From ugly to $1 million, guy wants to trade up his ugly domain name

[domaindigger]

I just saw this on digg and wanted some perspective. This guy wants to trade up his oneuglydomain.com for a more "beautiful" one worth $1 million. It's like that oneredpaperclip idea, but with domains.

My question is, does he have a chance or is this just a parody? I have a couple of dead domains I wouldn't mind trading for if I can feed off the publicity this might generate.

Thoughts?

 

[TOXX]

Hey, what if the site went with
a sort of secret santa gimmick...
Say there are 3 domains up for grabs
and the winning submission gets to
choose what's under 1, 2 or 3...
It'd be one crazy domain shellgame!

Hey, great idea!!
...
"The Price is Right" for Domainers!!

 

[tristanperry]

To revive this quickly It appears we've come up with two main ideas really:

1) Mine and Brian's - Let Andres rate each domain, we comment (etc). And as Brian suggested, the final $1,000,000 is split between those who have traded domains with OUD.

2) bargaindomains' - Turn OUD into a multi-domain trading platform.

Any developments upon these? If not, may I suggest that we present these two ideas to Andres and let him decide? Personally, I just want to see OUD up and running again

 

[Erdy]

I think the multi domain trading idea is a good one. On the other hand I disagree that the best way is to let Andres rate the domains. The best way is to have a commision of experienced namepros members. I think 3 experienced namepros members should be enough. Andres should choose these people among those who are willing. With 3 members the desicions can be faster. If two out of three say OK then the trade happens.

It goes like this:

1. There are 10 active domains at any given time.

2. There is no time limit for anything. Offers and trades will happen 24/7.

3. People can submit any domain, any time for any of the 10 active names.

4. They can submit the same domain for one or many of teh active domains. So this means I'm willing to trade my domain for number 3,6,7,and 9. There should be small thick boxes during submission.

5. On the website there should be a table with 10 columns. On the top of each column there should be the active domain that is traded at the moment. Underneath is a list of offered names. These are currently considered by the commision. Any rejected domain will drop from that column. The commision should make a desicion within 3 days.

This way OUD will be very active. There will be trades everyday. Even multiple trades might happen the same day. Also there will be 10 different names on offer at any given time.

Edit:
I have changed my mind about one commision reviewing all 10 columns. These should be more than one commision. Let the commisions compete with each other. Lets say columns 1-5 are reviewed by commision-A and 6-10 by commision-B.

 

[Archangel]

Not a bad idea, MarcelProust. In fact, this would be great. My only thought is: What would be in it for the NP'ers or whoever for their effort? A lot of activity is the BEST way OUD could succeed (Come on, the site currently turns stale often. It's seldom updated anymore). If ppl go out of their way daily (maybe hourly) to help Andres make $1mil, what would be in it for those who help? Maybe Andres could exchange a service for their help. A thought: Perhaps the domainers who help would be given exposure for their domains i.e. there could be profiles on OUD for each 'expert' who helps with the decision process. On it, these ppl could post their own domains etc. for sale. I don't think that would cause competition with the domains on offer and I believe this would be sufficient compensation for the commissions that help with Andres' pursuit of a million-dollar domain.

 

[BrandYourself]

nice expansion of ideas there marcelproust
In case anyone's wondering where I've popped up from - I havn't made many posts in this thread but I've been pretty much offerring up domains every round over at oud,I traded consolidate.biz with andres a little while back

The more I think about oud becoming a multiple domain trading portal the more I like it, why not submit many more than 10 at any given time from multiple domain holders,. The sky is the limit re: number of domains up for trade at any given time but I really like the idea of also having the the option to make cash offers for any domains - either with bin prices or make offer etc

I agree that there has to be some selection process to maintain quality of the domains being offerred up and agree that such controls would have to be agreed and fully implemented.

Re the plan of making a million dollars

1000 x $1000 (in time) is more easily attainable imo

I've supported andres all the way and followed with interest his endeavours
and feel like most of us that it'd be a real shame if this project didn't succeed

I also think if a new site is to continue a redesign makeover would be much
needed, the webpage design of oud worked initially but a rebranding is much needed imo

 

[Coopey]

Most of these ideas are good and I've even given Rep+ for the positive contributions (except Tristan who apparently vBulletin thinks I'm "fond" of...)- but they're all too different to the original idea.

