GoDaddy Auctions More Competitive?

[Name Trader]

Is it just me or are the GoDaddy Auctions more competitive than a year ago? Most of the auctions close when I'm fast asleep in bed 12-5am, my time. I put my best reseller price on the domains I want, but almost always loose the majority of the domains I bid on. Last year I would have won most or all the domains. It feels to me like a much more competitive environment than last year. Prices are higher now also. Your thoughts?

 

[FragrantDomains]

I had the exact same experience, losing by $5.

 

[WebIntellects - Rob]

Godaddy appears to be really popular among domainers, so the competition rises.

 

[DNabc]

I'm seeing the same. I just paid low $xxx for a domain that some time ago should have went for much less.
Regarding those domains promoted by fellow domainers I've tracked a few and all of those had a lot of bids.

 

[Semtex]

GoDaddy is getting alot more exposure recently. They have their hands in just about everything. Recent poker tournaments are endorsed by GoDaddy as well, and some poker players have been buying up names to.

 

[steveteva]

To be honest these blog post from domainers sucks because the bidding war comes from them I can confirm you.
Many domains as exemple:
Before post: 5 bids = $150
After post: 10+ bids =$2500

So if you are low in money even for not worth that much money but you want to get that name, you loose.
Before there were less bidders and less high ending prices.
Very frustrating for many but that's the game. You won't get a nice domain at bargain price on all expired auctions: snapnames, namejet, GD...

 

[Name Trader]

I've contacted both DotWeekly and DNXpert telling them I think they are doing a dis-service to domainers with their blogs about GoDaddy Auctions. Are there any other sites doing this?

 

[steveteva]

I've contacted both DotWeekly and DNXpert telling them I think they are doing a dis-service to domainers with their blogs about GoDaddy Auctions. Are there any other sites doing this?

Great, because I feel sorry for many new domainers thinking they got a great domain at $xxxx or mid $xxx when it s not worth that much some looks at Page rank even if domain is crap or what we call the bidding fever (some plays like gamble) bidding high by many to add highest bid without having intention to buy that high.... Lucky we don't see fake bid on GD.

I'm skeptical about domainers that would remove from post because:
1: some are affiliate links
2: some get traffic from these anouncement

If they do it, then I give Stub a hi five :hehe:

Also now GD is providing recommend auction names when you type a similar domain, so that gives more bidders.

Who is the winner? MR. BOB P. of GD :D

Anyway we can't do anything IMO. It's bad for domainers who wants to get that name but not for others, we are not in China so Business is open no limits

 

[Kate]

Good points Steve.
Maybe all the publicity is going to drive bidding wars for domains that aren't worth it.
This could be a costly experience to newbies and followers.
I seldom buy domains just because of PR or because I found out about it on a blog

 

[freezer]

Im not sure who are all those that are pushing prices but I for sure know there are some big domainers winning many high priced (overpriced? they should know what they are doing? or what?) auctions...
I see sky high prices compared to a year ago, like *5-10
I assume they go for a long term plan.

 

[Domainace]

I can't blame the bloggers for posting the names. It brings them readers, and there's nothing unethical about it. That said, I tend to write off any name I see in one of those lists (unless it's on GD close-outs and can't be bid up).

Godaddy is attracting more bidders,or one, because they are high profile. They are also much more pleasant to deal with than Snapnames, where you can hunt down a great domain only to have them steal it from you.

Also, Godaddy was the new kid, so its names were never of the calibre you saw from the older registrars. That seems to be changing as GD gets some age. Has anyone else noticed that the quality of names of GD is also improving?

 

[Name Trader]

I do blame the bloggers (though they are probably not alone for this sudden interest), but there is nothing unethical in what they are doing. I think Steve has provided some statistical data (although it could all be coincidence) showing their influence.

GoDaddy has been old enough for years already. It has what? 40% of the .com market (from memory). The quality improvement is marginal at the best. Still even more thousands of valueless names to sift thru for those gems.

This is ridiculous. I participated in 9 auctions last night (proxy bids). I only won 1 domain. 6 months ago I would have won between 50%-100%. I'm bidding higher as well. Maybe this is a sign that domain prices hit rock bottom last year. It'll be all gravy from here

 

[steveteva]

DNxpert reply to your email by posting on his forum :http://www.dnxpert.com/2011/05/14/stop-promoting-godaddy-auctions-dont-be-ridiculous/:tri:


Look how megaproyectos.org (mega projects in spanish) can have bid up to $210 when this can be reg fee? or visualart-journal.net for $70, contemporarymuslimvoices.com $165... and more just check Dnxpert listing, it's not giving beginners great tips! and I will reply to dnxpert it discredit your professionalism.

Most domain listed there are reg fee, I wouldn't reg one if you give me $8.00

I do blame the bloggers (though they are probably not alone for this sudden interest), but there is nothing unethical in what they are doing. I think Steve has provided some statistical data (although it could all be coincidence) showing their influence.

GoDaddy has been old enough for years already. It has what? 40% of the .com market (from memory). The quality improvement is marginal at the best. Still even more thousands of valueless names to sift thru for those gems.

