What to do when domain owner doesn't respond?

[chickenfillet]

Hi everyone,

A few weeks ago I emailed the owner of a domain name which comprises of 2 words, is 9 characters long, and has an estibot appraisal of about $560 (it doesn't mean anything, I know). The domain name doesn't sound great, but is very decent because I would like to develop the website. It has just sat their for the past few years, but it isn't listed "for sale". I just offered my expression of interest.

I offered to purchase it for $1.5K, or higher if he wanted a better price, but the domain owner hasn't responded since.

I emailed him again just asking if he was still alive and well, but I got no response either. I even asked the registrant if he could just reply with a blunt "no" answer in an email if he wasn't interested. No reply.

Either the domain registrant:
1. Is rudely ignoring me and not interested.
2. Has passed away with funds still in his registrar account to automatically renew until his funds run out.
3. Doesn't check his email and postal address anymore.

Does anyone else have any idea on what I could do?

 

[paddypaul]

You also left another option from your list:

4. The owner has seen your offer and knows that you want this domain as you have offered $1.5k (or higher). He may be playing a waiting game to see if 'you' will make the next move and make a much better offer.

If I were you I would wait a bit longer to see if there is a reply and if you have a budget for this domain then make that your final offer and say it is only on the table for 'x' hours e.g. 24 or 48 hours. Creating a sense of urgency on your offer 'might' be enough for them to respond 'if' the person is reading your emails.

And if after all the above efforts fail, and at the risk of p!ssing the owner off, you could make a 'crazy' offer like $25k, and see if that triggers a response. If they do respond then it may be time to give up as if they are only interested in such a high offer, and you are not going to pay that kind of money, then at least you know not to waste any more time chasing it. And you could back off by saying that you meant to put $2.5k and not $25k. It's a bit cheeky I know, but sometimes you have to do things a little differently

 

[chickenfillet]

Great reply, I'll do exactly as you say.

 

[domainventure]

Seriously?You want to piss off the seller for minding his own business? If the seller is used to offers, he probably does not bother responding, that is, if he does not want to sell or if he is waiting for the 'right' kind of offer.

On the same token, it seems you are making a decent offer based on the information you just gave. It does show that you are serious and not trying to low ball him. You let it sit for a few days and perhaps send a polite reminder again?

 

[chickenfillet]

Well, I thought my offer was very decent too, but I just sent an email doubling my amount to $3,000 which in my opinion is overkill for a mediocre domain name which will only be good once developed.

In fact, I feel I am ripping myself off by a long shot...

 

[GravityEleven]

I am not sure this was a wise decision to double your initial offer so quick.. if i were him i would fall under the impression that you got indeed some deep pockets coupled with a fair desperation for this domain name and this would especially motivate me to test the waters by staying quiet and playing the waiting game until you have come up with a really satisfying offer amount..

Ps: if he ever happened to read your emails.. would have been better if you had shot off your email with some tracker tagged along (Streak for Gmail etc.) so you can see if he even opened the email or not.. chances are that it's an abandoned mailbox by now..

 

[N-A]

I never pay more than my set budget for sites I have plans on developing. I begin planning (budget), initiate with a low offer, C/O with a mid/high of set budget and 1 last offer of my max.

If $3000 is overkill for you on this mediocre domain, why even put that on the table?

 

[GravityEleven]

He is emotionally tied to his choice of domain name.. easy to see that

 

[N-A]

Well, yeah, just subtly pointing that out and provided an alternative method (plan first, then buy or not).

 

[chickenfillet]

Ps: if he ever happened to read your emails.. would have been better if you had shot off your email with some tracker tagged along (Streak for Gmail etc.) so you can see if he even opened the email or not.. chances are that it's an abandoned mailbox by now..

Tell me more about this, how can I do this? I can test it with another email account.

I never pay more than my set budget for sites I have plans on developing. I begin planning (budget), initiate with a low offer, C/O with a mid/high of set budget and 1 last offer of my max.

If $3000 is overkill for you on this mediocre domain, why even put that on the table?

