domain How much are 3 Chars worth??

[JasMate]

If someone can help out with the "current" value of 3 char domains I would really appreciate it

.net
.org
.biz
.us
.info

Looking for appraisals of the above extenstions in the following combinations:

LLL, NNN, LLN, NNL, LNL, NLN

Many thanks. I know there are websites that offer help in evaluating 3 chars but I was after a more "up to date" assesment of the current value.

 

[ApocComputing]

www.3character.com

 

[JasMate]

www.3character.com

I am aware of that site but I was after more "realistic" or "current" valuations. It seems the 3 chars sell generally for more than the prices on that site - but please correct me if I am wrong

 

[BidNo]

A long list but per your request. These are sales within last 12 months:

Domain TLD SalePrice SaleDate SaleThru
ADR biz $1,900 Jan-06 Sedo
ASI biz $1,250 Jun-06 Pool
Buy biz $4,000 Apr-06 Afternic
Car biz $14,027 Nov-05 Sedo
ELB biz $706 Jul-06 Sedo
Iva biz $1,175 Mar-06 Sedo
NJS biz $500 Feb-06 Sedo
PTG biz $1,201 Sep-05 Sedo
RDF biz $1,122 Sep-05 Sedo
TBP biz $700 Aug-06 Private
TEE biz $1,363 Apr-06 Sedo
Zen biz $1,500 Apr-06 Sedo
ADC info $820 Oct-05 TDNAM
AIW info $800 Jan-06 Sedo
Ant info $525 Nov-05 SnapNames
Bed info $1,200 Nov-05 Private
Bed info $630 Oct-05 Sedo
Boo info $2,401 Dec-05 Sedo
BPS info $509 Dec-05 SnapNames
CFI info $975 Feb-06 TheNameStore
Cod info $525 Nov-05 Private
Cry info $525 Oct-05 Afternic
CSN info $800 Mar-06 Sedo
DAC info $2,001 Dec-05 SnapNames
Dad info $5,556 Nov-05 Sedo
DCS info $1,550 Dec-05 SnapNames
Fax info $1,850 Dec-05 Afternic
FSG info $1,300 Dec-05 Sedo
FSG info $1,350 Dec-05 Sedo
GUY info $550 Oct-05 Afternic
HRA info $1,500 Jan-06 TheNameStore
MRS info $625 Feb-06 DNF
NLP info $3,000 Jun-06 Sedo
OGM info $3,602 Dec-05 Sedo
OON info $900 Jun-06 Afternic
Pig info $750 Jan-06 DNF
PPP info $1,010 Dec-05 SnapNames
RPT info $900 Nov-05 Private
SFF info $1,000 Jan-06 Private
SWS info $1,500 Jun-06 Afternic
TPN info $839 Oct-05 Sedo
TTO info $950 Oct-05 Private
Two info $525 Oct-05 SnapNames
UCF info $695 Oct-05 Private
WGA info $1,250 Nov-05 Private
Won info $1,550 Jun-06 SnapNames
488 net $605 Apr-06 Sedo
511 net $1,204 Jun-06 SnapNames
898 net $1,351 Apr-06 SnapNames
995 net $3,300 Jul-06 Enoms Club Drop
ADN net $1,537 Apr-06 SnapNames
AFH net $12,500 May-06 Afternic
AIP net $2,300 May-06 SnapNames
ALK net $1,252 May-06 Pool
ANO net $2,351 Jun-06 SnapNames
BCA net $2,008 Mar-06 Sedo
BCT net $1,150 Jan-06 SnapNames
BPP net $1,500 Mar-06 SnapNames
BQO net $1,004 Dec-05 SnapNames
BSH net $1,900 Jan-06 SnapNames
Buy net $45,000 May-06 Moniker/Traffic
