Full TRAFFIC live auction results

[TheBaldOne]

Results of tonights Monikers/Snaps auction:

Dollar amounts are what domains sold for, the number after the word 'pass' is the highest bid where not sold (sorry I missed a few near the beginning).

rvj.com …………. $8,000
ClassReunions.net …………. Pass ………….
heartworms.com …………. $6,000
lunatic.com …………. $15,000
kosherrestaurants.com …………. $14,000
INVESTMENTADVISER.COM …………. Pass …………. 20,000
Dance.com …………. Pass …………. 650,000
refills.com …………. Pass …………. 85,000
CurrencyConverter.com and Currency-Converter.com………….Pass………700,000
DVDs.com …………. $300,000
personalitytests.com …………. $18,000
B2BOMBER.COM …………. Pass …………. 4,000
Ethanol.net …………. Pass ………….
OklahomaRealEstate.com …………. $25,000
Pagers.com …………. Pass ………….
wife.com …………. Pass …………. 250,000
husband.com …………. $100,000
YouPhone.com and Uphone.com …………. $6,000
FlatFeet.com …………. $8,000
DUI.MOBI …………. $7,000
HandCrafted.com …………. Pass …………. 20,000
USEDSNOWMOBILES.COM …………. $16,000
greencard.org …………. $17,000
Vegas.mobi …………. $20,000
vegasdiscounts.com …………. $15,000
swimming.net …………. $20,000
Condoms.info …………. $4,000
retired.com …………. Pass …………. 700,000
NewYorkCheesecake.com …………. $12,000
dillpickles.com …………. $10,000
alaskankingcrab.com …………. $12,000
Knishes.com …………. Pass …………. 16,000
ChocolateChips.com …………. $17,500
CheddarCheese.com …………. $37,500
TableWines.com …………. Pass …………. 27,500
Vodka.net …………. Pass …………. 50,000
Babyfood.com …………. Pass …………. 185,000
Elections.com …………. Pass …………. 750,000
Political.com …………. Pass …………. 80,000
SpamBlockers.com …………. Pass …………. 45,000
ComedyClubs.net …………. $5,000
Score.mobi …………. $7,000
Tickets.mobi …………. $60,000
tennisplayer.com …………. Pass ………….
FantasyFootball.org …………. Pass ………….
Blackjacktable.com …………. Pass ………….
Baseball.net …………. $52,500
windsurfer.com …………. Pass …………. 60,000
MiniatureGolf.com …………. Pass …………. 100,000
skiresorts.com …………. $850,000
CustomerService.com …………. Pass …………. 2,500,000
TechnicalSupport.com …………. Pass …………. 275,000
ServiceDesk.com …………. Pass …………. 225,000
DiscountTravel.com/.mobi …………. Pass …………. 400,000
CRUISES.MOBI …………. Pass …………. 15,000
WEEKENDFLIGHTS.COM …………. Pass …………. 4,000
HealthStore.com …………. $27,500
Doctor.mobi …………. $10,000
DrugCard.com/.net/.org …………. $17,000
Aids.net …………. Pass …………. 20,000
FlavoredWater.com …………. Pass …………. 25,000
antidepressant.com …………. $30,000
medication.net …………. Pass …………. 50,000
SKINNY.COM …………. $80,000
PenisEnlargment.com, PenisSize.com and PenisSizes.com …………. $110,000
Podiatrists.com …………. Pass …………. 125,000
SleepingPills.com and SleepingPill.com …………. Pass …………. 300,000
FlatscreenTelevisions.com …………. $7,000
PortableGPS.com …………. $17,000
WORLDPHONES.COM …………. $15,000
FlatPanelTVs.com …………. Pass …………. 12,500
LearningToys.com …………. $34,500
HomeTheaterSystems.com …………. Scratched
Beverage.com …………. Pass …………. 175,000
Stereosystems.com …………. Pass …………. 40,000
PHONEACCESSORIES.COM …………. Pass …………. 50,000
faxmachines.com …………. Pass …………. 50,000
digitalphotos.com …………. Pass …………. 100,000
HomeVideos.com …………. Pass …………. 200,000
CHECKAPPROVAL.COM …………. Pass …………. 6,000
Banks.mobi …………. $12,000
OnlineFinancing.com …………. $17,500
Invest.net …………. $45,000
AutoRefinancing.com …………. Pass …………. 20,000
reimbursement.com …………. Pass …………. 25,000
ePayments.com …………. Pass …………. 60,000
accountingfirms.com …………. Pass …………. 100,000
Liens.com …………. Pass …………. 150,000
Trusts.com and Livingtrusts.com …………. Pass …………. 175,000
Audit.com …………. Pass …………. 200,000
stockquotes.com …………. Pass …………. 1,200,000
Property.mobi …………. $26,000
WaterfrontCondos.com …………. Pass …………. 42,500
LowRateMortgage.com …………. Pass …………. 70,000
Homeowner.com …………. Pass …………. 500,000
repossessedhomes.com …………. $17,500
GreenVehicles.com …………. Scratched
GreenVehicle.com …………. $15,000
lifesaver.com …………. $20,000
EthanolCar.com …………. Pass …………. 30,000
SanJuan.com …………. Pass …………. 350,000
shreveport.com …………. Pass …………. 160,000
rome.net …………. Pass …………. 25,000
ohio.info …………. Pass …………. 17,500
greenland.net …………. Pass …………. 12,500
Palmreader.com …………. $15,000
Preacher.com …………. $17,500
Evangelists.com …………. Pass …………. 15,000
Pentecostals.com …………. Pass …………. 15,000
seminaries.com …………. Pass …………. 20,000
Hoax.com …………. $70,000
Argue.com …………. Pass …………. 30,000
scruples.com …………. Pass …………. 30,000
gags.com …………. $45,000
WeddingVows.com …………. $62,500
sabbath.com …………. Pass …………. 60,000
