Domaining Flamewar

[melmunch]

Just got this email from T.R.A.F.F.I.C.

DOMAIN SPONSOR'S true colors are now on display for all to see. Ron Sheridan, Lawrence Ng and the rest of the DS gang are showing what parasites they are. They canceled the contract with T.R.A.F.F.I.C. so that they can feed off of our hard work in putting the show together by bussing 150 gullible domainers to their private party.

They blatantly advertise that they will be bussing invitees from the Hyatt Grand Central during and after our opening cocktail party. Man, do they have BALLS!!! Whose money do you think that they're spending to steal (yes, I said STEAL) our attendees from T.R.A.F.F.I.C.? YOURS - if you have an account with them.

They are also advertising additional sponsors to help them pay for your participation (if you QUALIFY). WATCH MY DOMAIN, PHILLIBURTON, EURODNS, NAMECHEAP and REGISTRAR ENGINE will never exhibit at T.R.A.F.F.I.C. AND - it appears that they plan on doing the same at all future T.R.A.F.F.I.C. shows. This kind of guerilla tactics first manifested itself when they undercut SKENZO by requiring people who wanted to go to their party at the Ghost Bar in Las Vegas to wear THEIR lanyards instead of the T.R.A.F.F.I.C. lanyards provided by SKENZO.

One of the things that we have tried to do (and i believe successfully) is to raise the ethical bar for domainers so that our industry will be looked upon favorably by others. These tactics by OVERSEE.NET and DOMAINSPONSOR fly directly in the face of ethics and are truly despicable. They should be denounced in the strongest terms.

So, those of you who think that this party is a good idea, and I'm sure that there will be many who do, have fun at the party, even though your participation is what the Pied Piper of Sheridan is planning on destroying T.R.A.F.F.I.C. and all that it has come to stand for in the "industry". This party is being put on for the SOLE PURPOSE of disrupting T.R.A.F.F.I.C. and the domain industry for soley SELFISH reasons. We will no longer remain silent.

Howard Neu


Howard Neu
[email protected]

Rick Schwartz
[email protected]

 

[bdss]

This party is being put on for the SOLE PURPOSE of disrupting T.R.A.F.F.I.C. and the domain industry for soley SELFISH reasons. We will no longer remain silent.

hmm....what selfish reasons is he talking about....there is more to this than meets the eye. Can anyone throw some light on this ?

 

[jasdon11]

That's a low trick....I don't use DS and now, I never will!

 

[Smith]

I can only assume that they are talking about the party that my business partner and I are having Domain Jam NYC

We're not Oversee.net employees nor are we getting paid for the record.

 

[hugegrowth]

Interesting, names are being named. In the recent article at DNJournal, Rick Schwartz mentioned that people/businesses trying to use TRAFFIC for free advertising would be named, and there it is. I wonder if there will be a response?

 

[Gerry]

This just further illustrates the underhanded tactics and lack of transparency used by parking companies.

Okay, so this is overt...out in the open. Someone pissed on someone else's parade. Boo hoo hoo.

Where is the structure and oversight and the wherewithall that these same companies use on a daily basis when conducting business as they see fit without any oversight or disclosure?

To those same authors of this article, those "leaders" and "gurus"...I say too damn bad that someone high jacked some of your registrants and took them to another party. If you think that DS is the only one that you should be writing about regarding shoddy practices and questionable ethics and unfairness, then you really don't have a clue and have not been listening or paying attention to the tens of thousands who are not at your party.

 

[strongvis]

Sedo has an event that's scheduled around TRAFFIC nyc don't they?
Linkshare has an event during TRAFFIC nyc as well.

Demand Media / Enom had an event before TRAFFIC and a party after the TRAFFIC cocktail party in Vegas (an incredible party btw).

IREIT and TRAFFICZ both had parties the same night at the same time during the Miami TRAFFIC. . . . I opted to hang out at the bar across from the hotel at yet another group party.

The guys behind this party have multiple sponsors involved and oversee/DS happens to be one of them. . . . it'll likely be a great event so I don't see the issues

 

[droplister]

Not sure if that email is the "proper" response I would expect from a person promoting ethics. Seems more like an angry rant, but I can understand why they are mad. I don't attend either so it's all just "eh" to me.

 

[DNWizardX9]

They're pissed cause they want to collect their $x,xxx admission fee. They don't need any competition ;-).

 

[Luc]

They're pissed cause they want to collect their $x,xxx admission fee. They don't need any competition ;-).

