I hear a lot of domainers asking why they don’t get the sales volume that others so publicly do.
Frankly sometimes its just a numbers game.
If you own 1,000 quality domain names your not going to get the sales volume of those with 100,000 quality domains or those with 1,000,000 domains.
At some point total sales does become a numbers game reflecting the amount of domains owned and/or submitted to a sales platform.
After I reviewed this weeks Afternic.com sales list, well that just proves the point.
Up to today Afternic has only been releasing reportable .com sales of $2K or more.
Today the threshold was moved down to just $1K or more.
Of course that is there prerogative, but it was done without any fanfare or announcement.
So while the 700K in sales is an impressive number and well above previous weeks, I had to point out that the parameters have changed.
In this case, the change from reporting .com sales of $2K and above .com to just $1K and above caused over 150 domain sales to be reported that would not have been reported in previous weeks.
Under this weeks Afternic.com report, only 115 domains sold for $2K or more but they reported a total of 281 .com domain sales for a total of almost $605,000.
Without those under $2K .com sales the total would have only been $370K in .com sales and another $93K in non .com sales or a total of $460K in line with other weeks.
Here are the reported sales by Afternic.com for the week ending February 20th 2011.
| pinkzone.com | $12,000.00 |
| InternetMarketingService.com | $9,200.00 |
| incatrail.com | $9,000.00 |
| artbuzz.com | $8,075.00 |
| hartwood.com | $7,000.00 |
| fineworld.com | $6,577.00 |
| 2822.com | $6,000.00 |
| dirtgames.com | $5,500.00 |
| wallo.com | $5,488.00 |
| dator.com | $5,400.00 |
| jumpingmouse.com | $5,188.00 |
| selecao.com | $5,000.00 |
| eclean.com | $5,000.00 |
| nucleare.com | $4,788.00 |
| xmwa.com | $4,500.00 |
| workhub.com | $4,500.00 |
| palinfo.com | $4,388.00 |
| strala.com | $4,250.00 |
| mysteryflight.com | $4,000.00 |
| WhitePony.com | $4,000.00 |
| surnet.com | $4,000.00 |
| novabiz.com | $3,940.00 |
| casacaribe.com | $3,888.00 |
| everydaysuccess.com | $3,750.00 |
| geekwire.com | $3,688.00 |
| druckservice.com | $3,650.00 |
| situate.com | $3,520.00 |
| situate.com | $3,520.00 |
| taras.com | $3,500.00 |
| DuplicateFile.com | $3,500.00 |
| lugnutcovers.com | $3,500.00 |
| upandcomer.com | $3,488.00 |
| militaryaffairs.com | $3,388.00 |
| charterus.com | $3,321.00 |
| Rentis.com | $3,310.00 |
| tbbnet.com | $3,288.00 |
| femu.com | $3,240.00 |
| readingimprovement.com | $3,220.00 |
| salesmatters.com | $3,188.00 |
| sycamorepartners.com | $3,188.00 |
| ohsushi.com | $3,188.00 |
| artdiscover.com | $3,188.00 |
| yesfamily.com | $3,088.00 |
| machinebuilding.com | $3,088.00 |
| electroplanet.com | $3,088.00 |
| chinaquality.com | $3,000.00 |
| IQDB.com | $3,000.00 |
| charma.com | $3,000.00 |
| loyaltyconnect.com | $2,988.00 |
| thewolvesden.com | $2,988.00 |
| clipshow.com | $2,988.00 |
| protoe.com | $2,959.00 |
| coeliac.com | $2,900.00 |
