Snapnames/Moniker Releases DomainFest Live Auction List with My Picks

Elliot Silver
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8

Snapnames/Moniker has released the final inventory list for the DomainFest live auction, which will be held in Santa Monica on Thursday, February 4, 2011 at 4:30pm local time (7:30 ET). Bidding will also be held online on Snapnames. You can view the full inventory on the Moniker website.

My favorites are bolded below (I did not submit any names):

Vnq.com $2,501 – $5,000
TrafficJam.com $10,001 – $25,000
DrunkDrivers.com $10,001 – $25,000
SecurityEquipment.com $10,001 – $25,000
P5.com $100,001 – $250,000
Kkt.com $10,001 – $25,000
LocalCalls.com $2,501 – $5,000
Flaw.com $10,001 – $25,000
Relative.com $25,001 – $50,000
Kiss.me $5,001 – $10,000
PartyFood.com $10,001 – $25,000
HomeRestoration.com $25,001 – $50,000
Location.net $50,001 – $100,000
TourGuides.com $50,001 – $100,000
OnlineDrugs.com $50,001 – $100,000
RentalHouse.com $50,001 – $100,000
AdvertisingAgency.com $100,001 – $250,000
Love.me $5,001 – $10,000
Seasons.com $100,001 – $250,000
Hy.com $250,001 – $500,000
ExoticCars.com $250,001 – $500,000
Footwear.com $750,001 – $1MM
SlotMachine.com $1MM – $5MM
Savants.org $2,501 – $5,000
HomeAppraiser.com $5,001 – $10,000
Ufn.com $5,001 – $10,000
SnowboardingEquipment.com $5,001 – $10,000
Bloodline.com $10,001 – $25,000
Linen.com $10,001 – $25,000
IShows.com $25,001 – $50,000
RoadBikes.com $25,001 – $50,000
TennisCourts.com $10,001 – $25,000
Hikers.com $25,001 – $50,000
Apn.com $50,001 – $100,000
FileSharing.com $100,001 – $250,000
InsuranceProducts.com $100,001 – $250,000
HomePrices.com $100,001 – $250,000
Won.com $100,001 – $250,000
Dust.com $100,001 – $250,000
Countries.com $100,001 – $250,000
ComicBook.com $250,001 – $500,000
Smoking.com $250,001 – $500,000
HouseInsurance.com $500,001 – $750,000
HomeRefinancing.com $500,001 – $750,000
Cotton.com $750,001 – $1MM
MedicalBilling.com $750,001 – $1MM
Girl.com $1MM – $5MM
InsuranceQuote.com $1MM – $5MM
Vehicles.com $1MM – $5MM
RxRx.com $5,001 – $10,000
EasyDivorce.com $25,001 – $50,000
Tabloids.com $25,001 – $50,000
ChatWorld.com $50,001 – $100,000
Newlyweds.com $50,001 – $100,000
Loo.com $50,001 – $100,000
Dorms.com $100,001 – $250,000
Toasts.com $100,001 – $250,000
Bootleg.com $100,001 – $250,000
Eel.com $100,001 – $250,000
DatabaseRecovery.com $50,001 – $100,000
Rash.com $50,001 – $100,000
Row.com $50,001 – $100,000
Chili.com $100,001 – $250,000
BankAuctions.com $250,001 – $500,000
WirelessPhone.com $250,001 – $500,000
MountainBiking.com $250,001 – $500,000
OfficePark.com $5,001 – $10,000
RecyclingCenters.com $5,001 – $10,000
ComputerCrash.com $10,001 – $25,000
Engraved.com $25,001 – $50,000
Porn.org $500,001 – $750,000
Designers.com $500,001 – $750,000
ICarts.com No Reserve
Uzy.com $5,001 – $10,000
BankWires.com $10,001 – $25,000
BridgeLoan.com $10,001 – $25,000
Decades.com $10,001 – $25,000
FaceValue.com $10,001 – $25,000
SportsCamps.com $50,001 – $100,000
Deductible.com $25,001 – $50,000
Damages.com $25,001 – $50,000
SearchFlights.com $25,001 – $50,000
Bucket.com $50,001 – $100,000
Abg.com $250,001 – $500,000
Closings.com $25,001 – $50,000
BeachDestination.com $25,001 – $50,000
Allergists.com $50,001 – $100,000
LoanQuotes.com $50,001 – $100,000
PregnancyTest.com $500,001 – $750,000
List.com $1MM – $5MM
UsTravel.com $25,001 – $50,000
TemporaryJobs.com $50,001 – $100,000
WireCash.com $50,001 – $100,000
Bvi.com $100,001 – $250,000

