Comments on: SEDO’s Domain Brokerage Service SCREWS Me! http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/ Specialization is for Insects. Sat, 26 May 2012 12:15:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Michael http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-7/#comment-102639 Michael Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:15:31 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-102639 I just used the service from SEDO as I could not communicate with the buyer and I could only find a valid mailing address, no email at all. I didn't put much faith into them finding him but what do you know, I received an update 4 weeks later that they have made contact with the seller, however, he/she wants 13k for the name instead of my 3k offer... Overall it was a good experience so far and I expect the sale to go smoothly. I just used the service from SEDO as I could not communicate with the buyer and I could only find a valid mailing address, no email at all. I didn’t put much faith into them finding him but what do you know, I received an update 4 weeks later that they have made contact with the seller, however, he/she wants 13k for the name instead of my 3k offer… Overall it was a good experience so far and I expect the sale to go smoothly.

]]> By: Lynne Heckert http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-7/#comment-99972 Lynne Heckert Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:35:14 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-99972 Just happened to be on the internet and saw your site! FWIW, I am a dentist and attorney with thousands of domain names that I sell on Sedo, Afternic, etc. I have no time to negotiate directly and I have no business employees so I need an easy way to sell. Really, I have never had a problem at Sedo as long as I use the software only as a vehicle to sell and transfer a listed domain, negotiating directly with a buyer through their automated platform. Once a domain is sold, I get a real person transfer agent and that has always worked well. BUT, I never expected personal attention to my domains from any of these sites. They are into volume selling and also selling their own higher priced 'premium' domains. It seems like that wording would lead someone to believe they had a mechanism like eBay. They don't. They do get a commission from the seller. Nice name though. Just happened to be on the internet and saw your site! FWIW, I am a dentist and attorney with thousands of domain names that I sell on Sedo, Afternic, etc. I have no time to negotiate directly and I have no business employees so I need an easy way to sell. Really, I have never had a problem at Sedo as long as I use the software only as a vehicle to sell and transfer a listed domain, negotiating directly with a buyer through their automated platform. Once a domain is sold, I get a real person transfer agent and that has always worked well. BUT, I never expected personal attention to my domains from any of these sites. They are into volume selling and also selling their own higher priced ‘premium’ domains. It seems like that wording would lead someone to believe they had a mechanism like eBay. They don’t. They do get a commission from the seller. Nice name though.

]]> By: Nope http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-6/#comment-94143 Nope Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:14:04 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-94143 I was about to use Sedo looks like you just saved my some money. I was about to use Sedo looks like you just saved my some money.

]]> By: Ceci http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-6/#comment-93924 Ceci Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:46:34 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-93924 I think that posting this blog has done substantial damage as it has quite a following. However, this whole purchase domain name industry is so secretive that trusting it seems foolish. However, you want the domain name so you are between a rock and a hard spot. However, some attorney may be interested in a class action lawsuit. Each individual suit is not worth much a class action suit won't be worth much to you, but could put a dent in Sedo and of course, the attorneys make out as well. But it is a way to keep them honest. WIPO might have something to say about their false advertising since they regulate them. Don't waste your time with the Better Business Bureau as they appear to have no authority or control but simply act like an Experian does for credit. However, the District Attorney would have jurisdiction since Sedo seems to be bilking consumers and the District Attorney is there to protect and defend the consumer. False advertising is something the District Attorney would be interested in (although it is a small segment of the population so it may not be on their front burner). You will probably be get much bang for your time and effort if you can get an attorney to take on a class action suit --- and you'd be doing us all a favor not only with Sedo but with all of the "brokers" because news of that would spread fast behind those curtains of "If you are interested in buying this domain, please tell us all your personal information and your budget so we can take a look at it but you may not even get a response...oh and by the way, the domain may not even be for sale...we're just fishing....: I think that posting this blog has done substantial damage as it has quite a following. However, this whole purchase domain name industry is so secretive that trusting it seems foolish. However, you want the domain name so you are between a rock and a hard spot. However, some attorney may be interested in a class action lawsuit. Each individual suit is not worth much a class action suit won’t be worth much to you, but could put a dent in Sedo and of course, the attorneys make out as well. But it is a way to keep them honest. WIPO might have something to say about their false advertising since they regulate them. Don’t waste your time with the Better Business Bureau as they appear to have no authority or control but simply act like an Experian does for credit. However, the District Attorney would have jurisdiction since Sedo seems to be bilking consumers and the District Attorney is there to protect and defend the consumer. False advertising is something the District Attorney would be interested in (although it is a small segment of the population so it may not be on their front burner). You will probably be get much bang for your time and effort if you can get an attorney to take on a class action suit — and you’d be doing us all a favor not only with Sedo but with all of the “brokers” because news of that would spread fast behind those curtains of “If you are interested in buying this domain, please tell us all your personal information and your budget so we can take a look at it but you may not even get a response…oh and by the way, the domain may not even be for sale…we’re just fishing….:

