HugeDomains.com is Buying 50%+ of Expiring Domains at GoDaddy.com

[Arca]

I've been wondering about the competition in auctions for expiring domains over at GoDaddy.com, because somebody is paying hundreds for seemingly every domain that gets a few bidders.

I’ve also noticed a clear pattern, with the last bidder (or one of the last bidders) entering the auction winning most of the time, which made me think that there is one large corporate buyer piggybacking of whatever domains other people find and bid on. Turns out that is the case: HugeDomains.com is buying most domains over at GoDaddy.com expired auctions. I looked up the WHOIS of the past 150 auctions I have lost at GoDaddy.com, and 84 of those are now owned by HugeDomains.com and listed for sale on HugeDomains.com.

While 50%+ may not be representative of overall domains bought at GoDaddy, they do seem to buy far more domains than anyone else. The 66 names not bought by HugeDomains.com were bought by a number of different individuals and companies (BuyDomains.com bought 6 of those 66, for example), so 50%+ were taken by HugeDomains, while "the rest" of the auction wins were by a number of different individual domainers and companies.

This might not be news to some, but I've never seen anyone mention that HugeDomains is this active over at GD expired auctions, so I thought it might be interesting for some people to know who is outbidding everyone in the lower range over at GoDaddy. I've read people mentioning that HugeDomains buy names in close-out status over at GoDaddy, but never that they buy most of the domains in auctions too.

HugeDomains absolutely dominates all auctions below $5XX, and they only picked up a single name above $5XX (cakemart.com) in my sample of 150 names, so $5XX seems to be a self-imposed limit for them. If I only checked domains sold below $5XX, the percentage bought by them would be even higher. I've been the second highest bidder in lots of auctions that HugeDomains.com won, and in my experience they will keep bidding until you give up or until the price passes $5XX. By outbidding most bidders in the lower end, and acquiring more than half of the domains other people also have interest, it leaves a far smaller pool of names for the rest of the domainers to compete for, so I guess that's part of the reason why the reseller prices for names keep increasing so much for names in this range.

The only way to buy cheap domains at GoDaddy auctions now seems to be to let domains expire with 0 bids, so that they go to close-out status, and then try to snipe them as soon as that happens. However, some domainers seem to think it's smart to bid $12 on any decent name when there is 1-15 minutes left, hoping that nobody else is going to place a bid, so fewer and fewer decent names are let to expire with 0 bids. However, that strategy never seems to work (I've tried it myself lots of names, and it did not work even one time), because there are always other people watching and waiting for the name to go to close-out, and they jump in and bid if you make a $12 bid, and most of those names are eventually won by HugeDomains.com. What experiences do other people have at GD recently? Anyone else have any good strategies for buying expiring domains @ GoDaddy.com these days?

Some examples of expired domains bought at GoDaddy.com auctions by HugeDomains:
Domain: skillsharing.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $540
Asking price (at HugeDomains): $2995

Domain: ledmaster.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $537
BIN price (at HugeDomains): $2195

Domain: cyberstrategies.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $262
Asking price (at HugeDomains): $2895

Domain: crablab.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $320
Asking price (at HugeDomains): $1895

Domain: dailyportal.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $560
Asking price (at HugeDomains): $2895

Domain: fivesecondrule.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $42
Asking price (at HugeDomains): $2695

Domain: deltacloud.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $365
BIN price (at HugeDomains): $1795

Domain: itace.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $499
BIN price (at HugeDomains): $2595

Domain: sunnykitchen.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $200
BIN price (at HugeDomains): $2595

Domain: baristaschool.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $449
BIN price (at HugeDomains): $2895

Domain: cakemart.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $695
BIN price (at HugeDomains): $3495

Domain: visuala.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $315
BIN price (at HugeDomains): $2795

Domain: massanalytics.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $130
BIN price (at HugeDomains): $2095

Domain: edusport.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $535
BIN price (at HugeDomains): $2995

Domain: acneguru.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $52
Asking price (at HugeDomains): $2495

Domain: stylefolio.com
Purchase price (at GoDaddy): $195
Asking price (at HugeDomains): $1995

---

Related: HUGE DOMAINS SNIPING GODADDY CLOSEOUTS

 

[trelgor]

How does the HD bot bidding structure look right now? Is there any sure tell that you’re up against them?