i.CO Auction Canceled by Registry

Elliot Silver
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20

.CO RegistryMoniker/Snapnames was scheduled to hold an auction for i.CO from Februrary 3-10, and I expected the sale to be significant, especially with a reported minimum bid of $100,000. I still expect i.CO to sell for a lot of money, but it looks like that is not going to happen in the very near future.

According to Lori Anne Wardi’s  post on the .CO Registry blog, the i.CO auction has been canceled. Apparently, the demand has been significant, with “well over a hundred businesses expressing different level of interest in the domain name.” As a result,  the .CO Registry has decided to scrap the auction format and work with Moniker/Snapnames to find a buyer for this domain name.

I think this was probably a very good strategic move. If the .CO Registry and Moniker/Snapnames think they can hammer out a better deal in private – or without the confines of an auction, then that’s what they need to do.

As a domain investor, I am a bit disappointment. I had hoped to really see what the market would yield for this domain name, as I believe it would be a good indicator of the strength of .CO investments, especially if a large company purchased it.

The wait for another .CO auction to  gauge  the health of the premium domain name aftermarket won’t be too long, as Sedo’s auction will take place February 10-17.

i.CO Auction: Bidder Deadline January 21

Elliot Silver
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6

Snapnames/Moniker will be auctioning off the single letter domain name, i.CO at the beginning of February. In order to bid, entities must be pre-approved by January 21, 2011 – less than 10 days away. If you want to bid but aren’t approved, it looks like you’ll be SOL.

The private auction  will open online on Thursday, February 3, 2011 and conclude at 3:15 pm (US) Eastern time on Thursday, February 10, 2011. Bidding can be done online at Snapnames.

i.CO, or by contacting Moniker:  sales@moniker.com or (800) 688-6311.

According to the press release,

“I.CO is one of the shortest and most memorable URLs in existence,” said Juan Diego Calle, CEO and founder of .CO Internet S.A.S.   “This is an exceptionally valuable piece of Internet real estate, and the teams at SnapNames and Moniker have set up an outstanding auction process to alert and engage the right buyers.”

The .CO Registry has allocated only a few single-letter domain names to date, several of which have enjoyed high-profile success, including Twitter’s t.CO and GoDaddy’s x.CO, both used as branded URL shorteners, and Overstock’s o.CO, which is replacing Overstock.com as the company’s primary brand for all of its international websites.

e.CO was sold by Sedo last year for $81,000, and the domain name is currently up for sale. Interested buyers can visit e.CO to contact the domain owner. I understand the owner is considering offers of $350,000 or higher at the present time.

Oversee News: Snapnames Settles Two “Halvarez” Lawsuits, Including Suit with Nelson Brady

Elliot Silver
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0

I just received an email from an Oversee media representative announcing that Snapnames has settled two lawsuits related to the “Halvarez” bidding scandal that sent shockwaves through the domain space a year ago.

It’s good to see that the company is moving on from this mess with some new regulations in place to help prevent a reoccurrence. Hopefully there is more oversight in place to ensure this type of impropriety doesn’t happen again.

One thing in the settlement of the class action litigation I like is that Snapnames “will make annual reports available to SnapNames customers regarding any reports or investigations of inappropriate bidding.” Any time “blind” auctions take place, there’s always the possibility of shill bidding. I think this transparency will be beneficial to bidders.

Press release below:

SnapNames and its parent company, Oversee.net, have reached a preliminary settlement of Resmer vs. SnapNames.com and Oversee.net, a class action filing arising from a former employee’s improper bidding activity on the SnapNames platform.   The action was filed in California shortly after SnapNames announced its rebate program for affected customers last November.

