Will Not Use DropCatch.com

[DomainVP]

As many of you know, DropCatch.com will catch a domain that has been backordered, and opens the auction open to the public. Great for them, terrible for being a domainer.

There was an auction for a name, which I have a steady buyer for in that niche. Max I have ever paid for a name in that niche was $150, and I easily sold for $1k+.

There was only myself and another domainer that placed a pre order. Over the next 3 days four more bidders came to the table, and the auction quickly went from the initial backorder price to well over $700 USD.

The only bidders were myself, and a 3rd party who did not backorder the domain, but who came along in the final 36 hours.

The profit margin & risk no longer made sense to compete on the name, so I was out.

If this is the evolution of dropcatching, you better get your names where you can and hold on tight. I never thought I would find myself saying, "I wish NameJet caught that one."

My only consolation is that I cost another party hundreds of dollars, that went to DropCatch of course...

Good for DropCatch, bad for us all. Just something to consider when ordering names.

What are your thoughts?

 

[discobull]

I'm reading your posts fine. You don't want competition. Dropcatch has too many competitors for you so you don't like them. Case closed.

I'll let others decide for themselves how fine your reading is. As far as the rest of your post, it clearly reflects your perspective. My perspective is that DC is ideal for newbie domainers who couldn't possibly compete unless other people identified valuable domains for them ( a point that you've repeatedly proven ). Hopefully DC will keep this policy in place so that you continue to have somewhere to go for a handout.

 

[Keith]

I'll let others decide for themselves how fine your reading is. As far as the rest of your post, it clearly reflects your perspective. My perspective is that DC is ideal for newbie domainers who couldn't possibly compete unless other people identified valuable domains for them ( a point that you've repeatedly proven ). Hopefully DC will keep this policy in place so that you continue to have somewhere to go for a handout.

I've participated in about 2 auctions at Dropcatch. Hardly letting someone else do my research.

The idea that others piggyback on your BO is silly. These "newbie domainers" you mentioned aren't new at all. Or maybe they just found out who caught the deletion and where to bid by dumb luck?!

You're not finding gems under the radar. We all know what good domains are and place BO when necessary. The only names being snagged under the radar are really not worth the majorities time to chase.

 

[Jasonn]

I've participated in about 2 auctions at Dropcatch. Hardly letting someone else do my research.

The idea that others piggyback on your BO is silly. These "newbie domainers" you mentioned aren't new at all. Or maybe they just found out who caught the deletion and where to bid by dumb luck?!

You're not finding gems under the radar. We all know what good domains are and place BO when necessary. The only names being snagged under the radar are really not worth the majorities time to chase.

you are obviously someone who isn't that involved in the daily pending deletes. i backorder 10-20 domains per day almost every day. some are better than others but when an auction starts out with 2 bidders who actually placed a backorder before the deadline and ends up with 10 after 3 days, those 8 other bidders have "piggybacked" on the backorder. i wouldn't know what else to call it.

 

[Domainace]

The only names being snagged under the radar are really not worth the majorities time to chase.

Sorry you are not finding names under the radar, but good names are certainly still there. They are often missed because they fall outside the usual metrics set by software many use to evaluate domains, and have to be found by manually (and carefully) scanning large lists. That's work.

And even if there are a few other bidders that spotted the name as well, there's still a much better chance that they won't pursue it as strongly as you will.

On the other hand, when I'm not feeling like working, I will sometimes scan short lists like Dropcatch, or just watch Godaddy auctions to piggyback on late bids at the end of the auction. Since so many people jump on anything with bids on it, I don't usually come up with much that way though.

 

[Keith]

you are obviously someone who isn't that involved in the daily pending deletes. i backorder 10-20 domains per day almost every day. some are better than others but when an auction starts out with 2 bidders who actually placed a backorder before the deadline and ends up with 10 after 3 days, those 8 other bidders have "piggybacked" on the backorder. i wouldn't know what else to call it.

People joining the auction without a BO has nothing to do with your research. There are several reasons an auction would start with 2 bidders and end up with 10. Insider bidding is one...

It's comical to hear people complaining about a service while continuing to use it in hopes of personal gain. If it bothered you that much then it's a no brainer. Quit using Dropcatch!

 

[discobull]

I've participated in about 2 auctions at Dropcatch. Hardly letting someone else do my research.

