Best way to contact?

[cyphix]

If you have a name that you think some business may "really" be interested in, what is the best way to contact them to assure they see the domain is for sale?

email, fax, phone, snail mail?

email is the most convienient, however you take the risk the email might slip through & be passed up or possibly they don't check their whois email often if you can't find a relevant email on their site.

Fax? This seemingly is convienient & they should get it with no problems.

Phone... this may be a way to definately find out if they are interested, but I dunno, ringing them to try & sell them something?? Sounds like you are intruding on their space a bit too much to me & even if they are interested, they could easily try & foce you into a quick deal over the phone whilst without direct phone contact you can stall & turn it into a "bidding war" if you have multiple interested parties.

Snail mail... Good way to make sure they get it I suppose? Just takes a little longer than the other 3 ways.

Appreciate any response from people with experience with these methods!

Thanks!

 

[Temp]

I often use email to contact potential customer... ...

 

[mole]

With phone calls, you can never predict in what circumstances and mental frame of mind the prospect is in. It could be extremely negative, eg after a fight with the wife, too much work stress, distracted by some important family matters....

It takes a very skilled phone specialist to susss the situation out on the other side of the line. One wrong move, and $1m will be the asking price...

 

[mole]

btw, any fool could successfully buy names if they were tossing $10m around for each name. To get it for around $1k, takes tremendous sensitivity and luck.

 

[cyphix]

Thanks mole.., but I think you misunderstood me. My intention of this post was "selling" techinques, not buying techniques. :-D

 

[DeCal]

I would drop them an email but be careful that you dont hit a raw nerve or if the name is trademarked etc.

I bought a PR domain a while ago. It was a .net but i noticed that the same company had the .co.uk, .com and .org. I contacted them and just asked them if they would be interested in buying it for exactly what i paid for it. (Seriosuly, i'd had my uses so i wanted shut). They replied with no thanks, we had chance of the .net when we registered the .com, .org and .co.uk but we didn't think we needed and and still dont. How screwed up is that....

 

[cyphix]

Well there are no TM issues as the name is a generic one worder. :-D

 

[DeCal]

Well there are no TM issues as the name is a generic one worder. :-D

If it was me then, i'd just drop them an email...

 

[Digital Address]

My methodology if I really believe that they can use the name:

1. email (What can go wrong: "fake" email address, not the "right" person, spam filters put you in the dump, or no interest, no reply!) But it is by far the best way to start!

2a. fax (Cover sheet and one page introductory letter only.) Wait 1-2 weeks after email sent.
b. mail (Send on the same day faxed and include only the exact same letter faxed.)

3. Phone (Multitude of problems: Receptionist sends you to wrong person or he/she makes a decision on the spot and declares that the company would not be interested or he/she has absolutely no idea what you are talking about and, therefore, can't help you. Or you reach a secretary of the wrong/right person and they are also making decisions for him/her and "the company would not interested." Or you get a general voice mail. Or--it's endless!!) Use only as a last resort and only if you still believe!!

 

[cyphix]

Thanks Wm. M... as for contacting them 3 different ways, I've thought of this, but wouldn't it seem like you were bugging them?

 

[Digital Address]

"Ya gotta believe!"

 

[seeker]

also, I would send it from a different email address.
Just in case they think you are spamming them, although I can't see how this is spam...
There are weird secretaries out there that reply to emails...

 

[cyphix]

also, I would send it from a different email address.
Just in case they think you are spamming them, although I can't see how this is spam...
There are weird secretaries out there that reply to emails...

A different email address to what? I usually send with the same email as in the whois.

 

[seeker]

agreed. but that may make some hard core business owners to report your ISP for spam, although I repeat I do not believe it is spam to send an offer...

So as to avoid potential trouble, get a cheapo server, and in the event that someone accuses you of spamming and they should down the account, you're safe.

I repeat, I hate spam, but many people would consider such an offer as spam...

 

[cyphix]

LOL.. if anyone considers me offering money for a domain SPAM than they are seriously retarded.... even me sending them emails "selling" names are not spam, if they may have a genuine interest in the name & I don't send it to them more than once.

I've been doing it this way for awhile now & haven't had any problems as of yet. Touch wood!