domain Should I renew? svelte.ws, graceful.ws, owls.ws, upbeat.ws, fishfinder.ws, etc.

[jlw]

I costs $14.95 to renew these WS domains, and they can't moved between registrars.

It's that time of year, and I'm seeking advice on whether it's throwing good money after bad to renew these names that I own (and many others like them: mostly single dictionary word ws-domains):

hardwoods.ws
fishfinder.ws
fishermen.ws
topcat.ws
pisces.ws
rivers.ws
owls.ws
dunes.ws
gliding.ws
chessclub.ws
aries.ws
recordcollector.ws
rifleman.ws
modelrocketry.ws
coincollecting.ws
cuddly.ws
graceful.ws
svelte.ws
upbeat.ws
kisses.ws
birdwatchers.ws
superwoman.ws
lamm.ws
bair.ws
carlin.ws
mathteacher.ws
jobe.ws
doglover.ws
doglovers.ws
catlover.ws
sailor.ws
salesman.ws
bball.ws
courthouse.ws
pingpong.ws
daredevil.ws
biodiversity.ws
livingroom.ws
diningroon.ws
ballroom.ws
bookshelf.ws
bookshelves.ws

and a couple hundred more like that...

I know they have no present value because I've tried selling them here and at DNF, and they don't sell. Even at $1 auctions, most don't sell and the best of the best go for $1.

So the real question is whether they have a future potential that makes them worth renewing. Or am I better off abandoning them?

What would you do?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

--- J.

Your advice is appreciated.

 

[bmugford]

I would probably let most if not all of these drop. Only super premium keywords have any reseller value in .WS

If you believe in .WS you are better off saving the $14.95 per domain and taking that money and buying a few really good .WS instead.

Brad

 

[Tippy]

I wouldnt renew any of them myself, not premium enough like DC mentioned above. I believe they can be transfered out to other registrars now so you should be able to find a better renew price if you do decide to renew a few.

Mike

 

[Smartphone]

None of these are worth renewing.

 

[jlw]

I am surprised by the number of PMs I got within such a short time, asking to see the whole list. So I include it below.

bmugford, tippy, smartphone, thank you. I really mean it. I need help to muster the fortitude to throw in the towel on past investments in WS. I had hoped .ws would evolve in meaning, from "western samoa" to "website" the way that "tuvalu" evolved into "TV". But now it seems not worth the wait. (Annual .ws registration costs have nearly doubled since I got them.)

bmugford, would sweaters.ws meet your definition of a premium keyword, or is everything I've got worthless?

By the way, you'll see included below some domains that reflect my personal interests, and that I got for eventual development rather than for domaining. Some of those are not worth anything even in .com, but reflect my own hobbies and religious interests.

Finally, note that a few dozen of them were actually purchased with Samoan end-usage in mind, including: seashells.ws, watersafety.ws, lifeguards.ws, and of course westernsamoa.ws

