question My Fault you let your domain expire?!

[maksimfa]

So I generally buy domains for my own portfolio to develop, or geo domains to resell to local businesses.
Recently I have been buying some established domains at GoDaddy closeout auctions to use for my PBN, or to sell if someone wants.

This morning I wake up and I see I have a phone call and a missed message from someone. I do a Google search for the phone number and see one of the results was for a domain name I picked up for $5 plus reg fee on GD auctions.
I log in to email and see on @toughdomains I have a lowball $50 offer for that name. I responded to the offer saying...

"Hey XX, Thanks for your email and call, and txt. Just signed on to email and before giving you a buzz back and saw your email offer of $50 Will have to pass on that. As you know it is an awesome 11 year old domain and very much brandable. I am open to getting it back to you but you ave to make us a serious offer. I'm sorry you let your domain expire."

I go about my day and after a few calls, I free up and call the number back.

And wow.... he was pissed.

On one hand he was mad that I was "one of those" that stole his domain and now holding it for ransom, etc. On the other hand he needs it back immediately.

I told him sorry but you had 45 days to renew it. He then threatened legal action, and trademarks, etc. I was just getting pissed off at that point. lol.

I told him look, If GoDaddy screwed up billing, have them call me. If there is a trademark issue (which there was none filed), go through UDRP, it will cost you more.

He then offered $100. I responded no. Domain is worth far more to me... even just to park.

Was ready to hang up but then just said, look, make your offer. He responded with $250 + another domain. I rejected that as well. Countered with a mid $XXX offer and accepted.

On one hand I could of been a dick and hung on to my $2,500 asking, and he would of paid... but looks like smaller individual. Still made a sizeable flip in the short amount of time.... About 2 weeks from $13.50 to mid $XXX.

But I have to say... dealing with pissed off people like that, I think I just want to work on geo names. lol.

He should be lucky it was not picked up by HugeDomains or others with no heart. lol.

So I assume every expired domain investor has to deal with pissed off people?

 

[WeSell-Domains]

You have a good heart. After have been accused of "Stealing" a domain name, my price went UP not down.

 

[maksimfa]

You have a good heart. After have been accused of "Stealing" a domain name, my price went UP not down.

Perhaps you are right and I am not tainted yet.

Any time he argued I should of raised the price? lol.

 

[maksimfa]

Btw for those interested the name is XXXX XXXX Media.com

Adjective Noun Media.

 

[toughdomains]

congratulations on the sale stewie...if he made the offer through our system you can also see his ip address and location which usually helps me negotiate. this is exactly why I like expired names better than hand reg...if you want to make the sale public on namebio we can post it there...they are accepting our confirmed sales now for any user who wishes to disclose it.

 

[maksimfa]

congratulations on the sale stewie...if he made the offer through our system you can also see his ip address and location which usually helps me negotiate. this is exactly why I like expired names better than hand reg...if you want to make the sale public on namebio we can post it there...they are accepting our confirmed sales now for any user who wishes to disclose it.

Where do you see the IP? I cannot find on the offers page.

 

[toughdomains]

there are two views list view and matrix. Its in the matrix view in offers.

 

[maksimfa]

there are two views list view and matrix. Its in the matrix view in offers.

Heh, learn something new. Neat feature but dang you guys need better documentation. =)

 

[toughdomains]

Heh, learn something new. Neat feature but dang you guys need better documentation. =)

agreed need to expose deeper geo location like city and expose to all views..."coming soon"

 

[maksimfa]

agreed need to expose deeper geo location like city and expose to all views..."coming soon"

No no... I mean documentation like let folks know of all the features that are there just hidden. lol.

 

[Pierre Barnard]

Been through 2 similar situation in the past month. Heard all about how unethical I am, an I hijacked the domain etc etc...When that happens I know the domain is worth alot and if they continue after I calmly respond to them with a fair selling price, I just increase the price.

Both times I was threatened with law suits, etc, just stick to your guns and say "BRING IT".

But yeah, South Africa is still a bit NEW to the domaining game in general...

 

[maksimfa]

Been through 2 similar situation in the past month. Heard all about how unethical I am, an I hijacked the domain etc etc...When that happens I know the domain is worth alot and if they continue after I calmly respond to them with a fair selling price, I just increase the price.

Both times I was threatened with law suits, etc, just stick to your guns and say "BRING IT".

But yeah, South Africa is still a bit NEW to the domaining game in general...

I can certainly understand people getting pissed... I do wonder how they would react if they were dealing with a big corporate entity who did not care one bit.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[toughdomains]

No no... I mean documentation like let folks know of all the features that are there just hidden. lol.

