Buying a domain from current owner

We can't get a response at their WhoIs email...

[JayCee]

Hi All,
I posted about this a month ago, but a search failed to find that post, so here is a new one.

A SEO/Webmastering client of mine wants to make an offer on a great existing TLD in his niche market. This domain is equivalent to "widget.com" for this niche market. The TLD is up, with one of those "to be developed - try all these affiliate links of ours..." pages. It has not changed in months.

So far, he has sent an email to the address listed in WhoIs as the admin and technical contact (same), in Hong Kong. But no response. We have no other info.

What else can we try?

Thanks :)

[jeremy goodrich]

Do a get request in their logs - and set your referer to a GREAT sales page - something like 'we'll buy your domain for $X in CASH' :)

Or you can send them a message in their logs another way - do a 'get' request, only add?message=what+you+would+like+to+say.

These methods will, of course, annoy them - but it could get through to them that they are missing out on an opportunity.

Unless, of course, they really do mean to develop the site - and aren't interested in selling.

[diggle]

Jeremy,

How exactly do you do a get request?

[Shakil]

JayCee,

are we referring to THE team in HongKong (ult)

if so, then I may possibly be able to advise on an email address to contact them at.

however let me pre-warn you, that they are NOT interested in talking unless we are talking serious $$$s

Shak

(disclaimer, I have just completed a transaction with these people).

[jeremy goodrich]

Sorry, I should have said - type it in your browser for my 2nd suggestion. :) With the extra string after a question mark - it'll show in their logs that way.

[JayCee]

Shakil,

They are called "VerticalAxis". And a Google search on that name brings another "To be developed, meantime visit all our affiliates..." page. Neither web page has any contact info.

[rogerd]

The log thing might be worth a try, but it seems unlikely that the owners of these inactive sites are poring over their log data. A physical letter or Fedex to the address of record might work.

[nutsandbolts]

Shakil, I've tried to contact Ult lots of times - but they never reply. When you say "lots" are we talking thousands of dollars here?

[Shakil]

about $8k for a generic .NET

Shak

[johnraphone]

ULT is massive. Do a whois for 5 minutes and you'll see several of thier domains. They have over 100,000 domains. :o