18thHole.us
78rpm.ws
AfroAmerican.ws
AIDScure.ws
AIDSresearch.ws
AllSport.ws
AllSports.ws
allstars.ws
AnswerMan.ws
aquariumfish.ws
Aries.ws
arithmetic.ws
Athletics.ws
Bair.ws
Ballroom.ws
BarMitzvah.ws
bassoon.ws
bathing.ws
BatMitzvah.ws
Bball.ws
Beachcomber.ws
Beatlemania.ws
Beekeeper.ws
Beekeepers.ws
BicycleRepair.ws
biodiversity.ws
BiologyNotes.ws
birdwatchers.ws
BlackjackTable.ws
BoardGame.ws
BoardGames.ws
Bookcases.ws
BookReviews.ws
Bookshelf.ws
Bookshelves.ws
BridgeClub.ws
bris.ws
brit.ws
bullpen.ws
CancerDrugs.ws
cantor.ws
Cantors.ws
Carlin.ws
carpentry.ws
CatLovers.ws
CellBiology.ws
Chanukah.ws
ChessClub.ws
clarinet.ws
clowns.ws
CoinCollecting.ws
composers.ws
conductors.ws
Courthouse.ws
Cowgirls.ws
Cuddly.ws
CulturalEvents.ws
curios.ws
curios.ws
custodian.ws
CycleShop.ws
DareDevil.ws
DealersChoice.ws
DiningRoom.ws
Dixieland.ws
DogLover.ws
DogLovers.ws
Dreidel.ws
drummers.ws
dugout.ws
Dunes.ws
ElectricLady.ws
emailhost.ws
emailhosting.ws
eruv.ws
extrusion.ws
FaceOff.ws
Falealili.ws
FantasyIsland.ws
Festival.ws
figs.ws
FinishLine.ws
Fishermen.ws
Fishery.ws
FishFarm.ws
Fishfinder.ws
FishStore.ws
fishtanks.ws
FootMassage.ws
Forwards.ws
Framing.ws
FreshFruit.ws
GardenFurniture.ws
GardenShop.ws
ghostwriting.ws
gliding.ws
Goalkeeper.ws
GoGolf.ws
GoNavy.ws
Graceful.ws
grapevines.ws
GreenThumb.ws
guitarists.ws
Gymnasium.ws
Haman.ws
hamster.ws
hamsters.ws
HappyGuy.ws
HappyHanukkah.ws
Hardwoods.ws
HebrewTutor.ws
herbicides.ws
HighEnergy.ws
HockeyPlayer.ws
HomeRobot.ws
HotTickets.ws
HumanBody.ws
IceSkates.ws
jailbait.ws
JapaneseSex.ws
jBlog.ws
jellyfish.ws
JewelryDesign.ws
JewishBooks.ws
JewishCalendar.ws
JewishCenter.ws
JewishHistory.ws
JewishMusic.ws
JewishRecipes.ws
JewishSchools.ws
jForum.ws
Jobe.ws
Judiciary.ws
juggler.ws
jugglers.ws
Kashrut.ws
Kisses.ws
KiteShop.ws
KnightsAndCastles.ws
KosherKitchen.ws
KosherRecipes.ws
Kotel.ws
Lifeguard.ws
Lifeguards.ws
LivingRoom.ws
LoveLand.ws
Lucida.ws
Magical.ws
Marksman.ws
Marksmen.ws
Marvelous.ws
MassageOil.ws
MathTeacher.ws
MathTeachers.ws
megaphone.ws
Menorah.ws
MetalShop.ws
midwives.ws
mimes.ws
Minyan.ws
MiracleDrugs.ws
Mitzvah.ws
ModelAirplanes.ws
ModelPlanes.ws
ModelRocketry.ws
ModelTrains.ws
mohel.ws
MoneyMan.ws
moonglow.ws
MovieReviews.ws
MrMusic.ws
MusicDirector.ws
musicfest.ws
NameSale.ws
NewBaby.ws
NuclearPhysics.ws
NYmets.ws
NYYankees.ws
oboes.ws
OnlineSurvey.ws
OnlineSurveys.ws
orchestra.ws
Owls.ws
PaintPro.ws
ParticlePhysics.ws
Passover.ws
PassportPhoto.ws
PassportPhotos.ws
PatentLaw.ws
Paulauli.ws
performer.ws
performer.ws
Pesach.ws
Pesticides.ws
PhotoContest.ws
PhotoPrinting.ws
PhotoSearch.ws
PhysEd.ws
PhysicalChemistry.ws
pianists.ws
pigpen.ws
pingpong.ws
Pisces.ws
Play21.ws
PokerClub.ws
PokerPalace.ws
Politicians.ws
PropertyLaw.ws
Purim.ws
Rabbi.ws
Rabbis.ws
Racketball.ws
Racquet.ws
Ragtime.ws
RainyDay.ws
Rambam.ws
RAMS.ws
Rarities.ws
Rashi.ws
ReadingRoom.ws
REattorney.ws
RecordCollector.ws
RElawyer.ws
RestStop.ws
Rifleman.ws
Rink.ws
Rinks.ws
Rivers.ws
RockCollectors.ws
Sabbath.ws
Sailor.ws
Salesman.ws
salesmanship.ws
SamoaCasino.ws
SamoaCasinos.ws
SamoanCasino.ws
SamoanCasinos.ws
sandtrap.ws
SatellitePhoto.ws
Scholars.ws
ScienceProjects.ws
ScubaGear.ws
seabirds.ws
Seashells.ws
seesaw.ws
Shabbat.ws
Shidduch.ws
shorebirds.ws
Shul.ws
Sleepy.ws
SoccerPlayers.ws
songwriting.ws
StampCollector.ws
StampCollectors.ws
Sunbathing.ws
SuperGeek.ws
Superkids.ws
SuperService.ws
SuperSexy.ws
Superwoman.ws
Svelte.ws
sweaters.ws
Synagogue.ws
Tanakh.ws
Taxidermist.ws
TeeOff.ws
TennisCourt.ws
TennisPlayer.ws
TheZohar.ws
ThingsToSee.ws
ThinMan.ws
tikkun.ws
TimeBandits.ws
TipTop.ws
Tokens.ws
TopCat.ws
TopGuns.ws
TopSpin.ws
TopTeacher.ws
TorahStudy.ws
TorahTutor.ws
TrackStar.ws
travelertips.ws
travellertips.ws
trekkie.ws
Upbeat.ws
vegans.ws
veggies.ws
Voices.ws
Vulcan.ws
watercolors.ws
WaterSafety.ws
waterway.ws
WesternSamoa.ws
Whiteboard.ws
wildcards.ws
winefest.ws
woodwind.ws
woodwinds.ws
zohar.ws

