discuss Funniest Domain inquiries (and other mishaps)

This isn't funny, but I used to own a LLLL com that was the same acronym as Indonesia's disaster management agency. At least a few times I'd get "inquiries" (coming from my parking page form) in Indonesian which was a bit unnerving, knowing Indonesia's history of monumental disasters. I never replied to them, though I probably ran one or two through Google translate. I no longer own the domain.

It did get a crazy amount of traffic around tsunami season.

I posted this awhile back but since it's funny, I think I'll do it again.

Archangel said:

This occurred during the holidays, a week back.I thought it was kinda funny, so I figured I'd post it here.

I received this email outta the blue by [email protected] :



These domains are terrible--not worth regging, let alone owning. And he wanted a LLLL.com for one of them. I played nice:



The brainiac gave me this gem of a reply:



Now, why wold I just GIVE him a LLLL.com for a domain registration? I told him:



There was no reply.

I understand trying to make a deal and getting a good offer, but this was pathetic at best. My LLLL's aren't million-dollar domains, but he was gonna REGISTER me a .com in exchange for a LLLL.com?

Some ppl, I'll never understand...

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Didn't see this thread, should've posted my story in it...

Good story, Tom. I was about to comment on it!

Funny story...

They say some domainers have a bad rep for being "cyber-squatters" but the longer I'm involved in this industry the more that I realize that some end users that I've dealt with are way more shady than fellow domainers have ever been while trying to conduct a deal.

So I get an email for one of my domains...

"HEY ! do u wanna sell the domain _____ ???"

I'm assuming this person purposely went out of their way to type like this.

I googled their name/email and it turns out they work as a consultant for Apple, although I don't think the acquisition is for Apple. (Not exactly their niche of expertise)

I respond with "If the offer is fair enough."

And I get back "I have no ideas what domains are worth but I would like to give this domain to someone as a gift! how does $100 sound???"

No ideas what domains are worth yet he owns several acquired from aftermarkets that his wife is using for her business which reportedly is worth 100K/year. (Unrelated industry though)

I respond with "Thanks for your interest but we're too far apart with the numbers. I couldn't see myself letting this name go unless I received an offer around 3K"

Responds back "$100 is the only thing I can do! The owner of the domain I'm using for email was asking $2K and I bought it for $100" -- I don't respond

2 days pass, email from the same email address but with a whole new personality (real one)

"Wow! 3K is a lot for a "cutesy" domain name! How about this, $1K, my next child (I have too many already), and a case of your favorite microbrew..."

Wow, big personality difference, and a big jump in price from what you can afford to pay for a "gift"

I respond "$2.5K, and 2 cases of my favorite microbrew, and you can keep the child. Allergies."

2 day later he counters "$1500"

Now, the only alternative to this domain is reversing the keywords, which works but sounds awkward, my name is obviously superior. And the seller of the other domain wants $10K, HugeDomains owns something kinda similar, around $7K asking.

I didn't respond yet. I raised my SEDO BIN from $3K to $5K and every day I'm getting the same hit to this domain in my stats since I stopped responding.

Honestly, I was doing a favor at $3K because I personally would love to develop this name one day and I'm in no rush to sell it. It's the type of name that you know *eventually* someone is going to click the BIN, whether it be months or years.

Now because of his shady negotiating and game playing I'm considering voiding all future communications and keeping my BIN at $5K, even if he agrees to $2.5

So, all is fair in this business and never let anyone give you any anti-domainer sentiments. Some end users are a lot more quicker to try to rip you off for a Premium domain than a legitimate domainer would.

At the end of the day everyone just wants to make/save a buck. The Anti-Domainer BS can be applied to anything but we invest our time researching and acquiring these names just like a Doctor, Lawyer, or Stock broker studied their profession.

That is pathetic. I've gotten variants of that, to a lesser degree.

tomcarl said:

So, all is fair in this business and never let anyone give you any anti-domainer sentiments.

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That'll never cease. We have enough trouble with self-ascribed "domainers" spewing the same garbage.