Domain Poaching

MIke · 04-04-2009, 02:38 PM

So years ago when I first got into creating websites I had a domain and let it expire as the site went into disuse. I recently had an interest in owning it again and went to the domain and there was a link to purchase it. I sent an email to the broker and they replied saying the asking price was $5000 and they would only entertain offers higher than $1000.

I couldn't believe that they try this. I realize it is completely legal and they have every right to try to sell it back to me but the domain isn't worth anything to anyone else. It isn't a common name so I am the only one who would ever want it.

Just thought I'd share that story, I guess the moral is keep your domains if you think they might come in handy at any time down the line.

dgridley · 04-04-2009, 06:15 PM

I let my [firstname,lastname] .com drop awhile back.. next time I checked someone was using it for a site related to money laundering! Eventually that domain got blacklisted and when I bought it again, I had to petition Google to reindex it.

iowadawg · 04-04-2009, 08:59 PM

There are too many domainers out there, plus people, who believe that they can ask any amount for their domains and someone will buy at some point.
I have seen the ugliest domains being offered on sedo, godaddy, etc for $xxxx to $xxxxx and more.

Why I really think it is to people's advantage to fresh reg a domain or check the dropped domains each day.

After all, that is what domainers do!

dgridley · 04-04-2009, 09:00 PM

I don't recall ever paying above reg fee for a domain.

WebForging · 04-08-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fast1

but how do one determine the price? what factors to consider

.com rules - most valuable

Natural words are best. Dictionary words are good.

Short is good. All the 3 character (xxx.com) are gone. Most of the 4 character domains (xxxx.com) are gone too.

Typical 3-character price is $6,000 or better. Sold one last year for $7,500.

Much more to it.

NamePros.com is a great site for domainers. I used that site about 5 years ago to learn enough to go from a $5,000 offer on a domain name to a $107,000 sale.

DNJournal.com has fascinating year-to-date sales lists (toys.com sold for $5.1 million this year).

Tough to get good domain names now, unless you're watching various domain drop lists, etc.

We're happy to answer your questions here, too. Thanks for asking.

Regards,
Keith

dgridley · 04-18-2009, 11:56 AM

Nice tips! (BTW- you inadvertently quoted a message from a banned member that included a .gif for cookie stuffing - edited)