Some expert advise needed

[giGGles]

Hello all,
I am rather new to the business of selling a domain/website.

I have received an unsolicted email asking if I would
consider selling one of my websites/domain, however
without any offer.

It appears to be a legit email, the guy included his phone number.

So I answered back, basically stating that I wasn't sure if I would
be willing to sell this, and asked him for an offer.

His reply today says that respectfully he / his company will not
initiate price discussions, and that I should give them my asking price,
and if that we both feel it is acceptable they would purchase immediately.

I don't know what the urgency would be?

So my question is how do I go about this in a way to realalise
the best sale price?

As I mentioned the site is developed and has only been live for 2 months.
I had godaddy appraise the domain name last year.
They valued the domain name at $7,000.
I would guess the site development would be somewhere
around $6,000.

Should I set a asking price based on a future value?
What do you guys think?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Len]

You should post this in the 'Domain Name Discussion' Forum. There are some very experienced guy's who can assist you with this and give you some great advice.

 

[likepeas]

You should post this in the 'Domain Name Discussion' Forum. There are some very experienced guy's who can assist you with this and give you some great advice.

or the domain appraisals forum

 

[Wyatt]

If it appears to be an end user for the domain, you could probably make a decent asking price, maybe in the XXXXX range. In the email however, if the guy mentions something about domain reselling, it's a reseller and you may have to settle for XXX. It's really hard to tell without knowing the domain/website, for all we know it could be worth $20.

Just remember that GoDaddy appraisals aren't all that accurate-- if you must get a professional appraisal, I'd recommend Moniker because they have a ton of records of past sold domains and seem to give a pretty realistic price point (much lower than GoDaddy).

And if they ask for an appraisal, don't buy another one! Those are scams. If I were you, I'd call the number and discuss with him about selling the domain to him. Not only will you get a lot further in selling the domain/website, but you'll get to know the buyer to see if it's an end user for the site or a webmaster or domainer (I guess it doesn't really matter if you're selling a developed website with traffic and revenue, but it makes a big difference when selling domains).

 

[Len]

If this is a genuine enquiry, then the prospective buyer has something in mind for the domain/site. IMO they should at least make the initial offer.....They approached you...You had no desire to sell prior to their enquiry so don't rush into it and sell yourself short! Get some advice from the more experienced negotiatior's on this forum...pm Spade and ask his advice..if he can't help he will know someone who can.

 

[johname]

If its an appraial scam they will wait until you offer a price because they will in a sense say to you to "prove its worth that much". You need to dig deeper on this to have them prove to you there relly serious. A site thats been live for only a few months should not get this kind of interest unless its a darn good domain name. "his company will not initiate price discussions, and that I should give them my asking price,
and if that we both feel it is acceptable they would purchase immediately" means he is probally a reseller/domainer or its some type of scam. It too bad but i would have learn more about the buyer on this one. Think about it if you owned a company and you thought a website domain name would make you 10,000 a year would you tell the person you were trying to buy it from that you "will not initiate price discussions" ? No you would throw a number out and start doing bussiness. Call that phone number!!!! figure out what you dealing with.

 

[giGGles]

Thanks for all your input.
But as this has turned out, it must have been
some type of scam or something.

My last email basically asked them what exactly did they want, the domain name, or the complete site. And that I owned the other TLD's and asked
if they also would want those as well.

So today I get a reply that says
Thank you for your time, but we have decided to go in another direction.

Just a little weird I think.

Thanks Guys
Happy New Year to All.........

 

[simon johnson]

Very strange.... out of interest, did it come from a company (the domain on his email address) or was it from a generic email service?

 

[giGGles]

Very strange.... out of interest, did it come from a company (the domain on his email address) or was it from a generic email service?

No, it was from an individual, he used his first and last name.
and the email was from his full name dot com.
The phone number was from the southern part of the US here.

I did a google on the name and nothing of any significance poped up.

I guess since this is over, and I probably have peeked everyones interest,
the site is www.riled.com

I bought the name at the time cuz it was one of the last
5 letter dictionary words left that was a pretty common word
and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg, so to speak.

I had a few offers last year before I developed the site
mid x,xxx, thats why I had the pro appraisal done at goDaddy.
I honestly thought their apprasial was a bit conservative.

At first I thought about doing a political site / blog but decided
on the video route.

But the name has good potential, in my opinion ??

Anyways, thats about it......

cheers

 

[giGGles]

Very strange.... out of interest, did it come from a company (the domain on his email address) or was it from a generic email service?

Hi,
He used his first name and last name dot com
for the email addy, and his phone number
was from the southern part of the US here.

I googled the name and nothing came up that indicated
a domain name or web company..

So yeah it is odd.

cheers

 

[copper]

giGGles, don't worry about it.
That inquirer probably weren't serious about your domain to begin with.

Only time I give price first is when buyer is reseller.
I never give out number first to enduser and I rarely sell to reseller.

Rule #1 of ANY negotiation, not just buying/selling domains...
Whoever spit out # first is at disadvantage, period.

 

[johname]

sometimes all there doing is making an email spam list. Once you write back they know you have an active "real" email.

 

[namehopper]

I have had so many inquires like the one you speak of.I use to fall for it,and waste time,writing back and forth.Now,I tell them what I think they are doing.

