velvet.net: Hate Sedo, Hate Afternic, Where do I go?

[sahra]

Hello,

I'm trying to figure out where to sell my domain as I've had horrendously bad experience for years with the big name companies.

I posted on NamePros a couple of years ago to get an appraisal of my domain, velvet.net. I have owned this domain since 1996 and it used to host a number of very popular websites. You guys were very helpful.

I originally contacted both Sedo and Afternic, then took my domain to Sedo in 2011. They agreed to try to sell my name for a certain amount, and then almost immediately backtracked to a substantially lower amount. They then sat on my domain and did absolutely zero work to try and sell it at any amount, which still continues to this day. Their customer service has been abhorrent -- rude, incompetent, and beyond lackadaisical in returning attempts at communication.

Earlier this year I re-contacted Afternic. The rep there agreed to try to sell my name without a specific amount to test out what the market would bear for it, so I signed up for an account with them, listed it, and waited to hear from the rep to help me finish up getting started and for them to start work on selling it. I have sent the rep several emails and left voicemails, but have never heard back. Once again, it seems a company wants to do no work for me or my domain, but wants to be able to list it as one of their domains for sale & take a sizable commission. This is, again, abhorrent customer service.

So -- where can I find a company who sells domain names that gives a hoot about their customers, prides themselves on customer service, and is actually willing to do some work for their commission?

Thanks very much in advance for any pointers you can give.

 

[NPer]

You hate them?

Sedo and Afternic have contacted me in the past with offers originating from their respective platforms-sometimes without the domain being parked with either of them!

Listing a domain by a platform doesn't mean it will sell immediately. End-users don't just come when you list a domain. Both Sedo and Afternic's networks are quite extensive-so you would have a wider reach.

When someone is serious about purchasing your name, they will make an offer or make an inquiry into a price... that's when Sedo/Afternic will contact you.

You can't expect them to go out there searching for a buyer for your domain-that's not their job, or how they operate. It also wouldn't be fair to expect this from them as you are not paying them, and there is no guarantee that their efforts will be worth the reward which could be $0 if the domain doesn't sell, and if it does sell, it will be limited by their commission rates.

 

[m-i-k-e]

You can't expect them to go out there searching for a buyer for your domain-that's not their job, or how they operate. It also wouldn't be fair to expect this from them as you are not paying them, and there is no guarantee that their efforts will be worth the reward which could be $0 if the domain doesn't sell, and if it does sell, it will be limited by their commission rates.

They have a department that does exactly this if they determine your name to be of strong enough quality and you agree to have them be your exclusive broker.

Timing probably isn't best for selling a 'brandable' .net with all of the new gtld's on the horizon.

If you really want to sell maybe try a broker with a decent newsletter/platform like MediaOptions.com

 

[NPer]

They have a department that does exactly this if they determine your name to be of strong enough quality and you agree to have them be your exclusive broker.

That's true, but that's a special service, which has strict rules judging by the quality of names I have seen being brokered/sold by them. The domain in such cases speaks for itself.

 

[ulasbbtr]

If you have a price range in your mind, you can list your domain at auctions such as T.R.A.F.F.I.C conference auctions or Sedo's Great Domain Auctions.

 

[m-i-k-e]

That's true, but that's a special service, which has strict rules judging by the quality of names I have seen being brokered/sold by them. The domain in such cases speaks for itself.

Yup, I got from the original post that Sedo agreed to work on her name, but I could be wrong.

 

[Kate]

The truth is... most brokers and domain platforms will do just that: list the domain.
Some brokers also have a mail list and can reach out to qualified buyers.

A real broker will do cold calling, proactive marketing etc only for the best domains. It all depends on:

• the liquidity of the domain
• the amount of their commission

For example, if I think your domain should fetch 5K from an end user my commission as a broker would be somewhere between $500 and $750. I'm not sure I am going to spend a week chasing end users even for $750 because the likelihood of making a sale is not strong enough. Often, the best is just to be patient, and wait for the right end user.

If think the domain is good, and you should have had unsolicited offers in the past. Perhaps you should take the matter in your own hands. Put up a placeholder page to show the domain is for sale, and a contact form for interested parties to contact you.

 

[NPer]

Yup, I got from the original post that Sedo agreed to work on her name, but I could be wrong.

I did read that part yes, but he says they went back on the price that they could get him/her. He/she rejected it? So I take it they didn't bother using further resources to constantly chase end-users for this domain.

 

[biggie]

Hello,

I'm trying to figure out where to sell my domain as I've had horrendously bad experience for years with the big name companies.

