-in value, that you should understandably be reluctant to hand over. Now how do you turn this situation into something positive ?

 

[jberryhill]

@jberryhill - comments welcome : smile :

Oh, I doubt it.

 

[1Darko]

@DomainBarracksRob Write back to him that you're a poor orphan living in a barrack and that you need at least $1,000 to survive the upcoming winter. If the professor has some heart he will transfer the money as soon as possible.

 

[pinkdragon]

I suppose you paid about 6 bucks for the name. IMHO, threre are very slim chanches to sell it even for 50. Just give him the name back. You'll make him happy, and you'll be pleased you did a good thing.

 

[stewmath]

I used to work for a non profit organisation, the reason why theres no profit is because all the directors drain all the money from it.

All the ones i used to work for all owned aston martins, audi r8's etc

Also university professors are paid a fortune

 

[.NJ]

While I respect both of your honest opinions. I've always been the out of the box thinker in anything I do in life, even with friends or family , some say it's the A-D-D........you all are more seasoned in domaining and I respect that, however ...it's not a case of what you "see" as it is what "I" see.

https://apops.mas.org/pops/559/..... Park Avenue is prime real-estate in NY.

Yes universities don't always have large budgets, good think this isn't run by the university.

apops is a separate Corporation started BY a University professor.

Regardless of this particular end-user, as i stated in my 2nd line at the beginning on the post, I liked it for several reasons. I see things many may not see and think things others may not. I respect your thoughts, however I posted this thread more so for the guidance through the negotiation process then, I did for votes on whether or not the name is good or bad.

Given that we are talking about an inbound inquiry over the name......

Im questioning because Im gathering info before I give my advice.

I asked why you regged it because it looks like it was regged to squat on.

In the email you got I personally dont see an inquiry to purchase.

I see an inquiry on why did you reg the name.

He specifically states "did you reg this name"?

My guess is his next response will be "why did you reg this name"?

Following that will be a siest and desist letter due to possible infringement complications.

Remember, this guy is a lawyer.

Anyway, good luck.

I hope its a sale inquiry instead.

My 2 cents here.

 

[frank-germany]

it doesn't matter who the buyer is and how deep his pockets are
its your domain
and there are a lot of options to use a short acronym

so its up to you what to do with it
just don't violate any 3rd persons legal rights
thats it

renew it for 10 years

if somebody wants it
they are free to offer you a compensation
for giving up your plans

and your time
and your knowledge
that was needed in order to find such domain

if they don't honor that
they might choose another domain


there is no need to explain your initial plans to anybody
and there is no need to justify the fact that you registered an available domain


--

disclaimer
I am no lawyer
no legal advice

just my opinion
as a result of more then 15 years domaining

 

[Haris]

A billionaire media company's CEO contacted me recently, for a short one word .tv domain that has many potential buyers and my BIN price at AfterNic/etc is $20k. After learning about this CEO and his companies I thought I shouldn't have put a BIN price because he is so rich he might pay 6 figures or at least $50k.. But he had probably seen the BIN price and I felt it was not right to increase the asking price just because he is rich and gave him the $20k price.

Guess what his max budget was for the domain? USD 862. LOL. I can't sell for that amount and he wasn't willing to increase his budget so he moved on.

Perceived values differentiate from person to person.

 

[jamesau]

If you aren't going to develop the domain I would just hand it back over to this guy for a nominal fee.

You will expand your professional network and have an IOU in hand from a well connected individual (Harvard networks are huge).

Otherwise the best case is you hold this for 5 years and maybe scrape out a $500 sale.

 

[promo]

I once gave an expired name back to an org for free. Back then I was regging what ever had stats from the drop and had picked up uw seneca dot org.

In my case it was a local division of a childrens org so an easy decision. A bit more cut and dry than this situation but certainly sometimes the circumstances dictate that profit takes a backseat.

 

[Furquan]

Sell it as fast as you can, don't go with $1000 or $10000.

I will be happy if I get $100 from a name which I had registered 2 days back at $5.99.

 

[Silentptnr]

If it was so important, they should have managed it properly. I think it was rude of them to not make a decent offer of compensation for any inconvenience to the buyer. Domain names are serious business and if they are not continuously registered, they become available.

You could respond saying that you are just a person that needed a domain and got that one. If they want the domain, they make a donation to you. Maybe a months salary of whoever made the mistake.

If they would rather file a UDRP, they can pay the $1500, prove their trademark, etc.

I wouldn't even respond.

 

[Haris]

I'm more inclined to say it's not you, it's your name that's good

I bought the good name so I am good too

 

[Haykay2005]

They are stupidly rich. Don't sell cheap

 

[WeSell-Domains]

There is nothing in the web archives since 2005 and your "for sale" page in Sept 2017. In 2005 the domain forwarded to a geocities website. If the lawyer had the name he didn't make good use of it. The non profit may not have any money but I bet the lawyer does. Personally I may have been willing to deal with him until I got the "I'm broke" BS. Heard that so many times that it usually makes me go the other way now. But it all depends on how bad do you want to keep the domain or how generous you are. Even if you only get low $xxx for it, it may be better than keeping it for 5 years then letting it expire unsold.

