Big bucks for an expired domain — but an even more interesting story.
Australia’s Woolworths Limited got into the domain name drop catching game recently by picking up the domain name Hardware.com.au for $33,000 AUS.
What makes this story more interesting, according to the Herald Sun, is that one of Woolworths’ rivals let the domain name expire.
Bunnings Building Supplies Pty Ltd owned the domain name but may not have received the renewal notice due to an outdated email address, reports the newspaper. Woolworths entered the hardware market in competition with Bunnings last year.
The company picked up the domain name from drop.com.au, an expired domain name service recently acquired by Fabulous.
(Hat tip: Sean)
kandyjet says
Interesting story!
sean says
Here is some of the big corporate generic domain name buyers in Australia
http://www.domainmarketplace.com.au/aftermarket-news/21-gold-rush–why-the-worlds-largest-companies-are-investing-in-premium-generic-comau-domains/
Premium .com.au domain owned by large Australian corporations include:
■happybanking.com.au now owned by BANKWEST bankwest.com.au
■bestbank.com.au now owned by St.George Bank stgeorge.com.au
■smartbanking.com.au now owned by National Australia Bank nab.com.au
■mortgage.com.au now owned by ING Bank ing.com.au
■businessbank.com.au now owned by Macquarie Bank macquarie.com.au
■privatebanking.com.au now owned by Commonwealth Bank cba.com.au
■photocopier.com.au now owned by Fuji Xerox fujixerox.com.au
■milk.com.au now owned by National Foods Milk natfoods.com.au
■vodka.com.au now owned by CARLTON AND UNITED BEVERAGES fosters.com.au
■rum.com.au now owned by Guinness United Distillers and Vintners Australia guinness.com.au
■beer.com.au now owned by CARLTON AND UNITED BEVERAGES fosters.com.au
■scotch.com.au now owned by 3M 3m.com.au
■tennis.com.au now owned by Tennis Australia tennisaustralia.com.au
■honey.com.au now owned by Honey Corp of Australia Ltd capilano.com.au
■cows.com.au now owned by George Weston Foods georgewestonfoods.com.au
■pigs.com.au now owned by George Weston Foods georgewestonfoods.com.au
■ham.com.au now owned by George Weston Foods georgewestonfoods.com.au
■itjobs.com.au now owned by FAIRFAX DIGITAL fxj.com.au
■bikini.com.au now owned by Tiger Lily Swimwear tigerlily.com.au
■kettles.com.au now owned by Sunbeam sunbeam.com.au
■toasters.com.au now owned by Sunbeam sunbeam.com.au
■oil.com.au now owned by Valvoline valvoline.com.au
■drinks.com.au now owned by CADBURY SCHWEPPES cadburyschweppes.com
■drink.com.au now owned by CADBURY SCHWEPPES cadburyschweppes.com
■chocolate.com.au now owned by CADBURY SCHWEPPES cadburyschweppes.com
■trucks.com.au now owned by Western Star Trucks westernstar.com
■batteries.com.au now owned by Bob Jane T-Marts bobjane.com.au
■actuaries.com.au now owned by KPMG kpmg.com.au
■fuel.com.au now owned by Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd
■Petrol.com.au now owned by Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd
■steel.com.au now owned by BHP
■metal.com.au now owned by Smorgon Steel Group Ltd
■interestfree.com.au now owned by GE Consumer Finance
DomainersChoice says
As it is a generic, they will not get it back. This might cost somebodies job.
Domain Report says
Oh oh, someone at Bunnings not doing their job. We’ve seen this before “you mean we have to renew the domain every year”?
Joseph Slabaugh says
now thats funny, more companies should get in the game instead of just “investors”. And it is interesting that Woolworth found out about the domain being dropped? It says the company that owns Bunnings never even knew.