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How to use 4.cn to see domain sales in China

by — Domain Sales 0 Comments

Keep track of market activity in China.

I received a promotional email from 4.cn a few days ago. Although I don’t sell directly in China, out of curiosity, I clicked the link and learned that you can see results of domain auctions and the information is available in English.

Apparently, you need to sign up and then log in. Here’s how to access the information.

  1. Visit 4.cn
  2. Click Live Auctions
  3. Click the Closed Auctions tab

graphic showing domain auction results at 4.cn

You’ll see a list of auction results. Prices are shown in yuan but you can click the Detail button to see additional information. For example, I see that VQX.com was sold for 59,499 yuan (or $8,172) on February 12, 2020, and the reserve price range is $2,747 to $6,867. This is followed by the bid history.

Graphic depicting top sales at 4.cn

Go back to the Closed Auction page and you’ll also see the Top Sales section which lists the most expensive domains. No time indication is given but they likely represent the best domain sales of all time at 4.cn. For example, the No. 1 sale on the list is 125.com for 1.8 million yuan, which is also reported by Namebio as a sale which occurred on June 27, 2015 for $292,214 at 4.CN

So, if you are interested in the Chinese domain market, 4.cn can be a good place for your study because the domain sale information is provided in English.

What these recent four-letter domain sales might mean

by — Domain Sales 0 Comments

Kassey Lee breaks down how these domains might be used.

Four L's on a blue and orange background

eName just reported some four-letter domains sold recently from its marketplace. As you can see, there is a large variation in the prices, which makes domain investing very challenging. I have added my own suggestions as to what these acronym domains can mean in Chinese.

KGZJ.com was sold for 29,999 yuan (about $4,500). KGZJ may be Pinyin phrases such as Kuai Gou Zhi Jia (快购之家=home of speedy purchase), Kao Gu Zhuan Jia (考古专家=archaeology expert), and Ku Gong Zuo Jian (酷工作间=cool working space).

LYQC.com was sold for 2800 yuan ($420). LYQC may be Lu You Qi Cai (旅游七彩=colorful tour), Le Yu Qian Cai (乐于钱财=take pleasure in money and wealth), and Ling Yang Qing Chun (羚羊青春=youthful as antelope).

ZPBF.com was sold for 2,788 yuan ($420). ZPBF may be Zhen Pin Bu Fa (真品不乏=no lack of genuine products), Zhao Pin Bu Fan (招聘不凡=recruit the extraordinary), and Zhao Pian Bin Fen (照片缤纷=vast and various photos).

ORQP.com was sold for 2,080 yuan ($310). ORQP may be Ou Ran Qi Pao (偶然旗袍=incidentally wearing Qipao), Ou Rui Qi Pai (鸥锐气派=an imposing manner like a sharp gull), and Ou Ri Qi Pei (欧日汽配=auto parts from Europe and Japan).

Four-letter domains are used in corporate China, for example, MGTV.com (Mango TV) and CCTV.com (China Central Television) in the 2019 Top 100 Chinese Internet Companies Report.

The price information can be found at eName.

A mysterious domain name sale

by — Domain Sales 13 Comments

Even after researching it, this domain sale doesn’t make sense.

A question mark on a chalkboard

It all started when I read that XPJ44.COM sold for $4,105 last month according to Namebio. Even though I look at a lot of domains everyday, I must confess that I don’t understand this domain.

First, I went to Wayback Machine but found not much activity on XPJ44.COM during the last few years. That means the domain does not carry any traffic or backlinks which may be worth something.

However, Wayback Machine did point me to 0567.net where XPJ44.COM is still listed for sale. It also has many domains beginning with XPJ or ending with 44. Entering ‘xpj’ into Baidu search showed many sites related to entertainment or gambling but I did not notice any domain beginning with XPJ followed by a number in the first 10 pages of the search results.

One search result that caught my attention is GrandLisboaHotels.com, which is owned by Grand Lisboa, a Macau-based hotel that has a casino and an entertainment venue. Its name in Chinese is Xin Pu Jing (新葡京)=new Portugal capital. Macau was a colony of Portugal). So, it seems to me that the acronym XJP is associated with gambling.

