For Sale Pool.com - The Last Of The Mohicans

[mole]

We all saw it coming

Ken previously from Snapnames sets up Pool.com. Creates the last of the mohicans with a business model other registrars can't resist. Registrars start flooding to Pool in an attempt to grab whatever left of the game they can squeeze out as Fall approaches and the WLS starts sharping its claws.

Makes for a good novel, don't you think?

 

[clemzonguy]

Care to spoil the ending for us?? LOL

 

[mole]

Yes, WLS doesn't work on RRP access

 

[.com.net.org]

WLS will come if there's no ridiculous high bid.

 

[mole]

Originally posted by .com.net.org
WLS will come if there's no ridiculous high bid.

Do you think Verisign, the owner of NetworkSolutions who paid $21 BILLION for the registry, cares?

 

[stuff]

But really, I think we will never see anything like WLS!

 

[Brujah]

I like POOLs model. I'd support a WLS with a similiar model. Then if I lose a name, it's only because I didn't want to pay more than the guy who did.

 

[hiOsilver]

Originally posted by Brujah
I like POOLs model. I'd support a WLS with a similiar model. Then if I lose a name, it's only because I didn't want to pay more than the guy who did.

Let's try an example: You can pay $24 + registrar mark-up (say total $40 or even $50) for WLS on GoodName.com as currently proposed. Under that scenario, you get the WLS by figuring out if/when the name is likely to drop. You then decide you want the name badly enough (value to you) that you will put on a WLS say 10 months out. If it drops, you get GoodName.com for $50 (max). If it doesn't drop, then you have to look for a lesser name to use the remaining 2 months on your WLS (there is a demand right now for 2 month Snaps).

On the other hand, under Pool model, GoodName.com goes for $2000 because of the bidding frenzy. You like that model because it gives you a chance to outslug others even though you are late to the party (you did not do anything until 2 days before the drop)?

Bottom Line (assuming name drops):

Pool/Namewinner system - the registrar makes the killing, one domain owner gets GoodName.com for $2000

WLS - Verisign makes $24, Registrar makes ($20?), one domain owner gets the name for $50

If name does not drop, you can still go for a consolation prize (like FairName.com or SosoName.com).

So, you anti-WLS people (other than those who should be anti-WLS like DropWizard, Enom, etc), maybe you should rethink your position. Whether you believe WLS will level the playing field or not does not really matter. However, a lack of WLS is shifting much of the profit in dropping names from speculators to the registrars.

PS: DropWizard just sent out email to customers. He is changing to auction system too. He says that he has to in order to get/keep registrars.

 

[DropWizard.com]

Yes, WLS doesn't work on RRP access

As usual you're deluding yourself.

 

[.com.net.org]

Originally posted by mole


Do you think Verisign, the owner of NetworkSolutions who paid $21 BILLION for the registry, cares?

Of course they don't care.

 

[DomainGoon]

Originally posted by hiOsilver



So, you anti-WLS people (other than those who should be anti-WLS like DropWizard, Enom, etc), maybe you should rethink your position. Whether you believe WLS will level the playing field or not does not really matter. However, a lack of WLS is shifting much of the profit in dropping names from us to the registrars.

Would you rather have the real estate market work on the current system where whoever pays the most for a house being sold gets it, or whoever wanted it first gets it for $25?

 

[Momentum]

I don't think WLS could go to an auction model just for the reasons pointed out by HioSilver. You have to think of who would receive that $2,000 bid for the domain name. Who should it go to? Verisign? The losing registrar? The previous owner? You could reason that the previous owner should receive the money, but of course that scenario would never happen. And the registrars are not deserving of that money because in the case of WLS they are not having compete to catch the dropping domain. So I think you are stuck with the flat rate service fee, which means first come, first served. Of course that is if they do go forward with WLS which seems unlikely at this point. It will be interesting to see what happens at the end of next month.

DomainGoon, your example of the sale of a home is not relevant. In that case you have a buyer and a seller. In the case of expiring domains, you only have a buyer. The seller has forfeited ownership of the domain. Back to real estate, in the case of an abandoned home, then the home would be claimed by the lien holder which could be the mortgage lender. Or if the house was paid off, then the house would go to whoever was owed the property taxes.

