Afternic Closes Nearly $800k in Sales

Afternic sold just a hair under $800,000 in domain names last week. AskYourDoctor.com led the way, selling for $70,000. Sales in three categories – society, shopping and business, accounted for over 35% of sales for the week. A name that I recommended a couple of weeks ago, GoBags.com, sold for $4,500. Knowing the buyer and his background, I would bet that this is going to turn out to be a great website.

Afternic’s public sales from last week are listed below:

askyourdoctor.com $70,000
kari.com $63,000
novvi.com $22,000
anewwordorder.com $22,000
chinaguide.com $20,000
gamingzone.com $14,500
petfoods.com $12,890
nannyjobs.net $10,750
PrivateWealthManagement.com $10,250
linktomypc.com $9,999
foreverhealth.com $7,400
leadstart.com $6,288
videum.com $5,500
clubentrepreneur.com $5,000
infracity.com $5,000
cansurvive.com $5,000
bookinghotel.net $5,000
wallstreettrading.com $4,500
gobags.com $4,500
wdbh.com $4,388
themusicstudio.com $4,377
hackshield.com $4,300
onlinebusinessbuilders.com $4,288
agitprop.com $4,250
powercoffee.com $4,200
baca.org $4,000
songnetwork.com $3,988
depablo.com $3,988
mypico.com $3,960
qvso.com $3,788
creativehistory.com $3,688
aspenmedical.com $3,600
golfzen.com $3,588
wirejewelry.com $3,500
the5.net $3,488
tastenow.com $3,388
flightschina.com $3,288
helpforwomen.com $3,188
extracard.com $3,188
canadiancapital.com $3,188
yellowbike.com $3,088
allara.com $3,088
gvfm.com $3,004
himalayanart.com $3,000
psychiatricdrugs.com $3,000
shotter.com $3,000
localizations.com $3,000
maxseo.com $3,000
MYREAL.com $2,999
FirstClassAthletes.com $2,995
verifico.com $2,988
oceanri.com $2,888
thewomensmuseum.com $2,888
futureinsights.com $2,869
apersonaltouch.com $2,850
vitaguide.com $2,800
lollipopworld.com $2,795
amdglobal.com $2,788
clearz.com $2,788
facelifts.net $2,788
economicpulse.com $2,750
ighr.com $2,750
feelbeauty.com $2,688
pocketpet.com $2,688
holdontight.com $2,688
insidetheindustry.com $2,688
gfashion.com $2,688
carbodyrepairs.com $2,670
giftsavvy.com $2,588
liggroup.com $2,588
solidpartner.com $2,588
forlife.net $2,588
visitczech.com $2,500
tshirtshack.com $2,500
new-s.com $2,500
repairdirect.com $2,500
fress.com $2,500
MedicareUSA.com $2,500
cleanstuff.com $2,488
bioavailability.com $2,488
omies.com $2,488
happybee.com $2,450
tradingit.com $2,400
PantryService.com $2,390
yeahgo.com $2,388
energycenters.com $2,388
taxcontrol.com $2,388
freetodream.com $2,388
homeltd.com $2,388
creativeroads.com $2,388
collectiveworld.com $2,388
safebox.net $2,360
videounlimited.com $2,300
thefranciscans.com $2,288
clemsononline.com $2,250
adpuzzle.com $2,200
globalfinancialsystem.com $2,200
safesolar.com $2,200
digitalrage.com $2,188
qfoods.com $2,188
madgraphics.com $2,188
militarypark.com $2,188
travelmagazine.org $2,188
jewelryrepair.net $2,161
bringvalue.com $2,088
happyselling.com $2,088
net-now.com $2,088
tahina.com $2,088
iportfolio.net $2,088
sukar.net $2,088
diabeticexperts.com $2,012
salaryprotector.com $2,000
studiomix.com $2,000
performnow.com $2,000
innovationsystems.com $2,000
seomap.com $2,000
vegastech.com $2,000
serverservices.com $2,000
possibilitiesunlimited.com $2,000
soaringeagles.com $2,000
ReverseDomains.com $2,000
engineerlink.com $2,000
kstar.net $2,000
magiccarcare.com $1,988
primaforma.com $1,900
WorldGotTalent.com $1,895