Under this settlement:

·                 Class members (which are United States residents who were extended the rebate offer but have not yet accepted) have been or shortly will be notified of the settlement terms and amounts (which are identical to the amounts affected bidders were offered in the rebate offer we extended last November).

·                 Though our rebate program officially expires November 4, 2010, the deadline to make a claim as a member of the class is December 17, 2010.

·                 Unless a class member opts out of the settlement, that member is bound by the settlement terms, which include a release of all further claims against SnapNames and Oversee relating to the “Halvarez” matter.

·                 SnapNames has created and adopted a formal policy regarding inappropriate bidding activity, and will make annual reports available to SnapNames customers regarding any reports or investigations of inappropriate bidding.

·                 Unclaimed proceeds from the class settlement will be donated to charitable organizations and industry causes.

Class members can download instructions and a claim form at www.snapsettlement.com.

Separately, we have also resolved our outstanding claim against Nelson Brady, the former employee responsible for this activity.   While terms of the settlement are not public and will not be disclosed, Oversee believes the financial penalty is appropriate considering the seriousness of the improper activity.

Statement from Jeff Kupietzky, CEO of Oversee.net

“While this has been an unfortunate situation for SnapNames and its customers and employees, we’re proud of the faith our customers have shown us in the past year.   We’re pleased to have these matters settled and are moving on with our business and our focus on serving customers.”

Context

·                 In October 2009, Oversee discovered an employee, Nelson Brady, using an account under the false name “Hank Alvarez,” engaged in improper bidding activities in domain name auctions on the SnapNames platform.

·                 Oversee and SnapNames disclosed the situation to its customers and employees in November 2009.   Oversee made available to affected customers a cash rebate in the amount of the calculated overpayment, plus 5.22% interest (the highest applicable federal rate during the affected time period).

·                 Since November 2009, approximately 84% of the aggregate rebate amount has been claimed by impacted parties.   Including the class action settlement, SnapNames will have made more than $2 million available to impacted customers.

Customer Service

SnapNames customers who have questions about the rebate offer and/or the class settlement can contact the SnapNames support team:

On the web:                                 http://snapnames.custhelp.com

By e-mail:                                       support@snapnames.com

Phone:                                                 +1 (866) 690-6279 (toll-free in the U.S.)
+1 (503) 241-8547 (outside the U.S.)

Snapnames & Moniker: Changes Coming

Elliot Silver
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3

According to an email that was sent to Moniker and Snapnames clients on Saturday afternoon, some big changes will be coming based on feedback received from clients. The updates and upgrades will be made on Monday, September 27, 2010.

Some of the changes described in the email include:

  • You can now register and search for domain names more quickly while keeping up-to-date on upcoming opportunities for buying and selling domain names at auctions.This includes a more streamlined navigation as well as look and feel.
  • The company opened, and will continue to add to, a resource center to provide you information and tips. This includes articles, videos and interviews.
  • Account Management: Moniker Domain Management and SnapNames Auction activities can now be found in the “My Account” area of each site.
  • Their support portal now includes an expanded knowledge base where you can submit and track your questions across all of your Oversee.net accounts. The portal is available and monitored 365 days a year.

You can have a look at the SnapNames video of changes made in the account area of the sites, and/or you can view the Moniker video of changes made in the account area of the sites.

Restaurants.com Up for Auction

Elliot Silver
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6

I was just informed of some of the Snapnames/Moniker live auction inventory for the DomainFest conference in Prague next month, and there are several fantastic domain names up for sale, including Restaurants.com.   The reserve prices are high (“$5MM and up” for Restaurants.com), but it’s nice to see some great quality new inventory at live auctions.

Some of the featured live auction names include:

  • Restaurants.com
  • Zip.com
  • Digital.com
  • Sexy.com
  • Cheat.com
  • Physicians.com
  • Campaign.com
  • Vehicles.com
  • Commercial.com
  • MX.com
  • LawFirm.com
  • Democracy.com

The live auction will take place on Wednesday, October 6, at 10am ET (7am PT). Bidding can be done on the Snapnames platform, or bidders can choose to bid over the phone with a company representative. After the live auction has been completed, there will be a silent, extended auction until Wednesday, October 13, at 3:15pm ET (12:15 pm PT).

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