Why so many '8's in domain sale prices?

[esatyrical]

Every week I peruse DNJournal's latest list of sales, I try to figure out why so many change hands for $x,888, or $x,x88.

Sitting here in HK (where every local desires their bank a/c or tel.no. or car reg to be loaded with the number 8) I could well understand it if those sales or purchases were by Chinese domainers (but surely not so many), or sales of one large Chinese-owned portfolio?

(thinks again) these '888' transactions are mostly AfternicDLS - is it something to do with their pricing structure?

As soon as someone here enlightens me, I know I'm going to go 'duh'..

 

[Kate]

I think it's buydomains sales. They like price tags that end with '88'

 

[james0306]

Every week I peruse DNJournal's latest list of sales, I try to figure out why so many change hands for $x,888, or $x,x88.

Sitting here in HK (where every local desires their bank a/c or tel.no. or car reg to be loaded with the number 8) I could well understand it if those sales or purchases were by Chinese domainers (but surely not so many), or sales of one large Chinese-owned portfolio?

(thinks again) these '888' transactions are mostly AfternicDLS - is it something to do with their pricing structure?

As soon as someone here enlightens me, I know I'm going to go 'duh'..

You might already know, but just mention here again for others who don't know yet.
Actually, "8" is a special number in chinese, just like lucky "7" in English. That's why you could fine that most 888, 168 related domains owned by chinese people. :D

 

[esatyrical]

I think it's buydomains sales. They like price tags that end with '88'

Aha, so if BuyDomains sell mostly through afternic then it may well be superstition alone! - thanks, kath

(James, yes, the lucky '8' was what I was alluding to in my 2nd para)

 

[Malaysia]

8 is the lucky number for chinese..We call it "pat" n it sounds like "fatt" which means be rich or wealthy.
even beijing olympics is held on 080808 n the famous betting 888.com

 

[NameCharger]

Perhaps another reason Afternic's prices often in in '888' is because consumers perceive nicely round prices as being more expensive than precise ones.

Rounding an asking price to -00, -000, or -0000+ screams "negotiate me". Present Forum exempt as we negotiate everything.