Let’s unearth bad behavior. Let’s also let NameJet properly analyze it.
Whenever there’s breaking world news, news outlets rush to cover the news. They don’t have any details so they resort to pure speculation. The facts usually end up being very different from the speculation.
That’s why when I see breaking news I usually wait three days to read the details about it. It’s more accurate that way.
But that’s world news. World news really doesn’t affect most of us when it breaks. The allegations of bad bidder behavior at NameJet, however, affect many people who spend money on the platform.
I’ve been following the thread at NamePros closely. I’m impressed by the investigative work people are doing to unearth odd bidding patterns and question them. Domain investors are great researchers (it’s part of the business) and they are doing a great job analyzing data.
At the same time, people need to be careful about calling for heads too quickly. NameJet has a lot to analyze. If it announces any of its findings too early it might make mistakes. Frankly, the initial response from NameJet was premature and an example of responding before doing a thorough analysis of the situation.
I don’t want a quick answer. I want the right one.
So kudos to domainers who are participating in the NamePros thread and investigating bidding behavior. Let’s hold NameJet accountable, but let’s also give them time to sort out this mess.
NJ has been alerted to these claims previously. They had been provided with very specific examples previously by other bloggers and domainers. Outcome and Action Taken: NOTHING!
NJ already knows the answers to the claims of shill bidders and people bidding on their own names and have know for a long time. They have all the details already.
If anyone thinks NJ will come out with any indepth response, will admit any liability and/or prior knowledge they are surely mistaken. They will continue to just quote their TOS.
Not this time.
This can very easily lead to legal action. The problem is that the guys who got screwed the most will be the big boys, and they would probably accept a payout offer under the table to keep the lawyers away. This (sadly) is going to go nowhere IMO.
I’ll tell you one thing, the GM there deserves to get canned. Should get Andrew Left to research and publish a short thesis on the parent company because of this. Then you’ll see heads roll.
Oh, I don’t know about legal action. I just think NameJet will have to take action.
The fact the GM is very cozy with many of these people, first name basis, there will so be legal action, as stated above, deals will be done under the table to keep the matter internally closed, as a large class action would crush this company.
Also, Yes, these instances have been reported, and falled on deaf ears, but there is a email from namejet someone has posted, that shows they new of another alias, and still let it slide, this is huge.
I have absolute proof of shill bidding, as I monitored a domain in 2-3 different NJ auctions, as a bidder. And the same user, won the initial auction on NJ and, but entered the domain in another auction, and was the high bid losing, by just under $100 of the reserve. Ironically, there is no telling how many other auctions they entered the domain in before 2016, but as Andrew mentioned, I wait to give NameJet, LLC, owned by TuCows, Enom, & Web.com, a chance give an official press release, not any BS ‘in-house investigation’ they need to allow a full third-party audit, otherwise I’m sending my screen-prints to the tech media next week.
It will be legally reviewed statements now, J T dropped the ball
With a due respect, a bit johnny come lately. This has been swept under rug for years despite respectable people unearthing schemes and sharing findings in posts.
Think domain industry, especially domain media, needs to look in mirror. Is reporting really balanced?
I could write an entire post about contacting the company directly in addition (or instead of) just posting it somewhere.
Not really related to you Andrew. You are fairly balanced. Guess feel it should’ve never gotten to this point.
As others have already stated, the problem is the fact that NJ has no anti-shill bidding measures in place. This is obvious and it was brought to the GM’s attention several times before.
As an active domainer who previously used NJ, upon reading stories about possible shill bidding, I stopped using their platform. They are owned by Rightside the parent company of ENOM and they are a horrible company all around.
Domainers have lost money due to this fraudulent activity and NJ needs to be held accountable. Their silence speaks volumes about this situation. But it won’t be swept under the rug this time.
They are no longer owned by Rightside. They are a 50/50 partnership between Web.com and Tucows.
Thanks for sharing this