If you receive a domain name purchase inquiry or offer from the DomainBrokers@godaddy.com email or an individual broker, you should understand the broker is working on behalf of a buyer. These emails are from the GoDaddy Domain Broker Service (DBS) team. The broker’s goal is to get the best price for a client who paid to make an anonymous purchase inquiry.
GoDaddy DBS brokers do not represent domain name sellers. In fact, if a domain name is listed for sale via GoDaddy (Afternic), any inquiries and offers will be made by a different team. Those brokers work on behalf of the domain name sellers who listed the domain name. DBS brokers work to acquire domain names that aren’t listed for sale via GoDaddy.
Like domain investors looking to buy domain names, DBS brokers may use different tactics to devalue the domain name they are looking to buy for a client. If the GoDaddy automated appraisal is low for a domain name, the GoDaddy DBS broker may cite that appraisal. They also may cite comparable sales that may lower the perceived value of a domain name. They may discuss how infrequently domain names receive offers.
I have found that some DBS brokers prefer to use more scripted responses from their tool set, and others use their own tone. I’ve worked with friends of friends outside of the domain space who asked for advice when they received an inbound offer, and I would imagine some brokers use a different approach when dealing with a more savvy domain investor.
At the end of the day, domain investors can get upset with DBS brokers for various tactics or pitches aimed at closing a deal in favor of their client, but that’s pissing in the wind. GoDaddy DBS brokers generally have a budget set by their buyer client, and their goal is to get a domain name owner to sell a domain name for the best possible price.
Many of us are GoDaddy customers and do business with various teams at GoDaddy. However, I know the GoDaddy Domain Broker Service team is not working on my behalf when negotiating a deal. They may come across as being friendly and cordial, but they’re trying to get a deal for their client.
Whoa! Nice Post! I was wondering when someone was going to talk about this. It hurts but these games are the reason I deleted my entire portfolio off Go Daddy/Afternic. My opinion only it was the most dishonest, nothing but games and manipultion I have ever seen. One day, I said I might lose sales but I am out and moved my portfolio to Atom and went with standard so I could negoiate on my own. I would rather lose sales than do business with in my opinion dishonest people. They would list their names for 10K or 20K and then offer you 1K for you name which is better than theirs in my opinion. So I simply deleted, it might take years from now but I think one day everyone will see what they’re doing and domainers will start walking away.
Inquiries / offers for names already listed on GoDaddy/Afternic are handled by a different team, and those brokers represent the sellers.
DBS brokers represent buyers for domain names not listed for sale on the platform.
There may be exceptions but I am pretty sure that’s the standard.
Advanced pro tip:
After careful consideration, I have decided it’s not only not against my own interests to share this advanced pro tip, but is both in my interests and win-win for all of us. And yes, I’m the guy who’s only 99%+ end user and not even a domainer anymore, but still <1% one with an interest in sales nonetheless (I've listed a few out of hundreds and hundres).
I sometimes get those inquiries too. Sometimes the answer is "not for sale" even after followup and sometimes I'll give a price.
Anyway, here's the advanced pro tip:
If the domain inquired about is super valuable – not only might they be using the buyer broker as a shield, but they may also be using a "nobody" to employ that broker as well to begin with – a double layer so even the broker has no idea who the client or "suitor" really is.
Think that can't happen? Think again.
Take it to heart, folks. Carry on. 🙂
If it smells rotten then it is rotten…follow your sense!
Move out of GD to whatever is comfortable. GD is not the only game in town.
Time for a good uplifting song:
https://bullshitwebsites.com/bullshitwebsites-song/
GO HAWKS!!!!!
Most of the GoDaddy DBS brokers are nonsensical to deal with. Their tone and arguments are baseless. Although I’ve sold a few domains to date using their service but as a seller, you’ve to be very cautious when dealing with them. They play dirty tricks and I don’t like most of the people working under this department.
I agree with you there. I have sent them their own Go Daddy sold comps before. They sold a name very similiar to mine for $12,500 and offered me a thousand. After I sent comps back he seemed irritated and told me don’t contact me, I will contact you if I get something.
Not shortly after this, I deleted my account. Too me no matter who they’re working for, we are a partner to Go Daddy and Afternic and we pay some large percentages when you compare to like Spaceship, Atom – Standard, etc. that are less than 10%.
As usual, another insightful, honest and valuable reporting by Mr. Elliot Silver. I have been watching the market places performance for over a year on where to list my domains. There are plenty of options out there that you should considered. Also track the DN Journal and other domain names trustworthy reporting sources and you will identify the WHO’s WHO in the domain name selling landscape.
I still believe that GoDaddy and Afternic.com are the best and most beautiful for me.
2024 will be my best year at Afternic.com.
2025 will bring me many benefits.
Still waiting for 2026???
I don’t care what anyone else says.
I will sadly say I agree with you for now!
Go Daddy / Afternic is the most trusted brand all the boomers trust!
But I seriously think the tide is turning and turning fast. I was on a training zoom a couple years ago and they were talking about SEO and websites, the trainer said and more than half the people on the zoom agreed. If a customer wanted to have the server or website with GD they told the customer to find someone else to work with. While that is websites, that should say something. Personally in my opinion, their tech is towards the very bottom, customer service is towards the very bottom and fees towards the very top. Up to 25% – 30% without using their name server. Come on.
In my personal view, GoDaddy is facing reputational challenges that could eventually affect its long-term market position.
Business records show that companies cannot rely indefinitely on perception alone. Sustained success demands consistent alignment between customer value, transparency, and execution.
As Abraham Lincoln said, “You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”