A Chinese domain marketplace reports that 84.com sold for at least $1.5 million.
Domain marketplace Le.cn reported on April 7 that 84.com was sold for 8-figure yuan or approximately $1.5 to $15 million.
According to the news story, the buyer used the nickname Dun Ge (盾哥) and has a plan to develop the domain. Whois indicates that the ownership likely changed on April 1.
Wayback Machine shows that 84.com was first used in 1998 as a personal site and then was either parked or not active for many years. In 2014, the domain was reported to have sold for 8.4 million yuan (about $1.25 million) to a company called Shi Fen Bian Min (十分便民) but no website was developed. In 2015, 84.com was listed for sale on Namesky.com with an asking price of mid-8-figure yuan or more.
The matching .cn and .com.cn are already developed. 84.cn is a business franchise marketplace called Zhong Guo Shang Ji Wang (中国商机网) but I could not find any explanation on the relationship between 84 and the site title. 84.com.cn is operated by disinfectant manufacturer Ai Te Fu (爱特福) which owns many product brands prefixed with 84.
If you want meanings for the domain, 84 rhymes with Pinyin words such as Ba Shi (巴士=bus), Ban Shi (办事=handle affairs), and Fa Shi (发誓=swear), suggesting that they can be used to provide bus services, business services, legal services, and many more.
Finally, note that this acquisition was reported only by Le.cn and I did not find any other sources in Baidu news search for it.
Keuka Blue says
So much for the tale of 4 being Asian kryptonite!
Andrew Allemann says
See Kassey’s post about that: https://domainnamewire.com/2020/03/18/are-domains-containing-4-really-bad/
Kassey Lee says
I had a phone conversation with Yue Dai who mentioned he had posted a message on LinkedIn about the sale. See https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yue-dai-b848951a3_just-now-84com-was-traded-for-about-15-activity-6653511510809251841–tff
Chen says
the NN.com seems that there has not been much increase in these years…..
In 2016….I have sold one for 8-figure yuan…..
in fact….the number “4” is not popular for chinese……
84……really a extreme combination….8+4…
Kassey Lee says
Thanks for the sharing, Chen. When it comes to the number 4, some companies such as 4.cn have no problem with it.
Kassey Lee says
BTW, congrats on the great NN sale in 2016
Robert says
I have a NN.cn and LL.cn name that I’ve been wanting to sell. Is 4.cn or goldenname.cn the main place to sell it? It seems during the global shutdown, not many are willing to buy or pay much for it. I think my timing is bad, and I should have sold 4-5 years ago. Any suggestions?
Kassey Lee says
If you are on Linkedin, ask @Yue Dai, the Chinese investor with a large portfolio of LL .com domains.