]]> By: Nick http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-5/#comment-89780 Nick Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:30:20 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-89780 Damn right! And whilst we are at it let's stop people from buying land they think will be useful in the future. And stop people buying property that they think will increase in value in a few years. Or not. Domains are valuable real estate, why wouldnt people grab a bargain with an eye to development and flipping, or simply reselling? happens with people buying all sorts of things, land, property, companies, gold, shares...the list goes on Amazes me people get sound wound up about web domains...as if they had some sort of God given right to a domain that someone else has paid good money for. Damn right! And whilst we are at it let’s stop people from buying land they think will be useful in the future. And stop people buying property that they think will increase in value in a few years.

Or not. Domains are valuable real estate, why wouldnt people grab a bargain with an eye to development and flipping, or simply reselling? happens with people buying all sorts of things, land, property, companies, gold, shares…the list goes on

Amazes me people get sound wound up about web domains…as if they had some sort of God given right to a domain that someone else has paid good money for.

]]> By: Nick http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-5/#comment-89779 Nick Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:26:40 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-89779 Stop, think. The details say you are paying for them to use a broker to negotiate, that they will be targetting at getting it below your maximum price They did nothing they say they will So what you are saying is people should get over paying for a service they don't receive? In which case I have websites.com available for only $10,000. I won't actually provide you with what you paid me for but I am sure that you will be able to get over yourself Stop, think. The details say you are paying for them to use a broker to negotiate, that they will be targetting at getting it below your maximum price

They did nothing they say they will

So what you are saying is people should get over paying for a service they don’t receive?

In which case I have websites.com available for only $10,000. I won’t actually provide you with what you paid me for but I am sure that you will be able to get over yourself

]]> By: Jeff http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-6/#comment-82902 Jeff Sun, 24 Apr 2011 21:28:21 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-82902 Thanks for this post. I'll be closing my parking account with Sedo now, I don't do business with companies actively engaging in fraud and theft. Thanks for this post. I’ll be closing my parking account with Sedo now, I don’t do business with companies actively engaging in fraud and theft.

