Update: Selling Domain Names on eBay
Friday, May 9th, 2008
Is it worth trying to sell domain names on eBay? An experiment with Headcase.com.
Everyone knows that eBay’s domain name auctions are full of junk. I personally don’t spend any time looking for domains there.
But recently there have been some high profile domain auctions on the site. There are also new tools to sift through the junky domains and find winners.
I’ve decided to give eBay another shot, but this time as a seller. And with a good domain, not some piece of junk. My experience listing the domain — Headcase.com — reminds me why eBay isn’t set up to be a domain seller.
First, listing a domain on eBay takes a long time. eBay has a “quick listing” feature with fewer options, but it still takes longer to list a domain than it does on “made for domain sales” sites such as Sedo and Afternic.
Second, eBay now requires you to accept PayPal for your transaction. Everyone knows that PayPal offers little protection to domain sellers.
Third, the fees. I tried to make Headcase.com a reserve auction. Imagine my surprise when I saw a $50 reserve auction fee before hitting submit! Yikes. eBay charges 1% of your reserve price when you list a reserve auction. I opted to start the auction at $4,900. I’ll be disappointed if it sells for that little, but I’ll just have to take the risk.
Will the domain attract attention? We’ll know in about a week.
Further Reading:
An appropriate domain for many domainers.
lol, yes headcase.com is a domain that many domainers can relate with including myself! But the redemption for those of us that keep studying this new market and keep improving our aquisition and monetization techniques will be very happy ounce the rollercoaster (us and world economy) heads back up again!
The eBay domain marketplace was good many years ago, now it is mostly junk domains which are very close to expiring.
Regarding the time to list a domain… once you list one, save it as a template then you can simply open the template next time you want to sell a domain.
I would suggest forwarding the domain to the ebay listing. For an added bump, become an affiliate at EbayPartnerNetwork.com and use the flexible linking tool.
Point the domain to the ebay listing using your affiliate code that way you pay yourself a commission if someone buys the name by typing it in.
Did I explain that well enough?
Great post – Will the domain attract attention? We’ll know in about a week.
I take me last comment back you will find the odd gem on ebay if you watch it daily. I just hate sorting through all the junky listings.
@ Rob – good idea. I set up a forward for the domain, although I didn’t sign up for their affiliate network yet.
I agree with Bob – I’ve seen so many lame domains listed on ebay, that I stopped even looking for domains there quite a while back… Who’s going to pay $4000 for vern.asia? Vern isn’t a very common Asian name
The only two domains I have sold were in fact sold on Ebay.
I sold housingbubble.com, and housingbubble.net both on ebay.
Live 24 hour operator help desk is a huge plus. Sedo you have no live help. Snapnames, and TDNAM I have both bought from and enjoyed a live help desk.
Ok I will try a little test and auction off one of my better domains Restorations.de with no reserve and starts at $99.00 wish me luck.
Kinda’ off topic…but I have a domain that I’m more interested in LEASING instead of selling.Any examples out there of documents that can serve as a template? Should the document be notarized?
@ Dr. Domain – it might be worth going through a company such as Lease This to manage the process.
@ Pete – that was a good sale…a couple years ago, right?
Andrew –
Yes – I sold them back in July 2005.
Dr. Domain. Leasing; and especially if an option to purchase is included; is filled with potential problems for both parties.
If you do it yourself, have an attorney draw the contract. This is not a DIY project.
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Ebay should create two categories for domain names: (1) worthy and (2) worthless.
I’d never have to sift through the worthless domain name junk if (1) existed.
Just thinking out loud…
Well, no bids so far BUT 7 people are watching the auction and 381 have viewed it.
I’m auctioning genericwebsite.com on eBay right now. Just go there and search for “generic web site” and it pops up.
Wow. How much do you think that pollitics.com would be worth? Is it just junk?
Hi, Just A Quick Question:
I Purchased *www.MarketTank.com* And Wondered Where The Best Place To Sell It Is, eBay Or Sedo?
Thanks
So, did you sell Headcase.com on eBay?
No. I sold it later through aftermarket.com
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I personally haven’t seen huge success using eBay. Although, I was shocked to see Gangsters.com sale on eBay for $16,100. I am very curious how that domain would have done on a different platform, such as Sedo? Most domains that I see on eBay are not Sedo worthy and the names usually don’t raise more than their Reg Fee.
what is “sedo-worthy”? A lot of domains on sedo I wouldn’t consider “registration-fee worthy”