| heavenlyliving.com | $2,800.00 |
| happychoice.com | $2,750.00 |
| avaianas.com | $2,600.00 |
| dressyouup.com | $2,588.00 |
| livefury.com | $2,588.00 |
| atomicdata.com | $2,588.00 |
| indiebookstore.com | $2,500.00 |
| deogroup.com | $2,500.00 |
| connoisseurgroup.com | $2,500.00 |
| bothwell.com | $2,500.00 |
| mrnerd.com | $2,500.00 |
| masterhomes.com | $2,500.00 |
| masterhomes.com | $2,500.00 |
| suiteservices.com | $2,488.00 |
| wildlifephotographer.com | $2,488.00 |
| caymanbeachresort.com | $2,450.00 |
| mobilecontainerservice.com | $2,391.00 |
| i-confess.com | $2,388.00 |
| icewatches.com | $2,377.00 |
| OfficeKing.com | $2,370.00 |
| luxurypens.com | $2,300.00 |
| ingredientes.com | $2,300.00 |
| LuxuryPens.com | $2,300.00 |
| pursuingchrist.com | $2,288.00 |
| powervpn.com | $2,250.00 |
| tradeu.com | $2,250.00 |
| tradeu.com | $2,250.00 |
| primetimeplayers.com | $2,231.60 |
| artsection.com | $2,230.00 |
| mexicovive.com | $2,200.00 |
| nrep.com | $2,200.00 |
| asteriskconsulting.com | $2,188.00 |
| playlodge.com | $2,188.00 |
| hiddeninn.com | $2,188.00 |
| forumtrading.com | $2,149.00 |
| parentshow.com | $2,149.00 |
| cardstatus.com | $2,149.00 |
| comparehub.com | $2,100.00 |
| wholesaleessentialoils.com | $2,100.00 |
| clipsoft.com | $2,093.00 |
| healthportfolio.com | $2,088.00 |
| opportunityunlimited.com | $2,088.00 |
| lowart.com | $2,088.00 |
| 3to1.com | $2,088.00 |
| crossconnected.com | $2,088.00 |
| freepocket.com | $2,088.00 |
| learningdimensions.com | $2,088.00 |
| clickandcollect.com | $2,088.00 |
| skydiversonline.com | $2,070.00 |
| betterfurniture.com | $2,070.00 |
| pipewave.com | $2,000.00 |
| valdis.com | $2,000.00 |
| icyblue.com | $2,000.00 |
| talentpath.com | $2,000.00 |
| eliteflorist.com | $2,000.00 |
| cyberweather.com | $2,000.00 |
| statetv.com | $2,000.00 |
| hydrobot.com | $2,000.00 |
| virtualcollector.com | $2,000.00 |
| santor.com | $2,000.00 |
| cligger.com | $2,000.00 |
| uvpool.com | $2,000.00 |
| $368,717.60 | |
| manyphotos.com | $1,988.00 |
| halfmarathontrainingschedule.com | $1,988.00 |
| halfmarathontrainingschedule.com | $1,988.00 |
| acctdept.com | $1,900.00 |
| northdakotasports.com | $1,900.00 |
| ShareFocus.com | $1,895.00 |
| mrlittle.com | $1,888.00 |
| therealeconomy.com | $1,888.00 |
| grassworld.com | $1,888.00 |
| suiteservice.com | $1,888.00 |
| lowspeed.com | $1,888.00 |
| promotionpoint.com | $1,888.00 |
| acairfilters.com | $1,888.00 |
| masterconcept.com | $1,860.00 |
| nationalstock.com | $1,800.00 |
| readingresults.com | $1,800.00 |
| safetytrainingonline.com | $1,800.00 |
| changemanagementinstitute.com | $1,800.00 |
| paykiosk.com | $1,800.00 |
| webvisual.com | $1,800.00 |
| americasource.com | $1,800.00 |
| goldmarketing.com | $1,800.00 |
| storelli.com | $1,799.00 |
| residentialinvestor.com | $1,798.00 |
| medtracking.com | $1,788.00 |
| tutormarket.com | $1,788.00 |
| numbersource.com | $1,788.00 |
| moneychamp.com | $1,788.00 |
| golets.com | $1,750.00 |
| rewardyou.com | $1,750.00 |
| ranchochico.com | $1,750.00 |
| myvessel.com | $1,745.00 |
