.tv Got off the phone with Enom and Verisign

[equity78]

First I called Enom and asked about why Tea.tv was $250 and the new premium are non premium pricing.

Spoke to a customer service rep, who said "Its not us, its Verisign."

So then I called Verisign HQ and finally got a customer service rep for domains. Henry. He said absolutely old premiums would keep the premium renewal and he said that was coming from Verisign, not ENOM.

So Verisign is where to put your effort in getting things done.

 

[equity78]

What would I have told James to stop ? What did I tell anyone to stop ? I said I do not value your opinion, that started in 2004 on Domain State long before there was a .tv sub forum.

But again what would I tell James to stop ? Do you still have trouble understanding the topic of this thread ?

 

[freedom30]

What would I have told James to stop ? What did I tell anyone to stop ? I said I do not value your opinion, that started in 2004 on Domain State long before there was a .tv sub forum.

But again what would I tell James to stop ? Do you still have trouble understanding the topic of this thread ?

UhOh...I am sorry, Ray for flying so far off the topic of this thread. It was spontaneous and I will stop. I didn;t lie, however, as I was drinking the beverage when I read Snoop's retorts.

I love TEA.TV

What a great three letter drink!​

 

[equity78]

Again learn how to stay on topic, George Pickering (Local Experts) is a good friend and he does not care for Tea.tv. He knows I don't care if he likes it or not. Again that is not the topic of this thread.

Now I usually like for the name to fit with video but sometimes you can use the keyword just for keyword sake. Tea is taken in just about every extension in cctld like .tl .ac .co.at etc... So I don't mind a keyword that has such registration saturation.

---------- Post added at 08:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:03 PM ----------

Ken no prob, my point was someone said I was bringing Tea.tv up for an appraisal. I never ask for appraisals, appraisals mean nothing to me, they would mean nothing coming from someone I respect, what do you think they mean coming from someone I don't have any respect for ?

I still don't know what I was supposed to stop James ? he made one comment and did not comeback in the thread so I guess James stopped.

 

[DU]

YAWN.

Let me summarize the thread:

I called ENOM
We should all call Verisign!

Tea sucks.
No it doesn't.

You brought it up!
Oh no I didn'.....

I thought we were moderated now?

 

[DomainAgency.com]

Tea has no obvious fit with video.

How can one not see what an obvious fit Tea.tv is with video? There are numerous possible uses for this domain. Tea is more than simply a beverage to many, but also a hobby. To others it is a deep part of culture.

Pointing out the obvious, Tea.tv :

1. Would be a great niche video channel IMO related to one of the most popular drinks in the world. There are many tea aficionados who love to discuss numerous kinds of teas and tea related culture.

2. Tea.tv makes a great brand for one of many companies in a very competitive space. Ad campaigns, out of necessity, are becoming more innovative and Tea.tv can be used as a call to action. Companies are just starting to understand how to use web only video to market to their many customers who are already creating user generated video content. Meanwhile, these very same companies are producing content in new and inventive ways to reach their consumers.

Why is it so hard for certain people to see how pervasive video will be on the web in the coming years? Companies and people will need every possible strategic advantage to stand out from the pack and establish credibility online, even across micro niches.

This name does not have to be developed to find this value IMO, it is already there.

A few possibilities exist as far as who would find value with tea.tv. An end user who can unlock the brand value of Tea.tv via development will buy it.

Another domain investor will buy it to hold it, knowing the value will only go up as the convergence of the web and TV becomes even more pervasive and .TV itself gains more recognition.

Or simply a passionate fan of Tea who wants to blog and shoot video about tea will be thrilled to purchase such a name and the great marketing advantage that comes with it.

Some seem to be stuck in an archaic mindset in which only names like "Cable" and "Satellite" make sense with the TLD .TV.

Why on earth would someone want to WATCH content related to one of their favorite pastimes and share their experiences with tens of thousands of like minded people around the world, who oh by the way, ALL understand the meaning of the two letters TV.

