Sell all domains through Afternic or Sedo?

[randomo]

Hi folks,

I've decided to "un-park" almost all of my 1,000+ domains, and forward visitors to a site where I can try to sell those domains. Now I need some advice.

In short, my plan looks like this:

• Type in any of my domain names and you go to a page with a list of domain categories (along with a brief sales pitch).
• Clicking on a category sends you go to a page that lists (and has links for) all of my domains in that category.
• Clicking on a domain link brings you to the specific sales page for that domain at Afternic or Sedo. Transactions are then handled through A's or S's escrow.

Three questions:

1. Does this whole approach make sense?

2. Is there a fairly easy way to modify an existing domain-sales-website script to send visitors to those individual Afternic or Sedo pages, so I don't have to spend so much time setting up and maintaining this sales site?

3. Should I link to listings at Afternic or at Sedo? (Most of my domains are listed in both places, but I need to pick one as the sales connection. Apart from commissions, which are a bit lower at Sedo, what pluses or minuses does each site have?)

Thanks,
Dave

 

[duceman]

I've always been happier with Sedo's escrow service. If I remember correctly they only charge 3% for escrow if they don't generate the sale.

 

[gazzip]

This is something I have also been considering doing mainly because I don't like the sedo negotiation process, like anything there are pros and cons to it...some of the things that spring to mind are:

Pros

1) You can have an open negotiation with the potential buyer which may help you feel them out and clinch the deal easier than at sedo.

2) You may be able to find out more about the person or company making the offer...far better than having no idea who they are or why they want to buy your domain.

3) You can try and get them to make the first offer to get a ballpark figure to start negotiations from. (better than them making a $60 offer at sedo and then you having to reply with a price, from there you can only go down)

4) You can direct them to sedo to pay (if you want) once you come to an agreement on price.



Cons

1) You loose any parking revenue from your domains.

2) Sedo will charge you more commision if your domains are not parked with them (this varies depending on ext).

3) Some people may not feel safe make offers if you have a cheesy looking website.


Let us know how you get on with it :tu:


.

 

[randomo]

Thank you for your thoughts! Here are my replies to a few of your comments.

2) You may be able to find out more about the person or company making the offer...far better than having no idea who they are or why they want to buy your domain.

Yes, it seems like that should be better ... but actually, my best sales have come through anonymous offers at Afternic. Will think about this some more.

3) You can try and get them to make the first offer to get a ballpark figure to start negotiations from. (better than them making a $60 offer at sedo and then you having to reply with a price, from there you can only go down)

I would certainly set the minimum bid price higher than $60 - much higher, for most of my domains.

1) You loose any parking revenue from your domains.

Not a big deal, as my 1,000+ domains earn a total of about $2 a day from parking.

3) Some people may not feel safe make offers if you have a cheesy looking website.

True, that's why I would rather send them to Afternic or Sedo. (Still, I hope my site will not be so "cheesy looking"'; wish I could run a design contest on here, but right now they are not allowed.)

Thanks again!
-Dave