 

[GeorgeQuang]

Is anyguy here have other biz to get income ?

 

[joro001]

Completely agree, it is a bad joke trying to acquire anything decent on the expiring/expired aftermarket. It isn't just godaddy, dropcatch and NJ it is the same story, there is no way anyone can buy at these prices and make ROI i'm sorry it is impossible not just difficult but truly out of the question.

I stopped buying at godaddy auctions a long time ago, barely bought a name in the last year from them. There is also a chronic shortage of good names at auction lately, don't know if it's due to domain owners being more aware about domain values and renewing or what but I feel quality/quantity is right down so the same people are fighting for the same few names pushing them to end user prices or close to it.

In the long run the big companies will likely push out almost all domainers from competing and we'll be left with a few massive players and corporations. It is the same in all other businesses/retail/offline etc. the big players such as Amazon, Google etc. are getting bigger buying up any decent competition are pushing out of business almost everyone else.

 

[trelgor]

Watching one ending today. Automatic bid placed @ $12, 5 days ago. Is it HD?

 

[wwwweb]

Watching one ending today. Automatic bid placed @ $12, 5 days ago. Is it HD?

There style is to come in during the last 15 minutes or so, or jump in on any last 5 minute bids.

 

[trelgor]

No ”automatic bid”?

 

[wwwweb]

No ”automatic bid”?

I don't think they would be that stupid to put a target on the back of a domain 5 days out.

 

[Recons.Com]

It is getting difficult, but still for now possible to get some good names.

My catch today on GD:
all coms
Build on Trust
Care in Style
Glamoxy
Ocular Group

 

[MapleDots]

Glamoxy

Has a cool sound but wondering about application

 

[wwwweb]

It is getting difficult, but still for now possible to get some good names.

My catch today on GD:
all coms
Build on Trust
Care in Style
Glamoxy
Ocular Group

You mean catch as in closeouts, or bid purchases?

 

[Recons.Com]

Has a cool sound but wondering about application

Glamour Galaxy ) Could work for anything in fashion, style, beauty ) Will just put on BR or BB or BP )

 

[Recons.Com]

You mean catch as in closeouts, or bid purchases?

Closeouts. I don't bid there, except on 4L or a name that already has bids and I really really want it. All at $5 + renewal...

So 4 x 13.20 = $52.80

 

[urlurl]

There style is to come in during the last 15 minutes or so, or jump in on any last 5 minute bids.

so who is bidding early on the name?

if its someone on NP - i would suggest stopping early bidding unless you want to bid against others

You know there are those who just troll for names that have bids on them, you are just giving them free tips!

 

[MapleDots]

so who is bidding early on the name?

if its someone on NP - i would suggest stopping early bidding unless you want to bid against others

You know there are those who just troll for names that have bids on them, you are just giving them free tips!

HeHe, I'm doing that just to annoy you, I bid up anyone even remotely similar to the ones in your sig.

 

[trelgor]

Stop bidding early. I just paid a handsome amount to win that name. Likely overpaid.

 

[TheShadowKing]

BTW I don't think Verisign is excited to the fact that one company ones a respectable % of the .COM domains (which is growing too).

Exactly. NJ, DC, and SN years of tyranny should be put to an end once and for all!

 

[urlurl]

Stop bidding early. I just paid a handsome amount to win that name. Likely overpaid.

what name were u talking about

 

[Michael M]

I have been curious about HugeDomains impact on GD auctions since this thread started and also watching rising auction prices and less decent names making closeouts - so I decided to dig a little to see what I found. I have shared the results below.

