The few times I attempted to use auction houses, I decided to opt out after experiencing practices that are inherent in auctions that favor the buyer over the seller. I still have yet to find a better way than having patience and eventually attracting end users. Thanks to you for being an excellent host. Jeff Schneider

If the auction houses did a better job marketing the high-value domains to end users the situation might be different and we might see more high-value deals. But the vast majority of buyers at domain auctions have been other domain investors so far. It is only logical that most of these domainers are not willing to pay fair end user market prices, because they want to resell the names for a profit. (The big auction houses have not done enough to justify their high commissions, in my opinion, but that’s a different story.)

I’m not saying that every domain owner should lower the asking prices of his or her domains. After all, nobody is forced to sell. What I am saying, is that if you want to sell domains at auctions, which are publicly watched by outside investors, you should set realistic reserves. If you want to get end user prices for your top quality domains, offer them to potential end users or wait until demand has gone up to the point where the current high reserves are justified or easier to achieve in live domain name auctions.

We as domainers have a choice,we can pander to the needs of buyers by lowering our reserves or we can say NEXT. The secondary marketplace for domain names is maturing to the level that end users are seeking out their own private deals with domainers. For us all to lower our reserves to accomodate buyers being able to buy on the cheap and then flip to end users undermines our investments. Domainers are getting wise to buyers at auctions flipping names for 10 to 100 multiples. It is a good sign in my opinion that people are raising their reserves, that is unless you are a buyer.

However, hyped live auctions which fail to generate sales are clearly bad for the industry. Therefore, I think domain auction houses should either sell low- to mid-quality domains which are not as valuable as high-end generics but still attract buyers, or they should auction off top quality domains with lower reserves. Because as it is now most domains don’t sell in the auctions anymore.

Link: http://www.dotsauce.com/2008/03/26/buy-domain-names-now/

The high reserves are one reason why some of the last domain auctions haven’t gone that well, in my opinion.

Empedocles
Apr 21st, 2008 at 3:55 am
Would a TM have made a difference in this situation

I note that the Word Mark / DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS CHOCOLATE.COM was abandoned. Interestingly the mark was Published for Opposition back in November 12, 2002 with a filing date of March 30, 2000 !!

Very interestingly (IMO generic)I also note that Law.com is going through the USPTO US Serial No: 78728331
Basic Search Trademarks http://www.uspto.gov/main/search.html

5 Empedocles
Apr 21st, 2008 at 4:25 am
Furthermore
If the .com / . whatever is a brand (IMO it is) and all brands can be bought /sold / leased with the protection of a TM. How much would domain registrants potentially bring into government coffers ? TM agencies could (potentially) also effectively deal with domain name abuse superseding the CADNA / The ICA and quasi officialdom

ProGolfers.com looks like it should be proFgolfers.com