]]> By: David H http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-6/#comment-82052 David H Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:47:47 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-82052 First of all UNDERSTAND that the email that was sent out was from a TEMPLATE. There was no human being involved, no living breathing "broker" to begin with at Sedo. You can be sure that they do not have enough of those so-called "brokers" to handle the requests, and if Sedo could hire them, they would not pay salaries & benefits to real brokers when an automatic email template sent out by the hundreds or thousands every hour is so much cheaper. It is is easy enough to flag a response email from the owner and have a real person take over the correspondence at that point. But, many of the domain names that you may inquire about may well already be owned by Sedo itself. Sedo, in effect, communicates with itself "on your behalf". I have been buying domain names since 1996, but just for domains that I was really involved with. One of the stunts that I saw years ago was that I would use a company like Network Solutions or the internal Search and Register function of some wellknown hosting providers at the time to lookup the availability of a name I had made up. When I saw that the name was available I would put in a request to buy it. The response would come that the Request was being processed and would take a few HOURS. Then I would check again every half-hour or less. Several times I was told that this VERY VERY UNIQUE domain name I had just made up HAD ALREADY BEEN BOUGHT...right out from under me. When I saw the eventual whois information I would see that the time of registration was some 20 minutes after I had made up the name and put in the Buy request because I knew it was available and had never been registered. After seeing two cases of "register out from under me" I realized that my Domain names were being intercepted by an "insider". Either it was an employee at the hosting company or at the registrar, or an intermediate program that skimmed the channels. The company gave me some excuses after my protests but they could not "explain" what happened. From that day to now I practice and tell people if there is a domain name you want, do not go to a SERVICE that asks you to fill in the name. That is asking for trouble. I tell people do some discreet checkups with google and then be ready to buy on the spot. Do not ever WAIT. Jump like crazy if you are using a registration service you trust. I no longer trust domain name re-sellers, that is, a company who is a re-seller for Tucows, for instance. If you are going to register a lot then get your own account with Go-Daddy or perhaps Tucows (maybe they are more trustworthy than they were a few years ago). If you discover a domain name you want is truly available then buy it on the spot, immediately. First of all UNDERSTAND that the email that was sent out was from a TEMPLATE. There was no human being involved, no living breathing “broker” to begin with at Sedo. You can be sure that they do not have enough of those so-called “brokers” to handle the requests, and if Sedo could hire them, they would not pay salaries & benefits to real brokers when an automatic email template sent out by the hundreds or thousands every hour is so much cheaper.

It is is easy enough to flag a response email from the owner and have a real person take over the correspondence at that point.

But, many of the domain names that you may inquire about may well already be owned by Sedo itself. Sedo, in effect, communicates with itself “on your behalf”.

I have been buying domain names since 1996, but just for domains that I was really involved with.

One of the stunts that I saw years ago was that I would use a company like Network Solutions or the internal Search and Register function of some wellknown hosting providers at the time to lookup the availability of a name I had made up.

When I saw that the name was available I would put in a request to buy it. The response would come that the Request was being processed and would take a few HOURS. Then I would check again every half-hour or less.

Several times I was told that this VERY VERY UNIQUE domain name I had just made up HAD ALREADY BEEN BOUGHT…right out from under me. When I saw the eventual whois information I would see that the time of registration was some 20 minutes after I had made up the name and put in the Buy request because I knew it was available and had never been registered.

After seeing two cases of “register out from under me” I realized that my Domain names were being intercepted by an “insider”. Either it was an employee at the hosting company or at the registrar, or an intermediate program that skimmed the channels.

The company gave me some excuses after my protests but they could not “explain” what happened.

From that day to now I practice and tell people if there is a domain name you want, do not go to a SERVICE that asks you to fill in the name. That is asking for trouble.

I tell people do some discreet checkups with google and then be ready to buy on the spot. Do not ever WAIT. Jump like crazy if you are using a registration service you trust. I no longer trust domain name re-sellers, that is, a company who is a re-seller for Tucows, for instance. If you are going to register a lot then get your own account with Go-Daddy or perhaps Tucows (maybe they are more trustworthy than they were a few years ago).

If you discover a domain name you want is truly available then buy it on the spot, immediately.