CEN net $1,529 Apr-06 SnapNames
COD net $4,577 Dec-05 SnapNames
DAC net $1,587 Apr-06 SnapNames
DCG net $1,372 Apr-06 SnapNames
DHX net $1,054 May-06 SnapNames
DID net $3,633 Mar-06 SnapNames
DLI net $1,151 Jul-06 SnapNames
Dop net $745 Oct-05 Afternic
EAI net $3,121 Mar-06 Snapnames
eRE net $21,450 Feb-06 Afternic
FAE net $1,951 Apr-06 SnapNames
Fbb net $2,500 Mar-06 Sedo
FCR net $2,000 Jan-06 Enoms Club Drop
FHD net $1,350 Jul-06 SnapNames
FHM net $1,800 Apr-06 Afternic
Fnz net $500 Dec-05 Afternic
FTA net $4,475 Jul-06 SnapNames
FTD net $1,500 Feb-06 Enoms Club Drop
GKM net $1,500 May-06 SnapNames
GKN net $6,419 Jun-06 Sedo
GLC net $1,549 Feb-06 SnapNames
GUI net $3,500 Nov-05 Sedo
GYG net $1,251 Jan-06 SnapNames
IDN net $2,801 Nov-05 SnapNames
IED net $2,400 Mar-06 SnapNames
IIS net $15,000 Sep-05 Sedo
ILB net $1,161 Feb-06 SnapNames
KAW net $2,395 May-06 SnapNames
KEL net $2,183 Mar-06 SnapNames
KNX net $1,024 Jun-06 SnapNames
KSH net $1,050 Mar-06 SnapNames
KUT net $1,602 Apr-06 SnapNames
LNK net $1,251 May-06 SnapNames
LOM net $1,179 Apr-06 SnapNames
MEP net $900 Apr-06 Sedo
MNP net $1,161 Apr-06 SnapNames
NGI net $2,400 Oct-05 SnapNames
NMA net $2,511 Feb-06 SnapNames
NMS net $5,300 Nov-05 TDNAM
NOS net $1,900 Jan-06 Enoms Club Drop
NTN net $1,750 Apr-06 SnapNames
OJS net $1,000 Mar-06 Snapnames
OKU net $1,050 Jan-06 SnapNames
OLO net $1,855 Apr-06 SnapNames
OPO net $1,610 Jun-06 SnapNames
OTF net $1,111 Apr-06 SnapNames
OVN net $2,000 Jan-06 SnapNames
OWD net $1,900 Apr-06 SnapNames
PLM net $1,960 May-06 SnapNames
PMM net $1,300 Sep-05 Enoms Club Drop
PNH net $1,669 Jan-06 SnapNames
PRC net $2,400 Jan-06 SnapNames
PTO net $4,000 Jul-06 Enoms Club Drop
QIN net $1,834 Jul-06 SnapNames
RFO net $1,801 Apr-06 SnapNames
RNS net $1,261 Jan-06 SnapNames
ROG net $1,151 Jan-06 SnapNames
Rsm net $1,500 Dec-05 Afternic
SAC net $2,649 Oct-05 SnapNames
Sex net $450,000 May-06 Moniker/Traffic
SGT net $1,994 May-06 SnapNames
SHL net $1,461 Apr-06 SnapNames
SKD net $1,199 Feb-06 SnapNames
SLA net $2,450 Sep-05 SnapNames
SOP net $2,194 Mar-06 SnapNames
Soy net $5,000 Sep-05 Afternic
SVC net $2,950 May-06 SnapNames
SVT net $1,550 Jun-06 SnapNames
TAW net $1,300 Mar-06 SnapNames
TBS net $2,900 Dec-05 SnapNames
TDN net $3,350 Feb-06 SnapNames
TIF net $2,233 Mar-06 SnapNames
TNM net $1,219 Apr-06 SnapNames
TPT net $1,911 Apr-06 SnapNames
TRB net $1,860 Jul-06 SnapNames
TWF net $1,016 Apr-06 SnapNames
UHR net $2,551 May-06 Private
URU net $1,161 Apr-06 SnapNames
UVP net $1,051 Apr-06 SnapNames
UWB net $2,150 Jul-06 SnapNames
VIB net $1,660 Nov-05 Pool
VPN net $10,001 Apr-06 SnapNames
WKD net $1,772 May-06 SnapNames