 

[RPK]

I think I'm going to let coffee.tv drop since it probably has the same value as tea.tv and wine.tv.... wait. didn't wine.tv just sell for $17,000? Nah, couldn't be.

 

[DU]

How can one not see what an obvious fit Tea.tv is with video? There are numerous possible uses for this domain. Tea is more than simply a beverage to many, but also a hobby. To others it is a deep part of culture.

Pointing out the obvious, Tea.tv :

1. Would be a great niche video channel IMO related to one of the most popular drinks in the world. There are many tea aficionados who love to discuss numerous kinds of teas and tea related culture.

2. Tea.tv makes a great brand for one of many companies in a very competitive space. Ad campaigns, out of necessity, are becoming more innovative and Tea.tv can be used as a call to action. Companies are just starting to understand how to use web only video to market to their many customers who are already creating user generated video content. Meanwhile, these very same companies are producing content in new and inventive ways to reach their consumers.

Why is it so hard for certain people to see how pervasive video will be on the web in the coming years? Companies and people will need every possible strategic advantage to stand out from the pack and establish credibility online, even across micro niches.

This name does not have to be developed to find this value IMO, it is already there.

A few possibilities exist as far as who would find value with tea.tv. An end user who can unlock the brand value of Tea.tv via development will buy it.

Another domain investor will buy it to hold it, knowing the value will only go up as the convergence of the web and TV becomes even more pervasive and .TV itself gains more recognition.

Or simply a passionate fan of Tea who wants to blog and shoot video about tea will be thrilled to purchase such a name and the great marketing advantage that comes with it.

Some seem to be stuck in an archaic mindset in which only names like "Cable" and "Satellite" make sense with the TLD .TV.

Why on earth would someone want to WATCH content related to one of their favorite pastimes and share their experiences with tens of thousands of like minded people around the world, who oh by the way, ALL understand the meaning of the two letters TV.

Tea aficionados?

They're not quite as vehement in their arguments as beer/brandy/bourbon/scotch are they.

I get the feeling they all sit around with finger sandwiches discussing whether the milk should go first or not.

I don't understand the concept of Sensory advertising for Tea exactly but with other beverages and cigars:

Show me how the beer pours...sits...and settles.
Show me the color of the wine..
Show me the hues of that single malt.....
Show me how you make that martini...
Show me what you can do with that Brandy...
and
Cigars? Talk about fervent followers...

Guinness made HUGE steps with their commercials that just showed what happend while your pint was settling. Pure Genius!

Tea could be similar but it's not as good as alcohol and it's not in the same LEAGUE as coffee.

The diversity of coffee is just so much more argued:

The locale, the roast, the grind, the preparation.

BUT

You are so right in people missing the point. TEA has massive amounts of CULTURE and history. Immerse your customers in a world of Tea. Show where your Tea is picked. Show how your fair trade helped a community (whether it did or not, it's all advertising). Show how Tea is important to different cultures: Chai in South India, Mate in South America... Show how tea was important in religion, society, in the day to day lives of millions of people.

It's all about the convergence NOT OF VIDEO and WEB it's much deeper than that. People need to step back from "THE OBJECT" and recognize TWO THINGS.

The BRAND (which Tea doesn't and never will have)
The SOCIETAL IMPACT (easy for tea as it comes inherently with a huge historical culture )

The problem is that I think Tea fans are more like to go to hotfortea.ning.com

caveat: Not once did I mention the need for .TV. That's just one potential vehicle for carrying the message.

 

[snoop]

I think I'm going to let coffee.tv drop since it probably has the same value as tea.tv and wine.tv.... wait. didn't wine.tv just sell for $17,000? Nah, couldn't be.

Coffee.tv is world away, so is Wine.tv,

-No premium renewal
-"Coffee" is far more popular than "tea" (5 fold going by adwords) and significantly more commercial in nature.

Tea.tv would have some capital value if it weren't for the $250 renewal, would have said maybe 1/4 the value of coffee.tv if it was a $20 renewal.