The idea that others piggyback on your BO is silly. These "newbie domainers" you mentioned aren't new at all. Or maybe they just found out who caught the deletion and where to bid by dumb luck?!

You're not finding gems under the radar. We all know what good domains are and place BO when necessary. The only names being snagged under the radar are really not worth the majorities time to chase.

This is a fascinating perspective. On the one hand you seem to understand that DC is enjoying greater profits because of this policy, yet on the other hand you seem to firmly believe that nobody is discovering any new domain drops as a result of it. I'd be curious to know how these 2 contradictory beliefs can reside within the same head. Maybe you can explain where the additional profits are coming from if it isn't from people piggy backing off of the work of others?

You also seem to be engaged in an ongoing disagreement with reality. Your "know" that nobody does any work to find good drops and you "know" that there's no such thing as a domain that flies under the radar. Have you ever considered spending a little time reading through the completed sales thread? You're in obvious need of some educating.

 

[Keith]

This is a fascinating perspective. On the one hand you seem to understand that DC is enjoying greater profits because of this policy, yet on the other hand you seem to firmly believe that nobody is discovering any new domain drops as a result of it. I'd be curious to know how these 2 contradictory beliefs can reside within the same head. Maybe you can explain where the additional profits are coming from if it isn't from people piggy backing off of the work of others?

You also seem to be engaged in an ongoing disagreement with reality. Your "know" that nobody does any work to find good drops and you "know" that there's no such thing as a domain that flies under the radar. Have you ever considered spending a little time reading through the completed sales thread? You're in obvious need of some educating.

Again with idea of "your work". Anyone can scan Dropcatch and find pending deletes with no BO placed. So maybe "they" decide to skip the BO, a few others like yourself BO, then "they" change there mind and decide to bid after the domain deletes.

"They" know how the system works and Dropcatch is smart to let them participate without a BO. Has nothing to do with "your work". "They" are wise to how the system works but it makes you look superior by saying someone else benefitted from all of your research.

We all know how the game works, it's not a secret. Once you learn enough you'll realize that nickle and diming with domains that 2 people BO is a waste. There's a real good reason why most left the scraps...

 

[discobull]

Again with idea of "your work". Anyone can scan Dropcatch and find pending deletes with no BO placed. So maybe "they" decide to skip the BO, a few others like yourself BO, then "they" change there mind and decide to bid after the domain deletes.

"They" know how the system works and Dropcatch is smart to let them participate without a BO. Has nothing to do with "your work". "They" are wise to how the system works but it makes you look superior by saying someone else benefitted from all of your research.

We all know how the game works, it's not a secret. Once you learn enough you'll realize that nickle and diming with domains that 2 people BO is a waste. There's a real good reason why most left the scraps...

If this makes sense to you, great.

Thanks so much for the advice but I think I'll continue to do what has been consistently making me money rather than to listen to theories that are being disproved by myself and others on a daily basis.

 

[Keith]

If this makes sense to you, great.

I'll tell you what doesn't make sense - complaining about how a service chooses to operate while continuing to use the service!

 

[discobull]

I'll tell you what doesn't make sense - complaining about how a service chooses to operate while continuing to use the service!

That's a great point, but if/when you learn to read you'll understand that it doesn't apply to me.

 

[Keith]

That's a great point, but if/when you learn to read you'll understand that it doesn't apply to me.

You called dropcatch unethical. Your second post in this thread spoke volumes.

How is it unethical to maximize profits legally?

 

[discobull]

You called dropcatch unethical. Your second post in this thread spoke volumes.

How is it unethical to maximize profits legally?

The fact that you believe that anything that is legal is by definition ethical tells me that you know as little about ethics as you evidently know about domaining. I appreciate your question but I have no desire to go round this mulberry bush with you again. All the best.

 

[Keith]

The fact that you believe that anything that is legal is by definition ethical tells me that you know as little about ethics as you evidently know about domaining. I appreciate your question but I have no desire to go round this mulberry bush with you again. All the best.

We're referring to this specific case but I understand your need to spin things.

As for my knowledge of domaining...I'm selling domains at prices that most can't. Do you have 6 figure sales? 5 maybe?

