discuss Let's Talk Leads! What Happens To The Leads Via Afternic

[Silentptnr]

So I've been trying Price Upon Request at Afternic. This means that the lander has a form for a prospective buyer or interested party to fill out in order to learn the seller's price.

I get many price requests, but what I'm wondering is what happens to the lead?

On many occasions, I get notified to add a BIN price and a Floor price based on a price request. Does this mean an actual broker or representative is speaking with the prospect? Is there any ability to negotiate with the prospect?

I would love to know how these purchase requests are handled at Afternic.

 

[Rhinnnn]

Last month, I inquired about the price of a domain through an Afternic lander.

Hours later, I received an email from a broker, telling me that we could discuss the price and other details over the phone, asking me about the proper time when he could call, etc. In the meantime, I saw the domain price listed elsewhere - way too much. So I replied and said that I'd learned about the price and that it was way over my budget.

The broker got back and said ok, no problem, "I will close down the request but if you do decide to pursue this one or a different domain on the aftermarket - just let me know."

So real brokers do take care of inquiries. I must mention that this was a $XX,XXX domain. Things may work differently for cheaper names.

 

[Recons.Com]

@AfternicDLS please feel free to join the conversation about your process.

They do contact the seller. I probably had around 10 such contacts in the past year.

Maybe you already indicated the floor in your listings? Then they won't. Make sure you leave that field empty.

 

[Recons.Com]

I inquired about a name on Afternic. They contacted me, we talked over the phone. The price was ridiculous for a brandable. They were asking 7 figures (!!!), while a startup founder, a friend, was willing to pay $3K. But what happened after I said it is ridiculous and I won't be buying is really interesting. The agent offered to help to find another name.

This is what anyone who uses Afternic landers are losing: potential sales for another name in the portfolio, if the price for a name is too high. Now, I am not sure if they'd offer any other name from AN or they'd go with GD own names from NameFind portfolio. Maybe, someone has time and desire to experiment.

 

[paknet]

I am a bit reluctant of phone calls as a buyer. I am not buying a piece of land and I am just happy with emails exchanges. I know the domain sound right and there is nothing about it that you can't tell me through emails. In fact, you can send more visual details like charts, proofs and other technical stuff over the email than a phone call, so why really a phone call. I also like to remain anonymous with such deals.

I have inquired about a few domain names and the moment I am insisted of giving out my phone number, it's a skip for me. But that's my personality and my opinion on phone calls.

 

[Windoms]

But what happened after I said it is ridiculous and I won't be buying is really interesting. The agent offered to help to find another name.

Anything could happen over the phone or through their email exchange.
"it's too expensive? No worries we'll find you another option, we've got a great database."

Those inquiry forms generate the most sales for GoDaddy.
Maybe that's why they never offered any bin or make offer landers.

I was actually considering ns3 ns4 afternic, but concerned with lack of transparency.

I can justify them taking 20% for the sales they generate on their own, but 20% on my redirects plus using my leads to sell other names makes no sense.

Shouldn't we get a 5% commission as a partner?

 

[Windoms]

As a matter of fact we really should get a commission for bringing in a lead.
Other registrars get a commission when they bring a lead through afternic mls.
Why shouldn't we? we do the same exact thing.

 

[freety85]

They do contact the seller. I probably had around 10 such contacts in the past year.

Maybe you already indicated the floor in your listings? Then they won't. Make sure you leave that field empty.

@Recons.Com, @Silentptnr, last time broker contacted me and I had the floor indicated on the platform. He asked me if he could take care of the lead as might can have better insight about the buyer's position. They do follow your expectation on price and provide you with information they could acquire from the possible end user. At any given time you can counter/reject the offer on the platform. Drawback is you have no further info on the lead and I'm not sure buyer is being offered alternative names...

 

[Abdullah Abdullah]

I inquired about a name on Afternic. They contacted me, we talked over the phone. The price was ridiculous for a brandable. They were asking 7 figures (!!!), while a startup founder, a friend, was willing to pay $3K. But what happened after I said it is ridiculous and I won't be buying is really interesting. The agent offered to help to find another name.

This is what anyone who uses Afternic landers are losing: potential sales for another name in the portfolio, if the price for a name is too high. Now, I am not sure if they'd offer any other name from AN or they'd go with GD own names from NameFind portfolio. Maybe, someone has time and desire to experiment.

Very interesting. So perhaps it is better to not use their landing pages then? And just list the names in their market with all fields filled alteast bin and floor?

 

[Recons.Com]

Very interesting. So perhaps it is better to not use their landing pages then? And just list the names in their market with all fields filled alteast bin and floor?

That is my approach, but for some it might work differently. I can justify them taking 20% for the sales they generate on their own, but 20% on my redirects plus using my leads to sell other names makes no sense.

 

[ResoluteDomains]

One of the things that I'm really trying to understand is why the brokers dont call me, the seller, to negotiate a deal?

If I get a price request and I quote let's say 1000, wouldn't they contact me and see if I would take less?

I have never received such a call to negotiate my price.

If they aren't doing that I think it is a mistake.

I am not sure that the seller is their priority. Just my opinion but I think with the plethora of leads they get and the massive inventory they have, they will farm that lead out wherever they they they can get the highest sale. YES, I agree, they should email/call and ask for negotiations. This is why I like to have full control of my leads. Leads are extremely valuable, I consider them gold. My 2¢

 

[Silentptnr]

I am not sure that the seller is their priority. Just my opinion but I think with the plethora of leads they get and the massive inventory they have, they will farm that lead out wherever they they they can get the highest sale. YES, I agree, they should email/call and ask for negotiations. This is why I like to have full control of my leads. Leads are extremely valuable, I consider them gold. My 2¢

Yes, it's just surprising that a seller never knows what the prospects budget is.

