Has Anyone Ever Sold and Transferred a Large Portfolio of Domains?

[lennco]

What I would like to know is how did you secure the transfer of your portfolio?

Escrow.com doesn't take possession of domains, they like everyone else rely on the seller to transfer the domain and hopefully the buyer is honest enough to confirm the transfer (stupid way to complete a domain transaction)

Now that method is risky enough for just one domain, but what do you do if you sell a large portfolio of domains?

How does one safely and securely transfer a large portfolio of domains?
Is there an escrow company that will actually take possession of the domains as well as the funds?

Thanks

 

[twomoon]

I guess you could try Sedo. Contact them and describe what you want to do. The fee is not so high (3% for external escrow).

 

[RevolutionaryDomains]

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You can use SEDO, and I'm sure Afternic/Godaddy most likely offer the same services, as well. They take control of the names and the money. Of course, they will charge their fees, but at least you have an entity protecting both buyer and seller alike. Good luck and congrats on the sale.

 

[lennco]

I guess you could try Sedo. Contact them and describe what you want to do. The fee is not so high (3% for external escrow).

Thanks twomoon,
I have considered sedo but they will charge 15% if you have your domains listed with them even with an external sell and escrow, so I called them a while back and asked them what if I deleted them from my account and then started an external escrow and he couldn't give me a definite answer if I would still be charged 15% or 3%...strange.

Plus it is sometimes really hard to get sedo to take control of domains that are listed at Godaddy, they really hate to start another 60 day lock.

Sedo is still a likely source but they can be a pain.

---------- Post added at 02:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:44 PM ----------

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You can use SEDO, and I'm sure Afternic/Godaddy most likely offer the same services, as well. They take control of the names and the money. Of course, they will charge their fees, but at least you have an entity protecting both buyer and seller alike. Good luck and congrats on the sale.

Thanks, Afternic/Godaddy only takes control of a domain if its sold on their network, they dont take control with external sales, at least thats what I read.

 

[RevolutionaryDomains]

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I see I took too long typing my first reply, and repeated what had already been posted by the time I clicked submit. My bad. That aside, GD was only mentioned in my original reply since they now own Afternic. In either case, SEDO is generally quick and painless [and probably cheaper in price], and just as secure as any other entity. IMO.

 

[Soofi]

how about doing it in person with the buyer?

 

[lennco]

how about doing it in person with the buyer?

Thanks, I am not sure how to go about doing something like that.
Especially since domain sales are world wide.
I think I would still want a trusted intermediary.

 

[crazydomaindeals]

How many domains are in the portfolio that you are selling? There could be a solution depending on the quantity

 

[lennco]

how many domains are in the portfolio that you are selling? There could be a solution depending on the quantity

200+

 

[Billidn]

You don't need the Escrow company to take possession of the names, here is one suggestion:

1) Put her deal into the Escrow.com system (or another Escrow company if you prefer t I personally like Escrow.com). Have them make full payment to with Escrow.com and wait until Escrow tells you funds are cleared and OK to transfer the names..

2) If there are too many to transfer or 'push' depending on your registrar, then give them (your) account name and password for where the domains are registered so they can take possession of them (basically you are giving them control of your account) form which they can push the names to another account in their name, or change the "who.is" info on the existing account. It doesn't matter if its 100 or 1,000 names, they now have control of the names and can change the password on the account (to effectively secure the names), or transfer the names to another account or registrar as they wish. **I would highly suggest you get the registrar involved and just get the names "pushed" to their account at the same registrar.

3) They report to Escrow.com they have the names, and you get funds released from Escrow.com

 

[URLtrader]

Create another account at same registrar, push domains being sold to this account. Hand over username and password for this account at proper time to broker.

 

[lennco]

You don't need the Escrow company to take possession of the names, here is one suggestion:

1) Put her deal into the Escrow.com system (or another Escrow company if you prefer t I personally like Escrow.com). Have them make full payment to with Escrow.com and wait until Escrow tells you funds are cleared and OK to transfer the names..

2) If there are too many to transfer or 'push' depending on your registrar, then give them (your) account name and password for where the domains are registered so they can take possession of them (basically you are giving them control of your account) form which they can push the names to another account in their name, or change the "who.is" info on the existing account. It doesn't matter if its 100 or 1,000 names, they now have control of the names and can change the password on the account (to effectively secure the names), or transfer the names to another account or registrar as they wish. **I would highly suggest you get the registrar involved and just get the names "pushed" to their account at the same registrar.

