Domaining.com acquires DNGator.com

**DomainingCom** · 07-04-2009, 02:39 AM

Popular DNF member 'Accro' sold yesterday his domain news agregator site DNGator.com, the site now redirects to Domaining.com

**exponent** · 07-05-2009, 03:22 AM

Great way to ruin a great aggregator. I spoke with Acro earlier in the week about buying all or some of DNGator. Unfortunately, it appears Domaining.com beat me to the punch and that is a real shame because it seems many domainers aren't too fond of Francois which is evident from the responses left on Acro's blog. DNGator succeeded because it removed the things that people didn't like about Domaining.com. This will be interesting in the long run.

Congrats to Acro on the sale.

**CureCancer** · 07-05-2009, 03:30 AM

Originally Posted by exponent

Great way to ruin a great aggregator. I spoke with Acro earlier in the week about buying all or some of DNGator. Unfortunately, it appears Domaining.com beat me to the punch and that is a real shame because it seems many domainers aren't too fond of Francois which is evident from the responses left on Acro's blog. DNGator succeeded because it removed the things that people didn't like about Domaining.com. This will be interesting in the long run.

Congrats to Acro on the sale.

If that is true - then why don't you develop a site and replace dnGator and sell it to Domaining.com!

**exponent** · 07-05-2009, 03:46 AM

Originally Posted by 24HourDomainer

If that is true - then why don't you develop a site and replace dnGator and sell it to Domaining.com!

An alternative is already in the works, but I'll drop dead before I sell it to Domaining.com

I think the sale is rather funny, considering Acro's contradictory statements here, here and here. I suppose ethics can be overlooked if the check has enough zeros?

**charrisg** · 07-05-2009, 04:07 AM

Congrats to both...!!!!

**EG.domains** · 07-05-2009, 04:38 AM

Congrats to both of you!

**Banned: democrat** · 07-05-2009, 05:09 AM

I had my feed at DNgator. this is rather unfortunate

**Tia Wood** · 07-05-2009, 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by exponent

I suppose ethics can be overlooked if the check has enough zeros?

Whatever his reasons they were his reasons. And it was his site.

**dominator** · 07-05-2009, 05:15 AM

how much?

**DomainingCom** · 07-05-2009, 05:42 AM

Exponent, if I can give you a friendly advice.
I don't know you and never hear of you previously but I clicked your signature link to GradBase.com and it seems you have serious dev and design skills (if you created that site).
Don't spend time creating another news agregator, it simply does NOT pay and I can tell you all the time, money and energy (and you will need a lot) you may spend for that will be better used on anorther personal creative and inovative project which will bring you much more in term of satisfaction and revenue.

...

Theo has really MUCH MORE ethic than the average and I don't like one of the most older and appreciated DNF member be treated that way.
He sold to Domaining.com, a site that try to help all our community and not to anyone trying to make few bucks showing some AdSense or using the name to promote his stuff, ...
He considered many points and deciced to sell. He found the words to motivate me and I admit it was a fair sale where each one found his interest.

...

Democrat send me a private note about your blog.

...

We decided to keep private the sale price.

...

Thanks for the congrats.

**Tia Wood** · 07-05-2009, 05:46 AM

Originally Posted by cybertonic

Theo has really MUCH MORE ethic than the average and I don't like one of the most older and appreciated DNF member be treated that way.

Exactly.

People have no idea what is going on or what transpired behind the scenes. No one has a right to judge Theo’s character. Theo’s a great guy and whatever the reason for the sale he deserves to be supported. He carried this site with out-of-pocket expenses and provided a free service for many months. Matter of fact, he even offered free advertising to people.

**dodo1** · 07-05-2009, 06:05 AM

Congratulations to both parties!

**Banned: democrat** · 07-05-2009, 06:11 AM

I felt the passion behind your post. You have gained several notches of respect from me.

It's business and it's about creating community. We are in a hard line of work. Domains are still new and not everyone grasps the concept behind selling a domain. I like the fact of creating a portal where all the information is in one lump. It produces more productivity.

Cyber brings a great point about creating your own uniqueness instead of recycling what's has been rehashed.

It's 2009, and its time to start stepping out of the small mind box and break free. Let your brain roam and seek the unknown and bring it to the known.

