UPDATE: I was informed by the owner of the domain names that sold “conditionally” at the auction, MovieTheater.com and MovieTheatre.com for $45,000 that he did NOT accept the lower sales price and therefore these domain did NOT sell and have been removed and the sales figures adjusted.
The live domain name Auction from the TRAFFIC show just concluded with about $240,000 in sales of which $77K were for .XXX domains.
I think the lack of online bidding hurt the overall sales figures.
Several of the domain names owners paid to have their domains placed into the auction.
I’m not sure too many of those sold and therefore decreased the overall sell through rate.
Here is the unofficial list.
Also note that several of the domain sold conditionally slightly below the sellers reserve and are subject to sellers final approval.
| Domain(s) | Price |
| 689.com and 002.com | $38,000 |
| Personals.XXX | $25,000 |
| Orgy.XXX | $25,000 |
| Siesta.com | $20,000 |
| OnlineRealty.com | $12,500 |
| Campaigning.com | $10,000 |
| Chatroom.XXX | $10,000 |
| Philadelphia.org | $9,500 |
| TennisPlayer.com | $9,000 |
| OceanProperty.com | $6,750 |
| Local.XXX | $6,000 |
| Rapper.tv & Rappers.tv | $5,000 |
| Virtual.XXX | $5,000 |
| FreshVegetables.com | $5,000 |
| Emril.com | $4,000 |
| SexyNudes.com | $3,750 |
| Hotties.XXX | $3,500 |
| CoinSet.com | $3,500 |
| BeautifulNudes.com | $3,250 |
| AutomaticPayments.com | $3,000 |
| BodySprays.com | $3,000 |
| Wet.TV | $2,800 |
| VinylAlbums.com | $2,750 |
| BirthDisorder.com | $2,500 |
| Juicy.XXX | $2,500 |
| ThermalScanners.com | $2,000 |
| Rice.TV | $2,000 |
| LaborCloud.com/LabourCloud.com | $2,000 |
| GoldDomains.com and GoldDomain.org. | $1,500 |
| FunnyCrap.com | $1,500 |
| iWage.com | $1,500 |
| iSinger.com | $800 |
| goldjewelry.co | $750 |
| iCamps.com | $600 |
| ForSale.mobi | $600 |
| OUI.TV | $600 |
| MarketingWebinar.com | $600 |
| iLocations.com | $500 |
| Cloudfield.com | $500 |
| Duchang.co (chinese for “casino”) | $500 |
| Men.Mobi | $500 |
| GreatBritain.TV | $500 |
| iCabin.com | $400 |
| iPerformer.com | $200 |
| iWet.com | $200 |
| $284,050 |
Wait until they see what it costs to have those XXX names resolved in the CPE Routers
Serious question: What happens to .XXX when .SEX comes out? Which would be the stronger adult extension? I’d take oral.sex over oral.xxx.
On the auction results, the list was weak with too many .co’s and .xxx’s. The handful of strong names that were there had inflated reserves. However, thermalscanners.com and birthdisorder.com are worth reg fee and sold for 2k and 2.5k so those sellers should be congratulated.
seemed like an empty room, I think the domainer to domainer sales market is not coming back, but the end user market looks good based on the sedo results that continue to come out weekly, so I think what this proves is the live domain auction to a room of domainers really does not benefit anyone and probably hurts pricing and perception for all those holding large portfolios
There will not be a .sex extension… controversial extensions like that won’t make it through the process, so .xxx has the advantage. .xxx would have never made it through the current process for the same reason, the only reason it is here now was because it was from the last process – and it barely made it out alive from that!
As for the dismal results of this auction… is anyone really surprised?
The auction was very painful to watch. At least we know where the market is for reseller pricing…industry still on life support.
All the $$ and interest is focused on vanity tld now.
Not enough interest in ‘regular’ domain names.
F.A.I.L I am afraid
This was obvious to most domainers when the list came out
Too much .co and .xxx rubbish
ok some .xxx sold but is next to worthless rubbish and it’s value will keep dropping
Should have been only .com in auction
good should have been no reserve and great – reasonable reserves
when will people learn!
I take my hat off to Rick for trying but this was wrong formula. He of all people should know by now what will work
I would have bid on a few names had their been an online option.
Also many of the people in that room, are early investors, or large portfolio owners, who have no need to pay out hundreds of thousands, and million of dollars, to enhance portfolios that consist of 100,000 or more domains, after a certain number, you want to hold onto some cash. The bidders were not interested in paying end user pricing, when many have built their portfolios on reg fees.
