I have taken a fancy to a domain name which I plan to use for me business. It is going to expire in october. The domain is unused for the past 5 years, 0 pr and no traffic. I made a resonable offer of $50 and a second offer of $80. I also asked whether he plans to renew it. All I get is: "We are not interested in selling this domain Sorry" cmon!! what should I do? should I tell him "its ok. I have selected another domain." Then wait till October to see if he renews it or make a bigger offer now. I dont know if I can go above $250.
First, I would pay the $18 to put the domain on back order just in case he lets it slip. Second, and this is just me, this may not be your style, I would brainstorm how to creatively make the offer. Wow him. Not just a dry email, make him laugh. > Find his address from the whois info and send him a pizza from a local pizza place with a letter that you mailed to the pizza restaurant taped on top of the box. > Send him a box of stuff, like salsa and chips, or chocolate, bottle of wine, etc. with an updated appeal > FedEx him a signed check for $80 with an appeal and an agreement that says if this check is cashed it is automatic agreement the domain becomes yours. > If you have an old laptop lying around, create a video, load it on to the old laptop, cue screen to full size, click play and then hit pause, charge up the battery, click Hibernate so the computer starts right where you were before Hibernating. Make sure you provide a postage-paid envelope for return, or your FedEx account #. Think about how you can make him laugh. Good luck!!!
i would back order this name first and consider to register a new domain, that's what you can do at this stage, don't waste time, you have lot of choices, right?
I appreciate the interesting advice. Alas, I forgot to mention I am not in US. I have a credit card though. So I may be able to order pizza online and then email him. If the delivery guy ask for credit card then the idea will flop. OR I can send cash with an letter to the restaurant directly but that would take a week and no guarantee the restaurant will oblige. so whats better? Another thing is that this owner has multiple site selling computer accessories and has a really poor reputation. Consumer report The much-linked-to but underreported-on hardware vendor APDrives.com turned out to be another front for "Florida Computers" (aka USBGear aka QualityCables): a professional-looking ecommerce site in which no links worked except those directly related to taking money. Phone calls weren't returned, the "online order tracking" form simply reloaded the page, and email was either unanswered or (in the case of "support@qualitycables.com") bounced back. My order eventually showed up, but the experience could only be recommended to the hardiest of online shoppers. Update - On January 28, 2002, APDrive's Rad Rozycki finally sent a response to my queries of December 5 and December 6, 2001, with the following added note: "I do not appreciate the link you gave us and would kindly ask for removal of this information!" The next day, he sent eleven more vehement emails ("Last time I checked if someone accuses you of something they better have some proof or a very good lawyer!") and posted a denunciation of me on his company's website. I can't say that this tardy outburst of attention has improved my opinion of his customer support, but Your Reaction May Vary. pseudopodium.org/ht-20011119.html also see, groups.google.com/group/misc.forsale.computers.mac-specific.cards.misc/browse_thread/thread/8c97f8375f853ef3/dcb814de2cc7ad16 So i am not sure if the pizza will help.
Not really. For my business this name is perfect. Infact I have already made a logo and tagline based on the domain name. This guys owns 1000+ domains so I doubt he will renew. He may be just playing the game waiting for me to up the offer. Waiting till November will cost me lot of sale and I need time for publicity for big sales in December.
Then it seems you're going to have to make a maybe tough and fast decision real soon. To that end, you might have to offer a higher dollar figure (around $500, maybe) to really get that person's attention. If you really think your business will become successful after that, you'll have made your money back from investing in that domain name. OTOH, there's also the possibility that person really isn't willing to sell. While everyone has a so-called price, no one is required to sell.
Well, if I owned a 5 year old domain name, regardless of whether I have used it or not, $50 is a bit low for me. 5 years of domain registration is already $50~, so he gets absolutely no profit from it. Even $80 is a bit out there, I mean, it is a domain registered since 2004. A lot of people offer a lot of money for aged domains, regardless of what it is. Just my 2 cents.
Domain age is of high importance in SEO today, especially something that is 5 years old+ In respect to what joedacus said, you need to creatively put across your offer, somehow replacing that "lost domain" in his eyes, with something better for him... Asking him for a price at this stage could hurt you, especially if he is saying he doesnt want to sell it. 1. Backorder it 2. Build the website with another domain 3. Don't hassle him too much, maybe break it up when you talk to him 4. Build some money up incase he says, yep pay this. Good luck
Domain age is not a factor here. This site has NO content and is not even indexed by google. I am thinking of calling up nearby pizzahut and talk to the manager if he can do me a favor. Or would anyone here like to help me out?
If you REALLY think this .... and prepared to offer $80 ..... "" Waiting till November will cost me lot of sale and I need time for publicity for big sales in December. "" Then its pretty clear your a 15 year old kid who is dreaming and not in touch with REALITY ... let THIS be a hard BUMP to the ground QUICKLY. Like a GIRL , if she aint interested MOVE ON , its a numbers game. Also put yourself in domain owners shows ...... HE OWNS 1000 domains you say HE SPENDS FRIGGING what $10k a year on domains !!! Doh ! ... and you offer $80? GET Serious an quickly ! Lets face it he owns 1000 domains so he gets offers DAILY , and yours is just one of mnay that dont stand out .... either BE CREATIVE like others have said or be honest and explain your a 15 year old kid with dreams and would he mind selling it to you for whatever your top budget is .... be prepared to prove it and dont wate the guys time , the MORE you make him reject your paltry offers will make him more determined to screw every penny penny out of you.
Forget the pizza, it comes down to cash you are willing to pay. The owner obviously considers $80 a low-ball offer that isn't even close to what he would take for it. As someone else suggested, offer $500 or move on. He may not even consider $500 a good offer.
Move on, it is clear the owner is not showing the slightest interest on your offer and if you bug him too much he will even believe he owns a domain name worth thousands or something making it harder to let it go.