This is ridiculous. I participated in 9 auctions last night (proxy bids). I only won 1 domain. 6 months ago I would have won between 50%-100%. I'm bidding higher as well.

 

[DotWeekly]

"6 months ago I would have won between 50%-100%"

That is really a silly statement Stub. Clearly no two domain names are the same, so to compare last year wins to this years losses is silly.

The domain industry grows daily, so that is a big factor.

GoDaddy grows daily and advertises A LOT. Big factor.

Freshdrop, DropDay etc... are you going to send them an email about this "dis-service" they are doing?

I'm not here to get into a pissing match with you, but there is really no way to prove the claims that are being made.

Does it make some go higher, because the domains are delivered on a silver platter in blog posts? Likely

Does it make some go higher, because they are great domains? Likely

Do they all go higher? No. Some go to BIN in my list.

I have some in my lists that have bids on them and allows ME to find them to list in my lists. If those bids weren't in place, I may have missed them.

I'm sure I could go on and on, but there are many factors.

P.S. I never got the email you stated was sent.

 

[Dotmainer]

^ dont think anyone here think that you are making bad making such lists (at least me not).

General:
For one is good -> If you would be seller, you would be happy if your name get more attention.

On the other side, if you are buyer ... of course its bad if there are more bidders.

---

Other important point would be 'bad' redesign of 'great' auction sites !

I spent ten minutes to find auctions on snapnames !!!
And Sedo is not many better !
... Afternic ? do they have auctions ?

Looking back where they all had lists on frontpage?!

Finally there are not many alternatives for finding names / selling them.
(IMHO)

 

[Name Trader]

@Jamie - I sent it via your contact form on your website. You can see the text via the DNXpert link posted. I would have contacted the other companies too, if I'd have known who they were. DotWeekly and DNXpert were the only two mentioned in this thread.

I have said you are doing nothing ethically wrong here. So you are free to keep posting those threads. But at least you admit that it is "likely" that what you are doing makes prices go higher.

Of course every domain auction is different, which is why I had such a big spread (50%-100%). Perhaps it would have been better for me to have said I would have won substantially more of those domains 6 months ago, at lower prices. Prices are definitely being bid up greater than before. Of course how much of that is due to the blogs, is open to question. But some are "likely" to be because of the blogs. Maybe it's just a better marketplace today, and 2010 was the bottom for prices.

I also have no intent to get into a pissing contest with you or anybody else. I'm just stating my pov.

@Steve - Thanks for the DNXpert link. I won't be responding there. He's just promoting his blog. Which he is entitled to do. From what I read, he got mixed reactions also. So there appears to be two sides to this coin at least.

Since I got such a hostile response, to my pov, I won't be pursing this anywhere else. But this thread isn't about what the blogs do or not. It's about the much more competitive environment at GoDaddy Auctions. Anybody got a sniping program for GoDaddy Auctions?

Also. As some people mentioned on the first page. Perhaps we should be listing more of our domains there to cash in on the trend.

 

[Joltman1]

Hi from a newby on the forum

I am new here but not with domains. There are still bargains out there. I have been active at GD and happy with the prices. I am picky and try to stay under $40, but have picked some for 3 digit prices. Increasing prices mean that we might collect some cash for the dogs we are still paying fees on. And get some fresh stock.

 

[DotWeekly]

@Stub,

Thank you for posting your POV. DotWeekly is all about helping and these lists help more people than those who would rather not see them due to the spotlight on the domains.

I can understand why people do not want "the spotlight" shinned on an expired domain auction. I shake my head as well when people place early bids and draw attention to domains but it happens and will not stop.

Of the millions of domains on auction at any given time, the 30-50 I list a couple times a week are only a small dent.

Just so you know, a post like this, draws MORE attention to my list and DnXperts lists from people on NamePros, just because people are curious to see what we post.

 

[Name Trader]

Well this post wasn't meant to be about any blog posts Of course people are curious. Even I went there from these links. I'm pretty much forced to bid early with a proxy bid, because of where I live. These auctions generally close between midnight and 5am, my time. So maybe I'm even a little more sensitive about losing out

What I'm saying is my proxy bids 6 months ago were almost never outbid. Now they are almost entirely outbid, even though I've doubled my standard proxy bid. Of course I don't bid the same on every auction. Some I go higher than my standard (lowest) proxy bid. 1 (maybe 2) domain out of 9 is about my average capture these days. Many days I capture nothing. I call that evidence, proof that GoDaddy Auctions are much more competitive today than 6-12 months ago.

 

[has2hands]

i am active buyer of domains with certain metrics: age/traffic/pr/etc.

there was always a certain feel and limit on domains and their specific metrics and bidding usually stopped at these "limits".

easy to confirm this by looking at past won and lost auctions.

but last few months, i have seen higher pricing on these domains.......i don't think the blogs have a large impact....just overall more exuberance for these domains.

it hurts me in small ways but in big picture...i think the value of the domains i did win/purchase in past months and years have appreciated in value.

just another way of looking at it.

paul

 

[Kate]

Domaining in general is much more competitive.
The early days are over Stub - get over it