 

[Spade]

Rule #1 of ANY negotiation, not just buying/selling domains...
Whoever spit out # first is at disadvantage, period.

Bingo... If you can avoid it, do your best.

 

[megaDNman]

is it something like this :

"Hello,


I wish you and your family a Happy New 2008 Year!

Can you accept 9000 USD?

Do you sell domain with a web site or just name?

If just name it's ok. Web site is not necessary.

Have you had your domain names evaluated in the past? I mean domain
appraisals.

Without valuation we cannot be sure in the sale price. It's very important
for me in terms of reselling too.

But we must engage a valuation company with REAL manual service. So I will
only accept valuations from independent sources I trust.

To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal companies
in a forum
http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/730682.htm

Just check this posting.

If, for example, the valuation comes higher you can adjust your asking price
accordingly. It will be fair. I also hope you can give me 12% - 15%
discount.

After you send me valuation via email (usually it takes 1-2 days to obtain
it) we'll continue our negotiations.

What is your preferred payment method: Escrow.com, International wire
transfer, PayPal.com or something else?

Hope we can come to an agreement fast.

Looking forward to your reply.

I wish you and your family a Happy New 2008 Year!
----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: "ITG Software Systems" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 4:11 AM
Subject: Re: 0xl.info


> Hello,
>
> feel free to submit an offer, thanks.
>
> regards,
>
> -xxx
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ITG Software Systems" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 6:59 AM
> Subject: 0xl.info
>
>
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > We are interested in 0xl.info
> >
> > Your name was auctioned for sale.
> >
> > Main direction of our business is network protection and intrusin
detection
> systems.
> >
> > So Internet names is just a part of our investment strategy.
> >
> > Looking forward to do business with you.
> >
> > Regards,
> > George Daley
> > Vice President
> > ITG Software Systems
> >"

-------------------------- NEXT MAIL ---------------------

This is "must" to provide potential buyers/resellers with professional and
independent valuation. Serious investors must be sure in your price.
Without it they risk to overpay.

Investors never take into account auto-generated vlauations.

By opinion of many experts, it's impossible to make business without a
certificate of price.

I read the following information about appraisals at:
http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/730682.htm

I wish you and your family a Happy New Year!

----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: "Daley" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 9:17 PM
Subject: Re: 0xl.info


> Hi, sorry i'll not pay for an appraisal,
>
> i know the value of the domain, you have to see yourself but remenber that
the
> domain could mean Zero XL, which could be a perfect diet website, or body
shop,
> etc.
>
> thanks
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Daley" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 11:12 AM
> Subject: Re: 0xl.info
>
>
> > Hello,
> >
> >
> > I wish you and your family a Happy New 2008 Year!
> >
> > Can you accept 9000 USD?
> >
> > Do you sell domain with a web site or just name?
> >
> > If just name it's ok. Web site is not necessary.
> >
> > Have you had your domain names evaluated in the past? I mean domain
> > appraisals.
> >
> > Without valuation we cannot be sure in the sale price. It's very
important
> > for me in terms of reselling too.
> >
> > But we must engage a valuation company with REAL manual service. So I
will
> > only accept valuations from independent sources I trust.
> >
> > To avoid mistakes I asked domain experts about reputable appraisal
companies
> > in a forum
> > http://domaintalk.ourplace.com/Archive/730682.htm
> >
> > Just check this posting.
> >
> > If, for example, the valuation comes higher you can adjust your asking
price
> > accordingly. It will be fair. I also hope you can give me 12% - 15%
> > discount.
> >
> > After you send me valuation via email (usually it takes 1-2 days to
obtain
> > it) we'll continue our negotiations.
> >
> > What is your preferred payment method: Escrow.com, International wire
> > transfer, PayPal.com or something else?
> >
> > Hope we can come to an agreement fast.
> >
> > Looking forward to your reply.
> >
> > I wish you and your family a Happy New 2008 Year!
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <[email protected]>
> > To: "ITG Software Systems" <[email protected]>
> > Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 4:11 AM
> > Subject: Re: 0xl.info
> >
> >
> >> Hello,
> >>
> >> feel free to submit an offer, thanks.
> >>
> >> regards,
> >>
> >> -xxx
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "ITG Software Systems" <[email protected]>
> >> To: <[email protected]>
> >> Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 6:59 AM
> >> Subject: 0xl.info
> >>
> >>
> >> >
> >> > Hello,
> >> >
> >> > We are interested in 0xl.info
> >> >
> >> > Your name was auctioned for sale.
> >> >
> >> > Main direction of our business is network protection and intrusin
> > detection
> >> systems.
> >> >
> >> > So Internet names is just a part of our investment strategy.
> >> >
> >> > Looking forward to do business with you.
> >> >
> >> > Regards,
> >> > George Daley
> >> > Vice President
> >> > ITG Software Systems
> >> >
> >
============================================================================
> >> > NOTICE - This communication may contain confidential and privileged
> >> > information that is for the sole use of the intended recipient. Any
> >> > viewing, copying or distribution of, or reliance on this message by
> >> > unintended recipients is strictly prohibited. If you have received
this
> >> > message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the
> > message
> >> > and deleting it from your computer.
> >> >
> >> >
> >
===========================================================================
> >> >
> >> >
> >
> >
> >




maybe its a "cleaver" spam, no?