lovestories.com …………. Pass …………. 100,000
Carnivals.com …………. Pass …………. 100,000
Freehoroscope.com and Freehoroscopes.com …………. Pass …………. 275,000
VirtualMaps.com …………. Pass …………. 9,000
AirplaneCharters.com …………. $17,000
AutoRebates.com …………. Pass
creampuffs.com …………. Pass …………. 17,500
GarageSales.com …………. $110,000
Autoclassifieds.com …………. $110,000
CarShopping.com …………. Pass …………. 150,000
Kitchenettes.com …………. $15,000
PaintingSupplies.com …………. Pass …………. 17,500
CollectorPlates.com …………. $18,500
WoodCabinets.com …………. $20,000
concessionstand.com …………. Pass …………. 25,000
BookRack.com …………. Pass …………. 35,000
LeatherFurniture.com …………. Pass …………. 150,000
WINDOW.COM …………. Pass …………. 400,000
virgins.net …………. Pass …………. 17,500
Coeds.com …………. Pass …………. 175,000
Porn.mobi …………. $110,000
Adultsuperstore.com …………. Pass …………. 185,000
Naked.mobi …………. $10,500
odds.net …………. $8,500
Lottery.mobi …………. $9,750
Financecompany.com …………. Pass …………. 15,000
paydayloans.info …………. Pass …………. 45,000
grandprize.com …………. Pass …………. 60,000
coed.com …………. Pass …………. 80,000
lotteryresults.com …………. Pass …………. 250,000
conventions.com …………. Pass …………. 250,000
Seminars.com …………. Pass …………. 200,000
GovernmentServices.com …………. $11,000
immigrationservice.com …………. Pass …………. 30,000
ConsultingFirms.com …………. $11,000
BusinessConsultants.com …………. $22,500
ContactManagement.com …………. Pass …………. 125,000
People.net …………. Pass …………. 400,000
Temps.com …………. Pass …………. 500,000
JobOpenings.com …………. Pass …………. 250,000
personals.net …………. Pass …………. 110,000
Bachelor.com/.net/.org …………. Pass …………. 325,000
Relative.com …………. Pass …………. 30,000
bail.org …………. $7,000
Hollywood.mobi …………. $16,000
shows.mobi …………. $20,000
Shows.net …………. Pass …………. 22,500
playhouse.com …………. Pass …………. 150,000
Fiesta.com …………. Pass …………. 400,000
CAMPS.com …………. Pass …………. 1,500,000
SummerCamp.com …………. Pass …………. 225,000
toolbars.com …………. Pass …………. 500,000
CPC.com …………. $200,000
softwareupgrades.com …………. Pass …………. 85,000
SearchEngines.com …………. $92,500
Broadway.mobi …………. $17,000
meds.com …………. $470,000
Mike.mobi …………. Pass …………. 9,500
indian.com …………. Pass …………. 250,000
Methodist.net …………. Pass …………. 8,500
Asians.net …………. Pass …………. 22,000
troops.com …………. Pass …………. 40,000
vet.net …………. $35,000
greatdeals.com …………. Pass …………. 110,000
markets.com …………. Pass …………. 100,000
CD.com …………. Pass …………. 225,000
FactChecking.com …………. Pass …………. 4,500
Computer.us …………. $17,000
DIGITALPRINTER.COM …………. Pass …………. 25,000
Businesssupplies.com …………. Pass …………. 40,000
communication.com …………. Pass …………. 100,000
Offer.com …………. Pass …………. 150,000
LimitedTimeOffer.com …………. Pass …………. 30,000
haul.com …………. Pass …………. 125,000
spreadsheets.com …………. Pass …………. 85,000
introduction.com …………. Pass …………. 80,000
niche.com …………. $85,000
psychiatrists.com …………. Pass …………. 80,000
CRAWL.COM …………. Pass …………. 50,000
Packages.net …………. Pass …………. 5,000
Awards.net …………. Pass …………. 9,000
vhs.com …………. Pass …………. 50,000
video.org …………. Pass …………. 45,000
BookSellers.com …………. Scratched
DreamVacation.com …………. Pass …………. 400,000
Collisioncenters.com …………. Pass …………. 8,500
cotton.com …………. $75,000
Devotion.com …………. Pass …………. 22,500
confidental.com …………. Scratched
Teamphotos.com Pass …………. 25,000
typo.com …………. Pass …………. 45,000
trusted.com …………. Pass …………. 40,000
formals.com …………. $35,000
Articles.Org …………. Pass …………. 10,000
LOOK.com …………. Pass …………. 4,500,000
indiaTours.com …………. Pass …………. 9,500
CorporateRates.com …………. Pass …………. 25,000
Postofficebox.com …………. Pass …………. 20,000
FreeMovieDownload.com …………. $25,000
charts.info …………. Pass …………. 9,500
Affiliate.com …………. Pass …………. 550,000
DiamondNecklace.com …………. Pass …………. 100,000
Handicap.com …………. Pass …………. 100,000
Organ.com …………. $55,000
Fruitcakes.com …………. Pass …………. 85,000
tasks.com …………. Pass …………. 75,000
CosmeticEyeSurgery.com …………. Pass …………. 25,000
transactions.com …………. Pass …………. 35,000
deductions.com …………. $17,700
pinup.com …………. $35,000
pp.org …………. Pass …………. 30,000
officemanager.com …………. $30,000
jewellers.com …………. $30,000
telephonecall.com …………. Pass …………. 25,000
HardwareStores.com …………. Pass …………. 20,000
Faithful.com …………. $29,500
Bookmart.com …………. Pass …………. 20,000
Mom.info …………. Pass …………. 20,000
GoldDigger.com and GoldDiggers.com …………. $80,000
DiscountStores.com …………. $36,000
iam.com …………. Scratched
BJ.com …………. Pass …………. 250,000

