An already famous book was wrote last year by David Kesmodel titled The Domain Game. Sometimes that title speaks volumes if you really think about it.
Selling anything is like a big game. It’s just how professional you are playing this game and how educated.
Domaining isn’t a game to me but I think many think it is. Some of the most popular places in the domain world are domain name forums like NamePros.com and DNF.com . I often think that Age plays a big part in any business or industry. With Time you become educated.
Are Lawyers 14-18? Are Stock Brokers 14-18? Are Doctors 14-18?
A 14 year old looks at things totally different then a 30 year old does. A 14 year old worries about having their homework done and praying mommy or daddy will wake them up for school the next morning after playing video games until 11 PM.
A 30 year old is already planning retirement, making and saving money. Many purchase life insurance to help their family if something were to happen to them. Many 30 year old people are waking up their kids who stayed up playing video games.. the same kids that do not even have an alarm clock. A 30 year old knows the value of money a lot more then one who is 14. Most 14 year old’s have never Earned a dollar in their life, so how would they value it.
If you are a domainer, did you know that some of the people that you may be chatting with on a forum may be 14 years old? 15 or 16? 10.9% of members on NamePros.com are 18 or younger. 10.9% doesn’t seem like much, but 6.3% of the members are 41-50 and only 3.9% are over 50.
Do you think these same members are at other popular places like Sedo.com, SnapNames.com, NameJet.com, Godaddy? I think so.
Have I made my point yet? Yes and No…
Domain name forums are Not the best places to do business, ok places to gain some knowledge and not always the best place find a lot of trust. Keep in mind that for a couple NP$ you can buy a Senior Member tag line by your user name.
Did you ever list a domain name on Sedo.com and the buyer never paid? Could be somebody who thinks buying domain names is a game? Did you ever bid and bid on a domain and finally win… maybe the other bidder was 14 and didn’t have a pot to piss in and never planned on paying… They made you pay though!
Ok, I’ll get to my point here.
Domain forums need to tighten up the rules. 18 or Sorry, can’t do it! Now it’s hard to verify the age of anybody online, but putting in steps can surely help. Credit card, two forms of ID to verify etc.
The same thing needs to be done via SnapNames, Sedo or any place Real Money is being exchanged. You can’t tell me that Real Business people buy domain names all the time and Never Pay! (I’ve had several $x,xxx sales on SnapNames that the buyer just happened to never pay, same with Sedo) The problem is when these people do not pay, you end up tieing up this domain name. Time spent with contacts back and forth to figure out what’s going on etc.
The domain industry has a lot of growing up to do. Businesses in the domain industry need to put on their big boy pants and lay down the law.
The next time you try and sell your valuable asset, think about where and who you want to buy it. When your buying a domain via auction, are you bidding against somebody that doesn’t even own a wallet?
Sammy Ashouri
Fantastic article. Way too many “gamers” @ DP.
**Jamie Says**
Thank you Sammy!
Kevin Davis
I’m in that 3.9% lol.Good article I never knew.
Daniel Sanchez
Good article but you can’t say that only the young people are guilty for not caring if they finish a transaction or not. Why would you limit the age where people can start following their ambitions because you think they are young? Although I do agree that most young people don’t realize the value of a dollar, nor have they earned one on their own, most of today’s young people are more business savvy than you think.
I know a 17 year old who runs an affiliate network out of his house and makes more money than most grow-ups. It might be a stereotype or generalization, but it doesn’t always apply to everyone in that age group or race.
Dan
Barry Goggin
Agree completely. I think it is part of the learning process to know where to go to sell domains. Also many of these forums perpetuate many misunderstandings and bad practices in domaining as many new domainers struggle to learn the business and cannot tell good information from bad.
Kevin M.
Yeah me too Kevin. ^ LOL.
I agree with you Jamie. One would be “amazed” to find out who is giving out the ‘know it all’ advise on NP, and elsewhere. And then they argue to no end, because they sold a name or two for a 100% over ‘reg fee’ roi, and they are now ‘experienced’ in domaining. (good grief) I try look at their profile as some will actually note their full b-day. I feel this is why it’s so hard to 1,-Visit forums sometimes, and 2,-Take too many’s opinion/advise to heart. (‘From the mouth of babes’) I’d like to see an age limit or something too. Talking business and common sense with those that haven’t developed either, can be frustrating as hell some times.
RegFeeNames.com
Very interesting post Jamie – Im have bump into some these people on the Forum.
Its good that they get into the “domain game” but sad that they dont realise others do this for a living and bid up domains or offer services that they cant actually complete.
Regards,
Robbie
Louise Goldstein
Great advice there are many crooks out there and the forums are a tough place to sell domains, due to all the young gamers as you put it.
Al
I agree they really need to tighten this up.
bigdaddydomain
Either they never pay or they just scammed you by disputing our payment. I had through this scamm action once. Luckily it’s not a big ammount