Rob Monster's Grand Plan for Epik.com and Why Parking Won't Be Part Of It

[Ron Jackson]

A new DN Journal monthly newsletter was sent out to opt-in subscribers this weekend. We connected with Epik.com Founder Rob Monster to learn more about the upcoming Epik Developers Conference, but the discussion wound up covering much more than that, including Monster's take on the shaky state of domain parking and the future of domain development. The newsletter is also available online:
DN Journal Newsletter - August 2010

 

[pcp]

Good read, thanks.

 

[ComKid]

Good to read Epik wants to develop websites. That ia a great option. 25 years into .com and that has always been the way to go.

 

[l-l-l.com]

thanks for the link

 

[stingrae]

I agree with the direction he sees this going but Epik charging $249 for a product portal website with a 50/50 revenue split doesn't make sense to me if I'm a developer.

 

[HeyNow]

They wanted to charge me almost $500 for a website, gave an "appraisal" for Chicago.us of $4200, without knowing or asking about particulars like existing site, trademark, traffic, etc.

IMHO, Epik sounds like another "expert" who really knows nothing, hopes we know even less and would love to use your domain assets to garner ppc funds while lightening your wallet by several hundred dollars.

I give this enterprise a "thumbs down."

 

[snoop]

gave an "appraisal" for Chicago.us of $4200, without knowing or asking about particulars like existing site, trademark, traffic, etc.

If they'd said 100k would you have been happy?

 

[RogueWriter]

I'm trying them out on several domains. Although I build affiliate sites on my domains, it takes time, which is the one primary choke point for my business. I've got enough domain projects ahead of me to last for ten years, so this is an interesting alternative, a chance to generate income from domains I would normally park for a few years, and get pennies from. Will it pay off or not? I figure I will know within a few months, though I will certainly give them a year or so before comparing income/expenditures.

 

[HeyNow]

If they'd said 100k would you have been happy?

I doubt Epik is capable of providing opinions and services that would make me "happy" or unhappy for that matter. They have yet to prove themselves as knowledgeable. Without knowing all the facts about a domain (traffic, income, trademark(s), standing offers), no company or individual can give an informed "appraisal." That said, 100k would be closer to a realistic appraisal than 4k.

 

[Archangel]

There was a small website with (what I perceived) little traffic. That was over @ dnko.com. Access Epik Live Domain Auctions and you'll be forwarded to Epik's site, which is more or less the same thing as the old dnko.com was. IMO, Epik is a small player that is trying to look like a big dog in the industry. I don't take them seriously.

IMHO, Epik sounds like another "expert" who really knows nothing, hopes we know even less and would love to use your domain assets to garner ppc funds while lightening your wallet by several hundred dollars.

 

[snoop]

I doubt Epik is capable of providing opinions and services that would make me "happy" or unhappy for that matter. They have yet to prove themselves as knowledgeable. Without knowing all the facts about a domain (traffic, income, trademark(s), standing offers), no company or individual can give an informed "appraisal." That said, 100k would be closer to a realistic appraisal than 4k.

You are clearly "unhappy" with the service, given your chip on the shoulder comments about just about every company you discuss I agree that they probably aren't capable of providing a service that would make you happy. The fact that you think this name is worth closer to 100k than 4k speaks volumes.

 

[DnEbook]

i would like a another option where i don't pay for development if i am to share income or vice versa

 

[HeyNow]

You are clearly "unhappy" with the service, given your chip on the shoulder comments about just about every company you discuss I agree that they probably aren't capable of providing a service that would make you happy. The fact that you think this name is worth closer to 100k than 4k speaks volumes.

Why do you even bother asking questions if you have a preconceived notion of what I am thinking?

You're a narcisstic pain in the ass. Don't tell me I'm "unhappy" when you know nothing of my feeling about Epik. The fact that you preface "unhappy" with "clearly" is a thinly disguised attempt to give your post credibility and influence other readers.

Like I said, you know nothing. It's always been that way with you.

 

[DnEbook]

back on topic i will be having site developed later this month and will share once it's completed ........ a womens fashion item

 

[snoop]

Why do you even bother asking questions if you have a preconceived notion of what I am thinking?

