question Has GoDaddy allowed a seller to cancel the auction you won?

[Nick]

I had an incident this week with GoDaddy Auctions, the basics of which are as follows:

• I won an auction (an aftermarket auction - NOT an expiring domain auction)
• I paid for the domain
• GoDaddy emailed me the next say saying I'm being refunded
• I contacted GoDaddy asking why and was told there was a "technical error"
• I contacted the seller directly, that is a domainer, who tells me I should have won and there was a "legal issue" between him and GoDaddy
• When shown the response I got from the seller, GoDaddy then tells me, in their very same response, that the seller told them he both "did not list it for sale" as well as that he told them "he didn't receive a confirmation when he listed it".
• The domain is now listed on Afternic for 12.5 times the amount that I won it at auction
• GoDaddy later advises me to violate their Auctions Membership Agreement and attempt to make a deal with the customer on my own

I would like to know if anyone else has won an auction on GoDaddy (again- NOT an expiring auction!) and then been told the auction is cancelled. This isn't about the domain itself or the amount of money I paid. Sellers backing out of their auctions is far too common on other platforms, but I expect a whole lot more from GDDY.

 

[raubin]

Yep, just got an email from them telling me that they have cancelled my purchase that I paid at a "Buy it now" price, same as yours - not even an expiring domain. I've replied back and just awaiting their respond.

This is the original email:

"Unfortunately, there was a technical error that made odd.info available at an incorrect price. We have cancelled and refunded your purchase of the domain. We apologize for any inconvenience."

That technical error is no fault of mine, so I shouldn't be penalised. Not happy

 

[WarmDomains]

it happened to me just today, I found the domain in gddy closeouts on expireddomains.net, and paid for it, and then I recieved a refund email, when I checked the domain I found it for sale minmum offer 500dollars, which is 25X the amount I paid,

 

[silentg]

Is the domain at Tucows registrar?

 

[WarmDomains]

Yes

Is the domain at Tucows registrar?

Yes

 

[silentg]

Known problem

Don’t buy or bid on names at Tucows on GoDaddy

 

[Joe drake]

I had an incident this week with GoDaddy Auctions, the basics of which are as follows:

• I won an auction (an aftermarket auction - NOT an expiring domain auction)
• I paid for the domain
• GoDaddy emailed me the next say saying I'm being refunded
• I contacted GoDaddy asking why and was told there was a "technical error"
• I contacted the seller directly, that is a domainer, who tells me I should have won and there was a "legal issue" between him and GoDaddy
• When shown the response I got from the seller, GoDaddy then tells me, in their very same response, that the seller told them he both "did not list it for sale" as well as that he told them "he didn't receive a confirmation when he listed it".
• The domain is now listed on Afternic for 12.5 times the amount that I won it at auction
• GoDaddy later advises me to violate their Auctions Membership Agreement and attempt to make a deal with the customer on my own

I would like to know if anyone else has won an auction on GoDaddy (again- NOT an expiring auction!) and then been told the auction is cancelled. This isn't about the domain itself or the amount of money I paid. Sellers backing out of their auctions is far too common on other platforms, but I expect a whole lot more from GDDY.

You really don't owe them anything. I’d recommend trying to negotiate with them through other channels. GoDaddy encourages listing on other exchanges, so you could also buy through those. Honestly, they’ve messed with you, so you’ve got to do what you need to do. If you're concerned about them, you could have your girlfriend or wife purchase it for you. It’s a free country, after all.

 

[robs01]

How badly do you want that domain name? Are you prepared to wait? Or walk? Will it likely ever sell to anyone else? You need to work out all that first before doing anything.

I've said this before somewhere here at NP and it did not go down too well with many... but I say (if you're prepared to walk away, AND if you think the domain is not likely to sell to anyone else in future) to show keen interest in it and then vanish forever - let them keep renewing the domain for years thinking you'll be back. Make them lose at their own dirty game. And maybe years later you can pick it up on expiry/drop.