I don't know Theo as my buddy buddy but I do know from how he has treated me and what I have seen around the virtual land, he focused on business. It's all about business and community.

Unless you plan on recreating something that is going to be mind blowing, shoot outta water effects. Let's not keep the wheel in that lake water, cause it eventually will spew crud.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by cybertonic

Exponent, if I can give you a friendly advice.
I don't know you and never hear of you previously but I clicked your signature link to GradBase.com and it seems you have serious dev and design skills (if you created that site).
Don't spend time creating another news agregator, it simply does NOT pay and I can tell you all the time, money and energy (and you will need a lot) you may spend for that will be better used on anorther personal creative and inovative project which will bring you much more in term of satisfaction and revenue.

...

Theo has really MUCH MORE ethic than the average and I don't like one of the most older and appreciated DNF member be treated that way.
He sold to Domaining.com, a site that try to help all our community and not to anyone trying to make few bucks showing some AdSense or using the name to promote his stuff, ...
He considered many points and deciced to sell. He found the words to motivate me and I admit it was a fair sale where each one found his interest.

...

Democrat send me a private note about your blog.

...

We decided to keep private the sale price.

...

Thanks for the congrats.

**KING dot NET** · 07-05-2009, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by meganerd

Exactly.

People have no idea what is going on or what transpired behind the scenes. No one has a right to judge Theo’s character. Theo’s a great guy and whatever the reason for the sale he deserves to be supported. He carried this site with out-of-pocket expenses and provided a free service for many months. Matter of fact, he even offered free advertising to people.

I agree. I've done business with Theo and no hassle at all. I guess he's being to "direct to the point", if you know what I mean.

Well done folks.

Cheers for now, busy with real work.

**stewie** · 07-05-2009, 08:34 AM

Congrats on Sale

**Seraphim** · 07-05-2009, 11:09 AM

Congrats to Theo on the sale, but major bummer as I used the service daily...

Will use NameBee.com now, cheers.

**Gerry** · 07-05-2009, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by exponent

...here, here, and here

Hmm, imagine that!

A domainer with opinions.
And a domainer with ethics?

Can the two possibly co-exist in the same person?

**hina** · 07-05-2009, 11:20 AM

This is what Acro said in November 2009:

For those of you that asked, it's all custom-coded but it was a side-project that took exactly one year to launch, simply because at the time there was no reason to throw in another product along with Domaining.com.

However, it became evident in the course of the year that having a single option is not for the best interest of a domainer; we need alternatives.

Apparently Acro changed his mind. He gave us a hint though:

Today Wikipedia might be free but there is no promise about tomorrow.

In the end, it's all about money. This is the business model:

1. Create an alternative for Domaining.com
2. Make the alternative website popular: offer free banners, promote on domain forums and blogs, etc.
3. Once the alternative website is popular enough... PROFIT!

Who will create the next "alternative"? We do need alternatives.

EDIT: NameBee.com is an alternative, but, isn't it rather sad that the "original" alternative is now sold to the very website it claimed to be an alternative to?

**Gerry** · 07-05-2009, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by TheWatcher

I agree. I've done business with Theo

Same here.

Bravo to THEO!

The guy works hard. He crafted and created something from nothing and has now been rewarded. We have spoken on the phone, via email, via PM and - you know what? Behind the "to the point" persona is a domainer, an artist, and a businessman.

I, for one, appreciate the dry wit and sense of humor, the "not backing down threads", and the family man he is.

Seems I sense a little jealousy in this thread. I love the hell out of DNgator and, myself, I am jealous. Perhaps more envious as I do not have the computer programming skills as he.

But that is on me, not Theo. Where I have spend decades in other pursuits and professions he has obviously stuck to his craft.

As for Francois, I often disagree with his points and his style. Kudos to Francois - he made a business decision and sought improvements to Domaining.

I am so pissed I was not consulted by either party.

Next time, *****es.

**gorilla_bob** · 07-05-2009, 11:44 AM

Just so everyone is aware, there is a great domain industry aggregator at FreshDrop.net if you want an alternative. We have 3 aggregations of domain industry news, blogs, and domain forums.

Bob