The expiring domain name market is more analagous to an open land rush (such as the California Land Rush of the 1800's) which was first come, first served and sometimes involved a flat rate payment to the governing authority. Not picking on you, just thought I would provide another perspective.

 

[DomainGoon]

Originally posted by Momentum

DomainGoon, your example of the sale of a home is not relevant. In that case you have a buyer and a seller. In the case of expiring domains, you only have a buyer. The seller has forfeited ownership of the domain. Back to real estate, in the case of an abandoned home, then the home would be claimed by the lien holder which could be the mortgage lender. Or if the house was paid off, then the house would go to whoever was owed the property taxes.

The expiring domain name market is more analagous to an open land rush (such as the California Land Rush of the 1800's) which was first come, first served and sometimes involved a flat rate payment to the governing authority. Not picking on you, just thought I would provide another perspective.

While there is certainly validity in your comments, you are missing part of the point of my question - which was to find out what some of these pro-WLS people think about capitalism in general.

Under the current system, the registrar who does the best job of registering a domain gets the money for registering the domain. It is just like most open markets where the price is set by the people who want a product (or service) and whoever delivers that product gets paid what the market is willing to pay. That is the current system.

The proposed WLS system will remove the price competition and simply award domains to whoever was there first. My question was whether the users who support WLS think that first come first serve is a better system than price based competition.

If we really want to go for a good analogy, maybe the government should auction off all domains like they do with radio frequencies? Maybe that would help offset some of Bush's giant deficit spending?

 

[clemzonguy]

which seems unlikely at this point

I think the WLS is MORE LIKELY at this point. People who keep saying this don't cite any evidence to the contrary. Weak attempts by two congressmen and other lawsuits won't hold water in my opinion. :embarrass

 

[Duke]

Originally posted by clemzonguy


I think the WLS is MORE LIKELY at this point. People who keep saying this don't cite any evidence to the contrary. Weak attempts by two congressmen and other lawsuits won't hold water in my opinion. :embarrass

A third major lawsuit filed today:

http://www.stopwls.com/newsrelease_01.html

So much heat is building on ICANN I think they will have to scrap WLS to save themselves...and I don't think they will hesitate to throw their Verisign buddies overboard to preserve their own little fiefdom.

 

[clemzonguy]

Hey if anyone else has got anymore information please post it. Thanks Duke.

 

[actnow]

I think that is the third nail into the coffin.

Before, both of the legal cases are done plus the congressional lobbyist cost for both sides. It is going to run into the millions ++. And, this will bring WLS to a halt.

And, since Verisign is a public company. They will also be concerned about stockholders reaction. Especially, if the press get involved.

 

[hiOsilver]

Originally posted by gmartfin


As usual you're deluding yourself.

Gordon, seeing as how you ARE the DropWizard, I already included your advocacy in my post. I can't blame you for wanting to hold on to a system that you have invested time and $ in.

I just wonder how long it is going to take the speculators among us (like most of us) to realize where the dropping domain market is headed unless WLS passes.

 

[hiOsilver]

Originally posted by DomainGoon


Would you rather have the real estate market work on the current system where whoever pays the most for a house being sold gets it, or whoever wanted it first gets it for $25?

Using your analogy, the extra money spent on the house goes to the real estate agent. Now, there is a no brainer. Who wants to pay 5000% commission to the realtor when they are the buyer?

Open your eyes and your mind. This has been argued in the past mostly on the basis of what is fair. We can go back and forth on that. However, only a few fools and those with vested interest (Namewinner, Dropwizard, etc) will still be wanting the status quo as they see all of the profit in the domain drop business going to the registrars & the domain drop industry.

 

[hiOsilver]

Originally posted by Duke


A third major lawsuit filed today:

http://www.stopwls.com/newsrelease_01.html

So much heat is building on ICANN I think they will have to scrap WLS to save themselves...and I don't think they will hesitate to throw their Verisign buddies overboard to preserve their own little fiefdom.

Oh well. This is just the American way. And, I would not be entirely surprised to see ICANN cave. However, the real interest of the vast majority of domain owners is to have WLS pass. This "Domain Justice" group is not interested in justice. They are interested in maximizing their company profits. What a sham. How long is it going to take for most of you to figure this out?