None of them sound like they'd be as fun to watch- and whilst the multi-domain idea is interesting, it sounds like an idea for a completely different site- not a blog. I also don't see how this would be more likely to yield a $1,000,000 domain- this may never happen in the current format.

 

[Archangel]

Most of these ideas are good and I've even given Rep+ for the positive contributions (except Tristan who apparently vBulletin thinks I'm "fond" of...)- but they're all too different to the original idea.

None of them sound like they'd be as fun to watch- and whilst the multi-domain idea is interesting, it sounds like an idea for a completely different site- not a blog. I also don't see how this would be more likely to yield a $1,000,000 domain- this may never happen in the current format.

I question that, myself: As good of ideas as these are, I'm not sure how they'll see a $1mil domain, wrapped with a little red bow, at the end.

 

[mktgmark]

Most of these ideas are good and I've even given Rep+ for the positive contributions (except Tristan who apparently vBulletin thinks I'm "fond" of...)- but they're all too different to the original idea.

None of them sound like they'd be as fun to watch- and whilst the multi-domain idea is interesting, it sounds like an idea for a completely different site- not a blog. I also don't see how this would be more likely to yield a $1,000,000 domain- this may never happen in the current format.

Exactly.

While I think there are a number of good ideas posted here, most are not true to the original concept. Some, I think, would work... but maybe work better as a different site idea altogether or possible added onto one of the already present domain trading sites that have sprung up since OUD.

Great ideas though.

 

[Li0rE]

Sorry for going off topic, but I don't understand why this guy is stopping. I liked the idea and I kept checking back, but he should continue. What was the problem with what he did anyway?

 

[RogueWriter]

Sorry for going off topic, but I don't understand why this guy is stopping. I liked the idea and I kept checking back, but he should continue. What was the problem with what he did anyway?

imo, what he did was similar to this analogy:

I post a domain for sale here for a specific price, and say, "first to post sold gets it."

You post "sold" first.

Then I say, "Well, actually I think I will go sell the domain at sedo, because I think I can get more there than from you."

Same principle, different facts, IMO.

 

[Li0rE]

Yea, but he isn't giving a fixed price. People didn't offer him any names that were worth his set.

It's more like saying "Selling x.com for $50 post SOLD to claim", someone posts $20 SOLD and he says that's not what I was looking for, I'll sell at sedo.

 

[domaindigger]

imo, what he did was similar to this analogy:

I post a domain for sale here for a specific price, and say, "first to post sold gets it."

You post "sold" first.

Then I say, "Well, actually I think I will go sell the domain at sedo, because I think I can get more there than from you."

Same principle, different facts, IMO.

I think you're exaggerating a little. What he did is more analogous to "I'm going to extend the offering period and make it more interesting so I generate more interest." Nothing more, nothing less. To be honest, you're probably upset because you were hoping to do a major trade-up.

Anyway, all this in-fighting and bitching is the reason I rarely pop back in here anymore.

I hope OUD can make it through, although I don't see anyone reaching a consensus, so good luck to that. Like someone said a few posts back, he should just keep doing what he was doing, but add back his own offer to the vote so we can vote for him to keep it.

My $0.02.

 

[Pound]

Yea, but he isn't giving a fixed price. People didn't offer him any names that were worth his set.

It's more like saying "Selling x.com for $50 post SOLD to claim", someone posts $20 SOLD and he says that's not what I was looking for, I'll sell at sedo.

No, because the original idea was: I have a domain for sale and I am going to have it in the offers wanted section for one week and by the end of that week, the highest offer wins. He has said that he will choose the highest offer at the end of the week, thus meaning he should take it. If he had written that there was a reserve of $x, then this could have been sorted that way.

 

[RogueWriter]

Liore- No, he specifically states that "all domains will be accepted, no matter how bad".

So, to continue the analogy, he states, "First to post an offer gets it"

Eight of us posted offers, and then he ignores us and goes to sedo.

And to tell you the truth there were a couple of decent offers in there.

I think you're exaggerating a little. What he did is more analogous to "I'm going to extend the offering period and make it more interesting so I generate more interest." Nothing more, nothing less. To be honest, you're probably upset because you were hoping to do a major trade-up.

Anyway, all this in-fighting and bitching is the reason I rarely pop back in here anymore.

I hope OUD can make it through, although I don't see anyone reaching a consensus, so good luck to that. Like someone said a few posts back, he should just keep doing what he was doing, but add back his own offer to the vote so we can vote for him to keep it.

My $0.02.