$3,000 was my final offer. I will not be going higher than that. I doubt anyone in the domain owners lifetime will ever offer anything even above $500 for the domain name. I doubled my amount to see if I will get any response, but for a price that I can still afford.

He is emotionally tied to his choice of domain name.. easy to see that

Not really. I won't be going above $3,000. He can get a higher amount by someone else, when he will be dead in the grave.

 

[GravityEleven]

Just set up a gmail account and then download the gmail/chrome plugin called "Streak" (guess it only works if you use the Chrome browser).. then enable tracking in a new email draft, shoot off the email and wait what happens..
Streak will automatically notify you if someone has just opened your email (including the location where it has been opened from).. there are some other tracking solutions out there if you happen to use another eMail service.. (MailChimp, yello, etc)

 

[chickenfillet]

Just set up a gmail account and then download the gmail/chrome plugin called "Streak" (guess it only works if you use the Chrome browser).. then enable tracking in a new email draft, shoot off the email and wait what happens..
Streak will automatically notify you if someone has just opened your email (including the location where it has been opened from).. there are some other tracking solutions out there if you happen to use another eMail service.. (MailChimp, yello, etc)

Will the receiver know that I am tracking the email?

 

[GravityEleven]

Nope, he might only guess it by noticing a tracking image is embedded in the email.. meaning, if he has disabled automatical download/display of images in emails (or display in plain text instead of html etc.) your tracking also won't work and you are not going to find out if he has actually opened your email or not..

 

[chickenfillet]

Great. Thanks!

 

[N-A]

$3,000 was my final offer. I will not be going higher than that. I doubt anyone in the domain owners lifetime will ever offer anything even above $500 for the domain name.

You'd be surprised after seeing New York / Estate get $9k and a ton of end users that process payroll for other companies salary / net for $2.3...

In my opinion you may have done one of the following: 1) offended him with words (it is possible) or your initial offer, 2) jumped the gun too quickly and too much (2x) as a new offer or 3) you didn't create good rapport with the seller to even care for your offer with 1 or 2.

In sales, a salesperson usually creates the rapport, and not the buyer. However, I've canned $$$$$ sales (other industry's) cause I didn't want to deal with them. Ever.

Putting in another offer this early for the domain under an alias may make the seller believe that it is worth more, so they may hold out even longer.

If you still want the name in 3 months, contact again at 2k through a broker.

The seller doesn't have to take your offer as you're "not in control" is a cop out to me. If you're good at selling, your buying power should be just as good and give you leverage as well.

Good luck

 

[chickenfillet]

Thanks for your input David Walker. Ultimately, everyone has different budgets. If he wants more money because he earns thousands of dollars per week, he can take his domain names with him in the grave once he dies.

I try to be kind and professional in all my emails that I send. I usually receive a 50% reply rate with my domain offer emails, then a 80% reply rate after a 2nd attempt, so this one is really strange. I won't be offering any money under another alias, I just won't care.

We're all gonna die, and I LOL at how protective some people are regarding their domain names. Strange...

 

[N-A]

True. There is a domain listed by a prominent domainer for around $1400 that I won't go beyond $1000 for. I explained why I believe it's that price and it would be beneficial to both of us. He hung up on me and repriced it at $2200.

I still look at it over the past 2 years going on sale for $1800, back to $1400 and up to $2200 randomly.

As he probably sells 5-10 $$$$ domains a day on average, waiting out a sale (I mean drop) is pure insanity, or like you summed it up, him earning $$$$$s per week and $1000 hurt his ego.

I'm attached to the name, but I don't let names move me higher. I'll "buy now" when the price is set just right.

Looks like you've got your pitch down just right as some don't even get a "no thank you" reply (suggesting open to offers or to possibly buy in the future since you planted the seed, whichever side you're on).

Good luck getting it for your price though (as that is a 'reasonable' offer, though don't know the name... not like you shot him down to $50), looks like he's playing hardball.

 

[main]

Have you tried calling the owner?

 

[JudgeMind]

may be below his magic number, some folks wont reply to an offer under what their minimum price is.

 

[Poldermaffia]

Bombing him with a drone