Moniker's Traffic Auction Spam?

[Varchar]

I just receive an email from Moniker.com [[email protected]] which claims that couple of my domains are accepted to the upcoming TRAFFIC auction. Problem is, I have declined the request before since their recommend reserves are too low to consider.

Question is, is this a spam? The reply address and unsubscribe link points to up0.net. And my biggest concern is, how the spammer know the domains I have submitted to the auction? Did Moniker's server got hacked? What's going on?

Kawing

 

[ck89102]

Moniker is sending out that email to everyone who has names that were chosen for TRAFFIC New York. I received mine today also. And from the same return address.

As those names you submitted were chosen, I would assume then the original reserve prices that you provided are still in effect.

Best of luck.

 

[BELLC1]

Same here. I declined to change the reserves on mine. Heck, I even added $100 to the price because of their "fee" for not moving the domains to Moniker.

Of course, I expect all chosen to go to Silent (Extended) auction (at original reserves) though Silent hasn't done well for a couple years now.

 

[DangRabbit]

I got this email yesterday also... how do you know if you're going to live auction or silent auction?

I also downloaded the catalog of domains for this event and saw that the starting price for mine was a range (starting at my lowest reserve)... what does that range mean?

 

[Devil Dog]

I'm pissed. Moniker sent me that email and of course, it had a name in it that I had asked them to remove weeks ago.

Sent another email today reminding them about that name and I get hit with a "Erroneous Listing Fee" invoice of $250? WTF? You have got to be kidding me???

And all they have to say is "Ok - well in your agreement, you owe us an erroneous submission fee."

 

[BELLC1]

I got this email yesterday also... how do you know if you're going to live auction or silent auction? ... what does that range mean?

Go to Moniker's website http://marketplacepro.moniker.com/auction/detail.html?auction_id=196&utm_source=MN_hpFlash&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=TrafficNY_liveAuc_9-10-08 and look at the "Featured Inventory" Most of those will be Live but the "official" list usually doesn't come out until about 3 days prior to the auction and will be the same spreadsheet you have now with new updates.

As for the range, that merely lets the buyers know your reserve is in that range. There are no starting bid minimums and a buyer can start at $1.00 if he wants. If two or more bidders get after it, it may or may not hit the reserve you have declared.

One thing though -- as soon as the Silent (Extended) auctions begins, unlike Ebay, buyers WILL be able to see the reserve you have listed and that then becomes the minimum bid.

You can keep an eye on your names through Snapnames, menu option "Seller Dashboards"

 

[DangRabbit]

Thanks for the info Bell... very helpful! I actually think my name is better than some of the ones in the "featured inventory" so it'll be interesting to see how it goes.

 

[Varchar]

Ok, I called Moniker and verified that the email is legit. Also if you want to see if your name(s) is accepted in the auction, you can check it here:

http://marketplacepro.moniker.com/files/Auction_Inventory_TNYC08.xls

Kawing

 

[PRED]

Ok, I called Moniker and verified that the email is legit. Also if you want to see if your name(s) is accepted in the auction, you can check it here:

http://marketplacepro.moniker.com/files/Auction_Inventory_TNYC08.xls

Kawing

cheers dude k:

1 in the live and 1 in extended for me

 

[BELLC1]

1 in the live and 1 in extended for me

Lucky you.

I have 15 in Silent which of course is also known as the Kiss of Death.

Internext should have been my last auction with Moniker but I stupidly made an early submission for this Traffic so I'm stuck with them for this month.

Then I'm free!!!!

 

[DangRabbit]

I take it that the "extended online auction" is the same as "silent"? I don't see "silent" on the list... just opening night, premiere live and extended online.

 

[PRED]

I take it that the "extended online auction" is the same as "silent"? I don't see "silent" on the list... just opening night, premiere live and extended online.

thats right

 

[Onward]

I have 15 in Silent which of course is also known as the Kiss of Death.

Internext should have been my last auction with Moniker but I stupidly made an early submission for this Traffic so I'm stuck with them for this month.

Then I'm free!!!!

Exactly. I can not wait until this Moniker auction is over ....then I will never use Moniker again...I'm even transferring my names away from there....I'm just sick of them.