To explain my methodology: I generate keyword domain list daily to comb through by using a software program I wrote to identify names with potential.I used this list as a "random" sample.

I had to do some special work to figure out what domains HD purchased since they don't seem to be changing their nameservers and since I can't access the GD whois. But this method I found is reliable.

So, in a nutshell - I picked my 2/23 list as the first to test this on.
There were 539 names on this list.
141 of those names seem to have been purchased.
Here are results of the landing page (excluding HD which was found through alternate method) for those 141 domains.

Other - 70
HugeDomains - 15
Bodis - 8
Above - 7
Undeveloped - 7
Efty - 6
ParkingCrew - 5
Uniregistry - 5
Brandroot - 3
DomainMarket - 3
Afternic - 2
CashParking.com - 2
InternetTraffic.com - 2
Sedo - 2
BrandBucket - 1
Brandpa - 1
BuyDomains - 1
Voodoo - 1

List of domains purchased by HugeDomains from the sample:
datagrain(.)com
dietme(.)com
discoverycorp(.)com
domaindinosaur(.)com
huntingcircle(.)com
ideasheet(.)com
indiaelite(.)com
insidestore(.)com
jiffyme(.)com
noblehosting(.)com
oakvalue(.)com
photorecipe(.)com
pipejet(.)com
starttowing(.)com
wholepharmacy(.)com

 

[GeorgeQuang]

Thanks so much for your info, Mike.
But i do believe that some names in "Other" field are under HD account. Did you do a Whois research for them ???

 

[Michael M]

Thanks so much for your info, Mike.
But i do believe that some names in "Other" field are under HD account. Did you do a Whois research for them ???

The category Other does not contain any HugeDomain purchases. These were categorized to other by using known name servers for hosting, dns services, or Godaddy forwarding/parking. They were double checked to not be in HD's possession since some of HD's purchases have kept GD nameservers.

I can not disclose my method. Sorry.

Added: 15 names is pretty substantial for 1 day that only included 1 sample. 15 of 141 names is 10.63%

 

[wwwweb]

I have been curious about HugeDomains impact on GD auctions since this thread started and also watching rising auction prices and less decent names making closeouts - so I decided to dig a little to see what I found. I have shared the results below.

To explain my methodology: I generate keyword domain list daily to comb through by using a software program I wrote to identify names with potential.I used this list as a "random" sample.

I had to do some special work to figure out what domains HD purchased since they don't seem to be changing their nameservers and since I can't access the GD whois. But this method I found is reliable.

So, in a nutshell - I picked my 2/23 list as the first to test this on.
There were 539 names on this list.
141 of those names seem to have been purchased.
Here are results of the landing page (excluding HD which was found through alternate method) for those 141 domains.

Other - 70
HugeDomains - 15
Bodis - 8
Above - 7
Undeveloped - 7
Efty - 6
ParkingCrew - 5
Uniregistry - 5
Brandroot - 3
DomainMarket - 3
Afternic - 2
CashParking.com - 2
InternetTraffic.com - 2
Sedo - 2
BrandBucket - 1
Brandpa - 1
BuyDomains - 1
Voodoo - 1

List of domains purchased by HugeDomains from the sample:
datagrain(.)com
dietme(.)com
discoverycorp(.)com
domaindinosaur(.)com
huntingcircle(.)com
ideasheet(.)com
indiaelite(.)com
insidestore(.)com
jiffyme(.)com
noblehosting(.)com
oakvalue(.)com
photorecipe(.)com
pipejet(.)com
starttowing(.)com
wholepharmacy(.)com

datagrain(.)com $112
dietme(.)com $555
discoverycorp(.)com
domaindinosaur(.)com
huntingcircle(.)com
ideasheet(.)com
indiaelite(.)com $212
insidestore(.)com $525
jiffyme(.)com
noblehosting(.)com $162
oakvalue(.)com $106
photorecipe(.)com $106
pipejet(.)com
starttowing(.)com
wholepharmacy(.)com