I feel like if we need documentation we have failed on the UX design it should be easy and obvious...
we do however have feature pages for all the major features
eg...
https://www.toughdomains.com/domain-for-sale-page

 

[canswift]

There's something I do would immediately with one of these types of "offers". I would go to Archive.org and check the history of the domain and make sure that the person I'm dealing with is telling the truth about how this was "their" domain etc.

The other thing I never understand is that if this was indeed a vital business domain, how come no-one noticed for 40+ days that there was no website and no email coming through?! Once GoDaddy takes temporary re-possession as part of the expired / closeout process, then all that is knocked out.

 

[toughdomains]

There's something I do would immediately with one of these types of "offers". I would go to Archive.org and check the history of the domain and make sure that the person I'm dealing with is telling the truth about how this was "their" domain etc.

The other thing I never understand is that if this was indeed a vital business domain, how come no-one noticed for 40+ days that there was no website and no email coming through?! Once GoDaddy takes temporary re-possession as part of the expired / closeout process, then all that is knocked out.

agreed I like http://www.screenshots.com/ registrars typically charge you a redemption fee of $200 to get the name after the grace period....I guess most owners hope that they will just renew it for $10 after it expires...
I had someone offer me 99 cents for their expired name because it got it as a promo offer on godaddy and didnt think they should pay more than that to get it back....long live domaining!

another guy replied with this

"I have the .co.uk for many years so will keep using that.

it was just that my other companies all have.com so simply thought it would look neaten if they all had the same so its not a crucial requirement"

Well his name "looks neaten" in my portfolio esp for the $50 he offered me.

 

[MapleDots]

another guy replied with this

"I have the .co.uk for many years so will keep using that.

Feign interest and maybe you will come down in price

Classic negotiation tactic.

 

[toughdomains]

Feign interest and maybe you will come down in price

Classic negotiation tactic.

not much wiggle room at $50! name actually cost me $67 in auction

 

[Kate]

Strangely, I haven't had to deal with this kind of situation too often. Looks like most of of the names I snapped were truly abandoned.

 

[DomainVP]

$2,500 asking

You were generous from the start. Glad you worked something out that works for you.

 

[maksimfa]

You were generous from the start. Glad you worked something out that works for you.

What would you ask?

I figured since it was a small business, did not want to screw them over too bad. Unlike a large corporation, at a certain point small biz will just get a new domain.

I settled for less than I could of, I am sure. But I don't feel too bad about it and glad I got the first expired sell back to user under belt.

 

[DomainVP]

What would you ask?

I figured since it was a small business, did not want to screw them over too bad. Unlike a large corporation, at a certain point small biz will just get a new domain.

Small business can still mean millions.

I don't know the domain or the buyer so I can't tell you exactly what my game plan would be.

I've had similar situations where it was a quick flip for $1500 - $3400. I think your opening price quote was right on the head where this person should have come in at. I've also quotes the moon and got dust.

Regardless, you both came to a price you were happy with and that is all that ever matters. Congratulations!

 

[maksimfa]

Small business can still mean millions.

I don't know the domain or the buyer so I can't tell you exactly what my game plan would be.

I've had similar situations where it was a quick flip for $1500 - $3400. I think your opening price quote was right on the head where this person should have come in at. I've also quotes the moon and got dust.

Regardless, you both came to a price you were happy with and that is all that ever matters. Congratulations!

Absolutely true.

Seasonal marketing business, solo young owner.

Did research him in publicly avail info.

 

[MapleDots]

I would have quoted 5k.... that is, and always will be, my magic number because that is what I paid for my first small business domain. I tried to negotiate but the guy stuck to his guns and I ponied up the cash. It made me see how profitable domaining could be.

Now I tell clients that a proper domain is a lifetime worth of advertising and by comparisons you can only buy a few newspaper ads for that money.

The value is there.... it just has to be explained.

 

[toughdomains]

nothing grinds their gears more than seeing a sales page with their name for sale for anyone to purchase at anytime...a stranger or worse a competitor can scoop it up...add a buy now for the cherry on top...add a buy now close to the last price it usually results in a sale.

 

[Recons.Com]

Perhaps you are right and I am not tainted yet.

Any time he argued I should of raised the price? lol.

You did the right thing. He is probably small business owner that is not savvy and missed on the name only to realize when it was too late. Paying even mid $xxx could be quite painful for him, possibly struggling with bills, employee salaries etc.

I am sure you'll get rewarded in some other way for the good you did, by not trying to maximize your pay.