On one of my names, they asked me to lower my reserve to improve my chances to get in the live auction..I did it and it only got into the bs unattended auction...er...I mean bs extended auction....this is a one word generic dictionary name originally regged in 1996...I am a total idiot for believing them....I then asked them to put my original reserve back on and they refuse....They must not understand that there is competition....which I will go to and so will most everyone I have talked to....I think this is the last we see Moniker taking on this role...or at least I hope that to be the case.

 

[DangRabbit]

It seems the overall attitude around here is that the Extended Online Auction is a bad place to be with a good domain... I'd be curious to know why everyone feels that way.

I'm nervous because one of my domains got into Extended... I'm also annoyed because I set my reserve somewhat low (IMO) to get accepted into the live auction not realizing I couldn't change it... which, BTW, the rep I spoke to before submitting it basically rushed me off the phone because, as he said "I really want you to get in". He kept telling me to get off the phone with him because, as he put it, they could close this at any minute and literally, "2 minutes from now, you might not make it in." He also told me not to worry to much about the reserve because there'd be time to adjust it later. I rushed through the submittal process because I believed him. A week later I got an email asking me to lower the reserve further and thank god I didn't! The same rep who told me all that no longer works for the company... lucky me.... and the new rep doesn't at all sympathize with the bad direction I received and the lack of willingness to answer any of my questions.

Is there ANY possibility that the domain fetches more than the reserve price in the extended auction?

 

[PRED]

It seems the overall attitude around here is that the Extended Online Auction is a bad place to be with a good domain... I'd be curious to know why everyone feels that way.

I'm nervous because one of my domains got into Extended... I'm also annoyed because I set my reserve somewhat low (IMO) to get accepted into the live auction not realizing I couldn't change it... which, BTW, the rep I spoke to before submitting it basically rushed me off the phone because, as he said "I really want you to get in". He kept telling me to get off the phone with him because, as he put it, they could close this at any minute and literally, "2 minutes from now, you might not make it in." He also told me not to worry to much about the reserve because there'd be time to adjust it later. I rushed through the submittal process because I believed him. A week later I got an email asking me to lower the reserve further and thank god I didn't! The same rep who told me all that no longer works for the company... lucky me.... and the new rep doesn't at all sympathize with the bad direction I received and the lack of willingness to answer any of my questions.

Is there ANY possibility that the domain fetches more than the reserve price in the extended auction?

sorry to hear that, hopefully it will do ok
the silent is just that though normally, very little sells
can u name the rep as I have the worst rep ever from Moniker, he never gets back. i even pm'ed don lyons here to ask to change my rep but Don hadn't been on dnf since beginning of august last time i checked, himself. Monte is a legend imho and the support guys and girls are great, but the reps are as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike imho
sack the lot, start again

interested to know if your rep is same as mine as would explain why he hasnt been in contact for months, having said that he did that anyway

 

[Onward]

It seems the overall attitude around here is that the Extended Online Auction is a bad place to be with a good domain... I'd be curious to know why everyone feels that way.

I'm nervous because one of my domains got into Extended... I'm also annoyed because I set my reserve somewhat low (IMO) to get accepted into the live auction not realizing I couldn't change it... which, BTW, the rep I spoke to before submitting it basically rushed me off the phone because, as he said "I really want you to get in". He kept telling me to get off the phone with him because, as he put it, they could close this at any minute and literally, "2 minutes from now, you might not make it in." He also told me not to worry to much about the reserve because there'd be time to adjust it later. I rushed through the submittal process because I believed him. A week later I got an email asking me to lower the reserve further and thank god I didn't! The same rep who told me all that no longer works for the company... lucky me.... and the new rep doesn't at all sympathize with the bad direction I received and the lack of willingness to answer any of my questions.

Is there ANY possibility that the domain fetches more than the reserve price in the extended auction?

This sounds about right....

The extended auction IMO (and my opinion is based on experience) is a terrible place for your name to go if you set a low reserve based on moniker telling you to lower your reserve (with the impression that doing so will get your name in the live auction)....your name (if it is priced to attract attention in the live auction) will sell at the reserve....with little competition right where the reserve is - in the extended auction.

