.info Sold a .info too soon?

[AdoptableDomains]

Today, I got an email from Namewinner that a domain I had been interested in is in auction. I thought that was odd, as I just picked it up about a year ago for the minimum bid of $8.75, and didn't think I'd forgotten to renew it. In checking, I sold it at afternic bazaar for $60 early last year. Apparently the buyer forgot or didn't want to renew, and now it's already at $460 on NW with three days to go.

I'm not complaining, since I did make a decent markup in a couple months. It does show a big difference in valuation of .info on a name that had no other bids in December 03 at $8.75, sold a few months later for $60, and 13 months later is at $460 and going higher. Good and usable one word keywords are rising, regardless of the free info promotions that some say are bringing down the market.

I would hate to be the one who let it expire and then find it sold for a high price. BTW, this was a dotster domain, so it did not go through the drop cycle, but direct from dotster to the namewinner auction.



Edit: Oops, too many tabs open. posted to wrong forum. Moderators please move to domain discussion, thanks.

 

[armstrong]

its not just .info

Moved as requested.

We see something like this all the time with drop auctions, where domains that you couldn't sell for reg fee get bidded to stratospheric prices. Some say its due to auction rigging, some say its due to end-users not wanting to buy directly from domainers (preferring instead to bid in the open market), and some say its just dumb ol' luck. That it is a combination of all three factors is probably closer to the truth.

 

[superprogrammer]

Would you mind tell what name it is?

 

[dgridley]

I'd be interested too, if you don't mind, as it would help dope out possible trends.

Would you mind tell what name it is?

 

[AdoptableDomains]

Thought I put it in there, but I guess not. the name is janitor.info.

 

[andriegel]

Facinating!
Thanks for letting us know!

 

[harpo]

cool i was worried it was a name i bought from you,
it looks like dotster gives 30 days grace period to pay for expired domains in ones account, have any one noticed that?

 

[AdoptableDomains]

No, it wasn't one you purchased, harpo.

Yes, from the dates it does appear they show up on auction only about 30 days after expiration. They do offer 25% of proceeds to the prior owner IF they request it. per the TOS. They don't seem to specifically state the grace period. The new owner cold potentially actually make money on this if the auction goes though. It looks like you have to contact doster to request the payment though the way I read it.

7.3 Grace Period; Transfer of Expired Domain Names. You agree that we may place our contact information in the WHOIS output for any expired domain name, as the failure to renew results in the immediate cancellation of registration and loss of all rights to the domain name. Should you choose not to renew your domain name during any applicable grace period, you agree that we may, in our sole discretion, renew and transfer the domain name to a third party on your behalf as an Expired Domain Transfer ("ED Transfer"). Additionally, at our discretion, you will be eligible, but not required, to receive a portion of the funds received by us as a result of an ED Transfer of your domain name, as follows: up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the Net Proceeds received by us from the third party as a result of an ED Transfer. You acknowledge and agree that the ED Transfer process may be facilitated through a single ED Transfer Customer, or through a brief auction involving multiple parties who are interested in your domain name. For purposes of this paragraph, "Net Proceeds" shall mean the total fees paid to us by a third party as a result of an ED Transfer, less any registry fees, credit card charge-backs, processing and check fees, and other costs or fees associated with the ED Transfer of the domain name. You agree that we shall have no obligation to pay you, and you shall have no right to receive any percentage of the Net Proceeds. If we decide to make a payout, it will not complete unless, within sixty (60) days after the expiration of the domain name, you contact us AND provide us with the name, address and related information requested by us (including, but not limited to, a Form W-9, if applicable). We cannot guarantee, and we make no representation or promise, that any ED Transfer will occur with respect to your domain name.

(bolded words by me)

 

[deu12000]

Some say its due to auction rigging, some say its due to end-users not wanting to buy directly from domainers (preferring instead to bid in the open market), and some say its just dumb ol' luck. That it is a combination of all three factors is probably closer to the truth.

I believe that's the truth also. I recently sold a .info domain through Afternic (which wasn't parked there or listed) which I would have sold for $20-50 (since it was free and I had no immediate plans for it), but I guess the buyer wanted it so bad that he sent me an offer of $500. Of course I jumped at it, I sold it a couple of weeks ago. It was also a one word domain. The .com sold to the same person for $5000. He is an end user since his companies name is that word. I'm sure he did it through them so he wouldn't get scammed (as a means of buyer security through their escrow) instead of contacting me directly. If he would have offered me $50 I would have been happy and sold it to him instantly. But I'm $440 richer now ($60 went to Afternic).

That's an example of end-users not wanting to buy directly from domainers.

and also

dumb ol' luck

on my part.