 

[mjnels]

I would like to see a full ACCOUNTING of all Sedo and Traffic proceeds ... with full DISCLOSURE as to where these proceeds are going, how much, to whom, for what specific purpose(s), and all critical details insofar as the marketing and promotion of the extension, and salaries and bonuses and payouts and options to all employees and persons affiliated with mTLD, IMHO. :gl:
As .MOBI investors, you folks should be demanding same! :yell: :imho:

Have a great Sunday! :music:
-Jeff

i wouldn't expect any company to what you are asking...

btw, mTLD has no plans to "market the extension".... to those who are expecting a commercial that says "MOBI FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONES -- DO IT NOW, ITS COOL." -- aint gonna happen.

 

[Jeff]

Huh?

i wouldn't expect any company to what you are asking...

Why wouldn't mTLD want to do this? IYHO.

btw, mTLD has no plans to "market the extension".... to those who are expecting a commercial that says "MOBI FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONES -- DO IT NOW, ITS COOL." -- aint gonna happen.

mTLD will not be using the massive Sedo and Traffic proceeds (if the "sales" completed between Usual Suspects™) to market the dot Mobey extension??! :red:

If true, this (current state of affairs for the extension) is even worse than I had imagined IMHO.
Thanks for sharing (and please feel free to continue the discussion here in the #1 Namepros .MOBI Forum©, as well)!
-Jeff

 

[mjnels]

Why wouldn't mTLD want to do this? IYHO.

not sure, i dont really know enough about this to name the positives/negatives.

but i do know not many companies give full disclosure..

mTLD will not be using the massive Sedo and Traffic proceeds (if the sales completed) to market the dot Mobey extension??! :red:

If true, this is even worse than I had imagined IMHO.
Thanks for sharing (and please feel free to continue the discussion here in the #1 Namepros .MOBI Forum©, as well)!
-Jeff

i dont know jeff... remember they dont disclose this.

