Archive for the ‘Domain Auction’ Category:
There are some very nice names on this list. I’d be curious to see the reserves.
Some of the names that caught my eye are Meetings.com, CarStereos.com, CatFood.com, AntiqueGuide.com and customerservice.com.
Here’s the email blast I received:
Greetings!
TRAFFIC Las Vegas 2010 Partial Auction Inventory List
Atlanta, Georgia USA – January 5, 2010 – Today, Latona’s Domain Brokerage & Auction House released a partial list of domain names that will be hitting the auction block later this month at T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Las Vegas. The Premium Live Auction will be on January 22, 2010. it will start at 4:00pm PST and end at 7:00pm PST. The Latona’s Extended Auction will begin on January 23 and go until January 29.
CustomerService.com
Descarga.com
Hell.com
POS.com
ASP.com
Procurement.com
BF.com
Laid.com
Meetings.com
CamSex.com
Homeowner.com
CarStereos.com
Conservationist.com
Dough.com
Scripture.com
FreePorn.co.uk
ZR.com
Beverage.com
Savvy.com
Handicap.com
Selma.com
tarjetasdecrédito.com
Veggies.com
tarjetadecrédito.com
Clarinet.com
Enlargement.com
Banquets.com
Ceremony.com
CatFood.com
GoFish.com
DMCA.com
Actresses.com
Wrestlers.com
Dietician.com
Dietfood.com
Consoles.com
Astronauts.com
RagsToRiches.com
BeautyQueen.com
Lemons.com
Purification.com
InternationalBanking.com
WebAdvertising.com
SecondJobs.com
Gels.com
Carburetors.com
RealEstate.co.za
CarShopper.com
Fort.com
Enlargements.com
Gadsden.com
LaptopReviews.com
Pizza.us(websiteincluded)
Blessing.com
TheSpecialist.com
TheCompany.com
TheComputer.com
SecondLanguage.com
EquipmentStorage.com
LonelyHearts.com
TheBeaches.com
TheWinery.com
Illusionist.com
Wine.us
eProfits.com
ConsultingFirms.com
Buttercup.com
SoftwareDesigners.com
NewsReporter.com
MyBoat.com
BikeRiders.com
Thrilled.com
BasketballPlayers.com
LaptopPackage
HYB.com
SEU.com
MyGarden.com
WCX.com
UFT.com
EGY.com
Smelly.com
TheAmazon.com
EndlessLove.com
MyPark.com
FootballFan.com
MyCenter.com
DesignExperts.com
TemporaryStorage.com
TheDomain.com
MyPiano.com
SoftwareDesigner.com
Divider.com
Precocious.com
JV.net
Lozenge.com
Gambling.gr
TopMortgage.comandTopMortgages.com
Consensual.com
AdvancedTechnology.com
Wordless.com
Faceless.com
FaceValue.com
ImageSpace.com
SportsPhotography.com
ParkRangers.com
ParanormalEvents.com
AdventureSeekers.com
AutoRacers.com
TheInstructor.com
StampCollectors.com
Sentimental.com
SuperSexy.com
GreatAdventure.com
JeepParts.com
IKC.com
Funds.us
PhotoDiver.com
DeepDivers.com
Indispensable.com
TheGuitarist.com
TheBeginning.com
DoctorLove.com
CoolShirts.com
Prophylactic.com
Antihistamine.comandAntihistimine.com
Meagan.com
LiveSocial.com
ForexExchange.com
BellyRing.com
XXX.us
Avengers.com
ImmigrationService.com
TeenCenter.com
BeautySpa.com
Meg.net
Elizabeth.net
Duplicity.com
Cuckoos.com
Inhibitors.com
Astringent.com
Hexes.com
Reducing.com
Automating.com
Petroleum.net
Encouraged.com
Portland.org
AntiqueGuide.com
MetroCard.com
FindHouse.com
Parables.com
DataTransfers.com
GoldAdvisor.com
CampStove.com
GamblingConsultant.com
FerrisWheel.com
3GPhoneNetwork.com
MedicalPractice.com
StockValuation.com
LegalCounsel.net
LasVegasBrunches.com
iSign.com
WilshireBlvd.com
Interning.com
BikerMagazine.com
NatureSounds.com
Incorporates.com
Reduce.net
Lowcarb.net
Sandra.net
Joan.net
Patty.net
Consequences.com
N.co.za
Paged.com
VegasAirFares.com
Jonesville.com
Institute.net
Stutter.com
BankruptcyLoans.com
Offshore.info
RomanCatholic.it
TheStrip.us
Handsome.co.za
Beautiful.co.za
Electronic.co.za
MarketingPromotions.com
EconomicGrowth.com
WirelessAdapter.com
Aristocracy.com
Otologist.com
USArmy.org
FreeWallpapers.net
RingbackTones.net
LowTaxes.net
Crises.com
Treinta.com
Fifths.com
Washington.biz
Deal.info
SearchByKeywords.com
CreditCardBilling.com
Corporation.info
