Took this from another thread because I found it quite enlightening.. another insight into what has happened and can happen within the domaining community.
I apologize if you have read this already but sometimes a nice post gets lost in the melee of DIQ Beatdown. MrRhee took the time to post a not short response and I think most of you missed it being too grown up to mess around in the other thread.
I apologize if you have read this already but sometimes a nice post gets lost in the melee of DIQ Beatdown. MrRhee took the time to post a not short response and I think most of you missed it being too grown up to mess around in the other thread.
defaultuser, nice post, meaty...
I used to have Jeff on Ignore. But I've decided that I will do my best to help him find all the answers he is looking for.and to help him fix his broken keyboard which is currently stuck on "cut&paste" posting mode.
Originally Posted by defaultuser
Jeff believes that everything is Reg Fee.
The truth is - probably 99% of undeveloped domains ARE Reg Fee.
The truth is - most new domainers don't realize this.
Ergo: Jeff is right 99% of the time.
IMHO, Jeff is giving people too much credit and being overly generous with his appraisals since we all "KNOW" that 98.76546% of all domains are worth "LESS than reg-fee" the moment they are registered.
Therefore, based on that logic and scientific data, Jeff is wrong most of the time.
On to a more serious topic:
Originally Posted by defaultuser
When you say something is worth $xxx there is a reason - traffic, keyword, search, CPC, potential end-user.
Something is "worth" what someone is willing to pay. Deep inside we all know this to be true.
"One man's trash..."
"Beauty is in the eye..."
etc...
How many times have domainers appraised names for reg-fee only to see that name sell for substantially more? and vice-versa.
How many times have domainers dropped a worthless domain, only to see the drop auction feeding frenzy bring that domain's price into the stratosphere? As a domainer, truly one of the worst feelings in the world. LOL.
So the question should not be: what are domains "worth"? but rather: what is an appraisal worth?
Often, I suspect people ask for appraisals so they can simply get validation... a nice little pat on the back with an "Attaboy" on top. I find it very interesting, if not ridiculous, when I read appraisals that recommend a domainer delete their names... and someone else swoops in and buys the name after it is deleted.
Originally Posted by defaultuser
It is clear to me that there are people in this forum that are hyping the TV based on GOLD RUSH names that none of us normal people are getting access to.
I find this statement odd. I've seen it posted a few times before.
I have not seen any evidence that people were denied access to register any of the GoldRush drops. Anyone who had their finger on the pulse of .TV, saw that domains that were previously considered premiums were now available to register for Standard Registration Fee everywhere .TV domains were sold: GoDaddy, Dynadot, Name.com, etc... except ENOM (who chose to go dark during the day to prepare for the LandRush and were oblivious to the GoldRush taking place).
I check my want lists religiously, several times a day. I do lots of research, aggregate data from multiple sources and constantly network with others. I set up text alerts to let me know if any domain I on my want list (multiple TLDs) becomes available, whois info changes, added to a marketplace, etc. The morning of the GoldRush, I received a text message flood saying many of my .TV wantlist domains were available... AVAILABLE. I still can't believe it, no one saw the GoldRush coming, no one expected Verisign to delist nearly half of the 50K premiums on their list.
Also, I see people complaining that some domainers had the inside track to buy names at massively discounted Rush prices earlier than others (the day before) and that simply isn't true based on my own experiences and my colleagues. The names I bought the night before required full premium upfronts. I bought a name that I've always wanted that has been on Enom's premium list for YEARS at $XX,XXX. It's a travel vertical I want to do business in and I wanted the category killer, no ifs ands or buts. I had to take the risk that if I didn't buy it then, it may get plucked into the SEDO auction (w/ standard renewal) or get repriced substantially lower for the LandRush. There'd be no way to guarantee I would get it in either event, so I pulled the trigger at the full $XX,XXX list price. Do I regret not waiting for a cheaper price and the chance to save money? No. Do I think that I had special access to buy the name before everyone. No. I was on their mailing list and got an email. There were so many other domainers buying at the same time. I called some of my colleagues and they paid massive premium upfronts too: Nat bought Florida, California, etc, (you can check historical pricing if you wish). In fact, I suspect that's why Frank Schilling may have let go of his original pre-rush buy list (if he did, and only my opinion) because his first crop of names were not as good as what was available at similar pricepoints (Kidz? Freeway? Road?) and nowhere as value-priced as the GoldRush and LandRush domains the next day. Perhaps he chose to buy better names during the rush or on the aftermarket/Sedo.
So for all the domainers wondering why others had special access to any sales, I would suggest you simply contact your registrars/colleagues and do what I did
~ beg to be alerted if there are any sales/promos
~ ask to be put on their mailing lists if they have one.
~ tell my handlers to keep me in mind for ANY thing important, good news or bad, major changes, etc
~ tell my colleagues to keep me aware of any promos, sales, etc they come across.
~ subscribe to rss feeds, alerts, etc...
~ network to make sure I have my finger on the pulse.
~ constant research and tracking
If your registrar doesn't know you exist, or doesn't know that you are interested in sales/promos... why are they to blame for not reaching out to you with offers?
This is the business I've been in full-time since '97 (100+ hours a week), though I am enthusiastic and passionate about it, I don't take it lightly. It requires a serious commitment, real investigation before making an investment, etc... Whatever it takes, I don't ever want to be out of the loop or come late to the party. If you're vigilant and have done your due diligence, the rewards can be great.
Good luck to all...
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