closed What should I do?

[Joe826]

Hey,

I need your advice on an email I received recently. I had registered a certain domain recently that had previously been the official website of a popular band with a national following. The owner emailed me today and essentially gave me a sob story, saying that they aren't wealthy, but have just released tens of thousands of CDs with the band's address on it (which I now own).

He says he wants to work something out, but didn't propose any terms. How should I go about this? I've only just started in this business and have no experience with this sort of thing yet. Any advice would be appreciate. Sorry if this is under the wrong topic, I wasn't sure where to put it.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[domainAddict]

They are full of crap. Just released tens of thousands of CDs and have no money? Yea right.. If you can handle the possible legal issues, I would definately keep it. It should get some nice traffic

 

[Joe826]

domainaddict: Yeah, he's doing some serious double-talk. A poor label who's producing a band with 'a HUGE national following' and just put thousands of CDs

BigFart: What do you mean by "If he outright refuses then it is all bullshit.", you mean he really does have the cash?

Thanks for the advice,
Joe

 

[domainAddict]

Offcourse they have cash, unless this is all just another scam and somebody is bullshitting you. Come on, think about it. They record and print tens of thousands of CDs, for this amount of cds to sell, they must have some serious promotion behind them which always cost money, etc etc.. So dont tell me they cant afford to buy a domain with vital meaning to them.. aargh..

If I were you, I wouldnt sell it just cos of what they said. Its obvious they are bullshitting you and I would take it as a personal insult..

 

[NameCaster]

Whats the big secret?
If you own the domain???
Whats the farging name?

Nothing like giving Blind Advice.

This is under the appraisal section so I don't think I'm asking too much.

Cheers!

 

[Joe826]

Mudfence - I didn't really think it was necessary, which is why I didn't include it. The domain is warsawmusic.com. Their style is ska/punkish, and is actually pretty good . The domain also has potential as being developed into a Polish music site, although that would have to be pretty niche .

Thanks for the advice,
Joe

 

[dotcom]

Call me a sucker if you will, but, I would consider selling it to them for the reg fee !!

Many a time I have come across some quite major artist names and labels that have the com available for whatever reason.

Don't get me wrong , I am all for making money and that particular name is quite general in its meaning and thus you would be more than in your rights to keep and develop it,

but

I tend to lean in doing the right thing.

Ask them for a box a CD's

 

[Sharpy]

Agree with dotcom. Maybe not just the reg fee but $100-$200 bucks. I know it's easy to say that from where I sit, but that's what I would do.

If you think they are BS'ing and have lots of money and have released lots of CD's then the proof should be in the ammount of traffic the site is getting now and in the next little while. Lotsa traffic=lotsa money. Little traffic=poor.

Cheers

edit:google=513
OV dec = 44

 

[NameCaster]

Originally posted by Joe826
Mudfence - I didn't really think it was necessary, which is why I didn't include it. The domain is warsawmusic.com. Their style is ska/punkish, and is actually pretty good . The domain also has potential as being developed into a Polish music site, although that would have to be pretty niche .

Thanks for the advice,
Joe

Thanks Joe826.
So the band is warsaw?

keywords = 1,240,000 warsaw
keywords = 172,000 for warsaw music.

Tell the poor sobbing bastiches that you'll sell them the domain name for $5000


If they don't like that. Tell them you want to sing backup on their next release and you want $5000 resellable copies of their current release.

I live in the US. And I've heard of them.
Tell them to cough-it-up.

It's not your fault they were baked when they signed their record contract.

Business can be brutal...but being nice doesn't pay the bills

Cheers!

 

[namedropper]

Let's put it this way.... who is your market with this name? I think you have only one potential buyer, and that's them. Would you honestly develop it? Do you think anyone else would buy?

Warsaw Music is big enough that they are listed as a Jagermeister Jagerband, it says they have at least four albums, and one of their tracks was used (meaning licensed) by ESPN for programming. They may not be huge, but they're big enough to get some dough.

I personally wouldn't go above the cost of what WIPO arbitration would cost, and a little below that, just in case they want to try to claim cybersquatting to take it back by force.

 

[dotcom]

If they don't like that. Tell them you want to sing backup on their next release and you want $5000 resellable copies of their current release.

damn that cracks me up. If you ever thought you sounded good in the shower, then this could be your BIG break ahhaahha

 

[NameCaster]

Originally posted by dotcom


damn that cracks me up. If you ever thought you sounded good in the shower, then this could be your BIG break ahhaahha

Thanks dotcom.
It was meant to be sarcastically funny...

Cheers!

(note to self. check sarcastically in dictionary to avoid flaming)

LOL!

 

[painperdu]

First listen to what he wants to "work out" and then use this as a further negotiation starting point.

Make sure you let him know your interests in the name. Let him know how you are planning to showcase Polish music and that you think the Polish music scene is about to explode into a huge industry and this name is prime to capitalize on it. Besides, how can he expect you to just give up this name that so perfectly fits with your plans to promote Warsaw's musical world invasion . . .

I'm sure you could put your ideas and intentions into words better than I can but you get the point.

How much money do you intend to make promoting Polish music now and in the future? Do you see the Polish music industry growing, as well as the Polish on-line population, to exponential numbers? How can you give up a name that will only grow in potential usage

How much harder would it be to promote Polish music without such a great name? Would you have to spend x amount of dollars to regain the automatic brand recognition that you would have with 'warsawmusic.com'? Ask him to think of an alternate available domain name that you could use that would be as effective for your plans.

Lastly, tell him you feel bad for his problem and then let him know that the revenue you foresee from your plans for this name might be more than the cost of trashing and reprinting his CDs -now you are ready to start exploring prices . . .

 

[Joe826]

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the advice. I'd like to make one thing clear: I have a very sexy voice and any sarcastic remarks made on the subject will be judged in the harshest of lights

I'm going to contact them this evening and start negotiations. Thanks for the help everyone.

Joe