In doing due diligence, I’ve come across domain owners and companies that are impossible to contact. Further research has led me to various articles and forums where others have mentioned the difficulty in contacting those companies, so one can assume the company has no interest in discussing their domain names.
There are many reasons why a company might not reply to emails or phone calls. Here are a few reasons I could think of that might be applicable, and you should consider them the next time your email goes unanswered:
- The company doesn’t sell its domain names no matter the circumstances. Future Media Architects has a rule that it doesn’t sell its domain assets, so there really is no point in opening discussions or engaging with people who want its domain names. Why give someone the opportunity to complain to you about how they think they can use the domain name better than you’re using it?
- The domain owner did some research on the person/company that inquired, and they don’t want to do business with them. Maybe they realize the potential buyer could have a TM claim. Maybe they think the buyer will be a lowballer. Whatever the case, they could selectively not reply to inquiries.
- The domain name(s) in question may produce a significant amount of revenue and the company has no interest in selling its revenue generating assets. Perhaps the company doesn’t wish to sell any parts of its portfolio because it’s making money.
- The email address and/or contact phone number is invalid. Perhaps this is intentional because they don’t want to be contacted, or maybe the company hasn’t bothered to update this contact information for other reasons.
- The company may not want to be tracked for whatever reason, and by replying to an email or a phone call, the IP address and other tracking information may be obtained.
I would say 95% of inquires come from lowballers, so… I understand them.
Two other reasons.
You only talk to very motivated end users who really impress you with their initial offer.
You view domain as appreciating asset and don’t need the money now.
Other potential reasons:
The owner doesn’t sell domains directly to buyers but instead prefers to sell their inventory via third party marketplace(s) and/or broker(s).
The owner is dead. Yup, it happens. Which is why estate planning for domainers is important.
– They responded but their response get filtered by some anti SPAM protection or landed into your SPAM box.
– They are in vacation or not reachable right now (domainers use to be very impatient).
– They don’t respond intentionally to jauge interest and are simply waitting you repeat the demand.
– They don’t understand your language so have no clue about this email they received.
Is it just me or is summer over, and domaining back in session, 5 new inquiries today, 1 godaddy prem sale, and the day is not over yet.
All great reasons and very unfortunate.
As an active domain buyer broker, it is very frustrating when an owner simply won’t respond even when I put a very substantial offer on the table.
I have been chasing a ghost for a couple weeks now leaving messages and sending emails with a $100k offer from a qualified buyer and the owner simply won’t respond.
The owner is not a domain investor and $100k should certainly move the needle.
PS I don’t think the owner is dead 🙂
I know I own many domains my competition in my offline businesses would love to own, and for that reason on a domain pricing only basis I would never sell…
How much did you raised your offer Ron since the first email trying to contact him?
10,000 is a common figure I get offered, it is hard to get end users any higher than this, on domains reg during 2000 to 2004, more generic domains were registered during 1996 to 1998. Some domains I am willing to hold, good or bad, me being the end user, I value them higher than a domain reseller would.