Bahamian.com
CasinoSupplies.com
PrizeGame.com
RealtyCompany.com
LondonFashion.com
ToasterOven.co.uk/ToasterOvens.co.uk
FileManagement.co.uk
BeardTrimmer.co.uk
SurgeProtector.co.uk
BathTowel.co.uk/BathTowels.co.uk
Hotline.net
Suffocate.com
Motivating.com
Dude.co.za
Dudes.co.za
DrawingContest.com
Guavas.com
Hoodwink.com
Sisco.com
Decatur.net
WeddingCards.net
PopUpStopper.com
BlackDeath.com
Cognac.cm
Suer.com
TheUSPresident.org
eClassicCars.com
UnitedStatesPresident.com
JusticeDepartment.com
STX.net
Flats.info
DemocraticLeader.com
Wyndmere.com
InfluenzaVaccines.org
LanFax.com
Credit.mx
NaturalMeat.com
LosAngelesPersonals.com
LasVegasInsurance.com
PayOffBills.com
VintageCigars.com
Pendulums.net
Sunvisors.net
USBMemoryStick.com
FitnessProducts.net
DinnerMeeting.com
VegasShows.us
Turned.net
CurrencyHolders.com
Kalamazoo.mobi
Referrals.mobi
Surgeons.mobi
Biographies.mobi
Relief.mobi
Uniforms.mobi
Sell.mx
Rent.mx
ASP.mx
PHP.mx
PHD.mx
Waiting.info
Grave.info
USBailOut.com
ItalyRugby.com
TrainedDoctors.com
CorporateEmployees.com
Indian.cm
Flagradas.com
OperaSeat.com
AdoptionLawFirm.info
HebrewStore.com
BetsOnSports.com
eTaxReturn.com
WirelessRingtones.com
DudleyEngland.com
CricketSeason.com
FreshGeorgiaPeaches.com
GayMarriedCouples.com
FrontTires.com
HalfPriceCandy.com
“Just because a name is on this list, doesn’t mean it is guaranteed for the live auction,” said Rick Latona, founder and CEO of Latona’s. “More announcements will be coming soon including reserve ranges.”
Premium submissions are still being considered for the Latona’s Las Vegas event. If you have premium names that you would like to be submit, please submit them to www.ricklatona.com/auctions/submission-form or go to www.Latonas.com to set up an account and su
A few ago that I read about “Green Monday”. Green Monday is the 2nd Monday in December. It was named so by Ebay because it produced the most online revenue of the holiday season.
A few years earlier, I had hear about Black friday. Black Friday is the friday after Thanksgiving. Many retail stores have amazing one day deals to bring the customer into their stores, initially to their brick and mortar stores, but now also online stores. The term had grown from no searches to one of the most heavily searched terms of the holiday season. The domain BlackFriday.com was owned by a major Direct Navigation firm. I knew it would be hopeless to try and buy it from them.
I noticed one day that the domain GreenMonday.com was about to drop. At the time, the term Green Monday was in its infancy and I had to assume that the term had no searches. I entered the snapnames auction and thought that it would go for just a few thousand dollars. Needless to say it went for much more. There were just a few bidders on the auction. It became evident that one other bidder really wanted this name. It was a slow auction with the party pushing up the domain name the minimum amount with each bid. As it hit $ 30,000, I started to think what if this term does not take off, would I be wasting all this money? At $50,000, I started to wonder who I was bidding against. It turns out later that they were thinking the same thing as me. Was it a real bidder? Was it ebay since they coined the term? At $60,000, I said I’ll do one more bid. I also said that at $61,000, $ 62,000 $63,000 and so on. At around $75,000 I lost my internet connection. By the time I came back online the auction was over. How far would have I went, I had the number $125,000 in my head. What do I think would have happened if it went above that number? I probably would have said “one more time”
There were ~500 domain sales representing nearly $600k worth of domain sales. Additionally, there were many private sales, including one’s for $67.5k, $12.5k and $12k, that could not be reported.
