Godaddy launches a domain auction service

[csite.net]

TDNAM.com

[domaindirk]

$1.95/domain/quarter seems a bit high. Also need to look at a PPC program.

DD

[Rubber Duck]

Originally Posted by domaindirk

$1.95/domain/quarter seems a bit high. Also need to look at a PPC program.

DD

Totally agree. Sedo, Afternic and Great Domains do not charge listing fees. Although, the commission is low at 7.5%, it will still be expensive as in any given period most domains don't sell.

In view of the fact that most of my interesting enquires now come through Who-is rather than parking sites and it has no established PPC programme which would need to be exceptional to justify the listing fees, I wouldn't touch this with a barge pole!

Best Regards
Dave Wrixon

[octobus]

Look what happened to exclusive backorders!

[Rubber Duck]

Originally Posted by octobus

Look what happened to exclusive backorders!

Yes, backorders were my entry into domains, but the game was up over a year ago now! Pool, whilst initially a usual source of domains, have irrevocably changed the market, and Snapnames followed to snaffle the most prolific source of good drops.

Godaddy was really the last bastion, but the success rate there was low anyway and with greater awareness of value, good drops were starting to dry up and prices have gone through the roof. Most drop speculators seemed to be migrating to trying to pick up value in the secondary market, many pestering others with rediculously low offers.

The ccTLD market seemed like a natural progression, but generally cost are high and apart from Germany interest is limited.

It was that that convinced me that new registrations IDN were the way forward. IDNs might seem risky, but at tenth of the price of backorders to me it seemed like a fair gamble, as the keywords that were available were potentially much more interesting. Of course the big unknown is to what extent they will be generally abopted and they are of course more complicated to research and administer.

Having put together a very promising portfolio, apart from the odd lead or spark of inspiration, I am now largely sitting on my hands. The reason for that is even here the opportunites are gradually diminishing and I could spend 10x as much without even doubling the potential value of my portfolio. If my strategy is correct, I will never need anymore, and if it is wrong then further investment will only excerbate the situation.

The bottom line is that speculative potential is greatest in a developing market place. Mature markets mean competition, low margins and consolidation forcing many smaller players out altogether. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the like of Pool and Snapnames develop into large scale holders of the domains that drop to them, as they grow to realise that instant auctions do not produce the highest returns. Once that happens the scope for individual speculators in dropping domains may start to vanish completely.

There will of course be an ongoing market in topical domains, i.e those registered after reading the morning newspaper, but todays news is tomorrows fish and chip wrapper.

Any one else got any comments of future direction of domain market?

Best Regards
Dave Wrixon

[RareIQ]

As for the GoDaddy backorders, I still get a few good drops every now and again.
The domain maket will continue to grow with more and more investors realizing the potential of an end user striking the right key at the right time. Stay focused and keep marketing. The best never rest.

[Domainut]

http://www.dropwatch.com/blog/?p=26

[RareIQ]

wha the................

[URLCollection]

Originally Posted by Domainut

http://www.dropwatch.com/blog/?p=26

Nice Read Sid - A little more on this new auction system at GoDaddy -

A few facts about this new Godaddy auction system - You do not get the domains when the auction ends. We were the winning bidder on several domains and were told we would have to wait as much as 70 days to get control of the names. So they are auctioning and collecting the fees on "potential dropped domains" as much as a week or more, prior to the domain expiring and entering the 30 day registrar hold and 60+ days prior to exiting the redemption period and actually dropping. They even have a few of our corporate domains that are awaiting a transfer out, that are now on auction and we never listed them for sale at this auction site!

Here is the response from Go Daddy = "The names you purchased at auction at our site were in the process of reaching the "soon to expire date". Before we allow expired names to become available at auction we make numerous attempts to contact the original registrant for renewal, both pre and post expiration. We also attempt to automatically renew it if the original registrant opted in to our auto-renewal service. After one of these names has completed the auction process, we allow additional time before fully assigning the name to the auction winner (as much as 70 days). During that time the original registrant is still given the opportunity to reclaim and renew the domain name. In the rare case where that happens, we provide a full refund of the purchase price to the auction winner. "

They failed to respond to our inquiry about this matter after 3 emails to them and only sent this response after we contacted Bob Parsons. They also sent us a full refund after our complaint. This is happening without the consent or knowledge of the owner of the domain name and to the full profit and benefit of only GoDaddy. I have no idea of the legal issues in selling someone's property without their full consent, but the moral value alone, is very poor.

This has got to be one of the farthest reaches to make a buck in the drop game, that I have seen to date. Domain Owners and Drop Buyers BEWARE - Registrars are now auctioning off YOUR non expired domain names, to enhance their potential profits, all for an additional piece of the drop market. Steve

[mike031]

...damn registars, soooooooooo evil

[Rubber Duck]

Originally Posted by URLCollection

This has got to be one of the farthest reaches to make a buck in the drop game, that I have seen to date. Domain Owners and Drop Buyers BEWARE - Registrars are now auctioning off YOUR non expired domain names, to enhance their potential profits, all for an additional piece of the drop market. Steve

Sounds like a good reason to transfer all your domains to a registrar with integrity. I would suggest www.domainsite.com.

Best Regards
Dave Wrixon

[I Sold Grandma]

Sounds like a good reason to transfer all your domains to a registrar with integrity. I would suggest www.moniker.com

[StockDoctor]

I think GoDaddy looks at it as selling an "option" on their potential success in acquiring the property, (yours). Steve if you want to pay me ahead 70 days, I'm starting an auction on my neighbors house. If you bid high enough I might have a chance in delivery.

[URLCollection]

Originally Posted by Stocdoctor

Steve if you want to pay me ahead 70 days, I'm starting an auction on my neighbors house. If you bid high enough I might have a chance in delivery.

Sounds great Doc - I need to get out of Hurricane Alley for a few months this summer and fall, so a home in the hills would be great. Hope your neighbor does not mind if we stay with them? I will send you a bid later - Steve

[JEsports]

What is the buy it now on your neighbors house ... I would offcourse like to know BEFORE you ask them please.

And buy the way ... if i decide to buy it before it is actually on sale ... you must write up an agreement to me stating that you will keep the motorcycle noise to a minimum since you reside next door.

[StockDoctor]

Originally Posted by JEsports

What is the buy it now on your neighbors house ... I would offcourse like to know BEFORE you ask them please.

And buy the way ... if i decide to buy it before it is actually on sale ... you must write up an agreement to me stating that you will keep the motorcycle noise to a minimum since you reside next door.

LOL You guys know way too much about me already. Just what I need is domainers living right next door. Then again maybe we could all live up here and start our own commune.

[mole]

Originally Posted by Stocdoctor

maybe we could all live up here and start our own commune.

'
Er, wats up, doc? A commune with banana dance theraphy, hmm... I feel giddy already.