If a buyer says, that price is beyond what I can spend, why not give a seller a chance to try make a deal.

Seems like missed opportunity. Particularly when domainers frequently let names go cheaper than their original price.

 

[pablohc86]

Afternic brokers are replying to leads coming from those landers and yeah they want to close sales to get their commission. Same like for Uni brokers.. they get commission on sales.
Yes we talk about sales on Afternic or Uni inventories not just on your owned domains so if they feel it's better to move on another domain, why not? they just care their commission.

Btw also in my experience, trying to acquire afternic names from landers i got periodical follow ups from those brokers where they ask if i'm still interested or if we may go with another option....

I always prefer to handle my leads but I can't say that having names listed on afternic decrease sales as names can get way more eyeballs on it.
If you are lazy or with low negotiation skills or simply don't want to negotiate and take care about your leads, those brokers are time savers.

For sure there are many people more experienced of me to negotiate but on uniregistry i turned off the possibility from their brokers to take actions on my leads, i'm not sure this is possible also on afternic.

 

[Sutruk]

Does this mean an actual broker or representative is speaking with the prospect?

That's it.

Is there any ability to negotiate with the prospect?

No. The broker will be the only who negotiates with the prospect. But they are good at negotiating, and well trained.
This is the only downside from this negotiation, that you won't know who is the prospect.

"We work with the sellers directly so I will do everything in my power to help secure a domain for you at a great rate."

They are great brokers. I am quite happy of the deals they have closed for me in the past.

 

[JoeCanadian]

Brokers get involved in even the smaller deals. I saw a listing I liked. Buy now about $988. Minimum bid around $650. I submitted minimum bid and was immediately contacted by a broker inviting me to call.

 

[Silentptnr]

One of the things that I'm really trying to understand is why the brokers dont call me, the seller, to negotiate a deal?

If I get a price request and I quote let's say 1000, wouldn't they contact me and see if I would take less?

I have never received such a call to negotiate my price.

If they aren't doing that I think it is a mistake.

 

[Silentptnr]

They do contact the seller. I probably had around 10 such contacts in the past year.

Maybe you already indicated the floor in your listings? Then they won't. Make sure you leave that field empty.

Damn...that info is gold! Thanks brother.

 

[Skyvisum]

I inquired about a name on Afternic. They contacted me, we talked over the phone. The price was ridiculous for a brandable. They were asking 7 figures (!!!), while a startup founder, a friend, was willing to pay $3K. But what happened after I said it is ridiculous and I won't be buying is really interesting. The agent offered to help to find another name.

This is what anyone who uses Afternic landers are losing: potential sales for another name in the portfolio, if the price for a name is too high. Now, I am not sure if they'd offer any other name from AN or they'd go with GD own names from NameFind portfolio. Maybe, someone has time and desire to experiment.

I am sure a lot of leads gets diverted to other sales from their own list of suggested domains.I once accepted a small $2k offer on a name and the broker messed it all up.This is why i dont trust them,better to use an alternative lander but still list names there but i keep my leads.

 

[Sutruk]

Last month, I inquired about the price of a domain through an Afternic lander.

Hours later, I received an email from a broker, telling me that we could discuss the price and other details over the phone, asking me about the proper time when he could call, etc.

Thanks for letting us know about how they work from the buyer's side.
I think this is the best approach, request an appointment by email and then talk directly by phone with the buyer.
They are trained brokers and know how to do their job. If you are a good seller speaking on the phone, the sale will be closed way faster and more successfully by phone, than waiting to get a response by email.

 

[Hypersot]

Apologies for the offtopic but.. why is this thread in the parking & traffic monetization section?

I'm pretty sure I would have missed it if I wasn't actively monitoring this particular section

 

[Silentptnr]

@AfternicDLS please feel free to join the conversation about your process.

 

[Rhinnnn]

I think this is the best approach, request an appointment by email and then talk directly by phone with the buyer.
They are trained brokers and know how to do their job. If you are a good seller speaking on the phone, the sale will be closed way faster and more successfully by phone, than waiting to get a response by email.

Yep, I also thought this was a good approach, both for me, the potential buyer, and the seller.

Another quote from the last email I received from the broker (actually "Domain Sales Specialist | GoDaddy Aftermarket"):

"We work with the sellers directly so I will do everything in my power to help secure a domain for you at a great rate."

They're obviously very interested in closing deals. I would imagine that more affordable domains don't benefit from this type of engagement, but that's understandable.

 

[wwwweb]

Last month, I inquired about the price of a domain through an Afternic lander.

Hours later, I received an email from a broker, telling me that we could discuss the price and other details over the phone, asking me about the proper time when he could call, etc. In the meantime, I saw the domain price listed elsewhere - way too much. So I replied and said that I'd learned about the price and that it was way over my budget.

The broker got back and said ok, no problem, "I will close down the request but if you do decide to pursue this one or a different domain on the aftermarket - just let me know."

So real brokers do take care of inquiries. I must mention that this was a $XX,XXX domain. Things may work differently for cheaper names.

This is a good strategy they are using of opening up a conversation, without an instant deflection to sticker shock. At least they get to make a few points on the phone, maybe some comps etc

 

[wwwweb]

Apologies for the offtopic but.. why is this thread in the parking & traffic monetization section?

I'm pretty sure I would have missed it if I wasn't actively monitoring this particular section

Wait for that portion of it, my guess it you will find a lot of Uniregistry's parking technologies integrated in the near future.

 

[Sutruk]

Apologies for the offtopic but.. why is this thread in the parking & traffic monetization section?

I'm pretty sure I would have missed it if I wasn't actively monitoring this particular section

I don't know. I have seen it because I just check the "Domain Name Discussion" and this thread appears there.