WRS net $1,800 Feb-06 Enoms Club Drop
WTM net $2,011 Jun-06 SnapNames
WTR net $1,061 Jun-06 SnapNames
XTS net $670 Apr-06 Enoms Club Drop
XVN net $3,000 Nov-05 Sedo
YOR net $1,299 Nov-05 Afternic
YTS net $1,161 Apr-06 SnapNames
ZYR net $1,022 Apr-06 Pool
2Go net $1,100 Mar-06 SnapNames
SB3 net $300 Oct-05 Afternic
ZP3 net $1,500 Jan-06 Afternic
Bob org $1,500 Feb-06 Sedo
CNS org $5,988 Oct-05 SnapNames
CZS org $1,450 Mar-06 Afternic
DAF org $2,150 Jun-06 SnapNames
Dan org $7,056 Jul-06 SnapNames
DJG org $575 Feb-06 Afternic
ECK org $1,350 Jun-06 SnapNames
EEG org $2,210 May-06 SnapNames
EMA org $3,010 Apr-06 SnapNames
EUA org $1,361 Jan-06 SnapNames
FOO org $1,351 Feb-06 Sedo
GSA org $4,700 Oct-05 SnapNames
HAR org $1,051 Apr-06 SnapNames
HDA org $2,080 Sep-05 SnapNames
HGL org $1,000 Mar-06 Snapnames
HQP org $4,450 Sep-05 Afternic
Hug org $3,333 Mar-06 SnapNames
HYA org $1,611 May-06 SnapNames
IRD org $9,450 Feb-06 Afternic
IVL org $1,000 Apr-06 SnapNames
JEE org $546 Jan-06 Sedo
JSN org $1,300 Mar-06 Snapnames
KOA org $1,120 Jan-06 SnapNames
LDJ org $1,050 Mar-06 SnapNames
LEG org $2,052 Apr-06 SnapNames
MSO org $4,000 Feb-06 Sedo
MYI org $1,000 Apr-06 SnapNames
NFS org $2,380 Oct-05 SnapNames
NIN org $2,833 Jul-06 Snapnames
NXP org $3,450 Jul-06 Afternic
ONG org $4,200 Jul-06 SnapNames
OON org $900 May-06 Afternic
PDP org $2,000 Jul-06 SnapNames
PHD org $25,000 Jun-06 GreatDomains
PKR org $5,500 Dec-05 Afternic
PWP org $1,200 Jun-06 SnapNames
ROS org $1,400 Apr-06 SnapNames
SCH org $2,030 Apr-06 SnapNames
SDH org $1,103 Feb-06 SnapNames
SEP org $5,300 Jan-06 SnapNames
TAU org $2,070 Mar-06 SnapNames
Tfb org $160 Oct-05 Afternic
TFY org $1,000 Apr-06 Sedo
TLI org $1,103 Feb-06 SnapNames
TLR org $1,060 Jun-06 Pool
TPW org $8,650 Feb-06 Afternic
Ubf org $200 Oct-05 Afternic
UNS org $2,200 May-06 Sedo
UTI org $2,150 Jul-06 SnapNames
WHT org $1,550 Mar-06 SnapNames
ACB us $395 Jan-06 Afternic
AGT us $195 Nov-05 Afternic
ANS us $395 Nov-05 Afternic
APD us $195 Feb-06 Afternic
Ask us $6,200 Mar-06 Sedo
ATE us $1,200 Apr-06 Sedo
CIE us $595 Jan-06 Afternic
Csv us $250 Nov-05 Afternic
ECD us $600 Sep-05 Afternic
EMA us $2,000 Aug-06 Private
FBO us $1,000 Mar-06 Afternic
FON us $1,500 Dec-05 PPCIncome
IBC us $1,200 Jul-06 NamePros
IMA us $2,500 Apr-06 Private
IQF us $500 Sep-05 Sedo
ITH us $988 Feb-06 Sedo
ITZ us $85 Apr-06 Afternic
Jew us $29,500 Feb-06 Sedo
Nto us $375 Dec-05 Afternic
Out us $2,225 Feb-06 Sedo
Pkr us $500 Nov-05 Afternic
RTG us $795 Jan-06 Private
TVP us $775 Oct-05 Sedo
wii us $2,500 Jun-06 Private
ZUM us $400 Sep-05 Sedo
e85 us $3,000 Aug-06 Sedo
RE4 us $3,000 Aug-06 Sedo