| theglobalforum.com | $1,700.00 |
| mecenter.com | $1,700.00 |
| QuickerCASH.com | $1,700.00 |
| plasticsprocessing.com | $1,699.00 |
| autoys.com | $1,699.00 |
| increasemyscore.com | $1,699.00 |
| RoomMall.com | $1,695.00 |
| morrisonhealth.com | $1,688.00 |
| mindofman.com | $1,688.00 |
| synergisticmarketing.com | $1,688.00 |
| littleknight.com | $1,688.00 |
| plushmattress.com | $1,688.00 |
| propertylisters.com | $1,678.00 |
| panelsaws.com | $1,600.00 |
| DefyConvention.com | $1,595.00 |
| PrudenceGroup.com | $1,595.00 |
| approvedequipment.com | $1,588.00 |
| pneumatichydraulic.com | $1,588.00 |
| parentsarea.com | $1,588.00 |
| c-hill.com | $1,588.00 |
| safeneighbor.com | $1,588.00 |
| indiafoods.com | $1,560.00 |
| flexoptions.com | $1,510.00 |
| smartgigs.com | $1,500.00 |
| paradisemusic.com | $1,500.00 |
| anytimeinsurance.com | $1,500.00 |
| adoptabunny.com | $1,500.00 |
| viewcapital.com | $1,500.00 |
| gastromania.com | $1,500.00 |
| empoweringleadership.com | $1,500.00 |
| homewatchdogs.com | $1,500.00 |
| skincarenews.com | $1,500.00 |
| sportseyeglasses.com | $1,500.00 |
| mycareerbook.com | $1,500.00 |
| shmoozer.com | $1,500.00 |
| builtbygod.com | $1,500.00 |
| globalparadigm.com | $1,500.00 |
| docall.com | $1,500.00 |
| travellersshop.com | $1,500.00 |
| itstravel.com | $1,500.00 |
| LocalDrink.com | $1,500.00 |
| Tracki.com | $1,500.00 |
| tiendadecoracion.com | $1,500.00 |
| autocreditrepair.com | $1,500.00 |
| humanframe.com | $1,488.00 |
| sporttourism.com | $1,488.00 |
| ttfdesign.com | $1,488.00 |
| aptmanagement.com | $1,488.00 |
| mini-cabs.com | $1,488.00 |
| odysseycommunications.com | $1,488.00 |
| factastic.com | $1,450.00 |
| internetonlinemarketing.com | $1,414.31 |
| lonelytraveler.com | $1,400.00 |
| allerbest.com | $1,400.00 |
| 420list.com | $1,400.00 |
| ShoppingForce.com | $1,395.00 |
| PrimeProcess.com | $1,395.00 |
| BuyYes.com | $1,395.00 |
| ringsdirect.com | $1,392.00 |
| fullblack.com | $1,388.00 |
| amigomobile.com | $1,388.00 |
| usalandsale.com | $1,377.00 |
| discountdentalcare.com | $1,355.00 |
| accessaudio.com | $1,350.00 |
| worldexporter.com | $1,350.00 |
| WorldExporter.com | $1,350.00 |
| salesguard.com | $1,350.00 |
| bloggeraid.com | $1,340.00 |
| innovationlink.com | $1,325.00 |
| zeropc.com | $1,300.00 |
| cpanewsletter.com | $1,300.00 |
| betwey.com | $1,300.00 |
| MachDynamics.com | $1,295.00 |
| manufacturingenterprise.com | $1,288.00 |
| resolutionsystems.com | $1,288.00 |
| hedgefinance.com | $1,288.00 |
| companyliving.com | $1,275.00 |
| comparebot.com | $1,252.00 |
| lendingbroker.com | $1,250.00 |
| servicemakers.com | $1,250.00 |
| digitalsafes.com | $1,250.00 |
| arthe.com | $1,250.00 |
| christianfunerals.com | $1,250.00 |
| bankingcomplaints.com | $1,250.00 |
| entercloud.com | $1,250.00 |
| floridacampers.com | $1,200.00 |
| teamfuture.com | $1,200.00 |
| sessionone.com | $1,200.00 |
| cravechocolate.com | $1,200.00 |
| popularclicks.com | $1,200.00 |
| thegents.com | $1,200.00 |
| diyfinance.com | $1,200.00 |
| pixpay.com | $1,200.00 |