]]> By: D J. Edwards http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-6/#comment-81937 D J. Edwards Sun, 10 Apr 2011 23:51:08 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-81937 I've been in the domain business for only a few months with a coupla hundred submitted to Sedo, and I'm only interested in selling. But after reading this blog, felt I should respond with my own short experience with this fine company. As the hard-nosed owner of my own successful business, hiring and firing for over 35 years, I can only offer my own experiences with Sedo. Every email, every question (and there have been many) has been answered professionally and within 1-2 business days. My sales, though few, were walked through step by step by phone, and I was treated as if I was one of their top sellers. Sorry for any negative experiences anyone has had, but cut Sedo some slack, and understand mistakes can sometimes be made--by all of us. And no, I have no other connection whatsoever with Sedo. D.J. I’ve been in the domain business for only a few months with a coupla hundred submitted to Sedo, and I’m only interested in selling. But after reading this blog, felt I should respond with my own short experience with this fine company. As the hard-nosed owner of my own successful business, hiring and firing for over 35 years, I can only offer my own experiences with Sedo. Every email, every question (and there have been many) has been answered professionally and within 1-2 business days. My sales, though few, were walked through step by step by phone, and I was treated as if I was one of their top sellers. Sorry for any negative experiences anyone has had, but cut Sedo some slack, and understand mistakes can sometimes be made–by all of us. And no, I have no other connection whatsoever with Sedo. D.J.

]]> By: Domain Seller http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-6/#comment-80433 Domain Seller Fri, 18 Mar 2011 22:29:36 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-80433 Sedo has really gone downhill over the past year or two, starting with their silly new design/layout. It's almost no point putting a name up for auction there as people won't see ANY auctions on the front page anymore to entice them at all to look at the rest. I'm amazed anyone would ever go there to look for a domain to buy because of how many horrible and overpriced domains they'd have to wade through to find the quality. They should really take a look at where they're at now and why they aren't doing better. Sedo has really gone downhill over the past year or two, starting with their silly new design/layout. It’s almost no point putting a name up for auction there as people won’t see ANY auctions on the front page anymore to entice them at all to look at the rest. I’m amazed anyone would ever go there to look for a domain to buy because of how many horrible and overpriced domains they’d have to wade through to find the quality. They should really take a look at where they’re at now and why they aren’t doing better.

]]> By: Olly Echo http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-6/#comment-73948 Olly Echo Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:55:23 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-73948 I've just put my first one up for sale with them - after reading this it'll probably be the only one. It's quite a good name and I kind of hijacked it from a government department who inadvertently published the web site name before they'd actually registered the domain - so I just wanted somewhere to park it with a hefty price tag on it, and Sedo seemed to be the right place to do that. But I just noticed they've decided to award themselves extra 5% commission from January 2011 - did anyone else notice that? They smell like sharks to me. I’ve just put my first one up for sale with them – after reading this it’ll probably be the only one. It’s quite a good name and I kind of hijacked it from a government department who inadvertently published the web site name before they’d actually registered the domain – so I just wanted somewhere to park it with a hefty price tag on it, and Sedo seemed to be the right place to do that.

But I just noticed they’ve decided to award themselves extra 5% commission from January 2011 – did anyone else notice that?

They smell like sharks to me.

]]> By: GT http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-5/#comment-73893 GT Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:17:59 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-73893 Looks like another SEDO employee trying to abdicate the company for their inexcusable fraudulent behavior. Looks like another SEDO employee trying to abdicate the company for their inexcusable fraudulent behavior.

]]> By: Re http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-6/#comment-71522 Re Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:29:20 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-71522 i was about to use SEDO but thank you for this honest post SHAME ON THEM i was about to use SEDO but thank you for this honest post

SHAME ON THEM

]]> By: pezz http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-6/#comment-69249 pezz Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:20:24 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-69249 I just recently going through the same problems with you. Is there any domain brokerage that didn't charge any subscribing fee? A commission is a must i can say. I just recently going through the same problems with you.
Is there any domain brokerage that didn’t charge any subscribing fee?
A commission is a must i can say.

]]> By: huh uh, i don't think so http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-1/#comment-68669 huh uh, i don't think so Thu, 25 Nov 2010 01:24:11 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-68669 "I‘d make them give me the domain for free." Uh, excuse me? That domain is owned by an actual person and parked on Sedo, not owned by Sedo. Sedo cannot give away property that belongs to someone else. “I‘d make them give me the domain for free.”

