Got an offer on a Domain of mine....but..

[TeeDot]

Hello,

I got an offer on a domain, well actually two, the company might want both.

The company has been in ongoing emails with me about my domain but he wants a "professional' appraisal.

I told him to make me an offer for the name and he won't do that. He wants an appraisal. The owner of the company said that I can get a "valuation certificate".

He also states that nobody will buy from me without a professional appraisal. Huh???

I looked into SEDO's appraisal option. $28 bucks for one appraisal seems a bit much but if this is standard practice, I would like to know.


Any input would be great,

thanks

 

[Keith]

It's a scam so just disregard it.

 

[doubleU]

Did they make any suggestions about where they want this appraisal to come from ?

 

[TeeDot]

Did they make any suggestions about where they want this appraisal to come from ?

Yeah, actually they suggested NAME PROS, which is weird.

It's funny because I told him to call me if he was truly interested. He said no, at that point I was suspicious.

And in the latest email he said something like, well then if you don't want to do business your name will sit there forever...and things like that.

 

[copper]

I could be wrong, but, sounds like appraisal scam.
scam may list legit appraisal site along with scammer's appraisal site.

Post email here (remove any private items such as name) and many
will be able to tell you whether it's scam or not.

I never had real buyer asking for appraisal, not even once.

 

[TeeDot]

FIRST EMAIL:

Hello,

How much do you want for your domain?

We have found it listed for sale and we have a good offer for you.

Our company invests in domains and developed sites. If you have a list of
domains for sale, please send the list with prices in plain text.

We prefer ".com", ".net", ".org", ".co", ".us", ".co.uk" and easy-to-remember names with other extensions.

Regards,

SECOND EMAIL AFTER I TOLD HIM TO CALL ME

I see, but it's a standard practice to show independent valuation to
buyers/resellers. Nobody will do business without it. I'm a businessman and
have no intention of changing rules which help both parties to avoid
additional risks.

Of course, investors never take into account auto-generated valuations. So
manual valuation is a "must" too.

I read the following information about appraisals at:

http://www.thenamepros.com/Archive/93726051.htm

Without the independent valuation from a trusted source we don't spend a
penny. This is our financial policy. So our offer is just a rought estimate.
If the appraisal comes higher we are ready to offer a bit more. If it comes
lower we will discuss the price with you again.


Thank you for understanding. I'm looking forward to doing business with you.

THIRD EMAIL AFTER I WAS SKEPTICAL ABOUT "his" PROCESS:

It's a big risk to proceed without professional valuation. I already spoke
to industry experts and they prohibited me to do business without
valuation..

Without manual valuation nobody will buy. You'll sit on your domain for
years in this case, paying renewal fees to your registrar. Just think about
it. So sooner or later, you'll have to obtain an appraisal. Why waste time
now?

As a seller, you can use a valuation certificate to sell names to other
buyers. I cannot do the same because I don't keep control over your domain.

I'm still interested in your domain. Hope you'll change your position. I
simply don't want to take additional risks.

Thank you for understanding. I'm looking forward to doing business with you.

Now that I look at his emails, I'm kinda weirded out. What do these people do and how exactly do they scam someone?

Because this seemed totally off to me from the start.

ETA: Looking at the thread he posted, it appears maybe he was on NamePros once or currently? And he maybe made a fake thread for social proof or something.

I dunno, this makes me nervous that I even gave this guy my number. I feel like a total jack***

 

[enlytend]

And he maybe made a fake thread for social proof or something.

That's exactly what it is. And notice his "namepros" domain has a "the" in front of it (this one does not!)

Sorry - definitely an appraisal scam. Look in this forum's "Warnings" section, you'll see more of the same.

 

[TeeDot]

Didn't notice the twist on the Name Pros name. Thought it was an archived thread from here.

I'm so sick of Internet scumbags.

Thanks so much for the warning.

I feel like an idiot giving him my number. I expect a call from "someone" soon, so now I have to look out for THAT!

What a world.

 

[copper]

how exactly do they scam someone?

They make you pay for the useless appraisal fee!
Thus, it's called "appraisal scam".

ETA: Looking at the thread he posted, it appears maybe he was on NamePros once or currently?

You are on NamePros.com
NOT "thenamepros.com".

 

[doubleU]

Best not to communicate with this type of scum.

 

[TTaylor]

Exact same emails I got

Those are the exact same emails that I got. Word for word!

Only difference is you were smart enough to ask for help first. I fell for the scam. I am very new to domain selling and thought I had a real buyer.

Of course, after I paid for the appraisal he had an excuse why he couldn't buy the domain.
He said he would look for a buyer and if he finds one he wants 15% commission. I have not heard from him since.

I have no intention of doing business with him if he does contact me again. He won't, he just wanted me to pay for the appraisal.

 

[Name Trader]

No seller needs to get an appraisal. If the buyer want's an appraisal, tell him to get his own.

 

[wot]

That is like selling your car and the guy wants you to pay for a mechanic to look it over before he buys it. It is up the buyer...

You might like to actually read the thread.

This is 100% appraisal scam.

 

[Corey]

scam to trick newbies

Cheers
Corey