Buy domain

how much does it cost?

[Martin Strand]

Hi.
Innovation HQ owns a domain name that I want. It's not a very attractive domain name, but it has a meaning - something like 'yellowscissors.com'.

I've never bought a domain from someone else, what sort of price range are we talking about? I realize that it depends on the name itself, but are we talking $10, $100 or $1000 for two random words such as 'yellow scissors' or similar? I have absolutely no idea on what to offer them.

Thanks,
Martin

[hurlimann]

We got a highly relevant two word domain for less than 20USD inc reg fees that was a competitors trading name before they went bust.

We also got a generic vital keyword phrase for just the reg fees after a domain trader let it go having been trying to flog it for 5,000 dollars for a good few years.

I would suggest you do not make an offer but ask what they want for it.

[maximillianos]

Usually you have a number in your head that you'll pay... I recommend making an offer lower than that... see if they bite. If not, they will counter you go from there.

Usually the seller does not know what it is worth either... so pick a price you'd be happy to pay as a starting point and show them you are a serious buyer.

Good luck.

[Rollo]

I've spent $1,000 for a several times, but usually only because someone else got one of our brand names and that was the cheapest route.

I think for a good domain $200 to $500 is fair. People will try to sell you total crap for $5,000, $10,000 or more. Some companies register everything they can think of, trying to monopolize certian segments of the market, then hope to find a couple of suckers.

For something like you mentioned, I'd pay no more than $200. But then again, if you're really going to spend years developing a site, get a domain that makes you happy even if it costs a little extra.

[Edwin]

Innovation HQ isn't going to sell for the low figures some are bandying around here. They're a huge player with tens of thousands of names, and can price individual names accordingly without worrying if they sell or not.

[Rollo]

I don't know... big brokers like buydomians.com go through a cycle. They price domains absurdly high at first, then as no one buys them, they keep reducing the asking price until you can sometimes get decent domains for $200 - $300. But yes, if they set the price high, there's no barganing with these organized mega-squatters.

I'd tell them that you're offering X and that you need a decision by deadline Y and if they don't work with you on it, move on.

[Martin Strand]

Well, I made my offer and they weren't interested. :(

Squatting like this really upsets me. Nobody else but me will ever have any use for that very unique domain name. But still, they refuse to sell it to me.

I guess there's not much to do about it. Thanks for your feedback, guys. :)

-Martin

[maximillianos]

They may come back to your offer in a few months. I had that happen. I inquired about a domain and made an initial offer of $250. They countered at $1000. I said I was not interested. 3 months later they emailed me and I ended up getting it for about $275.