 

[bmugford]

jlw, I sent you a PM to try to help you out.

Brad

 

[Jaco]

I'd keep WesternSamoa.ws (matter of fact, that's probably the only .ws name I'd ever own), the rest, only if there was some sort of explicit "use" in the works.

.ws doesn't "mean many things". It means one thing- Western Samoa. Any "other meanings" are simply old-days marketing crap peddled by a couple of hucksters who tried to sell it as "dot website" to make money.

 

[FPForum]

I agree with bmugford. I would get rid of all of those. The only one I would even consider a tiny bit would be kisses.ws. Most are dictionary words which aren't worth squat. The only good .ws would be a super premium like Hotels.ws or Casino.ws...These aren't worth the cash IMO.

 

[Michelle]

Come on guys

Thread cleared up ..

Please keep it professional with no personal attacks and on topic...

 

[jlw]

bmugford, thanks for the PM; yes it was very helpful. Kind of you to send. Thanks.
-J.

 

[enlytend]

I like WesternSamoa.ws.

With the others - @14.95 each that's a big chunk of change in a risky extension, keywords notwithstanding. I don't know what percentage of your portfolio these names represent, but I try to keep highly speculative names like this below a certain percentage.

I admit I don't know much about .ws (not a fan of repurposed cctlds). I rarely see sales - what kind of ws domains are in use, who's using them and how?

If there are any you plan to develop yourself (as in "are really going to develop in the next 12 months" not as in "maybe I might someday"), I'd keep those. The others? ...I don't know. Keep your top 10 favorites, drop the rest? Go cold-turkey and drop them all?

 

[jlw]

Tippy, thanks for the tip that WS domains are now transferable. You were right; and GoDaddy does transfers (including multiple year extensions) for $9.95, which is much better than the current registrar (DomainSite), or Enom, or OnlineNIC. (Plus there's another 15% off as a GoDaddy end-of-year-discount, so it's about $8.49 right now.) I'm sure Fabulous doesn't do WS; they don't even do US. I haven't checked out Moniker, et.al. yet...

---------- Post added at 09:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:06 AM ----------

I like WesternSamoa.ws.
With the others - @14.95 each that's a big chunk of change in a risky extension, keywords notwithstanding. I don't know what percentage of your portfolio these names represent, but I try to keep highly speculative names like this below a certain percentage.

Thanks for the helpful advice, enlytend. I own about 2,400 domains in all. I don't have any other WS domains. So its about 12.5%.

 

[DubDubDubDot]

I have never owned a .ws, but I have seen premium keywords offered for $10 at various places that didn't sell (maybe they did later, I don't know).