 

[Mark]

Cut out the Petty Arguements please folks .... ALL of you. We should be beyond this childish Behaviour now. It looks bad on each of you - as well as the forum.

Overall , I think ALL prices were low except for a few ... And despite others opinions , I believe it does have much to do with the Current Economy problems here in the U.S. (Where the auction was at). This auction was mainly Domainers bidding on other Domainers Names much like you'd have in the forums and various auction sites. Not many "End Users" or Corporate types were in on it this time IMO. It makes a huge difference.

 

[Jeff]

Overall , I think ALL prices were low except for a few ... And despite others opinions , I believe it does have much to do with the Current Economy problems here in the U.S. (Where the auction was at). This auction was mainly Domainers bidding on other Domainers Names much like you'd have in the forums and various auction sites. Not many "End Users" or Corporate types were in on it this time IMO. It makes a huge difference.

Agreed, and especially the lack of End users and corporate types IMHO.
Thanks for everyone's input and patience, and have a great rest of the weekend! :music:

i dont know jeff... remember they dont disclose this.

Yeah. :blink:
Thanks, Mjnels.

Onward and upward!
-Jeff

 

[acc]

Get off it already - T.R.A.F.F.I.C. is for domainers and .mobi is for real

.. Fair enough ... let's not get too off topic ... but the FACTS remain crystal clear, these dot Mobey domains "sold" at Traffic (and Sedo) are of the incestuous breed and caliber, IMHO - and until mTLD figures out a way to actually enforce development and promotion (as the RFP process would have ensured (mTLD, in its infinite wisdom, abandoned this RFP process for MONEY & GREED) of these, literally, 1,000's of reserved and premium domains, the extension will continue to languish - the only exceptions being those VERY FEW whom I mentioned above, and the Usual Suspects™ - such as yourself, in my humble observation - claiming "sales" that are occurring (between Usual Suspects™ for hype and "reported sales" purposes). :red:
And around and around it goes ... more drops than registrations and renewals, difficulty selling even in the "Quick Sale" aftermarket, non-developments, lack of adoption and promotion by End users, 1,000's still in the hands of mTLD for PROFITS ... around and around and around ...

Good Luck to those investing in Traffic, and caveat emptor - in particular - to those considering spending good money after bad in the "dot Mobey"!
.....

Nice tactic - he who writes "let's not get too off topic" - then immediately goes off on a typical anti mobi anti mtld rant - LOL - LOL - LOL

The BS does not deserve a response but for the benefit of any newcomers to the discussion a few points should be made clear so here goes.

T.R.A.F.F.I.C. auctions are by nature and audience DOMAINER industry events - names in ALL extensions are primarily sold by domainers to other domainers at these venues. So cut the "incestuous" hyperbole crap.

Simultaneously ... 1. warning others at every chance to stay away from the "dot mobi" name space while 2. attempting to sell off low value names in marathon sales threads (for PROFITS) and 3. tossing lowball offers at LLL .mobis ... might to many observers smack of blatant hypocrisy and unprofessional behaviour.

So then it would naturally follow using those standards and " "logic" " in the referenced post ... whoever it was that sold names like say for instance ... SKE*A**LE_mobi and #ONKERS_mobi to other domainers was ALSO of INSESTUOUS BREED AND CALIBER. Before he goes tooooo far ... maybe that same CAVEAT EMPTOR should be applied to names people are selling such as say ... QUIN%E%_mobi" ??? IMHO.

Why, are those not egregious examples of pushing off "brandable" .mobi names to unsuspecting "newbies"? And marathon self-bumping sales threads reducing prices by $1 per day are not hyping those names? "Selling" names while jabbing at the extension with the oh so clever little snide comments about .mobi in with the bumps and R.I.P. in the signature - yeah that's so cool and so professional.

For those who have virtually NO stake in this extension they sure spend a disproportionate number of their finite hours left on this earth to rant on and on about the future of dot mobi. To them I say - your "fellow domainers" who have decided to invest in .mobi names for development and/or speculation purposes are NO DIFFERENT from others with different name space preferences. Get over it.

