Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: What's the best way to buy a claimed domain name?

news.ycombinator.com

31–37 of 37 posts

Re: Ask HN: What's the best way to buy a claimed domain name?

#31

This is a great post, particularly the top comment http://avc.com/2011/04/finding-and-buying-a-domain-name/ Art Of Negotiating A Domain Name Purchase This is the step that 99% of people SCREW UP. I see so much bad advice about how to approach someone to buy their domain... "contact them and say I see you're not using xxxxx.com, I have a little project I'd like to use it for... would you be willing to let it go?" etc.…

This is fantastic advice, thanks. Unfortunately, I can't really afford a "bargain" deal of even a few thousand dollars. Still, I'll keep this in mind. Also, a lesson for everyone out there: I was about to buy the .co of the domain name but hesitated for a day to ask this question, and it was purchased by somebody else today! Don't hesitate if there's a domain you want.

I have a habit of buying domains on a whim. Figure That said... you don't want a .co .... you want a .com - unless you are selling to developers, you can get away with something else, but for the general public always .com

Re: Ask HN: What's the best way to buy a claimed domain name?

#32
post #8

I routinely buy domains I don't use - not to be a squatter but my imagination gets away from me. I imagine most HNers have dozens of domains they don't use. Someone emailed me recently for a pretty good one and offered $500, I countered at 3k and we settled at $1,500. Most people will be sensible about it.

I wouldn't be surprised if the average is less than 1.

less than 1 domain? I have like 25 personally... and responsible for another 20 or so company wise.

Raising the average.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best way to buy a claimed domain name?

#33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is fantastic advice, thanks. Unfortunately, I can't really afford a "bargain" deal of even a few thousand dollars. Still, I'll keep this in mind. Also, a lesson for everyone out there: I was about to buy the .co of the domain name but hesitated for a day to ask this question, and it was purchased by somebody else today! Don't hesitate if there's a domain you want.

I have a habit of buying domains on a whim. Figure That said... you don't want a .co .... you want a .com - unless you are selling to developers, you can get away with something else, but for the general public always .com

vine would like to disagree

Re: Ask HN: What's the best way to buy a claimed domain name?

#34

This is a great post, particularly the top comment http://avc.com/2011/04/finding-and-buying-a-domain-name/ Art Of Negotiating A Domain Name Purchase This is the step that 99% of people SCREW UP. I see so much bad advice about how to approach someone to buy their domain... "contact them and say I see you're not using xxxxx.com, I have a little project I'd like to use it for... would you be willing to let it go?" etc.…

Pure wisdom here. That's why I read HN. Thanks for sharing.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best way to buy a claimed domain name?

#35
I've been on both the buy and sell side of this negotiation quite a few times. thistleco's advice is pretty good. I'll just add one thing about the new GTLD program. Unlike the past, nowadays you are competing against the registrars themselves and the automated and MANUAL analytics they run on availability searches, whois queries and etc. As the OP said in a comment here, if you find a brand you like, don't hesitate because that name might be repriced by the GTLD operator due to your searches and activity around the domain.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best way to buy a claimed domain name?

#36
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a habit of buying domains on a whim. Figure That said... you don't want a .co .... you want a .com - unless you are selling to developers, you can get away with something else, but for the general public always .com

vine would like to disagree

If I'm typing a URL out, I'll generally remember the name of the product but not the actual .xxx, so I'll assume .com. But I imagine Vine doesn't really drive much of its interaction through people typing out the URL.

Vine is used primarily from within apps. If anything, having a .co is a slight helper as their primary target is Twitter where characters are often a premium.

I don't mean this as opposition to you, tmmm, merely that you got me thinking on why one might prefer a .co or be fine without a .com.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best way to buy a claimed domain name?

#37

This is a great post, particularly the top comment http://avc.com/2011/04/finding-and-buying-a-domain-name/ Art Of Negotiating A Domain Name Purchase This is the step that 99% of people SCREW UP. I see so much bad advice about how to approach someone to buy their domain... "contact them and say I see you're not using xxxxx.com, I have a little project I'd like to use it for... would you be willing to let it go?" etc.…

This is fantastic advice, thanks. Unfortunately, I can't really afford a "bargain" deal of even a few thousand dollars. Still, I'll keep this in mind. Also, a lesson for everyone out there: I was about to buy the .co of the domain name but hesitated for a day to ask this question, and it was purchased by somebody else today! Don't hesitate if there's a domain you want.

Could your showing interest in it have caused it to be registered by someone else?

Always take precautions: http://www.thesitewizard.com/gettingstarted/precautions-to-t...

Post reply on HN