FireproofSafe.com and Stressmanagementprogram.com sticks out to me as a nice name for the price.
Here is the complete list:
Domain Price
personalisedgifts.com $13,249.00
MysteryFlights.com $8,000.00
whyyoga.com $7,700.00
FireproofSafe.com $6,500.00
NewHomeCommunities.com $6,500.00
sonsi.com $6,388.00
nimr.com $5,400.00
manageyourstress.com $5,188.00
smartindia.com $5,000.00
UnMomento.com $4,500.00
sgionline.com $4,088.00
homesun.com $4,000.00
foreclosurelawyer.com $3,988.00
beautifulwedding.com $3,800.00
ilms.com $3,600.00
ipara.com $3,400.00
MyPartyFavors.com $3,400.00
shantiyoga.com $3,388.00
autisticchild.com $3,288.00
opticalcable.com $3,100.00
soundresearch.com $3,100.00
funcooking.com $3,000.00
totalfishing.com $3,000.00
geoter.com $3,000.00
readability.com $3,000.00
rockboard.com $3,000.00
franchisedevelopment.com $3,000.00
printpro.com $3,000.00
origin-africa.com $2,988.00
roycorp.com $2,988.00
boldbusiness.com $2,988.00
paynation.com $2,888.00
drugfx.com $2,888.00
caregivernetwork.com $2,888.00
scannow.com $2,788.00
stressmanagementprogram.com $2,788.00
adtr.com $2,750.00
1special.com $2,688.00
innerbit.com $2,588.00
designclick.com $2,588.00
stressindex.com $2,521.00
optionselling.com $2,488.00
artstech.com $2,488.00
loveisreal.com $2,488.00
techieworld.com $2,388.00
golfclubsexpress.com $2,388.00
identityexpress.com $2,388.00
boybanned.com $2,388.00
liquidbase.com $2,300.00
kaipan.com $2,300.00
greatestgifts.com $2,300.00
puppyconnection.com $2,241.00
firstexpress.com $2,230.00
cogonline.com $2,200.00
arrowboards.com $2,200.00
macrotrade.com $2,188.00
professionaltranslation.com $2,100.00
elautomatico.com $2,100.00
breastsurgeryguide.com $2,088.00
universalpayments.com $2,000.00
workclimate.com $2,000.00
globerunner.com $2,000.00
naturalconnection.com $2,000.00
sagear.com $2,000.00
pickatour.com $1,969.20
excellentlimo.com $1,900.00
motorsportphotos.com $1,900.00
gigshop.com $1,888.00
microscapes.com $1,888.00
cabandchassis.com $1,888.00
learn2code.com $1,888.00
powerheat.com $1,888.00
cartlogic.com $1,888.00
readall.com $1,888.00
doubleharvest.com $1,879.20
cabinetview.com $1,850.00
internationalharvest.com $1,800.00
cateringbusiness.com $1,800.00
greensalamander.com $1,788.00
mbody.com $1,750.00
toponet.com $1,750.00
organicscience.com $1,700.44
futurerobot.com $1,700.00
lambertwilson.com $1,700.00
schoolhousesupplies.com $1,688.00
medicalcurriculum.com $1,688.00
skyisblue.com $1,688.00
sleepsuccess.com $1,688.00
forgetstress.com $1,688.00
motherswisdom.com $1,688.00
blumhardt.com $1,650.00
restauranttablecloths.com $1,606.80
welcomingspaces.com $1,605.00
inaturally.com $1,600.00
archivea.com $1,588.00
fishingforaliving.com $1,588.00
lastingconnection.com $1,588.00
menorcaapartments.com $1,588.00
buybuild.com $1,510.00
leadnation.com $1,500.00
cubedigital.com $1,500.00
livinglightly.com $1,500.00
giftcardworld.com $1,500.00
infrastructureworks.com $1,500.00
powerofplay.com $1,500.00
birdhunters.com $1,500.00
prospectavenue.com $1,500.00
excelhelp.com $1,500.00
lifeproductions.com $1,500.00
horizonnetwork.com $1,500.00
xcede.com $1,500.00
beyondgiving.com $1,500.00
smsagency.com $1,500.00
chowline.com $1,500.00
firstlinemanagement.com $1,500.00
freedomforlife.com $1,500.00
debthelpdesk.com $1,500.00
homesecuritysystemcompany.com $1,500.00
Aspirers.com $1,500.00
evbattery.com $1,488.00
littleblacknumber.com $1,488.00
preciseadvice.com $1,488.00
pierrelouis.com $1,450.00
easycv.com $1,435.00
neonight.com $1,400.00
officialstore.com $1,400.00
starkcontrast.com $1,388.00
customizedforyou.com $1,388.00
tvgroup.com $1,388.00
ownyourname.com $1,350.00
