Domain inquiries from free email addresses

[Raider]

Throughout the years I've replied to domain inquiries from individuals using a free email address, out of the hundreds I've received, only a handful have resulted in a sale, and the rest I never hear back from.

My suspicion is that most anonymous inquiries are from resellers, and only a fraction are from end-users that don't want their identity to be known for fear of inflating the price... From my own experience, individuals using a ISP or host address are more than often the ones that result in serious discussion and ultimately a sale.

So what I began doing is replying back and asking that if they wish to discuss the domain and price, to please respond back using their ISP email address or include a phone number.

Good or Bad?

 

[Theo]

Spot on, I do the same thing: when you pose as a company, don't email me from a yahoo address.

 

[katherine]

Usually you see the originating IP in the headers, but not with gmail it seems (most of the time). So you get the location, and sometimes even the company name as larger ones often own their assigned IP block.
I find that anonymity is often a necessary tool in negotiations - I am a buyer too

 

[Theo]

Unless I place an offer via Sedo etc. I prefer being straightforward when purchasing a domain. After all, if a seller wants to sell, they will negotiate.

 

[Raider]

I find that anonymity is often a necessary tool in negotiations - I am a buyer too

That maybe true for the buyer and especially resellers, but I actually think it hinders negotiations when the seller is dealing with an anonymous buyer.

As a seller, It's hard for me to think of them as serious buyers when the majority have proven to be flakes, And when I don't know who I'm dealing with, it makes me less likely to reduce my price and provide important information about the domain when asked.

That's just me.

I prefer being straightforward when purchasing a domain. After all, if a seller wants to sell, they will negotiate.

True... Without a doubt, my best sales have been from buyers who are up front, not dishonest.

What many don't realize is, they will be found out during the escrow transaction, One guy lied to me about who he was and what he wanted the domain for, well after his payment cleared at Escrow, I learned who he was and was seriously going to cancel the transaction, just for being dishonest with me, But it was a 10K sale and I needed the money at the time, so I let it go.

 

[denny007]

I usually quote free emailers the highest price, because - well - it could be Microsoft. Same for brokers. Fair price get from me only direct request. The other day some lawyer contacted me, so in the end the price was $100K. When I saw the buyer later, I would have given him probably $70K and maybe he could have bargained me down to $50K as it was kind of lemon I bought for $50K. But since they used proxy, I was thinking "well it must be someone big since they use a lawyer for buying a domain"