.ws .WS - The Discussion, Showcase and Sales Report Thread

[hugegrowth]

Well the .WS registry has been in the news this week for releasing all 5N to 20N combinations last night, and 2 and 3 character .ws will be available later in Feb with new pricing scheme.

.WS registry also has a presence on NP now:
https://www.namepros.com/threads/ws...-ws-domains-will-be-released-tomorrow.915224/

Obviously the China story may be creating a new market for short .WS domains. ALL of the NNNN.ws were bought out over three days this past December according to thedomains.com blog.

I registered some 5N.ws last night when they were released, anyone else stepping into .WS now?

 

[Kate]

I don't believe in a comeback of .ws.
.ws has had its time but that was long ago.
I've never seen a failed extension coming back from the ashes.

.ws = .was

I know you're focusing on numerics and short names but still.

PS: I see a lot of people buying short names in ccTLDs, but what I see is the Chinese buying available handregs. Not buying from domainers. I'm not sure it's a good idea to invest heavily in this area. Also, if you are solely dependent on Chinese buyers that won't come, you'll end up with a pile of useless domains.

 

[bluebox]

$3 .ws at Godaddy currently

 

[mwzd]

I'm dropping my .ws names, there's no interest / sales and the renewals are now a crazy $24.99 each.

The registry messed up increasing renewals from $10 to $25 specially given that the aftermarket for this extension is pretty much dead.

Between that and the scammy past with GDI etc, makes no sense anymore.

 

[Domain Shane]

I agree, but you have to remember the general public/end user will always prefer .com

Just because it has "8" isn't going to fly with all the world just because china likes "8's"

You better have a very very premium 4N.ws to go against an ok 6N.com if you want someone to buy it that doesn't understand chinese numerology

There are already hundreds of tlds and they all compete with .com so it better be the best numbers or there is no competition.

No trying to be harsh on your .ws but just want you to not put to much cash in one pot, which it doesn't look like you are with some of the domains you have listed there.

A few things. One, you don't have to, and shouldn't put your eggs all in one basket. Dot com vs dot WS doesn't have to be a choice. Your domain portfolio should have good stable assets and some good ROI aka higher risk, higher reward domains.

Two, When you invest in a TLD you are investing in the registry. The people behind it. You are trusting that they are going to spend the time and money to make sure the general public knows its a choice. An analysis of what new TLDs have taken off comes down to a few things and dot WS is adjusting to make sure they incorporate those traits.

That's why I'm invested and become part of the team. Hoping that the domain buyers who invest their money and trust get great returns for their efforts. And those that don't believe in it share why so maybe .WS can understand why people don't like it and adjust accordingly. Although "because I can get a better return elsewhere and I just don't like it" aren't going to help a lot.

 

[campout]

Looks like only the emojis are getting sales here anymore. Last year you could maybe make a little money for a really, really good one:

photography.ws 675 USD 2016-06-23 Flippa

But even then it probably wasn't happening.

xn--128h.ws 698 USD 2017-07-23 GoDaddy
xn--4q8h.ws 1,275 USD 2017-07-22 GoDaddy
xn--5n8h.ws 939 USD 2017-07-11 GoDaddy
xn--b28h.ws 710 USD 2017-07-11 GoDaddy
posters.ws 352 USD 2017-07-10 Dynadot
xn--018h.ws 610 USD 2017-07-04 GoDaddy
xn--eci.ws 550 USD 2017-06-22 Sedo
xn--68h.ws 475 USD 2017-06-22 Sedo
samoaair.ws 205 USD 2017-06-21 GoDaddy
mimp3s.ws 510 USD 2017-03-03 GoDaddy
cinema4d.ws 148 USD 2017-02-13 GoDaddy
kitchen.ws 100 USD 2017-01-20 GoDaddy
xn--1-2sn.ws 101 USD 2017-01-19 Flippa
wstats.ws 407 USD 2017-01-18 GoDaddy
vido.ws 227 USD 2017-01-15 GoDaddy
lawadvice.ws 130 USD 2017-01-09 GoDaddy

 

[Domain Shane]

Yep the renewals will kill this extension ..... in the short market

Renewals were reduced on the short names to regular rates. Right now its $25 and under depending on where you renew. I expect renewal prices to drop even further later this year.