BTW, you can search online by leaving the keywords blank, TLD= net, org, biz, us or info, setting len=3 and checking "numeric". You can then sort by clicking on a column headings.

Cheers,
BidNo

 

[SharonTucci]

I am aware of that site but I was after more "realistic" or "current" valuations. It seems the 3 chars sell generally for more than the prices on that site - but please correct me if I am wrong

Domaining 201 lesson ahead

Do you know anything about the term "liquidity"? I get the sense you are far from stupid so hopefully you will be able to follow me here.

I have nothing to do with the 3 character site BUT it is a VERY accurate -representation of the liquidity of the various combinations of 3 character domains. The site reports what minimum wholesale prices are in the market. These are NOT end user prices. These are prices that if you have a domain that is of A, B and C combination - this is what you can realistically get for it in the next day to week.

The high sales figures are the exception and not the norm. Most end user priced sales, unlike wholesale pricing, have very little to do with trends but rather what someone is willing to pay for a given domain. (Traffic/revenue based sales are different of course.)

You didn't say what you are looking for the numbers for, but since you have various 3 char domains in your sig file, I presume you want to make an effort to price your domains accordingly. If that's the case, it's obviously a little more complicated than simply looking at *similar* domains.

 

[JasMate]

Domaining 201 lesson ahead

Do you know anything about the term "liquidity"? I get the sense you are far from stupid so hopefully you will be able to follow me here.

I have nothing to do with the 3 character site BUT it is a VERY accurate -representation of the liquidity of the various combinations of 3 character domains. The site reports what minimum wholesale prices are in the market. These are NOT end user prices. These are prices that if you have a domain that is of A, B and C combination - this is what you can realistically get for it in the next day to week.

The high sales figures are the exception and not the norm. Most end user priced sales, unlike wholesale pricing, have very little to do with trends but rather what someone is willing to pay for a given domain. (Traffic/revenue based sales are different of course.)

You didn't say what you are looking for the numbers for, but since you have various 3 char domains in your sig file, I presume you want to make an effort to price your domains accordingly. If that's the case, it's obviously a little more complicated than simply looking at *similar* domains.

Thanks for the reply there Sharon :hi:
Yes your right I am trying to determin the "retail" value of my domains using a "retail" based pricing structure. Thank you for not calling me stupid

That 3char site is fantastic and I have refered to it many times however I found that the average sale price of domains was always higher. Now I understand that these prices are wholesale, thanks for pointing that out - the site probably refers to that but I must have missed it.

So in your honest opinion what is the difference between average retail price and average wholesale price? When I say "average retail" I am not refering to those once off sales that go through the roof or over inflated eBay sales that I regularly see. No I am refering to the average, if there is such a thing?

Many thanks for your help in this matter.

 

[SharonTucci]

So in your honest opinion what is the difference between average retail price and average wholesale price? When I say "average retail" I am not refering to those once off sales that go through the roof or over inflated eBay sales that I regularly see. No I am refering to the average, if there is such a thing?

Many thanks for your help in this matter.

I don't think it's possible to define one.... once more, retail price comes down to what an end user is willing to pay. You don't even need to look at the high sales to see this. There are a lot of domains that have sold for 4 figure amounts that MOST people would look at and say it wasn't worth 3 figures, nevermind 4. But it was worth it to the buyer and the seller somehow figured that out.

You can't compare this to liquidity and wholesale pricing is about liquidity.

I'll give you one example here....from 2001 to late 2004, the domain market was pretty stable. Some fairly large sales, but overall, there wasn't a lot of liquidity for any kind of domains. (Hey, even look at around 16 months ago - you could get 3 letter .com's EASILY for $1k or less.) Most of the 3 letter .com sales I am aware of during that time to end users were in at least low 4 figures. But the wholesale market wasn't there at all.

What we're seeing happening now is that a lot more people are getting into domaining.... there are also more people taking it very seriously as an investment. This is making certain kinds of domains to have a higher liquidity. So even if you COULD give a number and say that okay, the average retail sale is 100-500% times the average wholesale price.... this won't be constant next year or even a month from now.

We're also looking at a lot of consolidation going on right now too. There are several people/companies getting heavy into specific types of 3 character domains. Some of these, as we know, won't sell to end users period. This in itself is helping to drive up wholesale prices because it's getting much harder to acquire certain kinds of domains than it was before.

I'd love to say specifically - this is what I think will happen, but alas, if I had a crystal ball, my bank account and portfolio would be a lot richer But I DO know that the retail market is starting to move more to non-.com extensions... at least the lower end.

Last year, I had been back and forth with a company that was interested in a domain I really didn't want to sell. We finally settled on a price in mid 5 figures. The deal fell through at the last minute because they turned around and registered the .biz version of the domain. That WOULD have been my biggest single sale ever if it had gone through. If I TRIED to sell the domain on this forum, I likely wouldn't get over 100 for it - even if that. Yet its a domain that I've received several offers for over the years.

 

[JasMate]

I don't think it's possible to define one.... once more, retail price comes down to what an end user is willing to pay. You don't even need to look at the high sales to see this. There are a lot of domains that have sold for 4 figure amounts that MOST people would look at and say it wasn't worth 3 figures, nevermind 4. But it was worth it to the buyer and the seller somehow figured that out.