I just can’t believe that sailboats.com and motorboats.com didn’t pull down that 1.5M reserve. lol.
I give the TRAFFIC guys marks for trying…..but…
I don’t know if the organisers only listen to themselves + about 5 people (who never disagree with them) but it looks like it…
This was doing 2007, in a 2011 world. And, it failed.
Don’t they yet get it that hype (over substance) only works in a rising market…..but fails totally, in a flat, or declining, market? Failure to adapt strategy simply gets you failure. And, this auction has to be counted a failure….No amount of spin will change that.
…Hubris & arrogance will get you this kind of result every time….And, neither over-hyping it – nor screaming abuse at doubters of a concept – will save you.
…Its a flawed concept when TRAFFIC, itself, is ONLY & ALL about the Internet & Online concepts, and is selling unique Internet addresses (domains) – and, then, TRAFFIC, itself, does NOT use the internet for bidding at their own auction…!!!….Basically, telling the world that using the Internet for their auction was too hard, and not reliable…..!!!….Better use the TELEPHONE…!!….HAHAHAHA.
Didn’t ANYONE tell Rick & Co that this was a wrong move? A contradiction? And, looked shallow & idiotic….??….Or, didn’t he listen…?
…Its a flawed concept when you put up for auction good generic names that only a very small number of major corporate players are realistic targets for – and at prices only they could contemplate (eg Power.com)….And, then….NOT make sure top reps from each of the target corporates for those names are in attendance, and likely to bid….ie effectively, only run an auction for these high-end domains for a (thin) audience of domainers!!….Words fail. Just dopey.
…Its a flawed concept when you over-hype this event/auction (remember? If you aren’t there you know nothing, or, words to that effect..), and, then pack this auction full of 2nd & 3rd rate .co & .xxx domains.
Like I said, I give the guys marks for trying, and for doing it…..But, having gone to all that effort to put it on, it’s a pity that the organisers are better at the abusive ‘everyone else is an idiot’ hubris, than they are at clear, intelligent, thinking about this auction…
CONGRATULATIONS TO THEDOMAINS.COM AND MIKE (MHB) FOR WINNING THE MUCH COVETED BLOGGER OF THE YEAR…WELL DESERVED.
BEST DOMAIN BLOG::
THEDOMAINS.COM (Mike Berkens)
Read Ricks erealestate.com blog this weekend. Rick is an inspiration. Amazing what he has achieved. Yes,…this auction wasnt a success per se but it will only make him stronger, I am sure.
@F.A.I.L
‘…Too much .co and .xxx rubbish
ok some .xxx sold but is next to worthless rubbish and it’s value will keep dropping…”
Too much supply than demand….push the price lower…
Too many domainers than end users in auction room…push the price even lower…
Too many extensions of .co .xxx and many more coming out of new gTLD family names will further devalue the .com .co .xxx market etc
You know when a fighter hits his 40’s-50’s and should retire and get out of the way but they keep hanging around, losing fights and live on what they did years ago.
The truth is the auction is done, they are just now another offering among a handful of more successful ones. It is very clear since day one that this show was about 5-10 people and what they want, back slapping, self award giving nonsense.
I am not taking anything away from Michael, you have a terrific blog and deserved the award for sure. The question for me is if you didnt know Rick personally, sponsored something etc if you would have won anything.
This confrence has become sad.
I wasn’t there, I have no idea how it went, but this quote comes to mind…
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. ”
Give them credit for being the ‘man in the arena’. They’re the ones with their asses on the line. Much respect to the do’ers and risk takers, including Schwartz and his efforts with TRAFFIC.
the auction will prove very successful and that will turn a lot of conventional wisdom upside down and reboot the entire industry as we watch a 7++ figure auction unfold live before the eyes of everyone in the industry.
T.R.A.F.F.I.C. is also rewriting the rules for live auctions that others will eventually be forced to follow if they want to have credibility and be taken seriously going forward.
This will be the single most exciting live domain auction that you have seen. I have sat in the audience for each and every live auction. I know why folks fall asleep; why they leave early; why they don’t pay attention. Wthin the first few minutes EVERY person in that room is going to know, understand and watch something unfold that they are going to love.
