What the heck? Look at this crazy response I received to a domain inquiry!

I sent this inquiry about a domain I liked and received quite a surprising response! The only reason I mentioned that I was a college student was to keep in mind that unlike a corporation or startup with tens of thousands of dollars to invest, I have a limited budget. Did she take offense to this or something?

________________________________________________________________________

Idea Design <admin@ideadesign.com>

Hello Jonathan,

Assuming it was your grades that qualified you for college, you should know that you can’t afford this domain name.

Your “college student” status might explain your assumption that you should enjoy special entitlements, but, certainly does not excuse it.

If you’ve got a real plan for this domain name – that is, a plan to make money using it – then feel free to disclose your intentions. If we like what we see, and if you can present yourself as a kid worth investing in, we may be willing to look at it.

Meanwhile, start using some of your “Will Power 101” gleanings to help you kick that selfish myth . . . “I’m so special because I’m a college student.” The only thing you have going for you as a college student is that you’re in a place where, hopefully, you will learn how little you really know and, how little you are actually entitled to in this world.

There are great opportunities out there for people with the right balance of confidence and humility. And, there’s no better time than now to start working on that balance.

Regards,

Carolyn Hughes




On 6/17/10 10:49 AM willpower101 wrote

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Domain Name: opty.com
Inquiry Type: information
Name: Jonathan
Email: willpower101
Phone: xxxxxxxxxx
Memo: Trying to find out a price on this site. I kinda like the name and think it might fit for me. Please let me know what you are looking to get. (I'm a college student, so keep that in mind)

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The owner has a chip on their shoulder - but to be honest, domain owners get lots of requests from low ballers so I would probably not imply that you do or don't have a large budget. They are going to have their price and aren't going to give someone they don't know a break just because they aren't a deep pocket. I get people telling me sad stories all the time, or how their usage will be for helping people, etc. It certainly was a rude response- and even more so considering that it isn't a premium domain.

 

Ok, point noted. So how should I go about opening up negotiations on domain names in the future when I have absolutely no idea where to begin with a price point? I've madae similar requests before, one that I remember was GhettoGarage.com, where they started at 100$ and negotiated with me to 60$. In other situations, I've had them pop back with prices $2500 and refuse counter offers, which is fine, but I just never know how to open negotiations.

I mean, it IS an AAAA, however it doesn't spell anything, I was initially hoping for no more than 500$ but more like 200-300 was my target.

 

You are usually dealing with individual personalities which makes it impossible to have a method that is going to work all the time. I personally start off with a request for a price - and with an email that doesn't sound like it is spam. If I don't get a response (and may times you won't) I send a follow up telling them I have a serious interest and would really appreciate a reply. If you don't hear from them, you can then make a decent offer based on what the domain is worth to you. Many times you have kooks who think they have a million dollar domain when they would be luck to get a few hundred. Last week, I inquired about a domain that probably wasn't worth $500, but to me, it was worth a couple of thousand. The guy replied that his absolute bottom line was $150K - and I would bet my life they will never ever sell it for anything close to that. On the other hand, I've purchased domains where the previous owner has been asking $250K for a domain and wound up selling it to me a year later for $5k. Sometimes it is just a waiting game. I'll also note that I have gotten requests to purchase domains with sad stories from individuals who later turned out to be representing hundred million dollar operations. As a seller, I always assume any story I get in an email is BS.

 

That was rude!

 

Wow, I guess I didn't think of it like that. I've gotten a few request for domain names before, but usually they are either like, "Hey I'll give you 20 bucks".

I just don't want to go into the situation saying, "Well, I can only afford $1000" if they are willing to sell for $250. 'Cause you know what the price will be then

 

You always want them to give you a price first - on the other hand, they probably want you to give them a price. Always do a little research before making a offer. The person with the domain you inquired about owns 750 domains - so you know you will be dealing with someone who has heard it all before and probably gets low ball offers on a weekly basis. I get offers to buy domains I own from time to time - and I never respond unless they convince me they are serious - but then again, I'm much more of a buyer than a seller.

 

Whew, I called her. That was an interesting conversation.

Her repeating argument was this over and over, "You said you were a college student. You said that with the idea of entitling you to a lower starting price. You're not entitled to anything!"

Then she proceeded to say that OPTY.com was the worldwide abbreviation for OPPORTUNITY and that it was worth more than I could afford. Anyway, bad experience in general.

 

Can't opine, you missed posting the email you sent, or it was just that "Memo" cited above?

I feel the reply is aassociated with what you said beyond the college student status.

 

Yes, what i posted. It was a contact form.

On 6/17/10 10:49 AM willpower101 wrote

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Domain Name: opty.com
Inquiry Type: information
Name: Jonathan
Email: willpower101
Phone: xxxxxxxxxx
Memo: Trying to find out a price on this site. I kinda like the name and think it might fit for me. Please let me know what you are looking to get. (I'm a college student, so keep that in mind)

===============================

 

That was one funny rude reply I am wondering if they are not interested in offer, they can simply deny it by not replying to sender rather sending rude reply. And to OP do not mention these kinds of stuff when you are buying not only domains, as people sometimes are not in the position to give discounts or even if they are they might get offended as this woman was

 

Yeah I won't in the future. I mean, she's totally right. I'm trying to instigate a lower starting negotiating price because I don't have a lot of money to spend. But I don't think that being a student has given me any sense of self-entitlement. I work my ass off like everyone else does. I could have (and probably should have) just as easily opened up with something explaining that I'm only in the market to spend low $xxx on a domain. The only reason I ever say that is to give them a general idea of what I can afford. Not what they should charge. When she told me that I am obviously 'expecting' a discount I explained to her that she can price the domain at anything she wants regardless of how much I say I can afford.

(this all happened on the phone after that email. I called asking for an explanation of her unprofessional behavior towards a potential client.)

 

Well you called her it would be interesting to hear her at that time because she might be confused.

 

Never heard of it, in the UK the abbreviation for opportunity is opp, have you ever seen an advert for a 'biz opty' ?
NO its 'biz opp' or even 'biz op.'.

This domain isnt worth anything special as it is unbranded and meaningless at the moment.

I would have told her not to tell me what I can and cannot afford.
Tell her to 'google' opty and see the unrelated results.

 

I wouldn't go writing 200 words reply to you even if i'm offended (I don't get why she is) . seriously this woman has got lots of free time.

 

And yes OPTY IMO does not worth more than registration fee. No traffic and no PR I would not buy it not more than 9$ registration fee. It is not brand-able as well.

 

I guess the bold part made her hot. I am sure she heard a lot of request like that before so maybe next time your interested to purchase a domain make sure that you don't state your a college dude

 

I saw the news: the domain:" www s1ots com " is worth :$5,850,000.
is it ture?

 

Its slots.com not s1ot.com

 

If the nasty approach didn't work, nobody would use it. I've had plenty of salespeople yell at me, and sometimes, I bought.

You are having an early introduction to the "real world," something you don't see much of at college IMHO.