givingwisely.com $1,350.00
doeverything.com $1,350.00
bookaservice.com $1,300.00
tipcity.com $1,300.00
highperformancehomes.com $1,300.00
holidaycostume.com $1,294.00
tortillastrips.com $1,288.00
nutritionphysician.com $1,288.00
powerstrategy.com $1,288.00
seanrodriguez.com $1,288.00
nragroup.com $1,250.00
salesunion.com $1,250.00
singleplatform.com $1,221.00
funkyfinds.com $1,200.00
earthdoctor.com $1,200.00
aisforapple.com $1,200.00
boostbusiness.com $1,200.00
structuralanalysis.com $1,200.00
totalmarkets.com $1,200.00
firetruckparts.com $1,200.00
couponsdaily.com $1,188.00
flamencoshows.com $1,159.00
horkan.com $1,150.00
metropolismortgage.com $1,100.00
designnavigator.com $1,100.00
winlife.com $1,100.00
ashcourt.com $1,100.00
cocoexpress.com $1,100.00
bullhornmarketing.com $1,100.00
kidswithautism.com $1,088.00
covertmarketing.com $1,088.00
couponfriend.com $1,000.00
transitadvertising.com $1,000.00
samplemarket.com $1,000.00
mainstreetinvestors.com $1,000.00
feelsatisfied.com $1,000.00
shelterit.com $1,000.00
southwestbooks.com $1,000.00
valuesafe.com $1,000.00
horizonnetworks.com $1,000.00
onthedole.com $1,000.00
gatewayjapan.com $1,000.00
bidgarage.com $1,000.00
znanost.com $1,000.00
sunnyrentacar.com $1,000.00
xquote.com $1,000.00
sport-master.com $1,000.00
europeancustoms.com $1,000.00
marketmanagement.com $1,000.00
nowware.com $1,000.00
DigitalEquality.com $1,000.00
verylight.com $995.00
FENIXLIGHTS.com $995.00
graniteblock.com $988.00
currency-conversion.com $988.00
perfectpart.com $954.00
crispybits.com $900.00
megaelectronic.com $900.00
vintagemachines.com $888.00
storm-shield.com $888.00
roomboss.com $888.00
backtoschoolsavings.com $888.00
7587.com $888.00
quickinstall.com $880.00
riskexcellence.com $877.00
loveyoursmile.com $825.00
netboutiques.com $800.00
printersmart.com $800.00
cablepower.com $800.00
findingsales.com $800.00
extremebeam.com $800.00
ophthalmicconsultants.com $800.00
hometownautos.com $800.00
totalrunning.com $800.00
urbanaquaponics.com $800.00
itruckrentals.com $800.00
DRWILLARD.com $795.00
aestheticcenter.com $788.00
cruisesltd.com $788.00
trackmileage.com $788.00
vivaamerica.com $750.00
nyphotography.com $750.00
endusersales.com $750.00
discoverfilms.com $750.00
dealerresearch.com $750.00
junglefoods.com $750.00
puregravity.com $741.00
supplementation.com $708.00
insocial.com $708.00
travelfreebie.com $708.00
topick.com $708.00
blippy.com $708.00
imortal.com $708.00
nutritionweb.com $708.00
downergroup.com $708.00
coolpuzzle.com $708.00
datacenteroperations.com $700.00
annwest.com $700.00
theintelligentinvestor.com $700.00
aromapflege.com $700.00
promocentre.com $690.00
hollywoodcuts.com $690.00
travelticketsonline.com $688.00
americandirections.com $688.00
getalyfe.com $688.00
enterpriseguide.com $688.00
e-commerceconsultant.com $688.00
notsureyet.com $688.00
dogsoftware.com $688.00
citizensforfreedom.com $688.00
coolcaffeine.com $688.00
ice-away.com $688.00
collegebookie.com $688.00
heartlandhills.com $688.00
welcometoiran.com $688.00
goldensoul.com $688.00
writersbookshelf.com $688.00
nationalcorporation.com $688.00
environmentalinc.com $688.00
siliconmarket.com $688.00
tableclothsandnapkins.com $688.00
prostmahlzeit.com $688.00
margaretandrews.com $688.00
clothing4kids.com $677.00
swingvoters.com $650.00
ptsa.com $628.00
ivystone.com $620.00
ourrelationship.com $600.00
bikinicalendars.com $600.00
thomaspreston.com $600.00
getbranded.com $600.00
matchbest.com $600.00
piemakers.com $600.00
creditincorporated.com $600.00
E-FOODGIFTS.com $600.00
defendingisrael.com $588.00
kellynow.com $588.00