 

[Edward Smeu]

dc are destroying this industry and I am really surprised why some of you take their side just because they have invested money. They practically make money of domainers who backorder (lets be serious, end-users don't really bother to backorder a domain) and sell to the highest bidder, usually an end-user. They win, buyers win and domainers can go to hell. What do you think it will happen when the other platforms will realize that if they want to keep up they should do the same? Well take a guess. We will all lose on the long run for their massive profits. Public auctions can only harm domainers who are trying to sell for profit and whoever agrees with their strategy is really unconscious. They are practically 'stealing' our jobs.

 

[Keith]

dc are destroying this industry and I am really surprised why some of you take their side just because they have invested money. They practically make money of domainers who backorder (lets be serious, end-users don't really bother to backorder a domain) and sell to the highest bidder, usually an end-user. They win, buyers win and domainers can go to hell. What do you think it will happen when the other platforms will realize that if they want to keep up they should do the same? Well take a guess. We will all lose on the long run for their massive profits. Public auctions can only harm domainers who are trying to sell for profit and whoever agrees with their strategy is really unconscious. They are practically 'stealing' our jobs.

This is archaic thinking and logic. As if companies who take huge risks shouldn't find ways to maximize profits. If Dropcatch were publicly traded they would be acting irresponsibly to NOT open auctions to all willing participants!

 

[DomainVP]

You seem to be hung up on the fact that you "did work" by placing a BO. That's nonsense.

I spend about 2-3 hours every day looking over domains.

Myself and one other person in the entire domaining world backordered that name, and along comes an end user who was most likely notified of the auction. Of course it makes me mad; had NJ caught that name it would have been an easy $1k+ flip, possibly even more.

Is it "fair"?

Well what's fair in this world Keith? Nothing. There are children who have no access to clean water or food, so my gripe with DC seems very insignificant when put into the grand perspective of things.

However, for me, it is a matter of principle.

In the end... having principles is rarely profitable for anyone so it is what it is.

It is also my choice not to support a service that profits from my work. I would have rather had the other guy get the name without competition, rather than earn DC $700+ by me placing spiteful bids towards an end user who showed up late to the party.

I may place orders with DC, however if there is competition outside of initial backorders I won't even bother; in fact, I came up with a name for when this happens to an auction. I call it, "A fate worse than NameJet."

 

[Edward Smeu]

This is archaic thinking and logic. As if companies who take huge risks shouldn't find ways to maximize profits. If Dropcatch were publicly traded they would be acting irresponsibly to NOT open auctions to all willing participants!

If protecting my business is 'archaic thinking and logic' then I would advise everyone to think the same way.
I don't really care about dc and their strategy for monopoly in an industry without regulations whatsoever. I don't care how much they invested and what risks they took but when they rely on domainers to help them maximize profits by backordering domains and then offering those to end-users, domainers lose money with every public auction they hold. What the hell?!
Another thing, you are replying to mostly every user who is against dc's strategy and I don't get why is that because when reading this thread there is an overwhelming majority who agrees with what i said above.

 

[Keith]

If protecting my business is 'archaic thinking and logic' then I would advise everyone to think the same way.
I don't really care about dc and their strategy for monopoly in an industry without regulations whatsoever. I don't care how much they invested and what risks they took but when they rely on domainers to help them maximize profits by backordering domains and then offering those to end-users, domainers lose money with every public auction they hold. What the hell?!
Another thing, you are replying to mostly every user who is against dc's strategy and I don't get why is that because when reading this thread there is an overwhelming majority who agrees with what i said above.

You think they're pitching domains to endusers? Don't we all? That's some revelation.

Here's what people are missing here. Your BO doesn't matter. They will catch deletions without any BO's and list them for sale. It's also not the responsibility of drop catchers or registrars to make sure domainers make money.

Don't like the system? Don't use it. But when people start using words like "unethical" it's ridiculous.

 

[Edward Smeu]

@Keith Everything is kinda unethical in this industry, dc just took it to the next level. I obviously don't support what they are doing and do not use them. Creating a monopoly is against regulations in any industry though so if they are aiming for that (for sure they are) then we will all lose.

 

[Keith]

@Keith Everything is kinda unethical in this industry, dc just took it to the next level. I obviously don't support what they are doing and do not use them. Creating a monopoly is against regulations in any industry though so if they are aiming for that (for sure they are) then we will all lose.

How is the attempt to grow a business a monopoly? There are loads of other places to backorder domains and participate in auctions.