I need some negotiating advice...

jondoe0069 · Mar 19, 2008

Hello. I have a ccTLD domain that is a dictionary word, but also the name of a chain of stores owned by large corporation in the country the ccTLD relates to.

I was emailed directly by someone with an email address from the company's main website (which lists all their businesses) asking if I would sell the domain. I told them I was planning to develop a site around the dictionary keyword that makes up the domain- but I would sell it if the price was right. I just responded so I have not yet heard back.

I'm not even sure if they're even interested in the .com, but it is for sale on Afternic for $200,000+ with a minimum bid of just under 1,000.

I want to maximize the price, but don't want to push the buyer to get the .com instead. I'm not sure if/ how much they will offer, but how aggresive should I be?

Any guidance would be appreciated. If you need more details, please PM. Thanks in advance for any advice!

domainplus · Mar 19, 2008

Money in the Pocket is better then a dream in the mind...

Ask them to make an offer and 1.5 times what they have offered...they will usually take it...Unless of course they make a very low offer politely decline and say you had rather develop then sell...

dcristo · Mar 19, 2008

what is the target audience for the company website? perhaps they NEED the ccTLD instead of .com

jondoe0069 · Mar 19, 2008

Thank you for the advice! I totally agree. I would much rather have the $ in my pocket than to walk away from a sale because the amount was not enough. I've negotiated sales of domains before. I'm just mostly curious if I should be a little more aggresive knowing the financial position of the buyer. Usually I just get random offers on Sedo for names and I don't know whether it's a reseller or end user and I don't know how much money they have.

Fatbat · Mar 19, 2008

I'd just determine a price in your mind and stick to it, leaning toward the high side. Tell them that you've got a business plan drawn up for it and are already developing it, and that it will take a generous compensatory offer for you to abandon those plans. Wait for them to make an offer and counter it with whatever the number was that you had earlier decided on, even if it's 10 times as much. Then with a little luck, when any negotiations are done, you wind up somewhere in the middle.

jondoe0069 · Mar 19, 2008

I did some research and this company made $260,000,000 US in 2005. The name is very generic, but it is the plural of their parent company's business name and the exact name of one of their main retail businesses. The extension is .in and I also own the .co.in. Their business is strictly in India as far as I can tell.

What would be a good price to ask, assuming their initial offer will be somewhat low?

hugegrowth · Mar 19, 2008

Check dnjournal for .in and .co.in sales history to get an idea of a price range. If you can show them examples of previous .in sales in the same ballpark, it might help your case. Might also be someone here who has a .in sales list.

Poker.in sold for $60,000 in 2007

Webcam.in for $18,299 in 2007

Looks like most reported .in sales have been under 10k

when did you buy this domain? was it a fresh reg?

Eraser · Mar 19, 2008

If it's an Indian company, then they may not pay much. So if you want to sell your domain, keep your asking price low.

jondoe0069 · Mar 19, 2008

It was a hand reg. last year, but the email came from the parent company of the company which the domain is the business name (generic term) of. They are prompt in their replies, so I know they're highly interested. They also have a lot of money, but how much they are willing to spend on this domain could be anything...

domainplus · Mar 20, 2008

Eraser said:
If it's an Indian company, then they may not pay much. So if you want to sell your domain, keep your asking price low.

That is incorrect...

Infact an indian company will pay more then anyone else in the world if it is an exact name...I had suggest telling them in the most polite manner that there is a definate business plan drawn up for that domain.. You will get a good offer if your answer is convincing . .

domain newbie · Mar 20, 2008

2000$ and spend it on renewing, buying other in's

they wont spend much as saw lots companies under .org.in, net.in - too many choices

mediawizard · Mar 20, 2008

I wouldn't get too greedy, I hope your keeping track of the INDRP decisions?

It might even be a ploy, specially if it came from the company direct.

Be careful, better safe than sorry.

jondoe0069 · Mar 21, 2008

OOPS! Didn't mean to send this by PM MediaWizard... I'm a little intoxicated.

A ploy? To see if the name is for sale so they can say I'm squatting?

I was planning to develop as many of my dictionary .in's as possible this summer to shoot for ad revenue with all the good keywords I have. That's why I told them it wasn't for sale unless they offered a price I couldn't refuse.

mediawizard · Mar 21, 2008

Develop it then, even a 5 pager will be better.

Indian companies are notorious short changers, specially if they feel you are squatting on their tm.

Good Luck

domainplus · Mar 21, 2008

mediawizard said:
Develop it then, even a 5 pager will be better.

Indian companies are notorious short changers, specially if they feel you are squatting on their tm.

Good Luck

So true...

Along with taking your Domain name , they will take a hand and a leg. :yes: