I just won an exciting domain name related auction that you may not have known about.
Last month Tucows hit the 10 million domain milestone, making it just the third registrar to reach that number of domains under management. To celebrate, Tucows staffers each received decorative cookies (see picture).
One Tucows employee put the cookie up for auction on eBay with this description:
This item is going to move quickly! Don’t lose this chance to own a piece of history. This limited edition collectable is as attractive as it is delicious. The Official Limited Edition OpenSRS Service Guy 10 Millions Domains Cookie can be yours for a very limited time. These finely crafted baked goods were created and distributed to the entire Tucows team to mark this auspicious milestone. Rather than gorging myself on shortbreads (delicious as they are) I decided instead to provide one lucky bidder with the opportunity to make one of these highly-sought collectibles their very own. Don’t delay, bid today!
All proceeds from this auction will be donated to charity.
Now, since Tucows is Canadian, I assumed “charity” meant to pay for hockey tickets or a keg of Molson. But the seller updated the listing to say proceeds would be donated to Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation, a foundation to help children affected by cancer. The seller also offered to match the winning bid:
Q: Will the entire bid go towards the Charity or will there be eBay fees? Apr-08-10
A: Of course there are eBay fees – gotta pay the man..err…webservice. In any event, I don’t think that is quite fair, so to smooth over the fact that eBay is shaving a rider on what is otherwise a very benevolent and thoughtful transaction, I will match the winning auction bid with my very own money. When the cookie sells for $5000, I will pony up $5000 of my own smackaroos to match and donate to the Foundation. Make that next bid hurt me!
And, after a concerned bidder questioned the quality of an old cookie after a 10 day auction:
Q: I’m concerned about how sunlight will affect the saturation and colour quality of this cookie. Are there recommendation care instructions available to ensure a lifetime of enjoyment? Apr-05-10
A: Which lifetime? If you are worried about caring for the cookie for its lifetime, just make sure you eat it before it goes bad. If you are more concerned with your lifetime, I recommend shellac. Note, I don’t recommend trying both options at the same time, this is something you should decide on ahead of time.
I have to admit I was a little concerned while bidding in the auction. Pretty much every bidder in the auction had feedback of less than 10 on eBay, so I have my suspicions. I think someone was orchestrating some “Halvarez” bidding, if you get my drift.
But I had to win this auction. This isn’t some reg fee name. This is a premium, category-killer for sure.
Thankfully benfranklin, vaxis, and saggydimes didn’t show up to bid, so I managed to snag this one for only $127.50.
I’m waiting for the cookie to be pushed to my account right now.
[Update: unlike in domain name auctions, the runner up got the item, too. A second cookie was sold for $127.50. With Ross’ matching donation, $500 was donated.]
Andrew Allemann says
I just received this message from the seller. What do you think? Which half would you choose?
Perhaps I’ll let them have the entire cookie in return for an autographed picture from the “OpenSRS Service Guy”.
Hello Drew –
Congratulations on winning this auction! I have received an unsolicited offer from one of the losing bidders indicating that he is willing to pay $127.50 for 1/2 of the cookie. Since this is a charity auction, I was wondering if you would be willing to do the same? I would definitely allow you to choose which half of
the cookie you want for your own. Of course, you are under no obligation to consider this request, but I thought I would ask in any event.
Please let me know as soon as you can, and I will conclude the auction according to your wishes.
Thanks again for your generosity.
elliot noss says
hmmm. I am wondering if I should provide MY cookie in order to raise additional money for the charity.
btw, andrew you are always in line for Tucows swag. just let us know!
Louise says
No! You take the whole cookie! It’s a collector’s item. You’re in the domain business, you should shellac and mount it. No, I’m kidding to go so far as to mount it. It could be a paperweight, tho.
Josh says
From what I know….
This cookie belonged to someone else…
The cookie was left to sit and ” expire ”
Tucows having originally issued the cookie picked it when it did…
Has now offered it on ebay and made $127
LOL
Bill Sweetman says
Congratulations, Andrew!
Are you going to park it or develop it?
Jamie says
I would let the cookie expire and then just keep it for myself to see what happens. I bet it is a Yummy cookie like the rest of them.
tricolorro (aka Patrick , aka The Other Patrick) says
Hey andrew,
I’ll keep my eye out for you in case the Rick Schwartz BubbleHead doll makes it to eBay.
I wouldn’t eat that one though. ๐
Josh says
@Jamie, at least one person got my humor lol
Kevin M. says
Andrew, you should keep the ‘front half’ (w/guy), and let them have the ‘back half’ of the cookie. They can then draw any ‘guy’ they want on their half!!
keebler says
Isn’t this the time where you say –
“that’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
Thomas says
@josh sounds like they’re cookie monsters
Jothan says
Sounds delicious, and for a good cause!
With Tucows, you’d think they’d have some milk around to enjoy with it… Did they throw in some milk? ๐
spinoza says
OfficialLimitedEditionOpenSRSServiceGuy10MillionsDomainsCookie.com – is still available!!!
Josh says
Andrerw a s a domain ” flipper ” I was able to aquire several more of these cookies, are you interested in bbuying more and have you reported this sale to Ron at Dnjournal yet?
tim davids says
take the whole cookie. Shelac it. Create the domainer cookie awards and pass it around like the Stanely cup.
Bill Sweetman says
@Josh, I hate to be the one to break the news to you, but one of those cookies you acquired may have been stolen. The authorities have been notified, an investigation is underway, and all signs point to a cookie thief based in Asia who uses the handle “CMonster29”.
Josh says
@Bill, the cookie was aquired via escrow and from the admin contact who stated he was the owner of Tucows, I also believe I paid fair market value and quickly had the cookie transfered to india ๐
His handle was not Cmonster29 though it was IranianCookieInvestors@gmail.com
LOL
Ben Lucier says
Andrew, congrats on your win! We posted an update and some official news surrounding the auction on our blog here: http://bit.ly/cfopFx
Enjoy your win!
Andrew Allemann says
@ Ben – well done. I’m glad someone stepped up with another cookie, as it would be sacrilege to split this cookie in two.
Louise says
Sounds like Tucows is capitalising on the excitement of its commerative cookie to mass-produce them for charity as a side venture . . . ๐ That would be a nice trend . . .
tricolorro (aka Patrick , aka The Other Patrick) says
I just regged “CharityCookie.com:.
Thanks for the idea. ๐
Logan says
Why not get the ‘s’ too while you are at it? LOL!
Josh says
@Logan, brilliant!
I heard Andrew did try to get the Tucows Cokie, Cockie, Kookie, Cocke and Cooke but they were all taken ๐
tricolorro (aka Patrick , aka The Other Patrick) says
“Why not get the โsโ too while you are at it? LOL!”
Logan I would have but it was already registered back in January 2010. ๐
P.S. I didn’t really reg CharityCookie.com
so it is availabl.
I was just having fun and wanted to make you look.
Josh says
Doesnt “cookie” have another meaning? ๐
Thats one charity Id support lol