Pindle.com $1,895
exclusivekids.com $1,888
thebestofmiami.com $1,888
customarticles.com $1,888
sforzando.com $1,888
livinglab.org $1,888
pureresource.com $1,850
cheapflightasia.com $1,842
resilientpeople.com $1,837
perfectgym.com $1,822
satplanet.com $1,800
myonlineauction.com $1,800
diinternational.com $1,800
greenthinking.org $1,800
thelovebugs.com $1,788
referapatient.com $1,788
startupoptions.com $1,788
euronewyork.com $1,788
customarticle.com $1,788
winnersvision.com $1,788
energyupdate.com $1,779
local-heroes.com $1,750
sleepart.com $1,750
RealDynamics.com $1,750
idfc.org $1,750
carbodyrepair.com $1,730
hotelcontractor.com $1,700
homegrownusa.com $1,700
buyingnewyork.com $1,688
mormonmusical.com $1,688
orlandoautoservice.com $1,688
onlyonepercent.com $1,688
AIRCONDITIONINGMIAMI.com $1,688
grandpeople.com $1,675
curso.net $1,640
donator.org $1,605
asapelectric.com $1,600
ecofriendlybuilding.com $1,588
propertiesinvestment.com $1,588
thebigdeals.com $1,588
celebrationoflife.org $1,588
thefreeads.com $1,532
resourcefulmom.com $1,500
americanfreedom.com $1,500
highgarden.com $1,500
eyenow.com $1,500
mobilitymd.com $1,500
knittedfabrics.com $1,500
miamidream.com $1,500
emergehealth.com $1,500
nationalpulse.com $1,500
communityadvisors.com $1,500
starbars.com $1,500
fabricexpress.com $1,500
differentclass.com $1,500
canadamining.com $1,500
redcrest.com $1,500
brownservice.com $1,500
poltrock.com $1,500
traveluna.com $1,500
chinajewel.com $1,500
vicis.com $1,500
mostawesome.com $1,500
whitepaint.com $1,500
partyallnight.com $1,500
zshade.com $1,500
WillBuyYourCar.com $1,495
BusDeal.com $1,495
setyoursights.com $1,488
aegisinternational.com $1,488
sweetparis.com $1,485
knownote.com $1,450
independentcandidate.com $1,450
simplifiedenglish.com $1,426
activetours.com $1,425
justiceparty.com $1,420
expressenvelopes.com $1,400
liquidsteel.com $1,400
dearbridget.com $1,388
operationindependence.com $1,388
outstandingtechnology.com $1,388
thecrowd.net $1,388
betravel.com $1,360
gardenofeaten.com $1,350
krit.com $1,350
cottoncollection.com $1,350
mothprevention.com $1,350
sportscoolers.com $1,300
teamcoolers.com $1,300
absolutelearning.com $1,300
FarmingInfo.com $1,299
DirtyGas.com $1,295
eshopnow.com $1,288
saturdaydelivery.com $1,288
americanbusinessconcepts.com $1,288
bigcommerce.net $1,288
brachvogel.com $1,266
giftbazaar.com $1,202
givingandreceiving.com $1,200
creativecarpentry.com $1,200
electricmotorsolutions.com $1,200
minivid.com $1,200
AllForCare.com $1,200
saverschoice.com $1,200
geofence.com $1,200
wealthsafe.com $1,188
hillwig.com $1,150
decision-point.com $1,116
familyplays.com $1,100
mountainfuel.com $1,088
tribaltraditions.com $1,088
horselife.net $1,088
ascom.org $1,088
expertauto.net $1,088
marketingnavigator.com $1,050
changethesubject.com $1,044
bigdummies.com $1,044
staffgroup.com $1,000
plantrental.com $1,000
happygrowlucky.com $1,000
auto-select.com $1,000
etminan.com $1,000
superbdomains.com $1,000
thelocationmanager.com $1,000
atriummusic.com $1,000
cheaney.com $1,000
outstaff.com $1,000
schildt.com $1,000
sowingtheseeds.com $1,000
junglesports.com $1,000
antichisapori.com $1,000
enterdesign.com $1,000
TheRockStage.com $1,000
hdlcholesterol.com $1,000
domaincart.com $1,000
almostart.com $1,000
brotherlylove.org $1,000
casali.net $1,000
funnypicture.org $1,000

