Best way to get domain you want from someone...?
What is the best way to get a domain from someone (how to approach them, what to say) when they aren't using the domain without encouraging them to quote you a high price for it?
First of all, there is no single best way to get a domain that you want. There are techniques that tend to work better in some situations than others, but it's good to think of these as tools in your toolbelt rather than the ultimate domain-buying dogma. Unfortunately, confirmation bias can skew less experienced hackers toward confusing the story of how they got their domain with real advice.
Like any negotiation, the first place to start is by assessing all info about both parties. Can you answer the following?
- Does the seller have true WHOIS visible or is the WHOIS obfuscated by a privacy service? a. If visible, what can you figure out about the seller?
- Do the domain's nameservers point to anything that could help you identify the owner?
- Is the domain name a generic dictionary word .com or .net? That is, is your gut feeling that it's worth >$10,000?
- Is the domain listed for sale at any major venues (sedo, godaddy, afternic, snapnames, ect)?
- Do you have alternatives or do you absolutely need to have this domain?
- What is your timeline to acquire either this domain or one of your alternatives?
If you feel comfortable emailing me the domain, I can give you a report of the WHOIS history from http://whois.domaintools.com/ along with my personal opinion.
Lastly, I would specifically recommend you ignore advice from tuscon and johnmurch. Absolutely no domainer takes estibot seriously and feigning legal threats will not help your situation at all.
Though "Absolutely no domainer takes estibot seriously" is a bit of an exaggeration, I think.
Estibot is regularly mentioned on TheDomains.com (widely seen as the authority on domain name market news).
Mentioned here for example: http://www.thedomains.com/2008/05/11/using-estibotcom-what-a...
http://www.thedomains.com/2011/11/03/ira-com-sells-for-seven...
Of course it's an automated tool and is not perfect. But it can be used as a reference point.
First off be sure to email them and say you are contacting them on behalf of a client, be just a proxy in this negotiation. Secondly, focus on getting a price from them first. Even if it's something crazy like 1MM, respond back with I understand the value, but my client can really only go upto XXXX, I wish we could pay that, but this is their offer...
Lastly, if you really want to go after them and it's a name that's branded in a way. Just set a price like, sent an email saying look we don't want to contact our lawyers but be willing to buy for XXX.
Good Luck!
Use an email address that does not show you have a huge wallet (if you do).
Propose a price. Not too low. Not too high. Get a good estimate from estibot.com (or valuate.com, same engine). The estimates are sometimes off but it's the best thing around, and professional "domainers" use it.
If you don't propose a price, you might look like a tire-kicker, and not get an answer. If you do propose a price that is way below the market (ref. estibot), then you might upset the person.
I want a domain that expires on Nov. 11... What's the best service to use to "reserve" the domain as it's going through the expiration process?