Wow, I really got screwed.

[GiddyUp]

Listen to this one: I bid $420 on a name on Afternic VVWL.com, that was up to around $230 at the time. I said, I might as well give it a shot, Im sure it will go up to thousands of dollars since it is an LLL.com. Before I knew it, I had received confirmation that I won the auction for $240. Of course, this name was actually v v w l .com, a terrible LLLL.com not worth nearly $240.

The seller would not loosen the agreement and I confirmed with someone else here on NP that they too had the same problem with the name! I told Afternic and they said in the future they would put spaces in between the letters, but clearly after the other bidder had this same problem, they did not. ITs very deceiving to the eye, as VVWL.com looks like WWL.com! Needless to say, after much arguing, I had to pay for the name.

 

[accuname]

I always copy and paste into google every domain name I purchase. No mistakes that way.

 

[IAmAllanShore]

Auctions are not like retail stores. You can return items to a retail store for any reason, but you can't return something after an auction. That's the way auction works.

Well, no...

But that doesn't mean you should go around backing out of agreements.

-Allan

 

[homebuyer]

But first...

Before I buy a domain, I always cut and paste the listed domain (without the TLD) into Google and run a search. Google will show it like it is, many times over, so there is no confusion about what I am buying.

By the way, if you suspect that the seller was trying to mislead bidders like the unknown scammers who send emails from VVamu Bank, just run a search to see what other domains the seller has owned. Try a search using their email address, then street address or phone number. If she/he has owned a lot of VV domains then this might indicate a plan or scheme to defraud.

 

[GiddyUp]

Yes, thank you everyone for pointing that out - Afternic changed it after my complaint!

 

[klm390]

Good judgement was clouded by greed. Your hopes of gaining a three letter .com at a fraction of its value led you to a hasty and costly mistake, regardless of the sellers intentions. Sorry for your loss and be happy you didn't spend the $420 or more.

 

[cache]

now that you own this name, suppose you auction this name, and it is interesting
to see how many people would make the same mistake. It is similar to that ugly
domain->1 million domain game, we will see who is the next sucker. (Don't flame me, I am just joking+

 

[accent]

Afternic ----- aren't they the ones to refuse to sell any porn, gambling or drug domains??? So very holy holy holy???

Hypocrisy?

 

[MrRhee]

I don't know who the seller is, but this is his other domain up for auction:
disclaimer: I am not accusing him of fraud or trying to decieve others, be he obviously knows what he is doing. AFTERNIC should put a big warning on domains like this to save others from making the same mistake. I know, I know "buyer beware", but if I ran my own exchange I would not let seller's list domains like that without proper EMPHASIS on it being 4 character, not 3. That's just my personal opinion and I'm no one important so don't mind me.

http://www.afternic.com/name.php?id=11945471

VVZE.COM / vvze.com

vvze.com is available for purchase. THIS IS A 4 LETTER ACRONYM - but it looks like three letters. Looks great in the portfolio for a fraction of the cost of a 3 letter acronym.

(emphasis above added by me)

yes, he states it is 4 letters, but he even admits that it looks like 3 letters. "Looks great in a portfolio" ??? WTF? LOL. Domainers never cease to amaze me.

C'est la Vie.

.

 

[robertjr]

It would be interesting to hear what NP member claudedauman has to say. :imho:

 

[bluearrow]

hmm a costy lesson but a good one for rest of us too. but still i think the exchange should state it clearly its 4 letter one, vv and w in that font could be mistaken.

 

[floatingworld]

I don't know who the seller is, but this is his other domain up for auction:
disclaimer: I am not accusing him of fraud or trying to decieve others, be he obviously knows what he is doing. AFTERNIC should put a big warning on domains like this to save others from making the same mistake. I know, I know "buyer beware", but if I ran my own exchange I would not let seller's list domains like that without proper EMPHASIS on it being 4 character, not 3. That's just my personal opinion and I'm no one important so don't mind me.

http://www.afternic.com/name.php?id=11945471


(emphasis above added by me)

yes, he states it is 4 letters, but he even admits that it looks like 3 letters. "Looks great in a portfolio" ??? WTF? LOL. Domainers never cease to amaze me.

C'est la Vie.

.

er, he states that it is 4 letters to a potential buyer, so er, um the buyer thinks it is ____________ fill in the missing space for those with a star IQ.

 

[Ringtonebro]

Auctions are not like retail stores. You can return items to a retail store for any reason, but you can't return something after an auction. That's the way auction works.

Sedo allows you to cancel your offer within an hour.

 

[GiddyUp]

robertjr,

is he a member here?! I'd love to hear what he has to say. The fact that this seller now has that auction up is ridiculous! Thank you to whoever posted that link, btw, because now it really shows me what he's up to.

 

[fonzie_007]

It would be interesting to hear what NP member claudedauman has to say. :imho:

Agreed. I certainly wouldn't want to do business with this person if he has actively mislead. Reminds me of the person who listed fun.us at TDNAM and it had been bid up to the mid xxx, but the domain was really fun.us.com.

Also, Afternic has a conflict of interest in this case. If you back out of payment, they don't get their cut. Afternic therefore has financial incentives NOT to help you in this situation.

EDIT: Check link here for this NPer's info (AWest has this domain listed for $230 with a link to the Afternic sales page): http://www.namepros.com/for-sale-ad...m-75-reserve-met-many.html?highlight=vvwl.com

 

[GiddyUp]

Fonz,

thanks for the heads up. I just sent AWest a PM. I'm 99% positive thats him, because the date of that posting was 11/21. Since it was up for auction by the same guy (when another NP'er mistakenly bid on it and he agreed to put it up for auction again, but said they would have to pay the $230 if nobody else bid - which is when I bid) even before my auction, it makes me think its the same person. Hopefully, we'll get him to comment in this thread.

 

[IAmAllanShore]

Fonz,

thanks for the heads up. I just sent AWest a PM. I'm 99% positive thats him, because the date of that posting was 11/21. Since it was up for auction by the same guy (when another NP'er mistakenly bid on it and he agreed to put it up for auction again, but said they would have to pay the $230 if nobody else bid - which is when I bid) even before my auction, it makes me think its the same person. Hopefully, we'll get him to comment in this thread.

AWest is:
1) A woman (Amber)
2) Not the person actually selling the domain and is rather
3) An afternic employee that posts any "ending soon" domains that could be of interest (Check her other posts.)

Just FYI

(Unless I'm dead-ass wrong, again )

-Allan :gl:

 

[AWest]

AWest is:
1) A woman (Amber)
2) Not the person actually selling the domain and is rather
3) An afternic employee that posts any "ending soon" domains that could be of interest (Check her other posts.)

Just FYI

(Unless I'm dead-ass wrong, again )

-Allan :gl:

AWest is in fact a woman, and an Afternic employee. (Allan is, as usual, correct.)

I received the PM GiddyUp...if there is something you would like me to clear up for you regarding the Afternic side of things, I would be happy to. However, I am not the person who sold it, so I can not speak for them.

Best,

Amber West
Afternic.com
[email protected]

 

[Badger]

Like my no1 web designer always says "free cheese is only found in a mousetrap"

 

[GiddyUp]

haha, yes you are correct Allan. Amber was very helpful and I thank her for posting in this thread.

 

[geek]

Ouch i saw that domain too and i knew somebody will fall for the trick. Do some research before reaching into your wallet next time.