I posted on NamePros a couple of years ago to get an appraisal of my domain, velvet.net. I have owned this domain since 1996 and it used to host a number of very popular websites. You guys were very helpful.

.

:talk:

to me....


if in that time, there were no offers that made me want to sell, either above acquisition costs, revenue earnings or some other value scheme

then the other reason for holding it, that long, would have to be a "personal attachment".

so.... do you got a thing for velvet?

like the way it feeeeels on your skiz-zin



some folks got the velvet touch, maybe get with somebody who has it.

imo....

 

[mikeowoicho]

don't hate.

@NS, she didn't give sedo and afternic the domain to sell at the same time, she tried sedo first, after getting "frustrated" she moved to afternic.
IMO velvet.net is just a little more than the average domain,if not average(no offense)
its a dot net, so that might also have contributed to the lackadaisical attitude exhibited by both marketers... Maybe they just don't feel the name is worth the stress.

 

[sahra]

To clarify, yes, Sedo has a department for high-value domains when they broker exclusively. They accepted my domain as one they would try to get $70K for as the exclusive broker, which tied me into a contract with them. They then bait-and-switched down to $25K, which I did not reject -- I said they should do the work they agreed to do, including from the auction side of things, and try to get as much as they could. Then they did zero work and didn't respond to my attempts at contact and were rude when I did. Especially given me being locked in to them, that's awful customer service.

Afternic's customer service has been almost as bad, even though I accepted there was no estimated number, and just wanted them to do the legwork that would result in their commission. If they didn't want or weren't willing to do this, how hard is it to say a polite no to me? But the reason I went with Sedo in the first place is because the people at Afternic didn't seem to be able to even use their phone system properly, well before they knew what domain I have.

I have indeed received many unsolicited offers over the years. I didn't take any of them because it's difficult to know what is legitimate and yes, because I have a sentimental attachment. I ran an infamous-in-its-time server on this domain, and hosted several popular websites (including my own) back in the day.

I really feel screwed by Sedo (and Afternic), because 2 years ago -- when you guys appraised it -- it was worth quite substantially more than it is now.

But I'm still interested in selling it, and in that process, finding out what the current market will bear. I just want to go with a company (or an independent broker) that has an understanding of customer service. Tell me I'm wrong, tell me you won't do much work because {x}... just communicate with your customers with honesty and respect. Is that really too much to ask?

 

[Kate]

First of all, I am not saying your name isn't good. IT IS.
But I think 70K for this domain is more than optimistic. Even 25K. I also think that the value of .net has eroded somewhat. Frankly, you don't see a lot of .net sales in the 5-figure range. Test.net is among the most recent ones (40K) but there are not many comparable sales...

While this domain is generic, the value resides more in branding imo.
Sedo & Afternic know that, so they would rather sit and wait knowing it could take many years for the right end user to show up.
Since the .com is not for sale, the .net is probably the single next best option available on the market.

What I would do is to gather all the E-mails you've received over the years. Shoot an E-mail to all the interested parties (hoping at least a few are still interested) and invite them to a bid on a platform of your choice, and set a reserve you would be happy with. The aim is to drive them into a bidding war, as this will the only and last chance to get this domain.

Since the domain name has history, it should have residual traffic, that is a bonus. Obtain detailed traffic stats (easy if you host the domain) that can be presented to potential buyers.

What kind of offer amounts have you received so far ?
Perhaps your expectations are not realistic because you have a sentimental attachment. If 70K is your target, then I think the sale will be made by your heirs, not you. I could be wrong, but the odds are slim.

PS: the domain does not appear to be resolving. Is that intentional ? You might be wasting monetizable traffic.

 

[BrandChimp]

I just remember that I've sent an email to sedo support months ago and still haven't received any replies..

LOL

Some Companies offer good services but the support is terrible.
Exp: Moniker and 1AND1 (worst ever lol)

 

[garptrader]

For lower-priced domains, it is easy to list at Seek or Godaddy and let them take the commission. For higher-priced domains, does it make sense to give away 20% or more for listing your domain? Take control of your own domain sales leads.

 

[mrfike]

I've had limited success at Godaddy auctions and Bido, nada at Sedo and other high-enders. When I say "limited", what I mean is this: Some lower value domains sold, but better names I had to essentially wait, do some legwork, go through an escrow type of site for payment/transfer. It's different for every person and every name. With a great name, you need to look at all options.

 

[Name Trader]

You might try one of the reputable brokers instead.

 

[leo98]

Why would you rely so heavily on sedo or afternic if the domain was so unique and worth 70k? Names in that category sell themselves.

You can try Toby Clements. He is a good broker and knows a thing or two about shifting premium domains