I keep seeing people wanting to buy domains but at whole prices only. What does this mean in terms of dollar value. For example I own the domain YRN.ai The registration cost is $140 for 2 years. The appraised value by Atom is $10,000. What would the buyer consider a reasonable wholesale price?
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question What exactly does Wholesale Prices only mean in term for Selling a Domain in terms of Dollar Figure?
- Thread starter Hibye
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This is a general or domain name related question.
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I’d like to offer a reality check based on three points:
1. The Buyer defines the Price, not the Seller.
Whether it’s retail or wholesale, the "real" price only exists when a deal is closed. Until then, any figure is just the seller’s wishful thinking. Someone else’s past sales are only for reference; there is no price until a buyer opens their wallet.
2. "Wholesale" is just Investor-to-Investor Flipping.
Wholesale is simply a term for selling to another investor. These buyers are looking for a margin. They know your registration costs, they know the renewal fees, and they calculate the risk of how long it will take to flip. If you are selling wholesale, you are selling to someone who expects to make 5x-10x off you later.
3. The "Atom/Brandable" Trap: Overvaluation of Dreams.
Platforms like Atom focus on brandable domains, and their appraisals assume an End User will eventually need your specific name. This leads to "Dream Prices" that rarely align with reality.
Here is a real-world example from my portfolio:
I have a domain that received two firm offers over $10,000 (meaning I could have cashed out immediately). Even a GoDaddy Broker brought me an offer exceeding $5,000. Meanwhile, Atom appraised it at $36,000. However, when I put it up for auction, the highest bid was only $1,000, and it failed to meet the reserve. This proves that even with a history of high offers, the market at any given moment can be much colder than an appraisal suggests.
The .AI Situation:
3-Letter .AI domains are currently being heavily over-appraised by Atom. Unless the acronym has a massive specific meaning, you are playing a waiting game. I own FTP.AI, ZTA.AI, and IDV.AI—all strong technical terms. They are appraised at $30,000+, but End User inquiries are slow.
The Bottom Line: If you want that $10k+ price, you have to wait for the perfect End User. If you are desperate to sell to an investor (Wholesale) today, you'll be lucky to get a few thousand, regardless of what Atom’s "dream price" says.
1. The Buyer defines the Price, not the Seller.
Whether it’s retail or wholesale, the "real" price only exists when a deal is closed. Until then, any figure is just the seller’s wishful thinking. Someone else’s past sales are only for reference; there is no price until a buyer opens their wallet.
2. "Wholesale" is just Investor-to-Investor Flipping.
Wholesale is simply a term for selling to another investor. These buyers are looking for a margin. They know your registration costs, they know the renewal fees, and they calculate the risk of how long it will take to flip. If you are selling wholesale, you are selling to someone who expects to make 5x-10x off you later.
3. The "Atom/Brandable" Trap: Overvaluation of Dreams.
Platforms like Atom focus on brandable domains, and their appraisals assume an End User will eventually need your specific name. This leads to "Dream Prices" that rarely align with reality.
Here is a real-world example from my portfolio:
I have a domain that received two firm offers over $10,000 (meaning I could have cashed out immediately). Even a GoDaddy Broker brought me an offer exceeding $5,000. Meanwhile, Atom appraised it at $36,000. However, when I put it up for auction, the highest bid was only $1,000, and it failed to meet the reserve. This proves that even with a history of high offers, the market at any given moment can be much colder than an appraisal suggests.
The .AI Situation:
3-Letter .AI domains are currently being heavily over-appraised by Atom. Unless the acronym has a massive specific meaning, you are playing a waiting game. I own FTP.AI, ZTA.AI, and IDV.AI—all strong technical terms. They are appraised at $30,000+, but End User inquiries are slow.
The Bottom Line: If you want that $10k+ price, you have to wait for the perfect End User. If you are desperate to sell to an investor (Wholesale) today, you'll be lucky to get a few thousand, regardless of what Atom’s "dream price" says.
Thanks for your reply. Where can one put their active domains for auction? The only 2 domains I've sold in the past year via Spaceship has been 6-7.org for $250 & 6-7.xyz $100 (It should have been $250 but Spaceship/myself made a mistake & got my minimum and BIN mixed up). My .AI like YRN.ai Trude.ai Elmore.ai don't even get offers
So as a general rule what would be your minimum offer you'd be for a domain appraised at $30,000? What would your wholesale minimum be for said Domain?
So as a general rule what would be your minimum offer you'd be for a domain appraised at $30,000? What would your wholesale minimum be for said Domain?
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Hi Hibye,
Atom valuations are fine as a reference, but I wouldn’t anchor too hard to them.
What’s helped me more than any percentage rule is watching real inbound behavior. If a name gets views, inquiries, or near-deals, your price is probably in the right zone. If it sits completely silent, the appraisal number won’t matter much.
Atom valuations are fine as a reference, but I wouldn’t anchor too hard to them.
What’s helped me more than any percentage rule is watching real inbound behavior. If a name gets views, inquiries, or near-deals, your price is probably in the right zone. If it sits completely silent, the appraisal number won’t matter much.
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