You can't compare this to liquidity and wholesale pricing is about liquidity.

I'll give you one example here....from 2001 to late 2004, the domain market was pretty stable. Some fairly large sales, but overall, there wasn't a lot of liquidity for any kind of domains. (Hey, even look at around 16 months ago - you could get 3 letter .com's EASILY for $1k or less.) Most of the 3 letter .com sales I am aware of during that time to end users were in at least low 4 figures. But the wholesale market wasn't there at all.

What we're seeing happening now is that a lot more people are getting into domaining.... there are also more people taking it very seriously as an investment. This is making certain kinds of domains to have a higher liquidity. So even if you COULD give a number and say that okay, the average retail sale is 100-500% times the average wholesale price.... this won't be constant next year or even a month from now.

We're also looking at a lot of consolidation going on right now too. There are several people/companies getting heavy into specific types of 3 character domains. Some of these, as we know, won't sell to end users period. This in itself is helping to drive up wholesale prices because it's getting much harder to acquire certain kinds of domains than it was before.

I'd love to say specifically - this is what I think will happen, but alas, if I had a crystal ball, my bank account and portfolio would be a lot richer But I DO know that the retail market is starting to move more to non-.com extensions... at least the lower end.

Last year, I had been back and forth with a company that was interested in a domain I really didn't want to sell. We finally settled on a price in mid 5 figures. The deal fell through at the last minute because they turned around and registered the .biz version of the domain. That WOULD have been my biggest single sale ever if it had gone through. If I TRIED to sell the domain on this forum, I likely wouldn't get over 100 for it - even if that. Yet its a domain that I've received several offers for over the years.

WoW how many times have you kicked yourself for not regestering the .biz :td: Tell me why didn't you want to sell it if it was only worth 100-200 wholelsale? Anyway maybe someone will take over the company and buy that domain from ya

Thanks for the explaination I see fully what your saying and yes you are right I guess I was looking for something was not there, maybe a "wholesale wannabe" of the retail market? But yeah they would not stay that way long so the market would not be that big anyway. I guess at the end of the day it is a bit of chance and much skill in finding the "right" domain that will be the next success story.

 

[SharonTucci]

WoW how many times have you kicked yourself for not regestering the .biz :td: Tell me why didn't you want to sell it if it was only worth 100-200 wholelsale? Anyway maybe someone will take over the company and buy that domain from ya

Thanks for the explaination I see fully what your saying and yes you are right I guess I was looking for something was not there, maybe a "wholesale wannabe" of the retail market? But yeah they would not stay that way long so the market would not be that big anyway. I guess at the end of the day it is a bit of chance and much skill in finding the "right" domain that will be the next success story.

I had said I didn't want to sell the domain... it happens to be the name of one of my businesses. So to ME, it was worth considerably more than 100-200. I also base my asking prices to end users in part in what I feel the domain is worth from a branding standpoint. Even if it hadn't been a domain with specific value to me as in this case, I'd have still not sold it for less than 4 figures at least.

Look at it this way - let's say you have a portfolio of 100 non-traffic domains that are brandable. You are looking at around 650-900$ per year on renewal fees alone. What if you only average one end user sale a year? That means in order to be profitable over all, you need to get at least $1k. Optimistic scenario of having an exceptional 5% turnover a year on a portfolio of 1000 domains.... you are looking at 50 sales a year... 6500-9000 annual renewal fees. That's probably about 250 hours MINIMUM of work involved. What's your time worth? What about the return on your investment? Let's say 7000 a year renewal fees, you want to realize a 20% return on investment and your time is worth $50 an hour (equiv to $25/hour if you were working for someone else). You need to generate 8400 (7000*1.2) plus 12500 (50x250) or 20,900 to make it a worthwhile endeavor. That's 418 average per domain before transaction costs and other non-registration... so let's say 600 on average. What happens if you have a bad year and only average 2% sales but all else is equal? Now you are looking at needing to get an average of $1k per sale. Sure, one single 5 figure sale can slant your numbers up... but if you are lowballing your asking price, you won't even have a chance of getting to the 5 figure sale.

Most full-time domainers I know won't consider any sale under $2k. The above is part of the reason why. The 5% turnover rate is VERY high and I doubt that many see this unless they are going for very very low sales prices.

I'm sure there are some people here that have a higher turnover than 5%... but I'm talking about retail sales here not wholesale sales. I suspect there are very few people that are seeing over 5% on end user sales.