As for the rest of the statements about .ws. I am not going to convince anyone to change their mind about .ws. I only have stated that I have purchased many short .ws. I hope they go up and I like the extension as much as any of the new Gs. My opinion only. I liked dot cc and people told me I was an idiot there as well. And keywords in dot cc are worthless . But the shorts have become very valuable.

And my NNN.xyz have had two offers in the last week of $4000 or more. I paid $7 for those not even two years ago. Again told I was wasting my money.

So far the more people calling me stupid the better chance I have of making money. The more people that pat me on the back and say "smart move" the more likely I just get slaughtered with the sheep

 

[N-A]

Ha. This is all so funny. Nobody ever said anyone was opening an office in China and I own zero NNNN.ws. Yes I purchased a lot of short .ws names. I own many NN.ws and LL.ws . The owner of .ws has been to China and had meetings. Announcements will be made when the timing is right. Things take time to develop.

It'd be nice to know if you sold your 1400 NNNNN then.

We registered 1400 5N.ws on opening day. We have quite a few nice names as well  But Josh did everything he could to get them before us  The DSAD.com gang are heavy hitters aka addicted domainers

 

[Name Trader]

The only people buying .ws domains is the next smartest mug. There are very few developed .ws websites, which is a shame since google treats it as a gTLD. Their biggest problem is probably their pricing policy. $6-$8 to register and $22-26 (or something to renew). Nobody holds onto failing TLD's at those renewal prices. As most of the nGTLD's will eventually discover. You may see a few outlier purchases once in a while, but mostly they don't get developed and dropped later. Because they've generally been purchased by the next smartest mug on the block. China may change that for NNNN domains, but very much doubt it will flow over to the American language .ws domains. Personally. I'd put .ws in the mismanaged group of TLD's.

How many times have you been told to buy .com. There has never been a time when that mantra wasn't sound advice. Look at the prices LL, LLL. LLLL, Keywords prices have risen over the last 10 years. Every year, I think it must have reached it top. Only to find they've doubled in price by next year. I cannot see that ever happening with .ws domains. Think about it.

 

[mwzd]

How many of these types of domains have you sold for $x,xxx? Split between <$1k, $1-5k, >$5k+ How long will you renew these types of domains before you drop them?

Only one sale of $1,xxx and that I think was an aberration. But a few in the $500-$1k range, which covered all my costs till date, including purchase prices. Like I said, more an extension for developers than investors.

If you pass audit.ws or carpet.ws for free, what names are you looking for to pay then?

They're both excellent domains, I sold carpets for $500 a few years back on Sedo.

But I'm certainly not buying any more, in fact was contemplating dropping all of them, then got a couple of offers and decided against dropping thm, not like I'm able to get the same keywords in any other extension at these prices.

 

[Name Trader]

Now the 2 domains are in my account, I can say what they are. I picked up club.ws & florist.ws in GoDaddy Closeouts in February Only just got around to posting this now.

 

[168]

Here's a list of 4n.ws currently available Yes 0, 4 not chips Chips are up at auction asking 499. GoD
May be able to get a ben out of a few here. 8's and patterns in bold.




4989.ws
0679.ws
0879.ws
0283.ws
0103.ws
0105.ws
0106.ws
0610.ws
1210.ws

0610.ws
1210.ws
0910.ws
5310.ws
0139.ws
0583.ws
0810.ws
0108.ws
0109.ws
0575.ws
0113.ws
0119.ws
1510.ws
0311.ws
0115.ws
0116.ws
9073.ws
9023.ws
0269.ws
1029.ws
0289.ws
6849.ws
0489.ws

1469.ws
1489.ws
1499.ws
1489.ws
2010.ws
0102.ws
0117.ws

cheers!

 

[NamesMax]

I just ran the 1000 4N.ws from 9000 to 9999 a few minutes ago. By my count there are 374 left. all with 0 or 4. For those interested here they are.