I asked the question because my gut feeling was you were being unrealistic. I guess I could ask you why you went and got an appraisal if you think you know what it is worth in the first place?

Don't tell me I'm "unhappy" when you know nothing of my feeling about Epik.

You've already stated your feelings about Epik,

They wanted to charge me almost $500 for a website, gave an "appraisal" for Chicago.us of $4200, without knowing or asking about particulars like existing site, trademark, traffic, etc.

IMHO, Epik sounds like another "expert" who really knows nothing, hopes we know even less and would love to use your domain assets to garner ppc funds while lightening your wallet by several hundred dollars.

I give this enterprise a "thumbs down."

 

[Domainace]

Randy, I can't imagine that you know anything about Epik and can say that. If you can't take Epik seriously, then I can't think of anyone else in the domain industry who you would take seriously. An saying Epik is the same as DNKO is completely out of left field. Unless you think Amazon is the same as your corner used bookstore.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Epik has a lot of kinks to work out, and are far from being where they want to be. That said, it's a project run by serious people with serious real-world big business marketing experience.

You can debate whether it will all work out big time in the end or fail miserably, that's fine. But just to say they are small timers, not to be taken seriously, shows ignorance of who they are. As does the DNKO comparison.

Fail or succeed, they are one of the few companies in the domaining space that has a grand vision, and has the skills and funding to carry it out. Who is more serious than that?

There was a small website with (what I perceived) little traffic. That was over @ dnko.com. Access Epik Live Domain Auctions and you'll be forwarded to Epik's site, which is more or less the same thing as the old dnko.com was. IMO, Epik is a small player that is trying to look like a big dog in the industry. I don't take them seriously.

 

[DU]

ohnoesitdeleted

 

[Archangel]

I wasn't comparing DNKO to Epik. I was assuming that the 2 are the same, since Epik Live Domain Auctions forwards to Epik.com. I could be wrong but both sites seem to be identical in their 60-second auctions. So I assumed that both were/are owned by the same ppl. And DNKO was owned by an individual or 2 (correct me if I'm wrong) & from my experiences with them, they were never professional -- nice and friendly but not professional.

Epik seems to be trying to become big dogs but I'm not going to speculate on their efforts thus far.

Randy, I can't imagine that you know anything about Epik and can say that. If you can't take Epik seriously, then I can't think of anyone else in the domain industry who you would take seriously. An saying Epik is the same as DNKO is completely out of left field. Unless you think Amazon is the same as your corner used bookstore.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Epik has a lot of kinks to work out, and are far from being where they want to be. That said, it's a project run by serious people with serious real-world big business marketing experience.

You can debate whether it will all work out big time in the end or fail miserably, that's fine. But just to say they are small timers, not to be taken seriously, shows ignorance of who they are. As does the DNKO comparison.

Fail or succeed, they are one of the few companies in the domaining space that has a grand vision, and has the skills and funding to carry it out. Who is more serious than that?

 

[HeyNow]

I asked the question because my gut feeling was you were being unrealistic. I guess I could ask you why you went and got an appraisal if you think you know what it is worth in the first place?



You've already stated your feelings about Epik,

Well, my friend, your "gut feeling" should stay in your gut, and not spew from your mouth. To answer your question: I did not "got an appraisal" from Epik. I merely listed my domain for "evaluation." I never expected an "appraisal." They asked for a group of domains, but I offered only one for consideration.

Do I know what Chicago.us is worth in "the first place?" Well, considering trademark, standing offers, and income, I would venture to guess I know more than you.

Frankly, you're a jerk Snoop. You're a know-it-all who knows little or nothing (in this case). You spew vindictive rhetoric as though you are knowledgeable about the issue at hand, but you really have little or nothing credible to bring to the table. Stick you your .com domains, you are better-suited to that purview.

 

[discovernow]

What makes Epik any better than Smartname commerce/shops and that is free to set up? I need numbers, are people making any money with Epic, what are your ROI. Good luck to Epik, but I been around this business since 1997, and I need to see hard facts, everything else is just "noise"