Uh, excuse me? That domain is owned by an actual person and parked on Sedo, not owned by Sedo. Sedo cannot give away property that belongs to someone else.

]]> By: Crazy About Domains http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-6/#comment-68253 Crazy About Domains Tue, 16 Nov 2010 10:51:09 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-68253 Shame on them. I am a professional domainer used to work with SEDO and never experienced any problem with them. Though I always thought receiving a commission on the sale price wasn't a good idea. This case proofs their business model is faulty and should be punished. Thanks for posting this and shed some light on this obscure world. Shame on them. I am a professional domainer used to work with SEDO and never experienced any problem with them. Though I always thought receiving a commission on the sale price wasn’t a good idea. This case proofs their business model is faulty and should be punished.

Thanks for posting this and shed some light on this obscure world.

]]> By: Catching it All Up… « Drowning American http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-5/#comment-68078 Catching it All Up… « Drowning American Fri, 12 Nov 2010 03:55:50 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-68078 [...] they start negotiations as low as possible and work upward if need be, however, I have read about at least one issue with this.  The 10% commission was an initial red flag for me, but I decided there is little to be done [...] [...] they start negotiations as low as possible and work upward if need be, however, I have read about at least one issue with this.  The 10% commission was an initial red flag for me, but I decided there is little to be done [...]

]]> By: Max http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-5/#comment-67997 Max Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:26:05 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-67997 I bought a website through sedo as well and I had to pay what i thought was near full price for it. About $450.00 Perhaps this was before they had their auction/brokering ability because I was emailing back and forth with the owner himself. In my experience never buy owned domains. The best thing to do is wait for them to expire or find something else. As soon as you tell someone your interested in their domain you'll pay a minimum of $500. It's simply human nature that once someone likes what you got, you want top dollar for it. When it comes to names it's only theoretical value. If you do nothing with the website and generate no money with it than it's virtually worthless beyond novelty. Don't let someone who has a domain you like hold it hostage. There are to many internet investors out there gobbling up domains. There should be a law that says if you don't start producing content in one year on your website that you forfeit the domain. This would stop all the endless names being bought up by money grubbing trolls. I bought a website through sedo as well and I had to pay what i thought was near full price for it. About $450.00 Perhaps this was before they had their auction/brokering ability because I was emailing back and forth with the owner himself. In my experience never buy owned domains. The best thing to do is wait for them to expire or find something else. As soon as you tell someone your interested in their domain you’ll pay a minimum of $500. It’s simply human nature that once someone likes what you got, you want top dollar for it. When it comes to names it’s only theoretical value. If you do nothing with the website and generate no money with it than it’s virtually worthless beyond novelty. Don’t let someone who has a domain you like hold it hostage. There are to many internet investors out there gobbling up domains. There should be a law that says if you don’t start producing content in one year on your website that you forfeit the domain. This would stop all the endless names being bought up by money grubbing trolls.

]]> By: Elise http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-3/#comment-67846 Elise Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:19:45 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-67846 Hello Simonetta, If you are truly interested in proper salesmanship please email a contact telephone number so that I may speak to someone about regaining ownership of my domain. Hello Simonetta,

If you are truly interested in proper salesmanship please email a contact telephone number so that I may speak to someone about regaining ownership of my domain.

]]> By: look deeper http://onemansblog.com/2009/03/27/sedos-domain-brokerage-service-screws-me/comment-page-5/#comment-67845 look deeper Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:10:04 +0000 http://onemansblog.com/?p=5374#comment-67845 Are you sure Sedo wasn't the domain owner as well. They scoop up large numbers of domain names that have expired. For instance, they picked mine up right away because I was waiting for Verio hosting to send me a bill like they always did in the past, but never did. Also something I find bothersome. Are you sure Sedo wasn’t the domain owner as well. They scoop up large numbers of domain names that have expired. For instance, they picked mine up right away because I was waiting for Verio hosting to send me a bill like they always did in the past, but never did. Also something I find bothersome.

]]>