I'm not exaggerating at all, he had a little timer counting down, hurry up get your offers in, and everything. There was no, "If I do not like the offers I will extend the offers and sell the domains rather than let you have them." He was very adamant about accepting EVERY offer, not filtering, and submitting to a vote.

If any of those 8 people actually wanted those domains, they are screwed now, because he did not live up to the deal and sold them off cheaply to someone else.

And yes, I certainly was angry about getting screwed out of a decent chance for a win - not because of the domains as much as the permanent inbound link from a PR 4 or above site. How much do you think that link will be worth in a few months, when it reaches PR5, 6 or even, PR7? But then, I have stated this multiple times.

 

[domaindigger]

Liore- No, he specifically states that "all domains will be accepted, no matter how bad".

So, to continue the analogy, he states, "First to post an offer gets it"

Eight of us posted offers, and then he ignores us and goes to sedo.

And to tell you the truth there were a couple of decent offers in there.



I'm not exaggerating at all, he had a little timer counting down, hurry up get your offers in, and everything. There was no, "If I do not like the offers I will extend the offers and sell the domains rather than let you have them." He was very adamant about accepting EVERY offer, not filtering, and submitting to a vote.

If any of those 8 people actually wanted those domains, they are screwed now, because he did not live up to the deal and sold them off cheaply to someone else.

And yes, I certainly was angry about getting screwed out of a decent chance for a win - not because of the domains as much as the permanent inbound link from a PR 4 or above site. How much do you think that link will be worth in a few months, when it reaches PR5, 6 or even, PR7? But then, I have stated this multiple times.

Uhm, either you misunderstood or I did. I thought the Sedo auction was to make the offer "more interesting" and that he was going to trade the RESULTS of the auction with the winner. In other words, he was never going to get the cash himself, he was just going to determine the market value of the domains and then do the vote and whoevers domain won the vote, was going to get his sedo account and cash-in on the auction. Isn't that why Sedo cancelled his account?

So he never screwed the 8 offers over since they were still going to be in the vote, he just made things more interesting, which he's pretty much tried to do in every single round (although not always successfully).

This is an important point.

 

[RogueWriter]

From the front page of his site:

"........However, all is not lost. I received 2 cash offers for OnlineCasino.im and OnlinePoker.im in Sedo. The offers were for $160 each, which is the minimum offer allowed. As a result, I've decided to take a huge gamble and auction off both names starting now. So I'm extending this round and will continue to accept offers from traders until 24 hours after the end of the 7-day auction. "

So, the submission period expired, with 8 valid offers. He ignored those offers, sent 2 of the domains to auction, and was going to reopen for more submissions. That is instead of having 7 competitors, we would potentially be competing against dozens.

 

[Erdy]

I definitely agree that it should be possible to keep the current name. Why did he change the rules at first place? If that option was still available OUD could have been kept rolling right now.

I made a few suggestions above but it looks difficult to apply them right now. So maybe some more modest changes will be better. Here is what I suggest:

1. Put back the option to keep the current name.
2. Don't allow set of domains except when the set is for the same name with different extensions (e.g onlinepoker.com and onlinepoker.net).
3. Public voting is a bad idea. People are getting too impatient, too involved and sometimes too carried away with other people's comments. Let a few experts do the decisions. I would be happier if one month had passed without a trade and we still had 354.net.

There is no reason to rush. Domaining is all about patience.

 

[RogueWriter]

If Andres acts like this while losing a 1K domain, what will really be interesting is watching him wriggle as he is forced to trade down from a 100K domain to an 80K domain, which is bound to happen a few times on the journey up to 1 mil. I wonder if people will be as understanding then when he screws them out of twenty grand and changes the rules mid round. After all, he IS setting a precedent now, isn't he? That it is okay to modify the rules to his advantage?

 

[briman1970]

If Andres acts like this while losing a 1K domain, what will really be interesting is watching him wriggle as he is forced to trade down from a 100K domain to an 80K domain, which is bound to happen a few times on the journey up to 1 mil. I wonder if people will be as understanding then when he screws them out of twenty grand and changes the rules mid round. After all, he IS setting a precedent now, isn't he? That it is okay to modify the rules to his advantage?

I have to agree with Rogue. I suggest that Andres go ahead and complete the trade for this round with one of the names already submitted. It won't do OUD any good to sit idle for much longer and the site will not survive if half of the posters here lose confidence in Andres' ethics.