Rick Schwartz
This auction was not a failure it was an epic failure. Seeing domains sell for $200 bucks next to names with four million dollar reserves? There is a reason they don’t sell prada at walmart Rick
No online bidding for online assets? Fail
Yet another auctioneer who appeared he’d rather be fishing
A room that appeared to be empty
Now take out the no reserve sales (they should all sell speccially since they were hand picked by the king) and take out the unproven sales (sold below reserve and awaiting seller approval) And this auction is a total failure given the 7++ figures Rick promised
Tony
Its pretty clear that a .sex or any other .adult TLD will not be approved under the current rules
Uzoma
Thanks so much will be putting up a post thanking you guys who read the blog and comment everyday
No online bidding!!! you got to be kidding!!….and you are in the internet business?
It is like not serving steak but a plate full of broccoli in the Beef Convention .
Yes, not having online bidding in an auction that is dealing with internet assets seems pretty ridiculous to me.
Brad
The problem is not the organizers, or Rick, or any single person, or even non-online bidding. There’s something more sinister going on.
Imagine that it was Six Carat D, E, or even F color, FL, IF, or even VVS1 quality cut diamonds, that were being auctioned off at the Ritz, do you think people will get on the telephone and bid, if the reserves were as presented at T.R.A.F.F.I.C?
The answer is YES! People will flock there as well.
Most live auctions in the last 18 months produced similar results. So, we must look at other reasons why no end users are buying from live auctions.
If the industry elites are relying on domainers, too bad, the industry has milked everybody dry, without letting the average domainer make any money year after year. The average domainer only lays out dough to buy, never get a fair shake to sell in the big auction houses of the industry. Well, you wanna sell to the domainer? Let him or her live a little. LET US SELL TOO!!!! We all bought .CO at the same time, so there’s no “domain aging” advantage there, so how come MHB is selling all these .CO’s for twenty grand, and no smaller player is?
has candy.com paid for itself yet?
for the current owner who paid such a high price?
just wondering.
Lack of online bidding has surely made bad effect on overall sales. As the sales of $285k are very less. Anyways congratulations to buyers and sellers.
I was also wondering why the list contain many .co and .xxx domains.
Next time only target .com, .net and .org ok Rick
But iWet dot com for only $200 ? I was expecting at least $2k and above !
“But iWet dot com for only $200 ? I was expecting at least $2k and above !”
I found out after the fact. If there was online bidding there are many names I would have bid on including that one.
Not having online bidding really hurt this auction.
Brad
Hi All,
first of all of course the credits go to who “do” and “try”.Rick&co deserves a “Thank You”
On the other hand it will definitly be wiser to use more peoples ideas on the issue of auctions whether he is there or not.I am in Istanbul and has not attended an auction yet but i have thoughts about this event.If Rick do not give a s**t i do not care cause i am doing good without the auctions anyway.But i advice him to listen to everybody for the sake of the event which he created.This event has everything to compete with the arts auctions.
Much can be said and will be in the future but my first critic is that there is a general rule in every business.You do not sell precious with the cheap.In my country brands use the method of opening an “Outlet” of their products.Believe me they probably have higher revenues on those outlets than the stores on expensive streets but they still do not convert it to a normal store.This is what we call brand positioning as most of us know.
Anyway.Thanks to all who “work” and “try”.
@Brad
I would also be willing to bid for at least $500 for that iwet dot com
Cmon…it is a 4char domain..plus it is an ‘i’ domain..it is a trend now..see ipod, ipad, igoogle, itunes, the list go on and on..
The buyer for that iWet dot com got the best deal ever !!
I personally have sold iSt******.com for $3k few months back.
I thank to God Rick and Howard didn’t accept my domains iCrown dot com, iMajors, iTransformers, iCitrin, iCompilation, iSynonym, iHydraulic, iPneumatic, iMosques, etc. Thinking of selling them with no reserve
I think we are near the end of the road for the live auction model. It makes little sense in the current environment and with all the changes the result even worse than previously. The lack of online bidding was a big blunder but the main problem in my view is that having a live auction for online assets isn’t logical.
thanks lsmorgan for that quote!
Ask another question, in this economy, would you part with your money? I know i wont.
notsomuch.xxx
This auction was sad
and I agree with “You know when a fighter hits his 40′s-50′s and should retire and get out of the way but they keep hanging around, losing fights and live on what they did years ago.”
Recently Rick makes only mistakes. He bought flowers, he bought 2500 .co`s dumbed over 2000,
He sold only 15 domains in his career as he said himself. Lately, He wanted to sell his 16th ( .co) to end user but guys wanted to sue him. So he made disgusting post.
I think he should retire. I do not think he can add anything to this industry any more.
He had some luck in the nineties (should thank God for that) registering some domains but game is over.
There are so many creative, intelligent, skilled people with nice personality around.
Even when I watch domainshepra.com I see how far those guys, even very young, from Schwartz.
