Want Already Owned Domain

[goldenflame]

Hello,

I am hoping you folks can help me with this. I want a domain name that is already owned by someone. The domain is registered with GoDaddy, not in use ( nor is it parked ) and is worthless ( I checked ).
The person has had it for 10 years, and it's up for renewal next month. How should I approach this person about acquiring the name? How much should I offer for a domain that isn't worth anything?

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thank you!

 

[SlimPickins]

Hello,

I am hoping you folks can help me with this. I want a domain name that is already owned by someone. The domain is registered with GoDaddy, not in use ( nor is it parked ) and is worthless ( I checked ).
The person has had it for 10 years, and it's up for renewal next month. How should I approach this person about acquiring the name? How much should I offer for a domain that isn't worth anything?

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thank you!

howdy, and welcome to the forum! now, on to your predicament..... you say that the domain is "worthless", but this cannot be true since #1 the current registrant has considered it "worth" paying renewal costs for a decade and #2 (and even MORE importantly) you WANT it.....

so, if you are really interested in the domain, I would suggest making an offer that takes into consideration that this person has already invested at least $80 in registration costs because he considered it enough of a keeper (despite whatever appraisal system you used) for so long rather than just dropping/cutting his losses, and a "this domain is worthless so may I please take it off your hands" lowball offer will likely be ignored. Good luck with your possible purchase. SP

 

[Alex P]

howdy, and welcome to the forum! now, on to your predicament..... you say that the domain is "worthless", but this cannot be true since #1 the current registrant has considered it "worth" paying renewal costs for a decade and #2 (and even MORE importantly) you WANT it.....

so, if you are really interested in the domain, I would suggest making an offer that takes into consideration that this person has already invested at least $80 in registration costs because he considered it enough of a keeper (despite whatever appraisal system you used) for so long rather than just dropping/cutting his losses, and a "this domain is worthless so may I please take it off your hands" lowball offer will likely be ignored. Good luck with your possible purchase. SP

This is true and some nice advice.

 

[exsedo]

Whatever you do, do NOT post the domain name or it's value will rocket in the owners eyes.
I agree with SlimPickins, he gave you good advice.

 

[mainhoondon]

Whatever you do, do NOT post the domain name or it's value will rocket in the owners eyes.
I agree with SlimPickins, he gave you good advice.

I agree.. I would suggest email them. Call them via skype and negotiate..

Good luck

 

[Sparhawke]

Agreed, if I had a domain for 10 years and someone insulted me with a reg fee offer I would permanently put them on ignore, however if someone came along and offered me $150 (10 years reg fee + 50%) I would certainly consider it

 

[mrjohn]

Determined domain squatters tend to be morons. There's a reason that in ten years no one has gotten that domain away from its current owner.

It may be good form to email the current owner, but I would do so with very low expectations.

 

[JamesDavid]

Hello,

I am hoping you folks can help me with this. I want a domain name that is already owned by someone. The domain is registered with GoDaddy, not in use ( nor is it parked ) and is worthless ( I checked ).
The person has had it for 10 years, and it's up for renewal next month. How should I approach this person about acquiring the name? How much should I offer for a domain that isn't worth anything?

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thank you!

Honestly if it is up for renewal in a month see if he renews it. 10 years in the LONGEST period you can renew a domain for so maybe 10 years ago he bought it for 10 years, since then he could have moved industries, lost interest in the domain, changed email address so he wouldn't even get the renewal notices.. although grim, maybe died..

Nevertheless wait to see if he renews it, if you contact him now he could renew it again just based on the concept that someone wants it and if he/she is anythign like 90% of domainers they will think you are Microsoft/Google contacting him to buy the domain for their next industry breaking product line... and put a 7 figure price tag on it..

Wait to see if he renews, if he does THEN approach him about the domain. If you want help with the approach let me know, I would be happy to a) give you info as far as ways to approach or B) would be willing to approach as a broker...

Thanks

 

[mwzd]

1. In 2000, registration fee on the domain was $35 / year mostly. Extended till current if the domain was registered with other registrars.

2. You want the domain, if it was worthless, you could look for a different one, the very fact that you don't means its not worthless.

3. If I had a domain I'd be renewing for 10 years, I'd pretty much ignore lowballs completely, if I don't make 4x on my investment, why bother, I'd have made as much putting the same money in the bank.

 

[gazzip]

Hello,
... , not in use ( nor is it parked ) and is worthless ( I checked ).

Just Curious, Where did you check it's value to determine the domain was worthless ?


.

 

[exsedo]

If you really want this domain, there are some risks involved in waiting for it to expire.
You are not guaranteed to be the one who gets it if it drops.
If the owner renews, he may renew for another 10 years and that would make the domain more exspensive for you to purchase.

I, too, am slightly puzzled as to why you think it is worthless.

If it is a name that fits well with your existing business,
if you have a business plan for the domain,
or if it has earning potential from parking, these are all reasons why it is not worthless.

Even if it was your personal name, however obscure, I still don't see why you think it's worthless.

 

[malcarada]

It doesn't make any sense to say the domain is worthless when you want it. Nobody wants worthless domains.

I would also wait to see if the domain is renewed before making any offer for it. And if you do make an offer make it a serious one because someone who is determined to hold a domain for +10 years has some kind of interest on that domain.

 

[footodors]

Offer him $300 by phone or email.
That's my standard offer and I've gotten few rebuttals.

 

[goldenflame]

Thanks for all the advice. I didn't mean that the domain was entirely worthless ( I was tired, bad choice of words ) since I'd like to have it. It's just not an established domain name.

 

[Corey]

Do you have a Plan B?

Cheers
Corey

 

[Jaco]

It's just not an established domain name.

That means very little. Most of the best domains are undeveloped. Speculators 'got it' before businesses did and as such, have been unproductively holding the best e-real estate since the balloon went up on commercial internet. Unfortunately, ICANN doesn't have any sort of eminent domain process, so they hold out forever, collecting pennies and nickels for themselves at the expense of overall progress.

Yes, people registered crap in 1999 and have continually maintained it since that time, but chances are, given the context clues involved here (old reg, continually maintained, a generic enough term to inspire a domain name newbie to consider it the end-all name for his interest), it's probably a very decent name, so expect to pony up $$$$$$$$$$$$$ to acquire it, or figure out something else.

 

[Spade]

Dont ever assume your the only one who ever wanted it. I love when I get email offers that make that assumption. If the guy has had it for 10 years, chances are your not the only one interested (and likely not the only offer he's ever had). I recommend calling him up, asking if he had plans for development, if not, make him a reasonable offer.

 

[mrjohn]

Honestly if it is up for renewal in a month see if he renews it.

+1 coming your way.

One of the most thoughtful replies ever posted on the internet.

 

[nameboi]

I can tell you have the wrong attitude, so I would suggest not bothering contacting the seller. Just forget about the name.

 

[DomainTalker]

I have the same dilemma...

There's a name I want, that someone else owns - but, has never used - and its likely the name gets ZERO traffic....

I want to approach the owner of it, too...


I was thinking that, rather than putting a $$$ offer in the initial email, maybe, I'd email the owner, asking, that IF they were considering selling the name, could they indicate a price they may have in mind? If they replied, then, one could negotiate from there.

This may, at least, give an indication of what the owner considers a value.


Any opinions on this approach?

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