financialwave.com $588.00
livreelectronique.com $588.00
yourbeautysalon.com $588.00
educatoraid.com $575.00
hoteljungle.com $544.00
southcoastventures.com $525.00
menuadvertising.com $516.00
insurancesale.com $504.00
5480.com $504.00
8243.com $504.00
forcedigital.com $500.00
ezdraw.com $500.00
cafecentraal.com $500.00
soccerpsychology.com $500.00
mysticalentertainment.com $500.00
idprotectors.com $500.00
lisaandrews.com $500.00
spectrumfederal.com $500.00
smoothentertainment.com $500.00
elevatorconsultants.com $500.00
jagstudios.com $500.00
nacao.com $500.00
smallbusinessadvertisingservices.com $500.00
maechler.com $500.00
idealcarpet.com $500.00
stitchntime.com $500.00
medgenie.com $500.00
ogstyle.com $500.00
TrustDeedsFORSALE.com $500.00
bubbleteacafe.com $499.00
spiritofeurope.com $488.00
zavina.com $477.00
academicemployment.com $410.00
shawnwilson.com $400.00
milestonecommunications.com $388.00
electricbikeparts.com $388.00
pokerpc.com $359.00
purplepenguin.com $359.00
alt TLD’s
sherwood.net $6,400.00
exchanges.net $5,691.00
bandits.net $5,288.00
paymentprocessing.net $4,588.00
sleepwear.net $3,888.00
samadhi.net $3,588.00
allthings.net $3,388.00
moneyonline.org $3,100.00
curbstone.net $3,088.00
babycare.net $2,888.00
visiting.net $2,850.00
boubou.net $2,788.00
healthylifestyle.org $2,588.00
internetmedia.net $2,500.00
empowered.net $2,500.00
kwick.net $2,400.00
kidu.org $2,288.00
droid.org $2,000.00
asien.org $2,000.00
down2earth.net $1,888.00
thesportsnetwork.net $1,788.00
figureskates.net $1,750.00
cowboyhats.net $1,750.00
funet.net $1,750.00
autographed.net $1,750.00
controlfreak.org $1,730.00
asainternational.net $1,688.00
knowinggod.net $1,500.00
treadmillreviews.net $1,500.00
responsiblegovernment.org $1,488.00
drugtests.net $1,350.00
nethunter.net $1,288.00
vitaminstore.net $1,200.00
VocationalSchool.org $1,200.00
vinylflooring.net $1,188.00
meinegesundheit.net $1,049.00
soulspace.net $1,000.00
globalbrands.net $1,000.00
naturalacnetreatment.net $1,000.00
lichterkette.net $1,000.00
veterinaria.net $1,000.00
korting.net $1,000.00
hebrewbible.org $988.00
zamosc.net $900.00
stickit.net $900.00
employeeassistance.net $888.00
specialtycare.net $888.00
formbuilder.net $888.00
flexmaster.net $888.00
easybill.net $850.00
hollywoodnews.org $850.00
vitaminstore.org $800.00
voicesofhope.org $788.00
makesense.org $788.00
bierzapfanlagen.net $788.00
gingerbread.org $750.00
valentinesdaygifts.net $688.00
careconsult.net $688.00
villageproperties.net $688.00
auto-mall.net $688.00
paymentprocessing.org $688.00
boostbusiness.net $688.00
downloadshop.net $666.00
birthannouncement.org $650.00
playadelcarmen.org $600.00
smallbusinessdirectory.net $551.00
greenhousegas.org $500.00
bulten.net $500.00
simplycountry.net $500.00
limoexpress.net $500.00
bizdomains.net $500.00
preciseadvice.net $500.00
healthypaws.org $500.00
churchofisrael.org $500.00
ilovediamonds.net $488.00
jedipraxeum.net $448.00
metromaintenance.net $400.00
oado.org $388.00
apdn.net $388.00
lpad.org $388.00
qink.org $388.00
tpmg.net $388.00
giftcardworld.net $388.00
allstarplumbing.net $388.00
scnp.org $388.00
rjsc.net $388.00
chso.org $388.00
EnvironmentToday.net $388.00
blla.org $349.00
Rick Latona is an amazing businessman. He is professional and puts 1000% into everything he does. Recently he rebranded to Latonas.com. It’s a very logical move. The major auction houses in the US are Christie’s and Sothebys. Now we have Latonas to join that impressive rank. Rick and his gang have been working behind the seens to revamp the site and include a new proprietary auction platform. The first auction using this technology is a charity auction being held with WhyPark. Please read the details below and bid for a good cause.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rick Latona Auctions starts charity auction on behalf of WhyPark.com – Registration and Bidding now open on beta platform.