---------- Post added at 10:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:34 PM ----------

Pointing out the obvious, Tea.tv :

1. Would be a great niche video channel IMO related to one of the most popular drinks in the world. There are many tea aficionados who love to discuss numerous kinds of teas and tea related culture.

2. Tea.tv makes a great brand for one of many companies in a very competitive space. Ad campaigns, out of necessity, are becoming more innovative and Tea.tv can be used as a call to action. Companies are just starting to understand how to use web only video to market to their many customers who are already creating user generated video content. Meanwhile, these very same companies are producing content in new and inventive ways to reach their consumers.

These don't sound like an obvious uses for the domain to me. Who would buy tea called tea.tv? (other than .tv fanatic) It sounds like the kind of thing that would be sold in a clearance store - ie it sounds "generic" and cheap, the opposite of a brand.

Or simply a passionate fan of Tea who wants to blog and shoot video about tea will be thrilled to purchase such a name and the great marketing advantage that comes with it.

That is about the only idea that sounds half practical. If that guy ever comes along though I doubt they are going to pay a premium for the name and then stump up $250/per year. That kind of buyer generally needs a very low budget name.

 

[freedom30]

I called ENOM
We should all call Verisign!

QUOTE]

I don't know but it's worth a try, I guess. In historical times David did do a number on Goliath, so maybe a dedicated core can affect the decision making process of Enom and/Verisign.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained...

I would, however, also suggest making the situation as public as one can considering that nothing subjects a company more to review their policy than bad publicity(bad press) about the consequences for the people involved.

A recent example is the on board baggage fee that went public. This caused enough consternation to have 5 major airlines to proclaim that they will maintain a free on board baggage policy.

Although the premium situation affects far fewer victims than the airline that charge for the on board baggage incident, the principle remains the same. No company desires to be looked upon negatively by the public, and this shift in fees that leave the most loyal investors "out in the cold" as it were has the potential of making the company, in this case verisign, look terrible. The key is to bring it up front and center with the company in the public light.

I would suggest a public court of opinion may be of more benefit than a phone call campaign, where they already know the owners of these premiums and their unjust treatment.

This can go viral with blogs, you tube or other internet sites, but it should expand to newspapers and the other media as well.

Just my opinion. It's a tall order but nothing is impossible, as I am learning.

 

[RogueWriter]

Hmmm, just saw my one $500 premium up for renewal.... $29. :blink:

 

[equity78]

You did Tom ?

 

[RogueWriter]

crapola, false alarm, dangit. It said, renew for $29, I clicked on it and it took me to my shopping cart where it said, renew for $500 once again. Curses, they are toying with me now.

 

[domainacrobat]

maybe they just need to hear from more people. I haven't started calling yet, i only have 1 $500 premium, afterall, but if every premium owner called once a day, every single day, eventually someone with decision making power will be made aware of the issue.

lol!


I think this whole thing is pretty stupid. They should have one more renewal at full price as the buy out, then $20.

What do i know though.

 

[DU]

lol!


I think this whole thing is pretty stupid. They should have one more renewal at full price as the buy out, then $20.

What do i know though.

I think that if they are dropped they should all be put into a pot and a random drawing should take place to assign new ownership.

$1 to play.

They would make money and it's equally available to all people.

That seems REALLY fair to ME. But what do *I* know?

 

[RogueWriter]

I think that if they are dropped they should all be put into a pot and a random drawing should take place to assign new ownership.

$1 to play.

They would make money and it's equally available to all people.

That seems REALLY fair to ME. But what do *I* know?

Lol, No, what would be fair would be to let the guy who paid a gazillion dollars ion premium fees have a chance to own it at reg fee.

 

[snoop]

No company desires to be looked upon negatively by the public, and this shift in fees that leave the most loyal investors "out in the cold" as it were has the potential of making the company, in this case verisign, look terrible. The key is to bring it up front and center with the company in the public light.

I would suggest a public court of opinion may be of more benefit than a phone call campaign, where they already know the owners of these premiums and their unjust treatment.

This can go viral with blogs, you tube or other internet sites, but it should expand to newspapers and the other media as well.

