domain FreeRunner.com - Offered $10,000 USD

[HiPurple]

Hello NP folks,

I was offered $10,000 USD for FreeRunner.com this morning, and I'm trying to determine whether or not to sell. My inclination is to reject the offer, as I feel the domain is worth more with the buy-and-hold strategy that I've employed with my other domain names.

Free Running, a/k/a/ Parkour, appears to be an up-and-coming activity in the extreme sports arena, and the interest in this domain has grown significantly in the 4 years that I've owned it.

I know to stray away from the "instant appraisal" services, so I thought I'd ask the domain pros here for your thoughts on determining value now, vs. buy-and-hold value.

I've gone through the normal channels of Overture count, Google, etc. I've also combed through several FAQs and posts on this site, which is certainly an asset to any domainer.

Any serious comments or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks,

Paul

 

[Mike]

While 10k seems a reasonable offer at this time, unless you need the money - hold.

Look at what Nike and the other sports equipment power houses are up to. Look at ESPN and try to find out if Parkour is up for being part at the XGames. I think you should be ok to hold it for another 6-12 months to monitor the activity in the scene. The Bond movie has launched the hype, you can gamble and hope that it doesn't die/slow down.

Flipside - unless you bought the domain at a higher price - the initial investment and holding costs over the past 4 years would give you tremendous ROI on this one!

Keep in mind, this is :imho:

I'm seriously jealous!

IB

 

[Bannen]

Very nice name, hold on for higher. Not as nice as freerunning.com but definitely the runner-up to it. A fraction of the overture, but that's not as important as the sheer useability of it as a site name, company name, movie, tv show, whatever applies to the athletes themselves. There are a lot of great brandable names that could be made into movies, but are on the outskirts of being useable... hit or miss; this isn't one of them, this is as close to a lock-in as you get.

It's a sport that is just crossing the bridge into mainstream entertainment, and this name is just entering its 'kindergarten' phase of really being worth something. Personally I'd reject the offer outright, see if they come back with something substantially higher, and if not, I'd sit on it and see what another year or two brings to the party.

It's one of those names that applies to a nascent, just-becoming-popular pasttime, so you're just not gonna see where the value will really go until you've seen it a little more on tv, movies, books. Already popular, but it'll grow a lot more, IMO.

personally, if I HAD to sell it now, I'd counter at 18 or 20K, and maybe accept 14 - 16K. But that wouldn't be unless I was very stressed to sell. I think by waiting a year or two you might add another zero on to the appraisal price if this sport really digs in... well worth the wait.

Whatever you decide, good luck, great name.

 

[HiPurple]

Thanks, everyone, for the posts regarding FreeRunner.com and the $10K offer. I did reject the offer, based on instinct and your helpful recommendations, advising the potential buyer that current industry suggests a value closer in the mid-to-high $xx,xxx range... and probably more if developed. I doubt that I'll hear back

Meanwhile, I do have plans on developing the site, due to the growing popularity in the sport. Bannen has suggsted that I keep this thread posted on future developments, which I am happy to do if the interest is there.


IntelBank.com,
Great points about the sports equipment sources. Thanks for the tip re: XGames... I will certainly check that out. It appears that the potential for this sport is wide open. Agreed to the "buy and hold", as I have no pressing need for the money. Vision more important than anything. I do recognize that there is a tremendous ROI opportunity, considering that I openly registered the domain 4+ years ago for $6.75 (sorry!), thinking that it was a cool name at the time, but I love the idea of a larger ROI with a developed site. Thanks again for the info... I would bet that you hold some domains that would envy me!


Bannen,
Thanks for your post here and for the very helpful PM's. Agreed somewhat, as we decided, about FreeRunner.com vs. FreeRunning.com, but in a way, FreeRunner.com is more valuable with the avenue of identifying with the athlete, not the sport. Thanks for seeing that with me. Also agreed about the kindergarten phase of this sport.... here's hoping that it really catches on.

I suppose anything is possible at this point. Maybe if people get into it more, we'll see it on a Bravo TV show. How cool would that be. I've got some development work to do... thanks for pointing me in the right direction.


Much appreciated!

Paul

 

[BinderGang]

Should have countered at what you'd like.

 

[Anthony Sun]

Well, if you do make the counter offer, make sure you send the interested buyer the url of this thread.

 

[HiPurple]

Thanks for the updates!

BinderGang, I did counter offer at mid-to-high $xx,xxx or low $xxx,xxx. Predictably, I never heard back

anthonysun, I did include the URL. I'm sure the guy thinks we're all nuts, considering that his initial low-ball offer was $800. I'm sure he's banging out some obscure site like FreeRunningLookAtMe.com that he was able to register for $8. LOL!

Thanks to you both for the suggestions, and to Bannen, who has been a tremendous source of development help via PM.

 

[Finer - Tommy]

I personally think that you should have accepted the offer. I dont understand why the domain is worth more that that. It is a great domain but honestly i dont think it is worth more that 10k.

Good Luck though.

 

[Porte]

Here is my appraisal for the name.

FreeRunner.com
Clear sound, .com extension, premium names, potential increasing for names.
A quick search on google shows almost 76,000 results for freerunner.

that's decent. the domain has development potential in addition to that. adding to this easy type-in.

Worth $10K for now ofcourse, I would sell it, given it is undeveloped.
So it's just my opinion, I'd accept the offer.

 

[Burberry]

i think the domain is worth maybe 1-2K

 

[estibot.com]

I agree with Intelbank and Bannen absolutely. This domain is worth more than 10k. Wholesale price is probably mid x,xxx, but retail price is above 20k.

Bannen and Intelbank analyzed the domain perfectly already so I'm not going to repeat their points, but I would like to support your decision not to sell.