Why do better domain names expire when the owner doesn't renew them?

[Brother Bob]

Hello everyone!

I have been thinking about something that's been bothering me. Selling domain names seems really tough, even with all the tips and tricks people use. I have question and would love your honest opinions: Why do so many good domain names go unsold, end up expiring, and then get grabbed by drop catchers who sell them for a higher price? Why weren’t they sold in the first place? How can great names be let go like that?

I have seen some really good domains that were initially not sold but later sold for a great price after expiring. For ex, i backordered some great 4l that later went for $7,xxx.xx I'm really curious about why these names didn’t sell sooner and ended up expiring. Did the owner pass away, or did they become frustrated and decide to let it go?

Also, i've noticed that most of the big sales reported on Namebio are from auctions. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!

The last time I expressed my frustration about not being able to sell, many people took offense and viewed my questions as insulting.... In the meantime, I've learned a great deal and made significant improvements through my studies.




For Ex;


Show attachment 282320


Show attachment 282319


Show attachment 282318

Show attachment 282316

 

[bmugford]

A few reasons -

1.) Some registrars don't have expired auctions. Therefore, the domains go through the actual drop cycle where it eventually deletes.

2.) There might have been no way to contact the owner or buy the domain when it was registered.

3.) The standard bidding frenzy and social proof that happens at all auctions.

Brad

 

[Jannes]

Oh there are two threads.

 

[Brother Bob]

A few reasons -

1.) Some registrars don't have expired auctions. Therefore, the domains go through the actual drop cycle where it eventually deletes.

2.) There might have been no way to contact the owner or buy the domain when it was registered.

3.) The standard bidding frenzy and social proof that happens at all auctions.

Brad

Hmmmmm...Thanks.

 

[URL Stream]

How can great names be let go like that?

Death, divorce, expired CC, carelessness, bankruptcy, sellout, etc.

 

[Brother Bob]

Oh there are two threads.

I am not sure why... I tagged few Pros, could that be the reason it turned into two threads? I really wish this could be deleted; why do we still have the first one?

 

[Brother Bob]

Death, divorce, expired CC, carelessness, bankruptcy, sellout, etc.

Damn!

 

[VadimK]

Because not everyone is a domainer. Owners, businesses, and organisations don’t have the mindset of selling domain names for profit, and many simply don’t care.

On top of that, there are owners/domainers who know they can sell their domains, but they focus on better portfolios, since what counts as a “good” domain is very subjective.

And yes, it's possible the owner passes away - that happens in life sometimes.

 

[bmugford]

Because not everyone is a domainer. Owners, businesses, and organisations don’t have the mindset of selling domain name for profit, and many simply don’t care.

Before I was a domain investor I let some valuable domains expire, many years ago.

I was not even aware of domain value then.

That is kind of what opened my eyes to the domain investment field.

Brad

 

[BaileyUK]

Very difficult to arrive at a conclusive answer, unless you go through both the history and potential market for each and every domain, Many domainers are very good at spotting potential future markets for a term that those that flip through domain expiry lists just don't pick-up on. Generally these domains don't remain unregistered for long.

Even possible to go through my own drops over the years and say Why the hell did he drop that. Could be financial reasons or missed renewal dates , what wouldn't be mentioned is the 95% of my drops that I'd seen as no-future for.

It's more often the single domain owners that forget/miss renewals than portfolio holders

 

[URL Stream]

For Ex;
Show attachment 282320
Show attachment 282319
Show attachment 282318
Show attachment 282316

If you're super curious about a specific one, play detective.

Check whois, web archive, google, business name, previous owner, usage, etc.

Fine print for pros: all the good stuff you ought to do regardless before purchasing a domain name.

By the time you're done you should be able to gather a picture of what went on.

 

[Brother Bob]

Because not everyone is a domainer. Owners, businesses, and organisations don’t have the mindset of selling domain name for profit, and many simply don’t care.

On top of that, there are owners/domainers who know they can sell their domains, but they focus on better portfolios, since what counts as a “good” domain is very subjective.

And yes, sometimes the owner passes away - that happens in life sometimes.

Thanks!!!


And yes, sometimes the owner passes away - that happens in life sometimes.

I attempted to include my digital assets in my legal will, but my attorney rejected it, claiming digital assets do not exist.

I am currently exploring the NP blog to find out how to incorporate digital assets.

 

[bmugford]

I attempted to include my digital assets in my legal will, but my attorney rejected it, claiming digital assets do not exist.

There is the whole property or not debate, but domains can certainly be assets.

Digital assets not existing is ridiculous.

Tell a company that their domain is not an asset.

A will should really include information to the next of kin.

Brad

 

[URL Stream]

Thanks!!!


And yes, sometimes the owner passes away - that happens in life sometimes.

I attempted to include my digital assets in my legal will, but my attorney rejected it, claiming digital assets do not exist.

I am currently exploring the NP blog to find out how to incorporate digital assets.

Still, that doesn’t preclude the importance of recording your portfolio, passwords, registrations, expiration dates, and related details to leave for your loved ones.

 

[Brother Bob]

Hmmmm, thank you! What if your loved ones aren't really interested in digital assets? I currently have a cryptocurrency exchange platform and domains,etc but none of my loved ones seems to show any interest. They don't want to know

 

[URL Stream]

Hmmmm, thank you! What if your loved ones aren't really interested in digital assets? I currently have a cryptocurrency exchange platform and domains,etc but none of my loved ones seems to show any interest. They don't want to know

DM me

 

[Igwe11]

Thank you all for your response I have learned alot because am new in the business

 

[Bannen]

All the reasons above, plus some just-plain-crazy-random reasons happen, too:

About five years ago I found a premium domain that was in expired/redemption phase. I wanted to find the previous owner and hoped to make them an offer big enough that they'd consider redeeming the domain and selling it to me.

Whois history tools showed a particular person as a single previous owner since 1995, but emails and phone calls to him would not go through. Phone disconnected, email returned 'undeliverable', etc. So I looked at Wayback Machine for more clues; found another email addy but it was via the domain, so no help there. But a different person's name and town were mentioned on the old archived website.

I dug around and found a landline phone number for that person (small rural town, old person, not into cell phones) and asked them about the domain. They said the website was for their small business (they had regged the name back when you could do so for premium names; nowadays it would be worth high xx,xxx to low xxx,xxx). It was a really small business, think like a dog kennel service in their back yard, in a town of a couple hundred people, ha ha. They had a premium domain for this.

They wanted the domain, too. Turns out an old buddy of theirs had regged the name for them in 1995 and had been renewing it for them ever since, even though he had nothing to do with their business. But their buddy sold his little home, bought a crappy old motorhome, and had been gone for a couple years traveling back and forth across Canada and through the USA. He did not have a phone or computer. Kind of off the grid. He had let the domain expire and no one knew where he was or how to contact him. Searches for his name did not mention any obituary so it was assumed he was still alive. The old lady I spoke with was laid back and not too interested in the fact that the domain had big value or that I'd pay a good amount for it, but -- like most small town people -- she was helpful. She did call around town to see if anyone else had been in contact with this motorhome guy. No luck.

The domain did delete, was caught by Namejet and auctioned. Unfortunately I do not have a Namejet account

I have chased after a few expired domains that have wacky stories like that. Keeps life interesting

 

[Igwe11]

Very interesting

 

[Bravo Mod Team]

Why do so many good domain names go unsold, end up expiring, and then get grabbed by drop catchers who sell them for a higher price? Why weren’t they sold in the first place? How can great names be let go like that?

A lot of reasons, but sometimes people just give up because this business is not easy.