America.com article

[domaingenius]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/02/america_auction_fail/

 

[ilovedomains]

Is this the begining of a bust? Looks like the highrollers kept their money in their pockets.

"The most expensive domain name sold was DomainRegistration.com, which sold for $376,480 in the silent auction."

"Bidding last week reached only $1.71m, millions short of the seller's expectations. Prior to the auction some in the domain business had speculated that America.com would top the $12.5m paid for Sex.com."

 

[Theo]

The Register is the electronic equivalent of a British daily "rag", such as The Sun.

 

[PRED]

The Register is the electronic equivalent of a British daily "rag", such as The Sun.

i can't see any tits http://www.register.com/page3

 

[MikeinFlorida]

Thanks for posting. I was wondering what ever happened to the name and figured it did not sell. Personally of course as a domainer I like to see everyone get as high a price as possible, but let's be real. America.com really should not warrant the price of sex.com! I hope to see them top their last offer next time they put it up at auction.

 

[Nova]

Is this the begining of a bust? Looks like the highrollers kept their money in their pockets.

"The most expensive domain name sold was DomainRegistration.com, which sold for $376,480 in the silent auction."

"Bidding last week reached only $1.71m, millions short of the seller's expectations. Prior to the auction some in the domain business had speculated that America.com would top the $12.5m paid for Sex.com."

It should surpass $12.5m and that was remarkably low if that or anything near that is what sex.com really went for. That was a bad day for the industry, and a bad benchmark to be left with.

I have a hunch this was not the right time for America.com to sell for what it's really worth. People are uneasy about the oil situation, etc.; moreover, the kinds of people and businesses that can afford what it's really worth may not be so very trusting as one might think about the online auction model to begin with. They generally didn't get where they are today otherwise; people in such positions are not interested in the risk of being shilled or bamboozled in any way, and a domain like America.com is ripe for the slightest risk of that. My company even owns a domain that suffered such a fate in 1999 with a $10m closing bid on eBay, and the rest is history in the wind (the next lowest bid was reportedly real, however). While things may be better than in 1999, there's still a degree of risk in this model that bidders for America.com can simply do without.

When it's "the right time" for America.com, how about surfing outside the box by going back to the realm that used to exist within the box? Does anyone recall how the $30m+ winning bid for the Da Vinci codex came by telephone for Bill Gates (at least, that's what I heard on TV)? The people in a position to buy America.com for what it's worth in an auction are still comfortable doing things the old fashioned way, the way which is now outside the box for something like a domain, by bidding at one of the best and most respected auction houses in the world, such as in NYC or the UK, even by telephone. That's where I believe you're more likely to find not only the publicity an auction like this deserves, but also the crowd of serious qualified bidders ready to move: in the flesh, just outside the box, and with the cameras rolling.

When are we going to see this kind of groundbreaking domain auction?

 

[montel]

12m for America.com is too much to ask. I think 1.7mil is a fair price?!? It's not like its USA.com!

 

[DomainMagnate]

I saw games.com sold for $11M mentioned as top sale on one of these news sites.
Anyone knows anything about it? When/where and if its true.

 

[ilovedomains]

If the owners of names like america.com want their names in a real auction, I am sure there is no problem. just get a dozen or so million dollar names together and go talk to places like Sothbys. Im sure they will be glad to sell your names for you.

Just one catch. They dont allow reserve bids.

 

[ddaybofb]

The world record price for a domain was smashed last year by the sale of Business.com to a phone directory publisher for $350m.

WOW

 

[Nova]

If the owners of names like america.com want their names in a real auction, I am sure there is no problem. just get a dozen or so million dollar names together and go talk to places like Sothbys. Im sure they will be glad to sell your names for you.

Just one catch. They dont allow reserve bids.

Well, here's what it says at Sotheby's:

Reserve price
The reserve is the confidential minimum selling price to which a consignor (you) and Sotheby's agree before the sale - your property's "floor" price, below which no bid will be accepted. If bidding on your item fails to reach the reserve, we will not sell the piece and will advise you of your options. It is important to consider the reserve price in light of the fact that Sotheby's will assess fees and handling costs for unsold lots.

http://www.sothebys.com/help/sell/index.html

Wonder what the fees would be for an unsold domain.

In a city like New York, for instance, where Wall Street titans that might hang out at the auctions, among others, can hire huge celebrities and a host of staff just for a private birthday party costing about a million or two, I'd say a domain like America.com at a famous auction house is still looking like a very interesting match for seeing certain domains get their due and the industry get the right publicity boost.

 

[Theo]

I don't understand what's the big fuss about America.com not selling. Have you seen what crap comes up when you go to it? A banner for 4x4.com?? An eNom parking page???

On the other hand, congratulations to our fellow DNF member Sai for developing America.edu

 

[syed]

.

 

[Credit]

USA.com = 3 x America.com

SEX.com > USA.com

 

[ilovedomains]

My bad.
Sellers can set a reserve at Sothbys, but there are penalties if you dont get a bid.

That would keep reserves within reason.

 

[HuntingMoon]

i am sure this is not the last we will see of America.com at auction/for sale/publicized.

 

[BLazeD]

What are you going to sell on America.com? Flags and coffee mugs?

Great name yes, but you're gonna have to sell something expensive on it to make money.

 

[adultdomain]

I have to agree BLazeD. America.com is actually not that great of a name. Its simply was hyped to no end, and look what happened.. 3 bidders who were not even serious about the name.

The only thing that has given me positive cash flow over the years has dealt with names related to pornography. In fact, 90% of the names i have purchased in the aftermarket deal with the pornography industry and are in the xx,xxx-xxx,xxx range. Of course the key is to hook up with an adult webmaster, make a deal for a certain percentage of the revs.. While i am no rick schwartz or frank shilling, I generate enough income to keep investing in domain names surrounding the pornography industry and "pay my bills"

Not worried about the "value" of domain names overall. Just hoping some xxx,xxx domain names related to pornography fall to xx,xxx.. lol

 

[dominator]

America is now only $2M