 

[WhoaDomain.com]

ummm I think this thread or at least all mention of this domain in this thread should be deleted by mods for your benefit as all mentions of it will be easily viewed on Google.

do it quick if it's not too late. if these people are rich? and their team screwed up? guaranteed they are googling your domain and I bet namepros will show this thread.

that would suck as it will show your "Game plan"

good luck!


"Give them nothing. But Take from them Everything!"

 

[DomainBarracksRob]

It's a tough call, some people no matter how much money they have will not do business in the sense they have programmed themselves to not take responsibility they let their domain expire. It is always a glitch on the other side that made this happen. I would just go silent, and let him talk to himself, until he throws out a number. He does have a legal background, and a UDRP justified or not, could be his means in attempting to get it back also. You play it as you need to, but this one doesn't sound easy.

No you are completely correct and I agree with you whole heartily, however I do Not take kindly to being taking as a uneducated and dim whited fool! He has more than enough behind him that it could have been settled in the first response, I would have respected that. Heck I would have taken a LOT less then I will hold back for now. I'm not sure how deep everyone hear has looked as he also wrote and sold a book. My whole point is , if you're earning $xxx,xxx yearly on just SALARY alone...and have book sales , and all other investments , including this one at the very topic at hand. Shame one you for coming at me so penny pinching cheap to offer at cost, when you say it is "important to me". It's a insult. Point blank !

Honestly, makes my blood boil and almost make me feel like adding another X to the BIN! For you GOT fans....SHAME lol (couldn't help it)

 

[Silentptnr]

Reminder:
Google.com, one of the most valuable domains on the Internet, was mistakenly sold for $12 last fall.
Google paid $12,000 to get it back.
http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/29/technology/google-domain-purchase/index.html

 

[xynames]

Interesting, in that this guy, similar situation with ebusiness.com , got nothing - the registrar simply reversed the sale:
https://www.namepros.com/threads/ol...-domains-after-the-sale.1044751/#post-6405218

Seems like Google paid the guy more out of respect that he had discovered a "hole" in the process, and also because he was donating the proceeds to charity. Kudos to Google!

 

[DomainBarracksRob]

....if you haven't looked up "Harvard Professor Salary" on google....you should!!!!

Also ..he is not Just a professor!...forget about the organization, this guy is Farrrrr from broke!

I've done sales and have a friend which is the best salesperson I know, he has told me this guy is a Shark..DO NOT BE A MINNOW.

It was mentioned that it would be nice to have a Harvard Law Professor as a friend.......this guy would forget my First name the second I "gave" it to him for nothing. No favors would come about .

I respect Honesty and I would be more generous had he not try to take me for a fool in the email.

But he is smart, a business man, trying to buy/regain at lowest price possible. That's not poor, that's could thinking thinking. Being to soft tin the past has just left me the runner up, and you know what a shark likes more than a minnow, a sucker.

If you haven't looked up "Harvard Professor Salary" just yet as of 2012 the average was $131,200 and the high was $198,400.

As I said before he is not just a professor at Harvard, he is a Business man with other investments , and has invested in this APOPS .org no matter how crappy or useful we can debate on about this name, it's valued by him and ...me!

I have learned a lot from reading on this forum as you all recommend to do. TOO many times have I seen the post, offthe push over story and the story of how they said they would Never pay that price, .....the domainer set a BIN, and the enduser came back a snatched it up at 5x times what everyone was expecting . My gut tells me this guy Wants it, and is someone who could easly drop 1500 on a item if he or she decided they want it.

I like what Silentptner said best, about didn't even offer, and not responding! Therefore I appreciate you all......and believe my choice of action is to set my BIN price on GD and ignore him for a week if nothing happens then I will write him! I personally will not let it go for less than $999 because it's my name and that's what I see in it..........and if I'm never able to sell it again if he passes, well I'm out $8.99 and life goes on! That's my risk I'm willing to take.

"Great reward comes at the risks of enormous failure"

 

[xynames]

Well, please keep us posted on what transpires. Since we all went to the trouble of posting here, please don't disappear on us and let us know!

 

[usernamex]

@jberryhill - comments welcome : smile :

 

[wwwweb]

It's a tough call, some people no matter how much money they have will not do business in the sense they have programmed themselves to not take responsibility they let their domain expire. It is always a glitch on the other side that made this happen. I would just go silent, and let him talk to himself, until he throws out a number. He does have a legal background, and a UDRP justified or not, could be his means in attempting to get it back also. You play it as you need to, but this one doesn't sound easy.

 

[Elad n]

I wrote a detailed response ......with reasons in which handing over my name at cost was a no, though I was open to negotiations.

I don't think it was taken well...at all due to the short and what sounds friendly at first ..... and then you pick up on all the lawyer lingo in the short reply and realize what it means.

" Thank you for your thoughtful response. I fully understand your position and wish you luck going forward."

.....I'm no genius , but when a "lawyer" uses wording such as this ...it's not hard to tell what he's thinking or planning.

This was on the 20th

Surprise Surprise lol