And talk about a load of BS - with NO FACTS in place - "more drops than renewals" - PROVE THAT STATEMENT - right here and now. Where are the numbers? The initial .mobi regs don't even come up for renewal for seven more months. And for the one year regs coming up soon - PROVE it with numbers. And then show how dropping names is any different from other extensions where names drop every single day of the year.

Saying about .mobi ... "extension continue to languish" ... you have to ef'in be kidding me - how can you expect anyone to take that statement seriously when there are new .mobi sites coming online daily - But when they are reported on, naysayers deride the reporting as hype - you can't have it both ways - saying nothing is happening while not wanting to hear of the site launch happenings. Those companies launching these new .mobi sites are NOT typically simultaneously building .net/org/biz/info/cc/ws/etc sites. That alone should tell you something. If you can't see it - you just can't see it or are in denial.

And it is NO business of anyones who bought what name, wherethe proceeds are going, and what exact plans for each .mobi name are - just like for the 1000's of .coms/.nets/.etc that change hands every day. It doesn't matter how many times the "Gladdis Kravitz" / "have to know all the details" posts are made - they are still foolish and lacking of real world business sense.

Before we all have to hear again about how worried a few are about the "shmecosystem" - go visit all the new .mobi sites coming online. I think Michael has a nice list you can start wiith. And then http://mtld.mobi/showcase has a few more to peruse.

A very small number of small people continue to make accusations - some bordering on being slanderous - about mTLD and .mobi name holders. These domain-savants can not possibly know what is actually going on since they are not personally buying or selling or planning or developing the .mobi names. Just like I have no idea about IDNs, CVCV.coms, LLLL .nets, etc as I am not buying or selling in those niches. Just not my cups of tea. But I wish the best of success to all my fellow domainers who are buying/selling/developing/speculating in those or any extension areas. I don't take every opportunity to belittle their choices and endeavors and downtalk their domains, their efforts, or their sales. Maybe that's just me.

It seems that SOME will never be convinced of the viability of the nice new .mobi gTLD - so they might want to consult their doctor about getting a possible mobibuguptheirassectomy. That might help a bit. Until then, it is becoming very evident that it is not .mobi but their own credibility that should be afforded R.I.P. - IMHO

Oh and so this post fits in with all the others with fake niceities - Have a great day friend - :hi: :sold: :imho: .
.

 

[TheBaldOne]

Please.............

This thread has been hi-jacked IMHO. I stayed up during the early hours of the morning (here in the UK) and recorded the results and immediately published them for the benefit of members here and on another forum I belong too.

Unfortunately here the thread has become a jousting event between pro- and anti- .mobi members, something I never intended it to be (on the other forum my work was actually plagiarised by a member asking for payment in recognition for 'all his hard work').

Now I really do not mind recording and publishing the results, I was going to watch the auction anyway, I just thought that it would give members here a reference for what happened. I fully intend to do the same with tomorrows auction, but I am having serious doubts as whether or not it is worth it.

If you have a point about the results then make it, but if it is likely that the 'point' is going to be 'debated' then please start up another thread, surely that is the correct thing to do.

With regards to the 'bidding up on behalf of the seller' by the auctioneer I dislike the process, in my mind the only difference between this and shill bidding is that the auctioneer is open about it, but in my mind both should be looked down upon. If real bids originate the bidding but stop before the reserve price is reached it would be better for the auctioneer to announce the reserve and give the last bidder an opportunity to bid the reserve. Of course the other method of starting the bids at the reserve is also valid.

 

[Jeff]

With regards to the 'bidding up on behalf of the seller' by the auctioneer I dislike the process, in my mind the only difference between this and shill bidding is that the auctioneer is open about it, but in my mind both should be looked down upon. If real bids originate the bidding but stop before the reserve price is reached it would be better for the auctioneer to announce the reserve and give the last bidder an opportunity to bid the reserve. Of course the other method of starting the bids at the reserve is also valid.

^ Agreed. :gl: :imho:

Also, I apologize for letting my emotions and passions - I care deeply for our Community™ - get the best of me here in your Domain Discussions thread, as well! :red:
Please continue, and have a great rest of your Sunday! :music:
-Jeff

 

[acc]

......... If you have a point about the results then make it, ..... With regards to the 'bidding up on behalf of the seller' by the auctioneer I dislike the process, in my mind the only difference between this and shill bidding is that the auctioneer is open about it, but in my mind both should be looked down upon. If real bids originate the bidding but stop before the reserve price is reached it would be better for the auctioneer to announce the reserve and give the last bidder an opportunity to bid the reserve. Of course the other method of starting the bids at the reserve is also valid.