Elliot Silver
Elliot Silver
About The Author: Elliot Silver is an Internet entrepreneur and publisher of DomainInvesting.com. Elliot is also the founder and President of Top Notch Domains, LLC, a company that has closed eight figures in deals. Please read the DomainInvesting.com Terms of Use page for additional information about the publisher, website comment policy, disclosures, and conflicts of interest. Reach out to Elliot: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

17 COMMENTS

  1. I know you talked about “Go Bags” for hurricane’s but they could be a portable toilet for some as well 🙂 Not saying that is what the domain will be used for but when you gotta go, you may just need a go bag.

  2. I’m sure sometimes domainers will often look at these lists and say, “Why did that name sell for that price? I have a name similar to that.” Of course it only takes one buyer with a fat wallet and a seller with good negotiating skills to extract a big paycheck. But I’m just curious if the sales figures which get reported by the major aftermarkets have any independent audit process to validate them. Before a publicly-traded company reports their annual results via a 10K, there is an audit which must take place and management must make certain assertations regarding the reported results. Sarbanes Oxley actually criminalizes fraudulent financial reporting. Does that happen in the domaining industry or do we just blindly assume that these sometimes questionable sales figures really occur? And if they don’t, fill in the blank….

  3. Something ain’t right in these after market sales and results. How can I have similar or better domains, as well as some other domainers, in all these after market sites, and doesn’t produce similar results? It’s not scientific at all. Somebody is doing something. It doesn’t add up, Leonard, you’re damn right.

  4. You do have to wonder about some of the stated sale prices at auction, and the mystery deepens when we understand that a domain auction “lives and dies” on it’s ability to attract sellers and sell names at a good price…

  5. Most of those domains are BuyDomains’ inventory so Afternic continues to shun the average Joe who used to do very well with them.

    Plus, Afternic’s online system is a horrendous interface, very clumsy and very hard to use. Listing domains with them results in domains waiting forever to be approved and I found that I had to track people down just to get them to approve listings and, well, simply do their jobs.

    No more afternic for me. They’re going to favor selling something out of their inventory of 3+ million names over my 1500.

  6. For the first half of 2011, vs. 2010 sales of listed names are up 58%…And the sales are generated off of inbound leads, in most cases. So there is no “push” to preferentially sell owned inventory over listed inventory.

    However, there are factors driving sales which should be noted:

    1. DLS Premium, names must be priced. Many of the listed names are not priced, and thus do not get maximum exposure on the largest available network (that includes 6 of the world’s top 10 resellers).

    2. Owned names are parked and so have a “for sale” link at the top of the page. When a prospective buyer types the domain in directly, they see that message and a lead is captured. A significant portion of listed names are not parked, so do not display this link. We generally see a 2-5x lift in sales when this link is displayed for any type of name.

    3. When a name is not priced and an inquiry for a listed name comes in, the sales rep must reach out and get a response from the seller. If the prospective buyer has a number of names in mind, they may opt to move on and buy a different name.

    We are actively working on projects to improve the user experience–from getting names live on the site after basic verifications, to designing a user interface that is efficient and clean.

    We absolutely appreciate suggestions and feedback, and have gathered a great deal of input from customers, All of this is being factored into current projects.

    I am more than happy to hear from anyone that has suggestions: eobrien [at] namemedia.com.

  7. Since we don’t know whether a domain was sold at its asking price, floor price, minimum price or an offer somewhere in between, it’s hard to know how the sales happened. With various factors involved, not all domain sales have the same scenario.

    For example, if your domain was sold at a figure between asking price and floor price, maybe your rep was negotiating well with his/her skill. Maybe the buyer was hungry but they didn’t have the budget to pay your asking price, so they made their best offer. It happened that their best offer was between your asking price and floor price, so a sale was completed. In this case, the rep’s skill didn’t really play a significant role.

    What we’re getting weekly is the resulting prices (if they’re all true) to give us an idea of what’s going on. It doesn’t mean a similar domain will be sold later at a similar price. It could be the only domain sale in that market to sell for such a price.

    It is encouraging to sellers that, there’re domains sold with good prices all the time. Best of success.

  8. @Ellen: The interface has been ‘worked on’ for 6 years now. Its time that excuse stops. Back in 2005 and earlier, the interface was perfect. And problems were addressed immediately. After the sale, the system went down hill and if you dont agree with me then thats one thing; but if you dont *believe* me then all you need to do is search.

    When you do, you find scary things like this:
    http://www.dotweekly.com/afternic-com-pending-review-problem-happens-again/

    But, when you’re a customer you do not need to search to find things like that – you experience it. You read about the problems that never seem to get fixed and constantly recur, in your own Afternic forums…. Its amazing to see people complaining about the same bugs from 2006, 2007 and on – to this very year!!!

    The bottom line is that the Afternic system is the most bug-ridden, untested, domain listing platform out there.

    The experience is dismal, at best, and not worth listing domains when it takes weeks and then emails upon emails to get them “approved”. Its like, the lights are on but no one is around over there.

    Nah…. too many software developers out there that can build their own listing systems.

    And, regarding the statement that there isnt preference to BuyDomains’ inventory…. how cam there not be? Do the math. BuyDomains domains are generally domains that are priced ending in “88”. There are 90 out of 265 on that list. 34% If there are, lets guess, 20% of the remaining domains that are not priced in 88 on there – from BuyDomains’ inventory then we’re looking at almost 50% of that list being BuyDomains’ sales and the other 50% is the average joe’s.

    Not very good odds for someone with 1000 domains, 700, 500, 250, or even worse FIFTY domains to sell. Especially when they may revert back to “pending review” OR, worse, the pricing changes and no edits were ever made! Yep, thats happened to me one too many times. Very scary to log in and find out that you’re $1000 listing is now 750 (which was a PREVIOUS price some time back).