I had 2 of the top 5 sales in the extended auction in Traffic Orlando...both one word generic, dictionary, never offered for sale before absolute category killers...both sold at lower prices than I received offers for before the auction....I was under the impression that this time around a name or two would get in the live auction (I believe I only submitted 3...all in the extended auction right now)....as I was told they would have a better chance if I lowered the reseve...well I was snubbed again...

I have now learned my lesson not to deal with Moniker (should have taken my own advice before Traffic NY...but I have faith in people when I meet them at conferences and tell me one thing)....it is all good. I have many other names and continue to improve my portfolio with better names that now they will never get to sell. My prediction is that this will be the last we see of Moniker being the feature auction provider....they have too many other interests ....they have lost sight of their true customer base and it will be to their detriment IMO.

 

[south]

Never paid attention to the "extended auction", always considered it to be yet another snap auction, but guess I have to take a look this time.

 

[BELLC1]

When the auction game was new, there were some rather impressive sales and many live auctions actually had a large percentage of inventory sold. But that's over.

Unfortunately, most domain auction buyers now have some experience under their belts and aren't jumping on purchases like they did once. Many will also use the auction as a place to network but will not purchase at auction, instead preferring to make offers at a later date directly to the Seller and without auction fees.

My advice to sellers is always - never, ever ever, ever, EVER lower your reserve if your original price is what you really want for the name, particularly without a LIVE auction guarantee which you can no longer get. And be sure to add in Moniker's $100.00 "transfer fee" when setting your price as Moniker will not pay to have your domain moved back afterwards if they don't sell it. (I asked...)

I've submitted enough names in the past to know that lowering my price has never changed where my names stood in an auction or which auction it goes to. Nothing has ever been spoken of regarding the makeup of the infamous "selection committee" as to whom that really is and what the criteria or formula that is used really is. Personally, I think each rep say's, "Hmm. That one sounds cool." They send it forward and someone like Monte picks his top 200 and that's that.

Few people will ever even look at the Silent (Extended) list. It's way too long, and it is just another list, nothing special, although buyer's know the reserve when Silent starts.

Do the math. If even 30 names out of 3000 sold in Silent, that is still only 1% of the total, with maybe one high-dollar sale carried over from non-sale at Live, and the rest at the "Suggested Reserve Reduction" complete with all its fees.

Since merging with SNAP, Moniker just isn't as flexible as they used to be when your rep actually had some authority and/or influence. To each his own, but I really don't believe they are there for me like they used to be.

 

[chois]

Lucky you.

I have 15 in Silent which of course is also known as the Kiss of Death.

Internext should have been my last auction with Moniker but I stupidly made an early submission for this Traffic so I'm stuck with them for this month.

Then I'm free!!!!

Same here. I have 4 in Silent. :disappointed:

After TRAFFIC NYC, I will be gone.

But shouldn't we wait for couple of month and notify Moniker not to extend agreement?

I don't remember exactly but I remember there were some things like that in agreement about exclusive period and auto extension of agreement.

If anyone knows, please let us know what to do to leave and live free life.

:smilewinkgrin:

 

[ck89102]

Same here. I have 4 in Silent. :disappointed:

After TRAFFIC NYC, I will be gone.

But shouldn't we wait for couple of month and notify Moniker not to extend agreement?

I don't remember exactly but I remember there were some things like that in agreement about exclusive period and auto extension of agreement.

If anyone knows, please let us know what to do to leave and live free life.

:smilewinkgrin:

60 days following every Moniker auction that I submit names for, I both email & fax the following to Moniker:

Date
Attn: Moniker Auction Services / AcctRep Name, Moniker Account Representative
Fax: 1-954-969-9155
Per the "Exclusive Right To Sell Agreement" contract, this is my 60 day written notice to Moniker of my termination of article #1: Moniker shall no longer have exclusive rights to all my domain names submitted for:
AuctionName - example: Traffic East Orlando (May 20-24, 2008)
This termination notice covers all of my names submitted for consideration (subsequently all my names chosen for both the live and silent auctions).
Thank you,
Name
Acct: acctname