UKBackorder - Not Accepting New Public Auctions ??

[Johnp]

Dear All

In case I have missed something can anybody tell me what has happened? also noticed no 'caught' auction seem to be currently running.

Thanks


JohnP

 

[Ben Thomas]

Interesting. I only put one up a day or so ago. I've had no emails explaining this.

EDIT: Emailed Rob, see if he responds.

 

[Johnp]

Dear All

Anybody got any updates or thoughts about what has happened?

Thanks


JohnP

 

[Ben Thomas]

No reply to me from Rob

 

[stitchbob]

Message has changed:

"To create free public auctions you must have linked your account to a valid ukdroplists subscription"

 

[Ben Thomas]

Wow

 

[lazarus]

Just linked it and it is now allowing me to create one.

 

[Ben Thomas]

And what if i don’t want a UKdroplist subscription?

 

[super-whois]

And what if i don’t want a UKdroplist subscription?

Maybe consider it a subscription to an auction service instead?

There is no such thing as a free lunch (including Nominet ones).

 

[Ben Thomas]

Roger that

 

[super-whois]

Maybe public auctions need to be renamed
MELITAWEB auctions... There are currently three auctions, all on said tag.

 

[Ben Thomas]

I don't think he has taken the right path here, I think most people will just not bother with UKbackorder if they're being forced to take up a UKDroplist subscription. I already have a droplist subscription with @dropped.uk and frankly, it works very well. I'm not saying UKDroplists doesn't, but I discovered Dropped before I discovered UKDroplists. I also think most people would just prefer to use DomainLore than being forced to take up a new subscription. I would have been happy to pay a monthly price for using the service, I would also not mind paying per auction like DomainLore. But just simply forcing people to buy a new subscription is a bit duplicitous.

 

[super-whois]

But just simply forcing people to buy a new subscription is a bit duplicitous.

And doing so without any advance notification, or replying to queries regarding this. There is probably an opportunity for a new auction service...

 

[Ben Thomas]

I thought the same thing the other day. There’s definitely a gap right now.

 

[dee]

Seems strange Rob isnt replying to contact. Anytime ive had a question about anything he's back to you straight away. Hope he's alright wth all this stuff flying about.

 

[Johnp]

Looks like things have moved on again - all the public auctions have now vanished and the following is on the FAQ page:

Are you not running any more public auctions?
Running free public auctions was costing money in time for support, queries, refereeing disputes, time taken to verify statistics etc. As such public auctions have been discontinued.

Nice service whilst it lasted.


JohnP

 

[Ben Thomas]

What an odd thing to do. Surely that was driving traffic to his business?

 

[seemly]

What an odd thing to do. Surely that was driving traffic to his business?

I think that a lot of domainers seem to think there is more money in these type of services than there actually is. Development time and costs almost always fail to get covered. When you start factoring in queries and support on top, it becomes a time and money sink.

After reading previous threads and some of the comments in this one, I am not at all surprised Rob came to the decision he has, and his mental health and stress levels will improve infinitely.

 

[lazarus]

What an odd thing to do. Surely that was driving traffic to his business?

Yes it was. I wonder whats going to happen when and if nominet releases its own drop list. Personally I would have kept the public auctions going but charge an entry fee.

Its a shame because it takes time to get an auction site established, and to just end it, seems a bit rash.

 

[Ben Thomas]

I think that a lot of domainers seem to think there is more money in these type of services than there actually is. Development time and costs almost always fail to get covered. When you start factoring in queries and support on top, it becomes a time and money sink.

Well yes, my point exactly. Now he has even less traffic going to his website, which may have turned into business ...