These are different kind of people.
This auction was embarrassment and it is doing nothing good for all domain industry.
Anyway, most of these domain I can find on Sedo so why should I go there?
or I can do even better and contact seller directly so he will not pay auction fee and I buy cheaper.
Ravy
“Too much .xxx Garbage””
.XXX is the only thing that sold at the auction. I think only 2 .XXX domains failed to make reserve and didn’t sell
George
The buyers of Candy.com were on a panel and expressed that they were quite happy with their purchase, that the company is now profitable but I would say they have not recouped their investment on the domain yet.
Need like and dislike buttons. I like what LS Morgan said.
.xxx domains are like the .co domains
few .co are great (mexi.co e.co etc.) all other are weak
the same for .xxx (se.xxx sex.xxx porn.xxx)
“so how come ____ is selling all these .CO’s for twenty grand, and no smaller player is?”
=====
1. The sales are bogus and part of a pump and dump scheme?
2. A small clique has access to the “best buyers” (noobs being sucked in)?
3. A few people are unique in their insatiable greed with marketing machines?
4. Buyers **think** buying from The.Right.People ensures their investment?
5. The “industry” is so small (<500 players) a few people easily dominate?
6. A few egomaniacs report inflated sales to fill their day with atta.boys?
The I* Clerics will certainly **fix** the game soon – so domainers will fade…
Big Lie
“so how come ____ is selling all these .CO’s for twenty grand, and no smaller player is?”
=====
1. The sales are bogus and part of a pump and dump scheme?”
The commodity.co sale was a real, valid, third party sale bought by someone that contacted Sedo.
The funds are in our account as Sedo has paid us for the sale, less commission.
To insinuate that the sale was “bogus” is an out and out falsehood and made to tarnish my and Sedo reputation and is actionable.
7. Some people get the right names that other people really want….and can pay for what they want.
It is only a matter of time until “Real End Users” come to the realization that Good Domains are valuable assets for small, medium, large and funded startup companies.
For those who have been into domains since the mid to late 90’s, it feels like that time should have already come.
But, if you look at the big picture, the industry is still very young.
If you can manage to keep the best of your portfolio until this time comes, you’re probably doing better than most.
If you can manage to do anything at all that helps move the industry forward, congratulations.
So, for most of us …we wait.
We wait for the Real End Users to come en masse.
We wait for newer, Scalable monetization options.
Thanks to those who do hat they can to make these things happen.
Congratulations Mike for being a down to earth domainer and blogger. Wishing you much more success in the future.
8. Large corporate buyers – corporate domainers – can participate with greater degree of anonymity through online auctions.
Just a guess.
Industries that generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues annually hire big gun marketing and advertising firms to create sustainable END USER demand for the products and services offered.
The outcome is NOT based on a crap shoot. The outcome is NOT based on the roll of the dice. The outcome is NOT based on sitting back while allowing the market to make up its own mind. The name of the game is using a mix of sensible, sophisticated and smart promotional techniques to influence end user buying habits and decisions. A successful marketing campaign sets an objective and then determines the means, effort and total dollars that must be expended to make it happen.
When no single entity is willing to take-on such a task on its own, a trade association is often organized to form alliances and raise sufficient capital for the express purpose of marketing on behalf of the domain industry collective through any and all traditional marketing channels including print, radio and television as well as the Internet and social media.
Major industries usually don’t wait for something to happen. They MAKE something happen. Dumb luck had nothing to do with California cheese giving Wisconsin a run for its money. Milk did not suddenly and inexplicably find itself in great demand for no apparent reason. It is NOT the luck of the draw that causes domainers to swarm around dotCO while, at the same time, ignoring dotLA.
It takes planning, projecting and a specific detailed objective. Only then can the Madison Avenue heavyweights be unleashed on the campaign with a clear goal in mind. History has shown that it takes more than an experienced domainer to find success in marketing domain names to the mass market. It takes a commitment of resources and the right balance of talent to get the job done.
Clearly, the past few years have indicated that passion and dedication are no substitute for a carefully orchestrated marketing campaign put into action by the biggest and brightest Madison Avenue has to offer.
Isn’t it time for somebody to pick up the phone and make that Madison Avenue call?
“don’t know if the organisers only listen to themselves + about 5 people (who never disagree with them) but it looks like it…”
Votaire Rick doesnt post 90% of the posts that disagree with him or doesnt suit his agenda and lables them as nameless haters etc
Plus, he edits posts, and posts fake shill posts supporting his agendas.