Just my opinion. It's a tall order but nothing is impossible, as I am learning.

I haven't seen any backlash against Verisign. People are giving them more money than ever. The people who want change are annoyed because they've signed up for a very bad deal and lost money, that was due to *their decision*. Why would any media outlet take up an issue like this? It is investors making bad mistakes and hoping for a bailout, that is all it is.

---------- Post added at 10:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:03 PM ----------

Lol, No, what would be fair would be to let the guy who paid a gazillion dollars ion premium fees have a chance to own it at reg fee.

Most people see "fair" as whats works best of them. In reality though nothing in life is "fair". People need to take full responsibility for their own actions rather than blaming others. No domain registry wants what is best for you. If people understood that instead of hoping for highly unlikely changes they'd be far better off.

Till those premium renewal names back into the ground and start afresh. Verisign is not your friend. They owe you nothing.

 

[DnEbook]

lol!


I think this whole thing is pretty stupid. They should have one more renewal at full price as the buy out, then $20.

What do i know though.

they would happen in a sane world , but as we know this world is not sane

 

[snoop]

they would happen in a sane world , but as we know this world is not sane

That sounds a "sane" outcome for the people holding those names not for Verisign. From a financial point of view I don't see why they'd do it, it is a wealth transfer from Verisign to registrants.

The people who've registered those names were or are willing to pay that price per year, so why give it up for one years renewal? I think for a buyout to make sense for Verisign it would need to be based on multiple years renewal price up front because that is probably the revenue stream they are giving up.

 

[RPK]

I think what holds people back in many cases could be more Psychological then business like. Imagine you have a premium domain that is $1000/year and you have sunk $3000 into it already. Now if you let it go, someone will reg that same name for either $20 or a one time premium fee of $500 and then that someone will take your 3 years of hopes and sell it for $5000 probably a year out. It is hard to let go. But does that make good business sense? Sometimes you need to write off your loses and move on to better investments. It's tough because a lot of the names people are paying premium for are awesome names.

The only exception as I see it is if you have strong development plans for it. If you do then paying the yearly premium fee would be worth it IMO. If not, then sometimes it is better to just let it go.

I still think Verisign may turn around and do something like pay the renewal fee one more time and then let it go to normal renewal fees. This would be a good business decision IMO as it takes away all confusion from the extension.

Another idea for them would be to have a special premium name auction on SEDO that will allow premium name holders to post their names in the auction and share the profits. Each name in the auction would lose their high renewal fee. This would allow premium holders to make back some or all of their investment while giving Verisign more cash and also taking away the confusion. Those premium holders that decide not to put their names in the auction can hold onto them for the yearly premium fee, but that would be their own decision with little gripe.

 

[snoop]

I think what holds people back in many cases could be more Psychological then business like. Imagine you have a premium domain that is $1000/year and you have sunk $3000 into it already. Now if you let it go, someone will reg that same name for either $20 or a one time premium fee of $500 and then that someone will take your 3 years of hopes and sell it for $5000 probably a year out. It is hard to let go. But does that make good business sense? Sometimes you need to write off your loses and move on to better investments. It's tough because a lot of the names people are paying premium for are awesome names.

Agree. I think for some people this is going to be a slow process. the sooner than can get from Point A -Denial to Point B - Acceptance, the better off they will be.

I The only exception as I see it is if you have strong development plans for it. If you do then paying the yearly premium fee would be worth it IMO. If not, then sometimes it is better to just let it go.

If someone has been paying a premium renewals for several years what is the chance of them having development plans that will ever happen?

Another idea for them would be to have a special premium name auction on SEDO that will allow premium name holders to post their names in the auction and share the profits. Each name in the auction would lose their high renewal fee. This would allow premium holders to make back some or all of their investment while giving Verisign more cash and also taking away the confusion. Those premium holders that decide not to put their names in the auction can hold onto them for the yearly premium fee, but that would be their own decision with little gripe.

Again, this is something that sounds good for people who have bought premiums in the past and bad for Verisign.