They paid some decent prices for some looks like $6, and $12 is seen many times in ending bid patterns

 

[tonyk2000]

It would make sense to check source lists with registry whois and whether Huge Domains grabs higher %%% of domains expiring from GoDaddy itself (vs. domains expiring from Tucows or other registrars). Will try to do this when I have time. Why? Because, if (I do not say it is necessary the case) they receive some cashback or better deals from GoDaddy - then there is much more space for providing such deals for domains expiring on GoDaddy itself. One would expect that in case of other registrars GD has to send a high portion of the $$$ received to these registrars, but for GD own expireds it is not the case...

 

[GeorgeQuang]

Some of my losing domains (from 19 DEC to 23 DEC)
What do you think ?
Domain - Landingpage - Winning Price
creationhomes.com - TLDpros - $293
limoinc.com - TLDpros - $171
officepantry.com - TLDpros - 205
topvacancy.com - TLDpros - 96
pinkpiranha.com - HD - 248 - Forsale 1995
peonybridal.com - HD - 75 - Forsale 2195
annexdigital.com - UniRegistry - 95
loftconsulting.com - UniRegistry - 75
saferparking.com - HD - 60 -Forsale 1995
lagunamassage.com - HD - 85 - Forsale 1895
apartmentwien.com - HD - 95 - Forsale 2895
seriarte.com - GD - 208
hostreal.com - TLdpros - 141
negotiationpro.com - TLDpros - 163
creationlife.com - HD - 185 - Forsale 1895
hotelequator.com - HD - 85 - Forsale 2695
jordanexpress.com - HD - 93 - Forsale 2195
smsproviders.com - HD - 136 - Forsale 2095
instantmentor.com - TLDpros - 92
icoroom.com - TLDpros - 151
frealestate.com - HD - 85 - Forsale 2195
edisonauto.com - Afternic - 105
castlenetwork.com - HD - 180 - Forsale 2295
allinwhite.com - Uniregistry - 147
hawkcars.com - HD - 94 - Forsale 1795
academicexpert.com - Uniregistry - 204

 

[wwwweb]

Some of my losing domains (from 19 DEC to 23 DEC)
What do you think ?
Domain - Landingpage - Winning Price
creationhomes.com - TLDpros - $293
limoinc.com - TLDpros - $171
officepantry.com - TLDpros - 205
topvacancy.com - TLDpros - 96
pinkpiranha.com - HD - 248 - Forsale 1995
peonybridal.com - HD - 75 - Forsale 2195
annexdigital.com - UniRegistry - 95
loftconsulting.com - UniRegistry - 75
saferparking.com - HD - 60 -Forsale 1995
lagunamassage.com - HD - 85 - Forsale 1895
apartmentwien.com - HD - 95 - Forsale 2895
seriarte.com - GD - 208
hostreal.com - TLdpros - 141
negotiationpro.com - TLDpros - 163
creationlife.com - HD - 185 - Forsale 1895
hotelequator.com - HD - 85 - Forsale 2695
jordanexpress.com - HD - 93 - Forsale 2195
smsproviders.com - HD - 136 - Forsale 2095
instantmentor.com - TLDpros - 92
icoroom.com - TLDpros - 151
frealestate.com - HD - 85 - Forsale 2195
edisonauto.com - Afternic - 105
castlenetwork.com - HD - 180 - Forsale 2295
allinwhite.com - Uniregistry - 147
hawkcars.com - HD - 94 - Forsale 1795
academicexpert.com - Uniregistry - 204

That pretty well sums it up between two parties, each fighting each other, with a smaller subset of buyers in the mix, they essentially are paying more than others are in order to win.

 

[Michael M]

I am running a report for 2/26 now, and will generate some more in the next couple of days, to get a better idea of the landscape. Will post soon.