Buying a taken domain name
June 12, 2007 11:36 AM Subscribe
I am starting a website and the domain name I want is taken, albeit by one of those weird, "toss junk links here" places.
I want to buy the name from them, and the dotnet version as well. Do I need a lawyer for this? On GoDaddy they have a link you can click to have someone "broker" a deal for you with the current owner. Does this really work? What can I expect to pay? If I do need a lawyer, where would I get one that does this sort of thing?
I want to buy the name from them, and the dotnet version as well. Do I need a lawyer for this? On GoDaddy they have a link you can click to have someone "broker" a deal for you with the current owner. Does this really work? What can I expect to pay? If I do need a lawyer, where would I get one that does this sort of thing?
You should definitely read this fascinating article about the world of domain brokers. The person who owns the domain may not be interested in selling it to you, even if it seems like it would be worthless to anyone but you. but who knows. Anyway, the article may provide you with some insight into who might own the domain, and why they own it.
posted by chr1sb0y at 12:23 PM on June 12, 2007
posted by chr1sb0y at 12:23 PM on June 12, 2007
Not everyone who's parking domains is working at quite the same level as Kevin Ham, of course. I, for example, am cursed with having ideas for websites and, as a result, have bought a lot more domain than I've had the time to develop.
While they're on the back burner, waiting for their turn to be nurtured into life, I've been known to park them - if nothing else it gives me an idea of how good a URL I've chosen and the ads can cover the registration fee paid (if I've chosen well).
While I'm not parking the URLs with a view to selling but if someone comes in with a sensible offer then I'd be a fool to dismiss it. If the current owner's thought processes follow mine then there's certainly no harm in making a sensible offer. The tricky bit, of course, is deciding what's sensible and what's derisory from the owner's point of view.
posted by Lionel d'Lion at 12:59 PM on June 12, 2007
While they're on the back burner, waiting for their turn to be nurtured into life, I've been known to park them - if nothing else it gives me an idea of how good a URL I've chosen and the ads can cover the registration fee paid (if I've chosen well).
While I'm not parking the URLs with a view to selling but if someone comes in with a sensible offer then I'd be a fool to dismiss it. If the current owner's thought processes follow mine then there's certainly no harm in making a sensible offer. The tricky bit, of course, is deciding what's sensible and what's derisory from the owner's point of view.
posted by Lionel d'Lion at 12:59 PM on June 12, 2007
Unless it's a great name worth a lot of money, then I don't think you really need a service, except when it comes time to "close" on the deal. You want to make certain then that when you hand over your money, the ownership of the name is transferred properly.
Someone once sent me a very polite email asking if I would consider selling a name that I wasn't really using, and asking how much I wanted for it.
I was very flattered by his interest and I gave it serious consideration. However, I didn't really want to sell it.
But try that first and then make a counteroffer if it seems like they want too much. I suspect that most domain names will go for a lot less than the asking price.
posted by 14580 at 1:04 PM on June 12, 2007
Someone once sent me a very polite email asking if I would consider selling a name that I wasn't really using, and asking how much I wanted for it.
I was very flattered by his interest and I gave it serious consideration. However, I didn't really want to sell it.
But try that first and then make a counteroffer if it seems like they want too much. I suspect that most domain names will go for a lot less than the asking price.
posted by 14580 at 1:04 PM on June 12, 2007
Best answer: The buyer used Godaddy as the broker for a domain name I recently sold. They were useless, and made the process take longer. Make a very business-like offer. You may need to repeat it; the domain name may be registered with an email account(spamtrap account) that is not often used. If/when your offer is accepted, use escrow.com. Both sides agree to a price. The buyer pays escrow.com the price plus some escrow fee. Escrow.com holds the $ until the domain is transferred and the buyer indicates that they have successfully received it. Escrow.com releases the $ to the seller.
For the transfer, the buyer had create a (free) account with my domain name registrar. They could then transfer it anywhere they wanted. It was pretty easy, except for godaddy's incomprehensible emails. They do answer support calls, which helps, but they did not provide a useful service.
Don't get yourself stuck on needing a cool name. Make it as straightforward as possible, easy to spell & type. Generate excellent content. Look how many people type ask.metafilter.com.
posted by theora55 at 1:39 PM on June 12, 2007
For the transfer, the buyer had create a (free) account with my domain name registrar. They could then transfer it anywhere they wanted. It was pretty easy, except for godaddy's incomprehensible emails. They do answer support calls, which helps, but they did not provide a useful service.
Don't get yourself stuck on needing a cool name. Make it as straightforward as possible, easy to spell & type. Generate excellent content. Look how many people type ask.metafilter.com.
posted by theora55 at 1:39 PM on June 12, 2007
Make a good offer and you may very well get a response.
I recently bought a domain as a favor for a friend of mine and the process was painless and relatively inexpensive. We went from offer to counteroffer to acceptance to delivery in under 8 hours.
I don't know why you would need a lawyer unless they are somehow infringing on a trademark that you own.
posted by jeffbarr at 5:08 PM on June 12, 2007
I recently bought a domain as a favor for a friend of mine and the process was painless and relatively inexpensive. We went from offer to counteroffer to acceptance to delivery in under 8 hours.
I don't know why you would need a lawyer unless they are somehow infringing on a trademark that you own.
posted by jeffbarr at 5:08 PM on June 12, 2007
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Where I work, we have a third party make requests for domains on our behalf. As for an expected cost, it probably really depends on the name, the current owner and how much he feels it's worth. The "make an offer" link is probably not a bad way to go.
posted by jquinby at 11:47 AM on June 12, 2007