Press perpetuates silly domain prices and negative view of domain investing.
Perhaps it makes for easy filler. But why must the press always quote outlandish starting prices for domain names on eBay?
Whenever there’s a celebrity scandal, big news story, or product launch, it seems that many writers need something to grab onto that has a number in it.
“A seller is auctioning off TigerWoodScandalName.com starting at $1 million…”
“Someone has posted TastelessHaitiEarthquakeName.com on eBay for $100,000…”
The latest example is thanks to the iPad launch, courtesy of CNN Money/Fortune:
The big money, it would seem, is in iPad domain names — Web addresses that will presumably generate a lot of traffic if the device takes off. We counted 312 offerings, many for multiple sites. At least five have a Buy It Now sticker price of $21 million, including ipadsurfs.com and ipadinternetstore.com. There were no takers Sunday for stealtheipad.com ($1 million), ipad-hacks.ca ($3,000) or ghettoipads.com ($1,300). But internetipads.com had at least one bid — $10 from a veteran domain-name trader list as _***b.
No, the big money isn’t in iPad domains. Only the stupid money.
The problem with stories like this is some other idiot reads it and starts registering iPad related domain names with hopes of striking it rich. This makes the average person think that people who buy domain names are still just making money from buying trademarks, not generic domains.
Duane says
“This makes the average person think that people who buy domain names are still just making money from buying trademarks, not generic domains.”
I could not agree more.
I don’t usually look at Domains up for sale at Ebay, but 2 day’s ago?
” GoogleAdsense.de ” was listed on Ebay Germany. The seller even had a quote in his listing as follows.
” I have acquired the Domain 1 year ago and the person which sold the domain to me had all rights also approved by Google. Therefor the buyer also receives all rights to the term “GoogleAdsense”. A trademark problem does not exist since Google has approved the use.
It’s about as good as you can get, when it comes to infringing.
Andrew Allemann says
@ Duane – wow, that’s an amazing one.
M. Menius says
This hurts domaining to have idiot opportunists exploit tragedies, celebrity names, and trademarks.
And the press eats this stuff up with a spoon. Not much integrity left in mass media.
On a different note, there are nice quality domains still around at very good prices. Not as many as there used to be, but still some.
Jim Davies says
@ Andrew “The problem with stories like this is some other idiot reads it and starts registering iPad related domain names with hopes of striking it rich.”
Wouldn’t that make them an ipadiot?
Sorry, I’ll get my hat….
bernard says
domains have everyday more value while domainers continue to loose money.
Domainers have empty pockets, laughable developed websites if any, and animates the market with fake auctions.
All the deep pocketed investors are not likely to exchange assets bringing nice revenues with domains, with zero revenue, and possible legal trouble. They could be interested by ultra premium domains if the market would go in a very severe direction.
I guess the bubble burst which is admitted in an open manner by the domainer mob with domainBargains.com will continue.