Domain Market Problems

[domainer]

Is there something happening in the co.uk that leads to people offering their domains at discount prices. There seems to be a number of adds offering entire collections around at the moment!

 

[Edwin]

If you're referring to my ad, I still believe in the .co.uk market (I have over 1,500 more names!) but the cash would be useful with house prices heading downwards...

 

[domainer]

Edwin

Your post was one of several recently - just worried that there's something on the horizon that you are not telling.

 

[FC Domains]

I've been selling off my stock of names, because my day job means that I'll be out of the country, for long periods, starting in June. So I won't be around to deal with transfers and queries.

I did have about 270 one word generics and have sold about 120 of them (at the right price), by approaching people and advertising.

The rest do need some work putting in, to sell or develop them. So I thought that they would shift quickly at £100 each. I'm a bit surprised that they seem to be going slowly. I don't know why.
Any ideas? The list is here

Nothing sinister going on, that I'm aware of. I'll still be drop-catching, as that's all automatic.

 

[Edwin]

I lined up to buy some of the ones you sold off - some great deals there...

However, I think the problem is that "in the dictionary" does not automatically equal "of value" - some of the ones you have left are frankly of no commercial use and therefore I suspect won't sell at any price, let alone at 100 pounds.

Remember, the buyer is also facing paying a 35.25 pounds transfer fee so they are effectively paying $200 for very marginal names. If you see what $200 will buy you in .com on the domain forums, it's much less surprising that many of the ones left are not selling.

In general, the transfer fee sets a "floor" to .co.uk sales prices that doesn't exist in .com (since people have to pay 35.25 pounds regardless of the asking price, whereas in .com people can sell for $1 if they want to...) Even without considering the .co.uk/.com value differential, that means that the "quality threshold" at the lower end is MUCH higher in .co.uk than in .com.

 

[domaingenius]

And what I have found more recently is that people are less willing to pay high prices having seen that they can either choose a different tld (albeit one that is not as well known
but they dont find that out/or dont care) ,or can choose a
slightly different name.

DG

 

[FC Domains]

I'm not complaining, they are selling at one or two a day, I just wish I could shift them in bulk and get on with other work.

It's given me a very good idea of what actually sells for really good prices and that's what I'll be concentrating on catching. I've learnt that you really do have to think through, what applications a name would have.
I've also learnt that it's almost impossible to get people to remember or type anything apart from .com or .co.uk

Having said that, I still think that any positive, easy to spell and remember word, is worth £100.

 

[FC Domains]

However, I think the problem is that "in the dictionary" does not automatically equal "of value" - some of the ones you have left are frankly of no commercial use and therefore I suspect won't sell at any price, let alone at 100 pounds.

Actually, it's seems that dictionary words, do sell for £100. So long as they are positive and easy to spell.
There was a bit of a lag, for a couple of weeks, but now they seem to be shifting and there seems to be no predicting what people will find a use for.

(My bookkeeper has pointed out that I sold 160 domains last year, so mustn't grumble.)

 

[domaingenius]

Seems you added another one to your stock today,
Good catch as well,

DG