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The Art of Getting a 3 Letter Domain Name

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Re: The Art of Getting a 3 Letter Domain Name

#51

Post by jtheory »

There's a problem to be solved here -- is there a way to buy/sell domain names ONLY to people who will actually use them?

I have a bunch of domains that I've registered over the years, with plans for side projects that haven't yet been realized. Some of them are probably moderately valuable.

Over the years I've let some expire that I was sure I wasn't going to use, and those are all registered nowadays... but NONE of them are actually in use. Just squatted. That's not nice to see.

I've sold a few as well, for reasonable prices, once I was confident that the purchaser was going to use them -- e.g., wishmash.com. I've had offers for others where we couldn't work out a deal -- not because I was asking too much, but because I wanted to sort out a way to ensure the domain was actually used, not just resold, and that got too tricky.

I'd love a way to have a sort of long-term escrow for a domain name, so I could let someone use it for an actual project... and if they get some traction, I'll sell it automatically for a fairly low price, and if they abandon the project, the domain reverts back to me instead of going to squatters.

Re: The Art of Getting a 3 Letter Domain Name

#54

Post by ScottWhigham »

teh_klev wrote: post #30
larrys wrote: post #21

As someone who both buys and sells domain names (and particularly 3 letter .com's since 1996) let me point a few things out. I might also mention that I am the go to guy for a few well known VC's that you have heard of although that is not my main business at all (although it could be it just doesn't pay that well compared to other things I spend time on.) This statement: "Within a day or 2 we started getting respons…

Ok, you may be the expert at this, and whilst the article may not match your experience and contain some inaccuracies, I don't think there's any real need to be yelling "total BS and hyperbole" and "Total bullshit". Pretty sure you can disagree in a more constructive manner.

I think it's called "Calling a spade a spade"[0]. Just because you seem to be offended by profanity does not mean the rest of the world must write in a manner to not offend you. We're all adults here.

[0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_call_a_spade_a_spade

Re: The Art of Getting a 3 Letter Domain Name

#55

Post by ScottWhigham »

ohashi wrote: post #32
markdown wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In general lingo, domainer = squatter. If you bought a domain name for the sole purpose of sitting/squatting on it until you can find a buyer who will pay significantly more than you did, than you're a squatter.

Squatter implies no legitimate rights. I've bought a lot of things with the sole purpose of selling it for more. Nothing wrong with that.

Spoken like someone who knows nothing about the subject matter at hand.

Re: The Art of Getting a 3 Letter Domain Name

#56

Post by dcuthbertson »

jtheory wrote: post #51

There's a problem to be solved here -- is there a way to buy/sell domain names ONLY to people who will actually use them? I have a bunch of domains that I've registered over the years, with plans for side projects that haven't yet been realized. Some of them are probably moderately valuable. Over the years I've let some expire that I was sure I wasn't going to use, and those are all registered nowadays... but NONE of…

How on earth does one distinguish between someone like yourself, who buys a domain name with a plan to use it in a project, from someone who just wants to sit on it until a high bidder comes along?

> I'd love a way to have a sort of long-term escrow for a domain name, so I could let someone use it for an actual project... and if they get some traction, I'll sell it automatically for a fairly low price, and if they abandon the project, the domain reverts back to me instead of going to squatters.

How is that different behavior from a squatter? You're just sitting on a domain until someone comes along who meets your criteria (project traction and some cash), instead of another's criteria (big bucks, and no cares about how it will be used).

I don't think there's any reasonable way to vet people who want to buy a domain. Nor would I want to see a vetting policy established. Part of the beauty of the current system, is that anyone can buy an unused domain on a whim.

Re: The Art of Getting a 3 Letter Domain Name

#57

Post by ScottWhigham »

jtheory wrote: post #51

There's a problem to be solved here -- is there a way to buy/sell domain names ONLY to people who will actually use them? I have a bunch of domains that I've registered over the years, with plans for side projects that haven't yet been realized. Some of them are probably moderately valuable. Over the years I've let some expire that I was sure I wasn't going to use, and those are all registered nowadays... but NONE of…

I don't know of such a service, nor does it seem reasonable that "the market" would want such a service. Yes, it's a lofty goal but do you really want to be the "landlord" of the domain for years and years? "Hey, you kids! Keep it down over there!" doesn't sound exciting for either party.

You can park it on Sedo for free or you can put up a "For Sale" page on your own. Another idea is to put a line in the WHOIS that says "This domain is for sale".

Re: The Art of Getting a 3 Letter Domain Name

#58

Post by larrys »

ScottWhigham wrote: post #54
teh_klev wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok, you may be the expert at this, and whilst the article may not match your experience and contain some inaccuracies, I don't think there's any real need to be yelling "total BS and hyperbole" and "Total bullshit". Pretty sure you can disagree in a more constructive manner.

I think it's called "Calling a spade a spade"[0]. Just because you seem to be offended by profanity does not mean the rest of the world must write in a manner to not offend you. We're all adults here. [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_call_a_spade_a_spade

You called it. I don't normally react the way I did but that statement was just plain wrong in so many ways. Had OP said "I got a few back" that would be one thing. But "all of them" combined with the price (7 figures) made me react like that.

Re: The Art of Getting a 3 Letter Domain Name

#59

Post by larrys »

underwater wrote: post #33
mietek wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> People in the business can be jerks and unreasonable for sure but it would be more likely for someone to "ask" for 100k or simply say "domain is not for sale" than to say "7 figures" (2 letter, possible, 3 letter, specifically "all of the responses", no. FWIW, here's an email I received when enquiring about a 3-letter domain name: Thank you for your interest in this domain name This domain name is among our most pr…

Are you sure you talked to a person and not a robot? I'm sure that each and every domain you ask about is one of their "prized and sought-after" domains. The "five-figure and higher" line (repeated four times!) is pretty funny. I'm not sure of any other market where price estimates span multiple orders of magnitude. It is just a transparent way to get you to name a figure first.

It's really no different than superlative language used in many advertising materials actually. And yes it is a robot response meant to weed off the passersby who have no money. Anyone with money will skim that and know what to do. Anyone who thinks they can buy the domain for $10 will go away.

Re: The Art of Getting a 3 Letter Domain Name

#60

Post by larrys »

ddeck wrote: post #36
underwater wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you sure you talked to a person and not a robot? I'm sure that each and every domain you ask about is one of their "prized and sought-after" domains. The "five-figure and higher" line (repeated four times!) is pretty funny. I'm not sure of any other market where price estimates span multiple orders of magnitude. It is just a transparent way to get you to name a figure first.

>The "five-figure and higher" line (repeated four times!) is pretty funny. I'm not sure of any other market where price estimates span multiple orders of magnitude. It is just a transparent way to get you to name a figure first. I presume they are targeting an anchoring effect: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchoring

Part anchoring and part weeding out people who don't know the value and setting expectations.

Let me give you an example.

We are getting out bathroom redone. The first step is the contractor is going to come out and "take a look and get an idea of where we will be at price wise". He will then (he said) give us a rough idea of the cost. After we hear that and we look like we are both in the same ballpark he will proceed further to get an actual design in place and we will get down to specific prices. There is also anchoring involved in this as well (say he gets us to agree to 30k for the bathroom won't be hard getting us to 35k, right?).

Had the same just happen with putting in a backup generator. Guy on the phone stated "most systems like you need will cost $15,000". Said "ok". Came out, job priced out below that he had shot high. Didn't want to waste his time quoting if we thought the price is merely what you see for the equipment at Home Depot.

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