Andres said that he understands that there will be tradedowns in his quest for the million dollar name. He needs to prove that he stands by his word by making the transaction that was promised. He can change the rules all he wants for the next round.

I still feel kind of bad that my (former) domains are part of the reason for all this drama.

 

[Li0rE]

I agree. I think he should go on.

 

[domaindigger]

If Andres acts like this while losing a 1K domain, what will really be interesting is watching him wriggle as he is forced to trade down from a 100K domain to an 80K domain, which is bound to happen a few times on the journey up to 1 mil. I wonder if people will be as understanding then when he screws them out of twenty grand and changes the rules mid round. After all, he IS setting a precedent now, isn't he? That it is okay to modify the rules to his advantage?

Are we seriously seeing this so differently or is one of us not understanding what happened? You say "acts like this" like he backed down from a trade, which would obviously kill his reputation and finish OUD. But he didn't back down from a trade. He was quiet the whole round 14, and then at the end of it received cash offers in Sedo, which changed the whole playing field, so he sent them to auction (again to make things more interesting) and extended the round. He's done this before, I believe. And you say that he modified the rules "to his advantage". Uhm, what would have happened if nobody had offered more than the $160 starting bid on Sedo? Then no domainers would have offered him crap for Round 14, and he would have done a MAJOR trade down, so how is that to his advantage? He took a huge gamble, which I'm still not sure would have paid off. You are distorting the facts.

Plus, I don't see any of the other 7 domainers that participated in this round here complaining. From the *noise* your making, it would seem like there's a huge uproar, but there's only one guy, you, re-hashing the same thing over and over again. And I don't remember anyone here at NP complaining when Andres did similar things in the past (although I could be wrong, I don't fully remember). You're starting to sound like a whiner, IMHO, and its not helping OUD. I don't know if I'm the only one who thinks that or not, but I suspect I'm not. This is nothing personal against you roguewriter, I'm just stating my opinion based on facts.

And yes, I certainly was angry about getting screwed out of a decent chance for a win - not because of the domains as much as the permanent inbound link from a PR 4 or above site. How much do you think that link will be worth in a few months, when it reaches PR5, 6 or even, PR7? But then, I have stated this multiple times.

Uhm, don't you already have a link at the top of OUD when you traded RealitySeris.tv for VoiceTone.mobi? You're complaining because you don't have a second one? Again, it makes you look like a whiner. Who said your domain was going to win the vote anyway?


Anyway guys, Andres screwed up the moment he removed his own domain from the vote. If I remember correctly, he did that to, again, "make things interesting", but it obviously didn't pay off (I knew from the beginning that it was a bad idea). He also made a stupid gamble to send the current domains to auction, but was lucky Sedo canceled it and saved his ass.

But can we reach a consensus of either saying THE END to OUD and putting it behind us or of determining how to move on so that we stop all this unproductive whining? If the consensus is for the latter, then I think he should just re-add his own offer to the vote and continue with business as usual.

What's the CONSENSUS?

 

[dontknow]

Just trade as usual and allow the current winning
domain to be placed in the voting list from now on.
Get on with it or people will move onto the next big thing...

I've got 2 domains on his "winner's list"
and want this thing to succeed!!!!!!!

 

[RJ]

What about keeping the public voting, but changing the role of it. There are different ways to do so. Here's a few ideas,

1) Voting results are used a suggestion only, Andres can choose himself to go with people's choice or not.

2) Voting is done as a YES/NO vote only to confirm a trade that Andres himself has proposed. If YES wins, trade is made. NO means trade rejected and round continues.

3) Have a three vote system. Andres gets one vote, public at large gets one vote (w/ current voting method used), and expert panel gets one vote. Expert panel consists of several volunteer domainers selected by Andres.

I don't particular like the idea of turning it into a full on marketplace for domain swapping, but putting the current offers up and asking for members to make trade offers also based on the possible trade offers could enable Andres to do two trades at once.

 

[RogueWriter]

domaindigger- Not whining in the least, and I've already posted specific points above proving my point. As for the link, did I say I wanted a second link to the same site? No, I have lots of domains that could use a boost. And finally, though you quoted most of my post, you left out where I mentioned that the 8 of us would only have had 7 other competitors, rather than several dozen after he changed in mid round. Where in that am I saying that my domain would be the winner?

 

[Brujah]

Come on, we're losing momentum here. Make a decision and let's get rolling again.