Then I did a search on eName’s domain marketplace to find hundreds of domains based on the letter+number pattern ending with ’44’. This shows there are investors trading this kind of domain.

Yes, XPJ can be an acronym for many Pinyin phrases such as Xian Pi Jiu (鲜啤酒=draft beer), Xin Ping Jing (心平静=a tranquil mind), and Xiao Pei Jian (销配件=sell parts). 44 also rhymes with many Pinyin phrases such as Shi Shi (世世=generations), Shi Shi (市市=markets), and Si Shi (思世=think of the world). However, creating a meaningful and easy to remember Chinese brand from XPJ44.com is not easy. Actually, I have not come across any large Chinese company with domains similar to such a pattern.

Overall, my impression is that XJP44.com is associated with gambling and similar domains containing 44 may be limited to being traded among investors only. I fail to see how it can be used by a corporate buyer.

Uniregistry adds GoDaddy branding to landers

by — Domain Sales 9 Comments

Landing pages now show GoDaddy logo and say that Uni Market is being acquired by GoDaddy.

Uniregistry and GoDady branding

GoDaddy’s acquisition of Uniregistry hasn’t closed yet, but Uniregistry has already added GoDaddy branding to its parked pages and for-sale landers (pictured above).

The message shows both Uniregistry’s and GoDaddy’s logos, noting that “Uniregistry Market will join Godaddy.”

This is a smart move. I’ve always wondered if Uniregistry’s brand, which is not well known, impacts leads and sales. Now, Uniregistry is able to leverage GoDaddy’s brand recognition immediately.

It will be interesting to see if this impacts conversion rates and gives buyers more trust.

13 end user domain name sales

by — Domain Sales 2 Comments

A matchmaking service, a Minnesota church and a ladder manufacturer bought domain names.

Picture of bundles of 500 euro notes with the words "End User Domain Sales" and the logo for Sedo

Here’s a look at some of the domains end users bought at Sedo this past week. You can review previous end user sales lists here.

ManDap.com $20,010 – This domain was bought by Matrimony.com Limited. This is a network of matchmaking services with more than 4,000 employees in over 20 offices across India. The company also has offices in the US and Dubai.

NaturWald.de €15,000 – Natur means nature and Wald is “forest” in German. The website is under development for a group that advocates for forest and tree conservation.

Alfatec.com $7,995 – Forwards to Alfatec.biz, a machinery parts manufacturer that produces linear guides, comprehensive component modules and other solutions for linear and handling technology.

Tarot.co.uk £6,995 – This website is in development with a “Coming soon” sign and the tag line “Discover your destiny” along with a UK address and a list of content editors.

FindGrace.com $5,999 – Forwards to GraceFellowshipMN.org, a church fellowship group in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. This is a nice domain.

NAHoldings.com $5,000 – Crosscountry Courier, Inc. which provides courier services.

Impal.com $4,700 – Forwards to Impal.com.py, a Paraguayan agricultural import and export company.

SafetyControls.com $3,750 – This domain was purchased by the Cotterman Company, a commercial steel ladder manufacturer out of Chicago.

Trafo.com €3,650 – A website in development with this message, “Trafo wishes to understand these phenomena and to tab on the opportunities to contribute to independent quality media and a well informed public. Trafo collaborates with and invests in companies with a focus on media tech and content tech striving for independence and quality”.

Until.co.uk £3,300 – This website in development with a “Coming soon in early 2020” message and claiming to be London’s first full-service co-working space for health and wellness freelance workers.

Backify.com $3,250 – A company called Admazing bought this domain.

Jordania.com €3,000 – This domain was bought by the tour operator Civitatis Tours SL,  which offers global tours in English in multiple locations worldwide. This purchase could be to support their tours in Jordan.

JohnMcLean.com $2,970 – Info-Tech Research Group bought this domain.  John McLean is the founder.