What would you do if previous owner contacts you?

[PowerUp]

What would you the owner of a previous domain, that you own now, contacts you?

I have just bought a generic dot com. Earning good domain parking income. Previous owner contacts me, seeking a solution. What would you do if you were me?

The market value for generic domains about 5 times the annual parking income. And I have a strong feeling the previous owner will not be willing to pay this amount. Should I even offer this asking price to him? Or just tell him "It's not for sale."

I'd also like to hear your experience when faced with previous owner contacting you.

 

[weblord]

both you and him/her know that you're the new owner, so you can do whatever you want with the domain

 

[netfleet]

There is a small danger that he might try to claim that as the previous owner he's built up the 'brand' of the domain name & that you are profitting in bad faith from that brand.

They would really struggle to do this for a generic like plumbers.com.au but could have a case with a generic like theplumbersdirectory.com for example.

 

[copper]

You said you just bought it.
Previous owner is the one you bought it from?

Either way, it's up to you.

Where did you hear generic domain value is 5 times annual parking income?
It's all depend on domain itself.

Few days ago, I sold one domain name to another
domainer at 100 x monthly revenue.

Another domain, I sold it for 50x monthly revenue
to domainer.

 

[JimmyRich]

You said you just bought it.
Previous owner is the one you bought it from?

Either way, it's up to you.

Where did you hear generic domain value is 5 times annual parking income?
It's all depend on domain itself.

Few days ago, I sold one domain name to another
domainer at 100 x monthly revenue.

Another domain, I sold it for 50x monthly revenue
to domainer.

Does that usually apply if its super premium and what people want for it?

 

[T2H.org]

Initially say you want 10 x yearly revenue (round that to the nearest $100)

 

[copper]

Does that usually apply if its super premium and what people want for it?

Does what apply?
Which part are you talking about?

 

[JimmyRich]

Does what apply?
Which part are you talking about?

Sorry I didnt clarify that part, when people pay 50x-100x the revenue. Does that apply to websites developed?

 

[copper]

No.
Mine, both of them, were parked.

Actually, I usually stop negotiating when buyer ask how many month of revenue I am looking for since I don't believe in this method unless buyer is willing to pay MANY years.

I don't think true value of domain name is how much you make per month, but, what's potential income when it's done properly at right hand.

One of my domain has 4 words and 3 dashes in it and it makes about $8/mth.
I wouldn't expect 100x8 for this domain since it doesn't have much potential for development. I would expect 12x8 at best.

Again, it all depend on domain itself.
Is it short?
Brandable?
Potential?
Which market?

Domain I sold for 100 mth revenue, it was...
Short.
Brandable.
Huge Potential to develop.
Cosmetic surgery related.

 

[JimmyRich]

That makes sense, thanks for clarifying for me

No.
Mine, both of them, were parked.

Actually, I usually stop negotiating when buyer ask how many month of revenue I am looking for since I don't believe in this method unless buyer is willing to pay MANY years.

I don't think true value of domain name is how much you make per month, but, what's potential income when it's done properly at right hand.

One of my domain has 4 words and 3 dashes in it and it makes about $8/mth.
I wouldn't expect 100x8 for this domain since it doesn't have much potential for development. I would expect 12x8 at best.

Again, it all depend on domain itself.
Is it short?
Brandable?
Potential?
Which market?

Domain I sold for 100 mth revenue, it was...
Short.
Brandable.
Huge Potential to develop.
Cosmetic surgery related.

 

[Kamloops]

If it was lost because they neglected to renew it and they had a business on it , I would hand it back to them, that is the right thing to do. Maybe ask for 100 bucks for your trouble.

 

[PowerUp]

You said you just bought it.
Previous owner is the one you bought it from?

The domain expired and I bought it in an auction.

If it was lost because they neglected to renew it and they had a business on it , I would hand it back to them, that is the right thing to do. Maybe ask for 100 bucks for your trouble.

I paid lots of money to win this domain. I'd be at a loss asking for 100 bucks.

 

[Kamloops]

I dont mean to take a Loss , what you paid plus something for your trouble. Missing a renewal could happen to anyone,.

Can they proof they are the previous owner?

 

[copper]

I dont mean to take a Loss , what you paid plus something for your trouble. Missing a renewal could happen to anyone,.

Can they proof they are the previous owner?

Ask him to give you his server ip, acct name and password to prove he is the previous owner.

 

[Nem0]

Could be a scam right? Surely I am not the only one that receives these scam emails saying that they are the original owner and want the domain back.

 

[htmlindex]

What would you the owner of a previous domain, that you own now, contacts you?

I have just bought a generic dot com. Earning good domain parking income. Previous owner contacts me, seeking a solution. What would you do if you were me?

I would try & sell it to the person for as much as possible. If he/she wants the name & it's a generic .com earning good revenue, it's gonna be worth a good sum of money.

 

[PowerUp]

Ask him to give you his server ip, acct name and password to prove he is the previous owner.

How will this info help verify his previous ownership?

 

[Kate]

Once I have had someone posing as previous owner, coming up with some unlikely story.
I'm pretty convinced he was trying to pull as fast one on me.

Things you can do to verify you are indeed dealing with the actual previous owner:

1. look up whois history at domaintools.com (subscription required)
2. check website history at archive.org

and compare with their own details

 

[Spade]

Ive had this happen several times, and the truth is, when the original owner allows the expiration to lapse the domain to drop, its his own fault and hes S.O.L. (Blank Out of Luck)

Typically an original owner will be greatly insulted to have to pay the prices I ask for their domain name back. Often times so insulted they'll threaten with legal actions. I dont even bother to sell to them, its unlikely they will pay, and if anything might seek legal action just to spite you.

I agree with a previous post. If this person was running a business from the domain name, then I would consider selling it back at a fair price. Your Cost + Time / Energy. Other then that, enjoy the parking revenue and be polite when you reject their inquiry.

Justin

 

[gazzip]

Thats the worse thing about buying in the drops

However, one thing to keep in mind is that many if not most of the registrars would have charged the original owner somewhere up to $200 for them to renew it at the latest stage possible - so why feel like you have to sell it to them for a $100 ?

The registrars don't and neither do the drop companies.

I've only ever had it happened twice to me so far, the first one ended in a sale but I sold it for about $2,000 less than it was worth to me ( I bought it to develop ).

The second time I just got a demanding & insulting email from their lawyer so I did'nt even bother replying to them at all. ( I could also see no proof they ever owned that one)

That name is still mine and its had a buy now price of < $2,000 on it since I first bought it....I guess they did'nt want it that bad.

Out of the hundreds of thousands of names dropping each day how is anyone supposed to know if it was dropped on purpose or not ? Some names sit doing nothing for years and years before they drop.

I'd rather it did'nt happen but I just look at it as a case by case thing, depends on what they were using it for.

How they ask you for it can make a huge difference too IMO.


PS - Anyone notice how some people think that they have a god given right to a .com domain just because they have the same in another extension ?


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