Here's what I'm trying to do at Sedo, what's the best way to go about it?

[atypical]

Since I can't get my domains accepted to Sedo auction as premiums, I'm trying to set all my sedo listings to go to auction with no reserve, just minimum bids. What's the best, most upfront way to go about that? I've set some really low asking prices, but I don't want potential buyers to feel as if they've been baited with low prices and switched. Unfortunately, just setting minimum offers with no asking prices doesn't get too many views.

Any suggestions?

 

[equity78]

Where would be the bait and switch ? If you cannot get a domain into premium then the only way to go to auction is if someone makes an offer so if you set a low offer of $60 and the auction goes through with no other bids then they got the domain for $60

 

[atypical]

Quote from another forum:

To me, it's very serious having agreed on the sale price of a domain, to see that very domain be entered in an auction! It's a very deceptive practice. I will not make another offer to buy on Sedo, period.

That's my concern. Perhaps it's unfounded, especially considering the risk I'll be taking in sending any low-ball offers to auction.

 

[Lasher]

Depends how confident you are your domains would fetch more than the minimum. Take a hard look at your domains (or ask someone else to do it for better opinions) and if you really think one will fetch a good amount in a Sedo auction then give a friend $100 to bid on it just to kick it into the auction. I'm not advocating schill bidding, don't bid on your own domain after that.

I can't see how this approach really hurts anyone, you gamble $50 (sedo's comission) to get the domain into the auction, if someone sees more value in it than that they get to bid and get a domain they might have otherwise not noticed and, if you're right about your own domain, you get a good sale. If you're wrong, the only person who doesn't win from the transaction is you. The other risk of course is someone else comes along and takes a domain for $110 you think is worth much more... all depends how badly you want your domain in the auction.

 

[equity78]

Oh ok I understand what you mean now atypical most domainers on that forum have said they will never bid on a domain on sedo ever again. But I think all sellers will take the free ride with the auction if it does not go higher they have the first bid.

 

[Lasher]

Quote from another forum:

That's my concern. Perhaps it's unfounded, especially considering the risk I'll be taking in sending any low-ball offers to auction.

Ahh, I'd missed that quote from the other forum and misunderstood the question, sorry. If you've negotiated and agreed a price then I do think it is wrong to push it to auction when the buyer isn't expecting it.

If I *really* believe a domain would fetch more than someone is offering and they say final offer then I'll counter with something along the lines of "We can either go with your offer price and let the market decide a fair price by pushing it to auction, or we can close the deal privately for <insert amount here>". It's also a great way to find out of the buyer really thinks they've offered you a fair price for the domain.

 

[estibot.com]

"We can either go with your offer price and let the market decide a fair price by pushing it to auction, or we can close the deal privately for <insert amount here>". It's also a great way to find out of the buyer really thinks they've offered you a fair price for the domain.

I really like your thinking (and wording). This seems a fair practice. Rep+ for solid advice.

 

[atypical]

I like how Afternic has handled this issue.

Next offer will meet reserve

A Buyer's offer that meets this price will result in a sale if a better offer is not received within 7 days. Sellers do not have to set a Reserve Price. This price is not known until some offer has met the Reserve Price or the next offer will meet the Reserve Price. Sellers can set a Reserve Price after some offer has been made, in order to accept the offer if no higher offers are received within 7 days from when the offer was made.

You can set the minimum offer and reserve to the same amount, and bidders know it will result in an auction. I'm thinking of moving my no reserve portfolio clearing auctions over to afternic. Do as many people shop there?

 

[gausap23]

Your way of reasoning is really impressive LASHER............
all the best

 

[dag]

Ideas of how to get a domain into auction

I've been thinking recently as well about the situation of wanting to get a particular domain into auction if you think it will do well, and I was thinking that one could make an offer here at NamePros along the lines of: "I'm willing to sell Diamonds.com [insert your equally great domain here] to the first person to put an offer of $100 on it at Sedo, provided you're willing to wait for the auction period to end and no one else bids on it. If it goes higher, you're out nothing; if it isn't bid on, you've got a great domain for a great price."

Alternatively, you could even do a "place offer" swap, with no obligation to buy or sell. That is, something like: "I'll place an offer of $XX via Sedo on one of your domains, and you do the same for one of mine. If either domain doesn't get bid up, the original owner will retain ownership of that respective domain."

Is there anything about those methods that would be truly unethical? Once you get it listed in a Sedo auction, the market takes control, and you either get what it's worth or it doesn't sell. You're only getting help getting it there, with both parties understanding in advance what they will or will not be getting in the end.

Thoughts?