My Domain Problem

DJRH · Apr 8, 2006

I got hold of a domain a while back since then I have had a big agent like the type who go after domains for a well known search engine and they have been pursueing me over a co.uk domain

I got an appraisal which says it is worth £x,xxx so went with that but they are trying to hold out for the same amount only in $ i.e. about half of what the appraisal said.

I dont think that I have used the domain in bad faith and I never new about the company from across the pond when I regd the name and i would argue I have not made any money out of any trademarks but if it goes to a DRS then I would not really like to trust the views of some so called "expert"
besides it is waited in the favour of the claimant anyway.

I can only think that it could be a couple of groups who want the domain and there are Trademarks for the word. I had a forum on the domain but took it down for a re-design but never put it back up as I had all this unwanted interest in the end I parked the domain at namedrive with adds that are not related to the word so that I could not be acussed of makeing money out of the word.

One of the potential 2 parties would be UK based the other American but as the agents are American I guess it is the american party they are representing.

So the question is does one take the money as it is thier last offer and then run off to buy a new pair of shoes from the states.

Or say no thanks you pay market value and do your worse and wait to see if a DRS comes through the door.

olebean · Apr 8, 2006

One could say a bird in the hand is worth two in a bush .....

It would also depend on what the value of half £x,xxx is ..... Potentally thats £500 which is the value of DRS, they would know this and could be holding that as a threat believing you think that would be their next step.... Personally I would tell them to sod off (if I thought the domain is worth more) politely...... Saying its unfortunate they feel they domain value is so low, thank them for their offer, then suggest your plans for the domain don't infringe any trademarks and as such you are using the domain name under unregistered tm and plan to register the TM at the earliest opportunity

bb99 · Apr 8, 2006

This sort of thing is always a bit of a game... You never know whether their "last offer" is indeed their last offer or whether they're just saying that to put you under pressure.

The tricky thing is that the DRSs do tend to go against people who use PPC (be it Namedrive or whatever) on domain names. Have they even mentioned a DRS or any legal stuff?

If they're an agent then it's their job to acquire the domain for the least amount of money - and they've probably done this many times before.

Perhaps it would be worth meeting in the middle?

DJRH · Apr 8, 2006

Thanks for the responses

The appraised value is half of 10 thier offer is that in dollars so it is just over half of the appraised value.

They have not said anything about legal stuff but these guys are pros and not just any old people off the street they no the domain game and must have done deals like this before probably deals like earth.co.uk one would think.

bb99 they are for sure a agent

olebean I was thinking the same when you said "One could say a bird in the hand is worth two in a bush"

But I have also felt like telling them to get lost. But if it went to DRS then their offer starts to look better as a so called expert and them haveing all the time in the world to form their case V the 15 days I would have.

I get the feeling that they are not just going to go away overnight if i say no