Atlanta, Georgia USA – December 14, 2009 – Rick Latona Auctions has been working on a proprietary auction platform in collaboration with its sister companies. This week only, it’ll be open to preview and beta test at www.latonas.com. Once the auction is complete the system will be locked back down.
The WhyPark.com charity auction is a real auction with people bidding for real domains and spending real money” stated Rick Latona, CEO of Rick Latona Auctions, “however, it is a beta test of the software and website. The full version with many more features will be released in early January, well ahead of our Main Event at T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Las Vegas. This is only a sneak preview of what we have been working on”.
The WhyPark/Latona’s auction has already started and it ends on Friday at 3:00pm EST at www.Latonas.com. Rick Latona Auctions would like to invite you to take a look at the system, register for the auction, bid, and give comments on the your experience. Don’t bid unless you want the name, however! This is a live auction.
“We have our team standing by to make improvements,” said David Clements, President of Rick Latona Auctions. “We see this as a valuable opportunity to wind up with a platform that is custom suited to our industry, and we really would like to get honest feedback from participants of this first auction.”
Registration and bidding for the auction will be at www.latonas.com all week. This is where you will go to view the catalog and register and bid in the auction.
For any technical questions related to the auction software and to report bugs, please email bugs@latonas.com. For any questions about Rick Latona Auctions, please email David Clements at david@ricklatona.com.
About Rick Latona Auctions:
Rick Latona Auctions is an industry leader in the brokerage of domains and domain auctions. This industry has exceeded 428,000,000 US Dollars in total sales1 representing over 54,000 individual domains sold since October 2003. Auctions attract branding managers and executives looking to buy domains to increase their company’s market share against their competitors. Registered bidders from a live audience and those watching the live online video and audio broadcast compete with one another buying domain names. Rick Latona Auctions is proud to be the exclusive auction company for all six T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Conferences in 2010. Rick Latona Auctions also can assist you by acting as your domain name broker for a domain purchase or sale. For additional information, please visit www.RickLatona.com/auctions.
For further information:
David Clements
Partner/ President
Rick Latona Auctions
+1.678.468.9228
1Source: Ron Jackson, DNJournal.com
We are now in the final moments. Both bidders, me being one, are on a conference call with the company selling the domains. The conference call started a few bids earlier. Up until then, we had been receiving phone calls from the company. The company would then tell us the bid status and then we would tell them our increased bid. Since the bidding has gone on so long they decided to put us together on a conference call. I now knew who I was bidding against. It turned out to be the party I thought it was. At that moment I knew what the outcome would be.