| NetSpike.com | $1,195.00 |
| terraindirect.com | $1,182.00 |
| deskpal.com | $1,182.00 |
| WirelessBill.com | $1,125.00 |
| hongkongmassage.com | $1,102.00 |
| droogs.com | $1,100.00 |
| rebeccajames.com | $1,100.00 |
| mauiattorney.com | $1,100.00 |
| partnersfriends.com | $1,088.00 |
| surplustool.com | $1,088.00 |
| launchamerica.com | $1,088.00 |
| eversavecoupons.com | $1,053.00 |
| certifiedadvantage.com | $1,050.00 |
| caribbeandevelopment.com | $1,011.00 |
| godandyou.com | $1,000.00 |
| coachtouring.com | $1,000.00 |
| moneyvista.com | $1,000.00 |
| expeditionclub.com | $1,000.00 |
| wealthforwomen.com | $1,000.00 |
| mattpeters.com | $1,000.00 |
| beyondwebsites.com | $1,000.00 |
| clinicalphotography.com | $1,000.00 |
| royalwoods.com | $1,000.00 |
| captainsteamer.com | $1,000.00 |
| grassinc.com | $1,000.00 |
| furniturebook.com | $1,000.00 |
| wdmgroup.com | $1,000.00 |
| buy-vitamins.com | $1,000.00 |
| signaturecommercial.com | $1,000.00 |
| upandcomers.com | $1,000.00 |
| prettypopular.com | $1,000.00 |
| cappelleria.com | $1,000.00 |
| compliancedirector.com | $1,000.00 |
| thetutoringcompany.com | $1,000.00 |
| expressvending.com | $1,000.00 |
| teleoperator.com | $1,000.00 |
| mediatoolkit.com | $1,000.00 |
| magnaenergy.com | $1,000.00 |
| NowPAL.com | $1,000.00 |
| CalorieTracker.com | $1,000.00 |
| VistaAmerica.com | $1,000.00 |
| coolgames.org | $7,500.00 |
| businessfurniture.net | $3,188.00 |
| responsable.net | $3,188.00 |
| nvus.org | $3,188.00 |
| serviceplus.net | $3,000.00 |
| behaviour.net | $2,688.00 |
| digitalreality.net | $2,588.00 |
| usauto.net | $2,488.00 |
| aestheticmedicine.org | $2,388.00 |
| blip.net | $2,275.00 |
| wehelp.net | $2,000.00 |
| yaa.org | $1,900.00 |
| digitalreality.org | $1,888.00 |
| basketballgames.net | $1,850.00 |
| coolschool.org | $1,788.00 |
| mindjuice.org | $1,788.00 |
| captech.net | $1,688.00 |
| yahir.net | $1,688.00 |
| moderateparty.org | $1,672.00 |
| icrh.net | $1,600.00 |
| KHub.net | $1,600.00 |
| cedarshingles.org | $1,588.00 |
| rfta.net | $1,588.00 |
| cufe.org | $1,500.00 |
| newgames.net | $1,500.00 |
| endinghunger.org | $1,500.00 |
| tanne.net | $1,400.00 |
| sporthub.net | $1,388.00 |
| orgchart.org | $1,388.00 |
| TopLife.net | $1,388.00 |
| wespeak.net | $1,354.00 |
| goodgames.org | $1,350.00 |
| gettingpersonal.org | $1,349.00 |
| supergames.net | $1,300.00 |
| raiseyourhand.org | $1,288.00 |
| radarscreen.net | $1,288.00 |
| skygame.net | $1,288.00 |
| mygarden.org | $1,288.00 |
| Psychological.net | $1,280.00 |
| danceworks.org | $1,250.00 |
| ddate.net | $1,200.00 |
| safetytips.net | $1,200.00 |
| Sleeps.co | $1,200.00 |
| joespizza.org | $1,188.00 |
| itstaffing.org | $1,088.00 |
| marketcommentary.net | $1,088.00 |
| security-cameras.net | $1,088.00 |
| joespizza.net | $1,088.00 |
| psid.net | $1,000.00 |
| torontocondos.org | $1,000.00 |
| docsonline.net | $1,000.00 |
| webgames.org | $1,000.00 |
| administratie.net | $1,000.00 |
| lowincome.org | $1,000.00 |
| $93,368.00 | |
So how much inventory do they need to offer to generate that number?
