My Feel on things.
Very Good thread....Rep added (Even though you guys are pretty much maxxed out) to Stub, nielsencl, firefly and johname.
Pricing is probably the most difficult thing in domaining in my opinion. I have had names appraised in the appraisal section here that where pegged at reg fee that I sold for mid $XXX to low $X,XXX. I no longer ask as I like dealing with a certain type of domain and price for a quick sale to business.
Lets face it the price you receive depends upon your ability to sell it to an enduser, or the endusers desire for the name.
I have also had names that I paid reg fee to low $XX for and sold for up to very low $X,XXX that were flipped for 2 to 3 times what I received. That is just business. I am far from an expert but I never cry over a profit. I just try to learn from it.
Recently I was contacted through my website from a company in the UK that wanted me to act as a buyer broker. The company wanted a name that the sellerer wanted mid $XX,XXX for. The name had an estibot of ~$800 (Yeah I know estibot doen't really mean that much but it is a referece). I saw it as a low $X,XXX two word name. Eventually I purchased the name for my client for mid $X,XXX.
Personally I liked the name but did not see it for the use that the company wanted it for. But hey they wanted it and thought they needed it, and were willing to pay up to low $XX,XXX for it. I made a very nice profit for about 3 hours of my time and made a few very good contacts along the way.
Pricing will always be subjective just like Real Estate. Personally I wouldn't give you a dime for seaside property....but I would pay a ton for a nice 5 acre homestead in the country. Supply, Demand and Desire.
Whenever I approach an enduser about a domain I always list a BIN price and willingness to entertain an offer. I also make a referece in my email and my website that I accept 70% of all offers.
If an enduser approaches me about a domain I expect an offer. If they refuse to make one I multiply what I want from the domain by 10 and punt. Maybe not the most professional but it gets their attention.
Hey I sold used cars for 15 years, and if I didn't learn anything else I learnt that you have to make the sale to make the money.
On another note I always email back anyone that offers me a domain. I am not really interested in buying by that method but I am interested in making contacts from domainers worldwide. It never hurts to have a friend in any aspect of the domaining world.
Everyone thanks for sharing.