Time can sometimes fool you. A few seconds can feel like an eternity. Using that logic I probably took years off my life during the few moments I waited after we gave our last bid. Our last bid was a large increase. I then hear the other party say…. 25k more. It’s over.
Was I disappointed? Of course I was. However, you can’t win every battle you go into but I do feel I did everything possible that I could have done. I also feel if we had went millions higher, he would have come back with 25k more.
Who was the other party? He was the former chairman of the company that was selling the domains. He is someone I have spoken with in the past and have the utmost respect for. I thought he had already owned these domains. However, as it turns out he did indeed own many great names, but these particular names were owned by his old company and not by him.
I believe he feels as strongly about generic domains as I do. I do not know for certain, but he probably was the one who registered them for the company originally and might have felt that they were like a part of him, sort of like children. I know that is the way many domainers feel about their domains. In the end, I feel he deserved them.
Here is the sec report filing on the sale:
On February 25, 2009, we entered into an agreement to sell the assets of Domain.com, our wholly owned subsidiary, to A. Emmet Stephenson, Jr., Inc. (“Mr. Stephenson”) in exchange for cash of $7,075,000. The assets of Domain.com consist of domain names, trademarks and corporation names. We conducted an auction for the assets and received bids from multiple parties, including Mr. Stephenson. Mr. Stephenson presented the highest bid, which represented the selling price, of $7,075,000 and the sale was completed effective February 25, 2009. Mr. Stephenson is one of our co-founders, has managed the Domain.com subsidiary since 2006 and owns approximately 20% of our common shares outstanding. Because the transaction involves a related party, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors considered and approved the transaction.
Here is a list of the domains:
Domain Names
401-K.com
Airlines.com
Anniversary.com
Annuities.com
Birthday.com
Bookings.com
Bookshelf.com
Bourses.com
Car-Rental.com
Christmas-Gifts.com
Communications.com
Cumpleanos.com
Currencies.com
Dining.com
Distributors.com
Dividends.com
Doctors.com
Electronics.com
Exchanges.com
Excursions.com
Frequentflyer.com
Guidebooks.com
Hospitals.com
Investments.com
Municipals.com
Museums.com
MyValentine.com
Products.com
Profits.com
Royalty.com
Ships.com
Taxfree.com
Technology.com
Tee-Times.com
Ticketrez.com
Wedding.com
Wholesale.com
A day or 2 before the bidding starts, a wrench is thrown in. It is told to us that google has blocked their top revenue name. It is being switched to yahoo but we may not here revenue figures before the bidding starts. While we were not buying based on revenue, it was a material number and had to be considered. One thing I forgot to mention. When we originally bid in part 1, we had no revenue figures. The only party to have the figures was one of the other bidders that had been managing the domains.
The auction starts with our bid as the starting bid. There is a few million on the table. Bid increases have to be a minimum of 100k. One party tops us and we come right back. The third party drops out quickly. So now 2 parties remain. I have an idea of who the remaining party is and my gut tells me there is no way to beat him. I’ll explain why later. The other party has requested minimum bids to be reduced now to $25,000 from $100,000. This could be read 2 ways. Either they are near their maximum or they want to win and tell feel we are near ours and they would only have to go up 25k on their last bid instead of 100k. As it turns out neither of us was close to being done.
The board then asks that they want a final bid from each party. We don’t like this as we feel that it could favor the other party and demand that the current rules apply. It turns out the other party was also insistent that the bidding continue. The board relents and lets the bidding stay the same way.
The bids go back and forth by telephone. At first 25k bids are going back and forth. Then slightly higher. We have topped another million dollar mark and the bids kept coming. When we go up a 100k they go up 25k more. When we go up 500k more, they go up 25k more. We are now in the mid to upper 7 figures. The domains are worth considerably more in my opinion but since the toys.com auction has still not finished its process, it starts to weigh in the decision.
Then the next hurdle is put before us. The rules of the game get changed and there is no way to stop it. The other party guarantees that if he wins he will submit all funds by close of business the next day. The board tells us that this is what they are going to do. This most likely a tactic by the other party to get us out of the game. However, that would not be the case just yet. I call for a hail Mary. I quickly call partners to see what the max cash we can get together in 24hours and decide that is the number we have to do. I have no choice. Even if we don’t get this I want to make sure I squeeze as much blood as I can out of this. Its their court and ball and we have to play by their rules. We keep going up by 500k. Each time, the other party counters 25k more. We make our last bid.