I don’t think it’s relevant to post a grand total for Afternic anyway. Their biggest sales are usually not disclosed.
They are missing one important domain stupiddomanbuyers.com
Are you one of them?
The next day and after that, you keep asking yourself, why did I buy that domain?
many of these number or two-three words domain names clearly are bought by people that should not use them in real websites, so, why some names have been sold (often well) while many other (often better) aren’t?
“missing one important domain stupiddoma[i]nbuyers.com”
but StupidDomainBuyers.CO is still available 🙂
Now I see why my domains sell at a good clip even though I only have a few thousand. The reason is this list of sold domains is the biggest load of crap, trash domains I ever saw.
Sheesh! What horrible domains. There are better domains dropping every day by the truck load compared to this rubbish pile, oops…….I mean pigeon sh*t droppings.
Hi,
It is amazing what some domain names sell for…that most ‘domainers’ would not pay $15 for.
I have accidentally registered misspelling’s of some domains, that are still better than a lot on this list.
Best,
Dan
Let’s not bite the hand that feeds us.
What if someone who bought one of the above domains happened to see these posts trashing his decision to pay $x,xxx for it?
Will he be as ready and willing to pay $x,xxx the next time, because now he thinks he overpaid?
We domainers can be an arrogant lot sometimes.
Dan’s right.
And there’s a massive difference between direct nav domains and those bought for a development purpose.
Responsable.net is a truly crappy domain to a domainer. It’s misspelled and a .net. But it could work very well for an online direct marketing company, even with the leakage. Think about it. Because the end user certainly is, and they’re the ones paying the bills.
Bottom line is that domainers need to broaden their thinking into the end-user mindset, not just GAKT numbers.
finally I understand why my domanins don’t sell … they are too smart and useful … definitely, I must squeeze my mind to find the most stupid and useless domain names existing if I want to make money … 🙂
The domain industry is like that awkward teenager. It’s not a kid any more …but it has not matured, either. There will be many years of “swimming upstream” until the industry matures.
In the old days, you had the two guys running Afternic and you had Ricks board. That was it. That was the domain industry. The two Afternic guys cashed in and sold. Can’t blame them for that.
The next phase of the industry focused on exploiting the domainer / domain investor (selling the gold miners shovels). Hey, let’s charge the domainer a membership fee whether we ever sell any of their domains or not. We re Still in that phase of the industry.
Nowadays, if you have domains listed at Afternic and you get an “inquiry”, they demand that you log in and set a price. If you do go in and set a price, they are likely to demand that you then lower that price. No matter how they “justify” it, it’s all about commissions on volume. Making those sales. Churning. Domainer to domainer. Yes, there are occasional end user sales.
This is not strictly Afternics fault. The domain industry simply has not evolved beyond this phase of its growth, yet. Look at how the Two Big Upstream Providers have exploited domain investors with parking. Most domainers have stayed on that ride about as long as they can afford to.
Many domain investors are coming to the conclusion that they must support their domaining with another job or try their hand at becoming a developer. That probably accounts for a lot of these kinds of sales. Development/monetization options are extremelly limited and rely mostly of trust. There is plenty of domainer exploitation in this area, as well. A few will have some success. Many will not.
You could call this biting the hand that feeds you. You could also call it biting the hand that Exploits you. X? Years from now, the industry will mature. There will be a true domain market. Relationships will be cultivated with small, mid and large cap companies and venture capitalists. Those companies will be able to compare what they pay for forms of media advertising (like TV and radio spots, magazines, billboards, ad agencies, online marketing and so on) with the long term value of owning really good domains. We ain’t there yet!