.WS 4n Available
9974
9964
9947
9946
9945
9943
9942
9941
9940
9934
9924
9914
9904
9894
9874
9864
9854
9849
9848
9847
9846
9845
9844
9843
9842
9841
9840
9834
9824
9814
9804
9803
9794
9784
9774
9764
9754
9750
9749
9748
9747
9746
9745
9744
9743
9742
9741
9740
9734
9730
9724
9720
9714
9704
9694
9684
9674
9670
9664
9654
9649
9648
9647
9646
9645
9644
9643
9642
9641
9640
9634
9624
9620
9614
9610
9607
9606
9605
9604
9603
9602
9601
9594
9590
9584
9580
9574
9570
9564
9560
9554
9549
9548
9547
9546
9545
9544
9543
9542
9541
9540
9534
9530
9524
9520
9514
9510
9509
9508
9507
9506
9505
9504
9503
9502
9501
9498
9497
9496
9495
9493
9492
9491
9490
9489
9487
9486
9485
9484
9483
9482
9481
9480
9479
9478
9477
9476
9475
9474
9473
9472
9471
9470
9469
9468
9467
9466
9465
9464
9463
9462
9461
9460
9459
9458
9457
9456
9455
9454
9453
9452
9451
9450
9449
9448
9447
9446
9445
9443
9442
9441
9440
9439
9438
9437
9436
9435
9434
9433
9432
9431
9430
9429
9428
9427
9426
9425
9424
9423
9422
9421
9420
9419
9418
9417
9416
9415
9414
9413
9412
9411
9410
9409
9408
9407
9406
9405
9404
9403
9402
9401
9400
9384
9380
9374
9370
9364
9360
9354
9350
9349
9348
9347
9346
9345
9344
9343
9342
9341
9340
9334
9324
9320
9314
9309
9307
9306
9305
9304
9303
9302
9301
9294
9284
9280
9274
9270
9264
9260
9254
9250
9249
9248
9247
9246
9245
9244
9243
9242
9241
9234
9230
9224
9220
9214
9210
9207
9206
9205
9204
9203
9202
9201
9194
9190
9184
9174
9170
9164
9160
9154
9150
9149
9148
9147
9146
9145
9144
9143
9142
9141
9140
9134
9130
9124
9120
9114
9109
9108
9107
9106
9105
9104
9103
9102
9101
9097
9095
9094
9093
9092
9087
9086
9085
9084
9083
9082
9081
9078
9077
9076
9075
9074
9072
9071
9070
9069
9068
9067
9062
9061
9060
9059
9058
9057
9056
9054
9053
9052
9051
9050
9049
9048
9047
9046
9045
9044
9043
9042
9041
9040
9032
9031
9030
9027
9026
9025
9024
9021
9020
9017
9016
9015
9014
9013
9012
9010
9007
9006
9005
9004
9003
9002
9001

 

[ikehook]

I don't believe in a comeback of .ws.
.ws has had its time but that was long ago.
I've never seen a failed extension coming back from the ashes.

.ws = .was

I know you're focusing on numerics and short names but still.

PS: I see a lot of people buying short names in ccTLDs, but what I see is the Chinese buying available handregs. Not buying from domainers. I'm not sure it's a good idea to invest heavily in this area. Also, if you are solely dependent on Chinese buyers that won't come, you'll end up with a pile of useless domains.

I'd think the same thing, but then I see .mobi's selling and .biz going crazy.

As far as .ws goes it's short, could be website or something in Chinese. I don't think it has any negative connotation that biz and mobi had for years.

I almost look at it as a sort of new gtld. I never paid attention to it before just like I didn't pay attention to 200 other cctld's. But if it's marketed right who knows what can happen.

Marketing will be the key, look at .co or .xyz, that was the key for them.

.vc not even Chinese premium letters but I'm getting 4 figure offers on my LL's and they're selling on auctions every week. All the offers are Chinese. There was only minimal marketing for VC as venture capital.

Most numbers except NNNN and a few other exceptions were all restricted, even LLLL.ws were restricted until recently. So I wouldn't have expected the Chinese to be using it in the past, there was very little available that they like. Ironically there are a few Chinese sites up on .ws despite this.

When you break it down, you have to ask yourself
-does it make sense as an extension, I think it does.
-is it cheap enough to be an acceptable speculative risk, it is now
-what names can I get now at reg fee? Basically it's the ground floor, all kinds of good stuff now available that never was before.

