One of the things I enjoy most about domain investing is the negotiations. Most don’t work out, but I enjoy the thought and effort that goes into a negotiation. It stimulates my brain in a way most other aspects of this business do not. This goes for both buying and selling my domain names.
On occasion, I will use GoDaddy’s Domain Broker Service (DBS) to try and buy a domain name. If I am not hearing back from a domain registrant and don’t want to continue to press, I might connect with a DBS broker to attempt to get a price. In these cases, I am probably not making a substantial enough offer to elicit a reply, so the broker won’t usually be able to help.
The times I use DBS brokers the most are when the Whois contact information is invalid. Emails sent to the registrant email address bounce back as undeliverable. The phone number ends up on a disconnected line. Using DomainTools Whois History tool or the DomainIQ Whois History tool produce similar results of non-functioning contact information. Perhaps contact information from an old website found via Archive.org also yield similar results. At this point, I figure most other prospective buyers have also failed in their attempts to contact the registrant. Most people would likely shrug it off or contact a broker who will likely have the same luck.
If the domain name is registered at GoDaddy, I have to assume the DBS brokers have access to the correct contact information. The email and/or phone number on file for the domain registrant may work. The registrant may have other domain names at GoDaddy with correct or working Whois contact information. GoDaddy may have other means of knowing who the registrant is to be able to contact them.
I prefer to handle all of my outbound domain inquiries. I can glean information in a negotiation with a goal of getting the best deal for myself. A broker on the other hand may be looking to get a deal done that is within range rather than pushing for a better price as I might be able to do. However, when all other means of contacting the registrant has failed for me, it would be a good time for me to use GoDaddy’s DBS to try and buy the domain name on my behalf.
I will take the 20% commission into account when negotiating, but I will offset this in my mind knowing that most others likely have had the same lack of success.
Are you saying they can see behind the privacy?
If the domain name is registered (and continually renewed) at GoDaddy, they probably either have a working email address on the back end for billing or they may have other domain names in their account with correct Whois information.
I assume they have access to the customer’s valid contact details. It’s an assumption not a fact.
Probably worth reaching out to GoDaddy on this assumption. I seem to recall they couldn’t look up those details, at least at one point in the past.
Has it ever been successful for you using DBS?
Yes: https://x.com/DInvesting/status/1887868086876872817