No matter how much the 15 year old want desperately to jump ahead and be 21, he can’t. Those years just can’t be skipped. And, so goes with the domain industry. We can’t jump years ahead to the time when the true end user / domain industry market reaches maturity. We just have to make it through those years.
“If you own 1,000 quality domain names your not going to get the sales volume of those with 100,000 quality domains or those with 1,000,000 domains.”
Out of 100,000 quality domains, how many would you expect to sell over the course of a year?
Owen
I believe namemedia has 1,000,000 or so owned and operated domains and there are several million domains on the Afternic system.
Good
“”Out of 100,000 quality domains, how many would you expect to sell over the course of a year?””
That depends largely on your price expectations.
If your willing to sell domains for as low as $888 then your going to sell a lot more than if you want a higher price on each domain
Hi SL
“Bottom line is that domainers need to broaden their thinking into the end-user mindset, not just GAKT numbers.”
—
Maybe the powers to be in the domain industry should broaden its ‘thinking’ and educate the ‘end-user’ as to what a good domain name is for their company, project or website is and why.
___
“Steve”… Very good post on all accounts! I would have say although I agree with this paragraph:
” No matter how much the 15 year old want desperately to jump ahead and be 21, he can’t. Those years just can’t be skipped. And, so goes with the domain industry. We can’t jump years ahead to the time when the true end user / domain industry market reaches maturity. We just have to make it through those years.”
__
IMHO, Because of some of the things you mention before this paragraph, some of the powers to be in the domain industry have in effect NOT let the 15 year old progress naturally year after year to 21…In fact, in some/most cases out of their own personal interest have held back the “15 year old” a couple grades on purpose….even when the 15 year old was getting straight “A’s”….
As a result, the Industry itself has fell back a couple grades itself…we should be a lot farther along when it come’s to ‘end-users’ than we are now.
Best,
Dan
Great comment Steve.
So damn true.
Afternic is a scourge to the industry IMO. They don’t care about helping domain owners, just churn sale after sale after beating domain owners down on the price.
I simply don’t EVER lower my price. Now, I don’t even respond to requests b/c I think most are fake and are intentionally made up by Afternic since these “price requests” never get counteroffers.
I honestly think Afternic are liars. I sell a lot of domains on my own, through Sedo, etc…..but rarely through Afternic.
On top of it, some of their reps are so rude it seems part of an intentional tactic to beat us domain owners down.
I’m very close to just closing my account with Afternic.
I think that the post Michael Berkens did on the first of the year states it all. It was: Today is January 1st & I am now owing $750,000. Since he has 75K domains, he takes more of a risk to get to the reward. From what I have seen since the first of the year from MWD & WWM on DnJournal, he will surpass his $750K debt and pull a profit in 2011. People like him and a few others (elliott, morgan and a few others) make me strive to go big, but the current monetization channels for domainers is what keeps me in check lately to not expand to rapidly.
John: I felt the same way about Afternic. They actually came through for me last week and sold me a 3 word generic for only $500 instead of their $788 asking price… LOL
Honestly it was a $10 name to me but a family member really wanted it so I caved and worked a deal with the BuyDomains team.
At least I didn’t have to go to far into proving the name is basically worthless, except for a select few people.
wow, they keep churning out sales as regular as clockwork, probably many of them were listed at buy now prices.
nice
You’re also not going to sell your domains at Afternic against their catalog of 2+ million domains that they’re going to try to move first and foremost. Why on earth would they want to sell your domains before theirs? Doesnt matter how good your domains are, it **** IS **** a numbers game at Afternic. Its your 2000 domains against their 2+ million domains.
Afternic is no longer a viable venue for the average joe to sell his domains at. Forget the fact that their online software is horrendous and plagued with bugs.
Do the math, almost 90% of those sales listed above are Afternic/BuyDomains/RareNames and whatever other shell companies they’ve got going to “hide” the fact that its one gigantic database of names you’re up against.