If it passes this test in your mind, then the new branding and team behind it are a good sign and an added bonus.

.cc worked with no marketing, no support from verisign and high reg fees.

 

[Domain Shane]

Just to clarify, I'm not looking for a million dollars, not even close.

I'd be happy with reseller prices or 20% of current end user price of the .ws

I always enjoy chatting with you bud, hope you do well with your nnnnn.ws too!

Thank you . I have a few other .ws like 83.ws, 85.ws, and 95.ws. so I am certainly on team .ws

 

[campout]

So again, why domainers value .ws effectively 40 times higher than .ch?

Because there is a concerted effort to promote .ws.

 

[S-B]

I think it's a lot like having a $100 bill that you can't spend at a gas station. You have to get your ass to a bank and cash it in. In exchange you get a $50, a $20, a $10, a $5, and 5 $1s. Now you can get those Doritos. By now I'm sure you're asking wtf this has to do with domains. Well. the $100 bill, in this case, is a 3L CHIP. Sure, it has value but your market is small because most people can't cash a $100 bill with the change they have in their pocket. So I suppose it'd make more sense to carry 2 $50 bills (4L CHIPs) since it's easier to spend. However, at times you will still need change. My point isn't that no one carries cash anymore. My point is that the domains with smaller value are actually more liquid. So to think that all these domains will increase rapidly is lunacy. Some domains are meant to be 1s, while others are meant to be 5s, 20s, or even 50s.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[JB Lions]

All 1 person, looks like Australia. Had to check the site nicked.net, some dropcatcher. Other .ws they have up for auction, all 0 bids. 1 person isn't any kind of movement.

Only other 2 sales Namebio have for the year:

properties.ws - $170
proxy.ws - $165

Only 9 reported sales for 2015, only 1 breaking $1,000. That one was some company getting sued for piracy.

Had a few of these myself back in the day, great keywords like Holland, sold if for $62, couldn't get more. Others, couldn't sell.

It's pretty dead, has been for awhile now. We'll see if the Chinese can pump some life into it, numerics at best. Regular keywords, probably not. Nothing pointing to that happening, especially with all these new gtlds and .web which can mean the same thing.

Decided to check sales since my last post:

A major term like coupons.ws only sold for $232 at Flippa in March

2 letter .ws, under $1000 - https://namebio.com/?s=AMzUzNwITN

3 number .ws under $1000, same link

Also, June 27th .web auction date, next month

Extra marketing at this point, this late in the game, can that get some positive return? Just don't see it.

 

[imadoer]

you guys can all hate me for this post i dont care .ws is crap it belongs in the toilet ..

 

[Domain Shane]

Nat-didnt some well known domainers buy into this extension in a big way? TY

I bought $20K worth and dropped every single one except my LL, NN, and NNN. Owner I worked with is gone and present management seemingly has no interest in spending any money on anything. Evidenced by their lack of marketing, communication, and infrastructure. MY OPINION ONLY would be to not touch these until something changes. I only kept the short as a risky bet and because they are the highest quality names you can buy in dot .ws. Which is like saying you have the best old bald tire from the junkyard.

in short, I bought names based on promises and a business plan by a former owner that never panned out and I lost a good amount of money. It happens and I keep looking for more opportunity in domain investing. It is presently not in .ws

 

[imadoer]

I thought .ws stood for we suck

 

[Kate]

I am surprised that experienced domainers could fall for this. Either there's more to the story or this is a classic case of the greater fool theory.

 

[campout]

Some of the best ones I let drop this year (held for one year):

Today.ws
Sort.ws
Install.ws
Tune.ws
Count.ws

Maybe "ws" means "dead extension, not coming back to life" in Pin Yin

 

[Name Trader]

Only one sale of $1,xxx and that I think was an aberration. But a few in the $500-$1k range, which covered all my costs till date, including purchase prices. Like I said, more an extension for developers than investors.

I think your success on selling .ws domains (breaking even), is not easy to emulate I would agree that .ws is more attractive to developers than investors. But only slightly better

 

[kerala]

I own 100+ .ws domains.
8858.ws
8865
8896
8856
8895
8859....
88818
88878
77777777
6666666..