3) They report to Escrow.com they have the names, and you get funds released from Escrow.com

Thanks for the suggestion but that way of doing it is really flawed as I indicated in my original post.
Its not the actually transferring of the domains I am having an issue with, its Them reporting to Escrow.com they have the names, that is a major flaw in the escrow system.
We the seller should never have to rely on the buyer to confirm transfer. Especially with a big sale.

Create another account at same registrar, push domains being sold to this account. Hand over username and password for this account at proper time to broker.

Thanks, but I am trying to avoid a broker if I can so not to pay brokers fees, just escrow fees.

 

[lennco]

I sent Sedo a message asking about their external escrow.

I asked,

1. Can I use Sedo's External Escrow for 1 large domain portfolio of 200+ domains?

2. If I want Sedo to take possession of all 200+ domains for a secured transfer, will you?

3. If I use external escrow for domains that were recently deleted from my Sedo account will the escrow fee still be 3%?

I'll let you guys know what they say

 

[DNBro]

In case you are using sedo for escrow, make sure to delete domains from sedo and change dns setting to any other parking before sending transfer details to sedo

Sedo charge minimum $50 for each domain irrespective transaction amount, which means you have to pay minimum of $50x200+ alone in escrow fee.

Here I will suggest escrow.com better than sedo. first you will able to save much on escrow fee, only precaution you need to taken is make sure domain names you are pushing/transferring to buyer have same email as his escrow.com email id. If necessary take a screenshot of whois after confirming domain transfer. Also keep the inspection period within 1-3 days.

 

[ajaydz]

have you considered eCop.com ?

 

[lennco]

In case you are using sedo for escrow, make sure to delete domains from sedo and change dns setting to any other parking before sending transfer details to sedo

Thanks for the tip :tu:

ISedo charge minimum $50 for each domain irrespective transaction amount, which means you have to pay minimum of $50x200+ alone in escrow fee.

Ouch! Did not know that :o

IHere I will suggest escrow.com better than sedo. first you will able to save much on escrow fee, only precaution you need to taken is make sure domain names you are pushing/transferring to buyer have same email as his escrow.com email id. If necessary take a screenshot of whois after confirming domain transfer. Also keep the inspection period within 1-3 days.

I do these steps with one domain but for 200 it would be impossible. You have to take a screenshot the moment they accept the domain before they have a chance to change the whois and by the time you look up the whois for 200 domains it can be too late. and if it gets transferred to a private whois then you cant even take a valid screenshot.

have you considered eCop.com ?

I would like to find out more about them, they seem to have some withdraw restrictions.

 

[domainventure]

It is a nice problem to have lennco. Wish you much success in the transaction and advance congratulations!

What I would like to know is how did you secure the transfer of your portfolio?

Escrow.com doesn't take possession of domains, they like everyone else rely on the seller to transfer the domain and hopefully the buyer is honest enough to confirm the transfer (stupid way to complete a domain transaction)

Now that method is risky enough for just one domain, but what do you do if you sell a large portfolio of domains?

How does one safely and securely transfer a large portfolio of domains?
Is there an escrow company that will actually take possession of the domains as well as the funds?

Thanks

 

[ImageAuthors]

I would like to find out more about them, they seem to have some withdrew restrictions.

Ecop.com would actually be my first choice when looking for a more flexible escrow solution. François Carrillo, who owns Ecop and also the Domaining.com newsletter, has been very flexible in setting up leases and partial payment plans for me in the past. Ecop took possession of the domain in those cases; so I'm guessing they'd be able to do likewise for a portfolio.

Plus, François is a domainer who understands the issues domainers face. I like to support other domainer businesses -- especially those that put in extra work for their customers.

That's my honest opinion. Give ecop a shot and see if it works for you.

 

[DNBro]

Sedo charge for individual domains, each domain name added separately in domain transfer. I have paid multiple times minimum fee $50 for transactions below $1500.

Reason I mentioned if necessary because I know it not easy, also you receives confirmation mails with buyer email address while transfer/push.

Only problem I found while dealing with escrow.com is, most of the times buyer won't respond after receiving domains, Escrow.com close transaction only after inspection period over or buyer confirming receiving of domain. so keep inspection period 1-3days.

 

[Soofi]

Thanks, I am not sure how to go about doing something like that.
Especially since domain sales are world wide.
I think I would still want a trusted intermediary.

If its a deal of the sorts where you can compensate your travel expenses with the fees that you will be paying to intermediaries, you should definitely think about "in person" deal at a mutually agreeable spot. I did this with one of my domain names. Fortunately was a company, and in the same country as me, however about 8 hours of train journey away from me :D

On the other hand, eCOP's owner Francois is an awesome person and would love to work out a customized offer for you on this deal. I am sending you his official & personal email address, so that you can discuss this further with him.

Cheers to your success.