TheBaldOne - thanks for posting the summary of live auction sales results here - rep added.

Here's my 10-point summary take on it:

1. T.R.A.F.F.I.C. is a domainer conference primarily concerned with PPC use of domain names. I say that because 99% of domains owned by attendees are probably parked sites and not developed. The name is "traffic" not "develop". Just because they are already successful with their handsome portfolios of income producing PPC names, it does not mean that all of attendees come to bid on names at the live auction. Making/renewing contacts and doing business face to face is likely a more important reason to make the trip for many.

2. "End users" (businesses and organizations) do not attend this domaining industry conference and more than likely do not even know about it or the domain industry for that matter. Therefore they likely have not been bidding on most domains offered at this live auction or others up to this point in time. The true value of domain names is still a mystery to most businesses. Rick Schwartz has eloquently opined on this subject a number of times. His example of "hotels.com" is so right on the money.

3. As others have stated, a far smaller percentage of names sold here (<40%) than at recent previous T.R.A.F.F.I.C. auctions (>60%). The live auction total of $4M+ in sales with no 7-figure sales was relatively short. The "all-TOO-silent" silent auction results won't be know for a few more days but that will add to the total sales figure. Five million dollars in sales is five million dollars. You can't always have a record breaking day, every time. Moniker's 15% commission is still a nice chunk of change.

4. The number of bidders in the room was minimal, reported by some to be only 1-2 dozen. That contrasts to previous TRAFFIC auctions where it seems to me that number was 3x-4x as many. Fewer bidders lessens the urgency of bidding and fight for names hence lower prices. The new "no-reserve" auction held the day before at the conference might have take a little juice out of the main event. Small bidders can add excitement to an auction room just like the marquee names. A couple dozen actively-bidded small figure names and warm bodies could have livened up that apparently mostly vacant room.

5. Moving the auction from mid afternoon to the evening (EST) may have reduced participation. Firstly, it put many European and other non-US bidders in bed. Secondly, since many attend the conference for making contacts and doing business in person, the live auction is of secondary importance. For those attendees who already spent a couple of days at the conference and preferred to catch a Thursday evening flight out - well they missed filling a seat at the live auction.

6. There are far more "premium" auctions taking place today. T.R.A.F.F.I.C., Great Domains, SEDO, etc. No longer do we have to wait for the quarterly big live auctions. Great generics get auctioned of with more regularity than ever before. With more to choose from, the existing pool of domainers and money is now spread out among many venues.

7. The practice of the auctioneer placing a series of "phantom bids" is deceptive and nonsense. Sure he states the disclaimer once at the beginning of the auction day. If the reserve is too high to generate any interest or if at the time there is no interest in the name - just move on. Taking a name up to $250k or another up to $2.5M with this method is pure showmanship. Does it create a buzz? Probably. Has it contributed to generally overinflated domain valuations? Maybe. Should the practice be stopped? My vote is yes. At the very least he should have to state within EVERY auction where the bid is coming from - live, phone, online, or auctioneer proxy.

8. Attempting to immediately paint the US economy as THE reason for the evidently poorer sales results at this one specific auction is premature. It may turn out to be one of several reasons but one should wait for the next one or two T.R.A.F.F.I.C. auctions and watch sales reports at DNJournal over an extended time frame to draw any real conclusions.

9. The reported and misreported economic conditions and "dire" predictions are being greatly exaggerated in this US election year. Politicians can't get elected unless they can show some interest group how they are being "hurt" by whoever they are running against. Compare today's US unemployment and inflation rates in the 5% and 3% range to the 10+% ranges during the Carter years and you will get a feel for how today's media has come to rely on Chicken Little "reporting" to sell their wares.

10. The desktop internet and mobile internet are growing and taking advertising dollars away from traditional media outlets such as newspapers and printed magazines. Online readership is growing while newspaper circulation is falling. This bodes well for the future of the internet in all its screen sizes and for the domain name market in all its extensions.

So from my perspective, to sum up the T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Las Vegas 2008 domain auction(s): There were some decent sales, a lot of nice bargains, and a lot of missed opportunities. From an auction perspective if future results mirror these, it will become just one of the boys. T.R.A.F.F.I.C. is a valuable conference for domainers and the domaining industry. However its auctions are no longer THE only game in town. My take is that if Rick feels that the live auction is truly important as a news-making, buzz-generating draw - that he will evaluate and readjust the schedule to attempt to return prominence back to the auction. It's his show, his call.
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