    Its very apparent that there cant be too many good programmers over there and thats ashame because when it was small little afternic in Florida – it was so much better.

    There is a long way to go before I ever reconsider trusting my domains there. I sell 10+ per week on my own without any assistance from “a large brokerage” anyway. But what about the others out there?

  9. By the way, Ellen, that “Mike” on Jul 09 at page:
    http://www.dotweekly.com/afternic-com-pending-review-problem-happens-again/

    is not me. But it may as well be. Mike, Leonard or Sameh — doesnt matter… they’ve all experienced what myself and a myriad of others have and its what I posted above.

    Its probably best to tear Afternic down and rebuild it properly and from the ground up -OR- just reinstate the old system that was purchased from the former Florida company. At least it worked.

  10. @ Mike,

    I appreciate the discussion, and I understand that there are real concerns here. I did not say that things were being addressed to be glib. There is a very serious commitment to addressing these issues, how would sales for 3rd party domain sellers have jumped 58% in the first half of the year compared to 2010?

    And I’d say that comparing a platform with many millions of domains to one that was tiny, by comparison, is perhaps not a realistic analogy.

    As for sales: I mentioned several significant factors which do drive sales. If a significant portion of sellers do not follow the optimization path for sales, that will be reflected in what is sold.

    As I mentioned in the earlier comment: most leads are inbound, so if your name is listed, has the “for sale” tag and is priced and a lead comes in, the team will negotiate a sale.

    I’d also say this: membership is free, there are no “up front” fees–so you can list your domain on DLS and elsewhere without penalty. Why not pursue every available avenue?

  11. Hi Ellen,

    Didnt think you were glib. However I have heard that line so many times now that it doesnt register with me. Do you know what I mean? “we’re working on it” can only go so far when its continually not working or suddenly stops working like it used to when I heard the “we’re working on it” phrase. The same things are constantly a problem and not only is THAT the problem but the fact that its constantly a problem is also a problem. It means fixes arent going in correctly or code is being overwritten or not controlled properly or the database is being restored on top of itself – thereby wiping out changes we’ve made… The problems are very deep and disturbing.

    Maybe its time to outsource the system design and development to someone else who can develop a bulletproof listing and brokering system. Outsource not meaning to China or India – please. We have enough of that going on these days. There are plenty of very very good software developers right there in your area or elsewhere in the U.S. I am one of them. 🙂

    Why not pursue every available avenue? Because this particular avenue has been riddled with potholes and has destroyed the “vehicle” so to speak. The ride is not enjoyable at all. has been years of frustration with a system that has wasted my time and really tested my patience. If I could invoice the amount of my wasted time then I would have a nice chunk of money.

    Time wasted writing emails, producing screen shots, following up on why emails werent responded to, trying to pin down the status of what the issues are…. It was so bad that I had thought that my account was hosed so i asked for an entirely new account. No difference. Then I looked online and saw many, many others describing the same issues and realized it wasnt me or my account or my names… I began to realize that I was debugging a system that I didnt develop at my expense and my time. I cant do that. I need to get paid for what I do and services I provide just like I am not going to sell domains there and not get charged a fee, correct? OK.

    It became so tiring for me that I will not try it again. Fool me once, fool me twice and in this case – fool me a dozen or more times as I tried to give the benefit of the doubt and second/third/fourth and more chances.

    As you have confirmed, most leads are inbound and that goes for my leads as well. As I mentioned, I am a software developer by day but I dabble in domains on the side. Having become fed up with buggy online systems (Afternic is not the only one with trouble, but it is the worst hands-down – by far), I have developed my own system to handled these inbound lead for myself. I weed out bot traffic and close sales on my own. Maybe someday I will open it up to others but if I did then I would have to give up my day job because I would want to provide top-notch service to people and not let something run on auto-pilot, which is the feeling I got each time I was involved with trying to list and sell names at afternic. I am not ready to give up my day job just yet though, but who knows what the future holds.

    Just be certain that its not rocket science to be able to create a system like that. And the “old” Afternic system from days long past was certainly capable of scaling to million of domain names and transactions because I know what software was being used and its probably the same core software products to date. I spent a lot of time discussing changes and suggestions with a developer back 7-8 years ago going by the handle or name “BD” and he was on the ball when it came to fixes, updates, etc. They all were.

    The bottom line is that I have wasted a LOT of time with this topic and I dont understand why I continue to. 🙂 I just spend 30 minutes replying, just to this, and if I could invoice for it, that would be another $50 — so there is my point.

    Good luck, I hope Afternic works it out because that would be good for all domainers but if not, there’s always plenty options AND opportunities for people.. 😉

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