Auction postponed due to online bidding problems.
The Latonas.com live domain name auction at TRAFFIC in Las Vegas has been postponed due to technical difficulties. The auction will be run Saturday at 10 am PST.
Attendance at the auction was higher than many recent domain name events. However, the online Latonas.com system lagged the in room bidding. About an hour into the auction Rick Latona announced that it was necessary to postpone auction.
That may be disappointing for on-room buyers, but Latona pointed out that he has an obligation to his sellers, who may not get top dollar for their domains without online bidders.
The live auction will probably take place on an alternative platform, to be announced later on RickLatona.com.
Bill Sweetman says
That can’t have been an easy decision to make, but Rick made the right call to postpone the rest of the auction until Saturday morning.
Let’s all wish Rick and his team the best of luck getting the technical bugs ironed out. Live auctions like these are important for our industry, and Rick and his team have done a great job to date.
Good luck to all the buyers and sellers.
Gordon says
that is too bad, but the right thing to do. Right now Monte is laughing to himself…
danM. says
I guess that answers on of the 5 questions.
“1. Is Latonas.com ready for prime time?”
Answer = NO!
Josh says
I can understan having to stop but that must be a hard thing for the room to hear. Also any reason why we have to get up so early lol
Stephen Douglas says
@DanM.
Nobody involved at any level of Rick’s auction system at TRAFFIC Vegas is going to pull their hair out and shriek. It will turn out all right for RLA and TRAFFIC and everyone. It’s a very humbling experience that I’m sure the producers of TRAFFIC will learn from, and if domainers treat them with respect through these auction issues, there will be benefits from this they can apply for future TRAFFIC auctions.
If you heard Conan O’Brien’s final comments on his last Tonight Show appearance tonight, you would know that one thing does exist if you dig deep into your soul – CLASS.
Let’s all show it by supporting Rick.
Mark Stenplopols says
Can’t believe you donkeys still pay to go to these shows, they have second rate speakers which have nothing to do with the industry and the auction system after 4 YEARS still doesn’t work.
Total joke. Go home Rick(s), Amature hour all around.
Ted Conner says
Rick S. is laughing too. $1995 per person to watch Costello play drums. At least the venue had the right name; “Wasted Space.”
I wonder how long he’ll milk it for. How low can you go? 50 people? 25 people?
EM @ KING.NET says
Too much success for the Costello’s, even entertaining domainers.
I rather go to the Playboy Mansion.
HGR says
These names are priced at retail – very disappointing.
Serious question – does anyone know if Mr. Latona puts his own domains in the auctions, and if so, what percentage of the names are his?
Domain Investor says
Would you prefer the prices are at “flea market” or reg’d prices?
If you want premium domains you have to pay market prices. If anything, Latona and Domainfest auctions are wholesale market prices.
I don’t have any domains in any of the auctions.
However, I would not list a premium domain if I thought it would go for pennies on the dollar. I could do that easily by offering it on any of the domain forums or sell it to NameMedia.
Why pay a commission to give something away?
HGR says
It doesn’t have the feel of an auction, but more of a live classified ad system dressed up as an auction. It’s good for sellers, but not so good for buyers.
HGR says
To answer the previous question, reasonable low or no-reserve for decent names are the most interesting auctions as a buyer. If there are enough educated buyers attending, then the seller will not be disappointed. But the reserves on a good percentage of the names are not at all reasonable for the auction setting. If I was wrong, then a lot more would have sold.
EM @ KING.NET says
I have to agree with HGR.
But before a seller can make a lower starting bid, the system should be reliable or else the seller will lose the domain at low price.
IMHO
EM @ KING.NET