Let a potential buyer "test" your domain?

[Embrand]

I have been contacted by a company called http://sitelauncher.com that they are interested in one of my domains.

But after they asked for traffic stats (which are low), they now ask is they can test the domain on their server for a week.

I have never experienced anything like this and am a bit wary. Could it be some kind of scam or is it normal to ask for this?

Thanks.

 

[DnEbook]

do they you to develope for them ? also ..... if you have been honest with them about stats ..... they can take it or leave it i would be saying

 

[Embrand]

do they you to develope for them ? also ..... if you have been honest with them about stats ..... they can take it or leave it i would be saying

Yes, I think it is a bit too much to ask for too.

Thanks, rep added.

 

[soggyindo]

personally i think it's a great idea.

i wouldn't give any control over the name, but if they want to have the name pointed to their parking company (to test the stats), it would only bring a higher certainty for them, and a higher/ or firmer offer for you.

 

[-REECE-]

You can change the DNS + nameservers without explictly transferring the domain, allowing them to "test" it out until their heart is hopefully content

 

[.X.]

You can change the DNS + nameservers without explictly transferring the domain, allowing them to "test" it out until their heart is hopefully content

Absolutely Reece, I have had this requested before, and did it with out a thought, simply changing the Name Servers is no big deal, there is no risk what so ever by doing it.

 

[raredn.com]

Absolutely Reece, I have had this requested before, and did it with out a thought, simply changing the Name Servers is no big deal, there is no risk what so ever by doing it.

Yes, as you and Reece have stated you still own and have full control of the name and there are no scam safety issues, just hope they don't put something copyright infringing up

 

[Embrand]

Thanks for your replies. I wasn't sure I would still be in full control of the domain, but as that is the case, maybe it is worth trying.

Reps added...

 

[weblord]

you can also rent it to them for 1 week, it's a win-win situation.

 

[soggyindo]

^ agreed, if you are gaining parking revenue, it is standard practice to request a small rental covering the usual parking revenue for that period

 

[Embrand]

you can also rent it to them for 1 week, it's a win-win situation.

Yes, that would be good. Right now, revenue is minimal. But then again - I haven't optimized it at all, which seems to be this companies specialty...

 

[soggyindo]

hmm, i wonder what the name is. you said it's low traffic, but might be high CPC. if they're a parking company they might have a sense it's a guaranteed earner. NPers could also help you optimize your parking?

 

[Embrand]

hmm, i wonder what the name is. you said it's low traffic, but might be high CPC. if they're a parking company they might have a sense it's a guaranteed earner. NPers could also help you optimize your parking?

It's a personal first name (non-English) and as far as I remember not registered in other extensions than my .com. But still Estibot values it at $660. I am not sure why :lol:

 

[Peter]

I would be skeptical of changing DNS or nameserver information on the domain name to allow someone to test.

If you change the nameservers to their nameservers there are too many ways they can cause you problems. They could for example use your domain for sending spam, or even get it blacklisted by search engines for spammy seo etc.

If they wish proof of stats then put some analytics code on (possible eventheir analytics code)

 

[estibot.com]

Hmm. They also contacted me about a domain, and asked about revenue...and this was a LLLLL.com with no obvious keyword value. Any domainer can tell this is not a PPC domain name.

Either sitelauncher are on a shopping spree, or someone is using them as a front for a scam, apart from Peter's important comment above, I can think of one possible scam scenario that might work:

-you send random/automatic emails to domain name owners (for domains, say, listed at sedo) asking whether it is for sale, then asking whether it has revenue

-for those that have significant revenue, you ask to test for a week on your parking page (maybe making $10 in the process from PPC)

-then you send an email saying sorry, we're not interested after all

-repeat x 10,000 and you've just made yourself $100,000

...maybe I just have a crooked mind but I smell a rat

 

[raredn.com]

Good points, didn't think about they could use your domain as a spam domain. Glad I have not heard from these scammer guys yet then

 

[soggyindo]

...maybe I just have a crooked mind but I smell a rat

lol, you could've been a criminal genius in another life!
:hehe:

 

[Embrand]

Well, tough call to make then. They seem to be very active, but what there intentions are I have no idea.

I really wonder why they chose to contact me over this specific domain which is very ordinary indeed.

 

[copper]

Just send them screen captures of your traffic stats if you don't feel like changing NS.

 

[raredn.com]

or even worse they could use your domain to go phishing