EXACTLY.

Is it just me or is it wrong to have to kiss someones ass in order for them to TAKE your $2500 and grant you permission to do further ass kissing at his conference?

Is that professional?

Cut-throat competition is what domaining was always about. I'm HAPPY to see someone else stepping into the conference arena. I was happy to see Domain Roundtable stepping in too. I wonder how many people remember what Rick did when he found out about Domain Roundtable to try to cut them out even before they got in. Was that professional?

If Rick and crew want to stay in the conference game, they will have to adjust their prices, their admittance criteria, and their egos. This is good for us domainers.

My 2 cents.

 

[EM @MAJ.com]

This is good for the business, some friendly competition.

I prefer that I go to the conference without "huge" fees that's why we have sponsors. And remember we "domaineer" are the customers that bring money to these parking services.

Once I have my single family house or a resort somewhere in ASIA, if you're in domain business you're in, small or big time. Maybe in my place next year.

 

[DNWizardX9]

Rick's version is: Pay big money, and STILL HAVE SPONSORS pay for your meals..

He claims all of the money from admission goes to the food. He also claims he will be putting his OWN money into the NYC TRAFFIC conference.

 

[companyone]

Hi,

Most domainers do not need to live like kings for a couple days eating and drinking. What they do need is good solid information,resources and opportunities.

Monthly, or bi-monthly meeting type events for one day would be better I think for 90+% of people in the domain business...part time or full time.

Seems to me, some people are more interested in keeping the "good old boy" network going, rather than taking the domain business as a whole to the next level(s).

Peace,
Dan

 

[gmac17]

I'm really confused at the anger here. This happens all the time in the conference world. People skip the conference to save money and then have a big party for their customers. Maybe there are more details, but if you are throwing a big conference you have to expect this kind of stuff.

 

[Raider]

The conventions I've attended, the parties are always organized by a sponsor of the convention...But what DS is doing here is different, they are not a sponsor, they're a outside competitor feeding off somebody else's convention, As much as I hate to say this, it's not right and shows NO class at all.

I am NO fan of Rick and Howard, I think these two are driven by greed rather than there desire to promote the domain industry. The fees they charge are outrageous, and so is there pathetic reasoning. I don't feel sorry for them at all, I'm glad there is competition out there, I welcome it! I just DON'T agree how DS is going about it....my 2 cents.

 

[eq78]

Its a free market for an industry that benefits from pornography and tm typos its funny that this is outrageous IMO

 

[Duckinla]

This is a classic Lash-out when a Monopoly faces new competition. They are mistaken if they think domainers will support them on ethical grounds. Customers support you when you are competitive, that's it, that's what this country is built on. TRAFFIC are the pioneers, but pioneers have to be nimble and adapt. Otherwise they take the arrows and leave a clear trail for the next organization. They need to lower the price and make attendance so large that vendors can't afford to miss it. Then you charge more to the vendors, making your money off them, not the attendees.

 

[Raider]

They need to lower the price and make attendance so large that vendors can't afford to miss it. Then you charge more to the vendors, making your money off them, not the attendees.

If there was a quote of the year award, this would be it. :yes:

:first:

 

[Gerry]

They need to lower the price and make attendance so large that vendors can't afford to miss it. Then you charge more to the vendors, making your money off them, not the attendees.

Any professional trade conference, seminar, or trade show is exactly on this order. Massive crowds and audiences bring the vendors displaying their wares, new offerings, and usually new orders and success. Not to mention all the freebies handed out (some good stuff to be had by all).

Back to point: This is such childish behavior..."Little Johnny came to my party and wasn't invited and ruined it. Wah, wah, wah!"

First of all, we are looking at a supposed email submitted not by the authors.

But I will be the first to say that I don't care who penned it, none of these people represent me and my interests (they say they do) and this is absolute nonsense.

Perhaps when they sober up from their own partying and frolicking they will go back and read the email and realize what childish behavior this represents.

 

[Duckinla]

Any professional trade conference, seminar, or trade show is exactly on this order. Massive crowds and audiences bring the vendors displaying their wares, new offerings, and usually new orders and success.

It's a natural evolution of trade shows. Early on the conference has more value to attendees than vendors. Eventually the crowd grows large enough that the value proposition changes: The attendees already know the vendors, but the vendors have opportunity to pick up new customers. So now the vendors get more value than the attendees. The price structure should change to reflect that. If TRAFFIC doesn't do it, someone else will. And then it will be game over for TRAFFIC.