Come back tomorrow for the last part in this series.
So now, we sit back and put our thinking caps on. We were told we were the highest offer . they are asking all parties to make a minimum bid of 100k higher than our last offer. We have a few days for discussion. I assume that we need to blow everyone else out of the game and when its time to present our offer we raise our bid $800,000 (note to all, the bids are now in the low to mid 7 figures. I assumed (really hoped) that coming in with the highest bid would close it down. Lesson to all – don’t assume.
Here’s the notification letter:
I am pleased to inform you that your bid of $Y,YYY,YYY for the domain names and trademarks owned by our wholly owned subsidiary, xxxxxxxxxxxx represents one of the three highest bids received as part of xxxxxxxxxxxx’s sale process.
On Monday, beginning at approximately 10:00 a.m., we will be conducting a round robin auction, consisting of individual phone calls to the three remaining participants seeking the highest bid. We will continue the calls until two of the three bidders drop out, leaving the buyer that we will move forward with toward closing.
At the conclusion of the bidding on Monday, we intend to have the winning bidder execute a letter of intent, and immediately wire funds representing 10% of the purchase price to xxxxxxxxxxxx. We intend to structure this transaction as an asset sale, and consideration shall be in cash payable at closing, anticipated to be no later than xxxxxxxx, xx, 2009. I will be distributing the form of the letter of intent and asset purchase agreement over the weekend.
Please note that the Buyer shall rely solely on the revenue data previously supplied as support for any bid, and closing of the transaction shall not be contingent upon the buyer performing any additional due diligence with respect to statistical data related to the domain names.
Thank you again for your participation in this sale process, and I look forward to speaking with you on Monday.
Stay tuned for the auction in part 4
I pace around my desk the next day as I await the boards response to my offer. As I mentioned in my Part 1 post, We had discovered an amazing portfolio of generic domains that was being offered for sale. I was told by the company selling the domains that they were examining a few offers and to get an offer in quickly if we were to be considered, which we did. Our bid would be reviewed and would be be responded to with 24-48 hours.
After wearing out the carpet on my floor, I receive the phone call that I was waiting for. I am informed that the board has reviewed our offer and found it to be viable. However, they do not accept it. They inform me that they have decided to ask a few parties to make another bid.
The company forwards a letter with the following:
1 – The complete list of names with revenue per name
2 – Ask for offers on individual names and for the whole package
3 – 3 days to bid
4 – Bids will be evaluated and a next step decided
5 – Letter of Intent signed quickly by party chosen
6 – non refundable down payment by chosen party
7 – closing in about 2 weeks
Parties are told that there will be a minimum portfolio bid. The minimum turns out to be $100,000 higher than our last bid, which was the highest bid at the time.
Stay tuned for Part 3
There has been much happening in the domain business this year. Unfortunately, many of the larger deals go unreported.
It’s not the Toys.com auction that this post is about. Earlier this year I was involved in the Toys.com bankruptcy auction. While this was both exciting and frustrating, ANOTHER major auction was going on. It seems that a large company decided to divest its domain portfolio and wanted to do it rather quickly. I found this out about it purely by accident. Their board was meeting the next day to decide and looked like they would approve a low 7 figure offer, which was at a rate of 5 times cash flow. While the cash flow was nice, the names were nicer. I immediately sent an offer, which was higher than the current offer. Since the company was public and the difference was material, I knew that I they would have to consider my offer. See later in the week for part 2.
Snapnames.com is currently running it’s December auction. This auction highlights a selection of Geo an local domains. The list includes ColumbianCoffee.com, DallasTV.com, Murrieta.com, NYCArchitects.com, SanDiegoCharters.com, SantaClara.com, SkiSaltLakeCity.com, UKFares.com, Afghanistan.net, Australian.net, BostonForeclosures.net, Burbank.net, DOA.net, MyrtleBeachHomes.net, SanFrancisco.net, Tacoma.net. The top two that i see on the list are SantaClara.com and SanFrancisco.net.
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