Questions about Domain Names - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

11/07/2005 04:25:58 PM · #1

I love DPC, it's like a real live human google where somebody always has an answer to my question...here's my question this time around:

I am able to purchase a domain name that I would like for $250USD after going to the address and seeing it was up for sale. I put in my offer and received the letter below. Does the letter below sound legitimate and is there anything I should be wary of before sending funds? Also, does $250 seem reasonable?

Dear Mike,

Thank you for your offer. Your offer of $250 for the domain name:
//www.*******.com has been accepted. We can conduct the transaction using
Paypal or Escrow.com. Please note that there is a 4% surcharge for Paypal
payments and all Escrow fees are to be paid by the Buyer. You can
calculate the exact Escrow fee by going here:
https://www.escrow.com/support/calculator.asp. Once the payment is
secured, the domain name can be transferred to the registrar of your
choice. In the meantime, please advise me as to which method you prefer so
that I can initiate our transaction. Thank you very much.

Best Regards,

Taiki Matsuura
Matsumedia, LLC.

C-Fox

Canon EOS-20D

11/07/2005 04:29:46 PM · #2

Check the address from the email (email letter not physical?) and see if it matches the company you were looking to buy from. You can check the owner of the domain from whois.com I suspect it is legit, but do a check on the company via google and check for scams.

mcmurma

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Nikon MF 180mm f/2.8 ED AIS

11/07/2005 04:45:22 PM · #3

You can always check godaddy.com and see if the company selling the domain is listed as the registered holder. I'm sure there is a better way to check, but I always check godaddy.

And while you are at it, you can see if godaddy has that domain for sale as well. It would cost all of $8 bucks or so.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS

11/07/2005 04:54:49 PM · #4

Originally posted by mcmurma:

And while you are at it, you can see if godaddy has that domain for sale as well. It would cost all of $8 bucks or so.

I think they are purchasing an existing domain rather a new unused domain. The fee could be anything they agree on and then the renewal is a seperate transaction that can be around $8 at some places.

I would check whois for the admin contact and confirm this matches what is indicated. Maybe send an email to the admin contact and ask for confirmation (unless it's a hidden domain - in which case there is an in-direct contact). A legit seller should have no problem returning email from something sent to the admin email on file with the registrar.

As for $250 been reasonable - they go for a LOT more than that and if you think this name gives you something then fine. It's a one-time fee, so how much is this over the life of your use of the name?

carlos

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS

11/07/2005 05:07:34 PM · #5

Why will you pay $250 for something that cost some 15 bucks?. By agreeing to pay that amount you contribute to this "domain hickjacking" thing. Choose a domain which is free and register for a few bucks with decent registrant or your ISP itself. My ISP will even pay the first year fees for me!!

One way to find a free domain is... just write it on your browser, if nothing happens i.e you get a "cannot find" message it's almost cerntainly free, go find a legal registrant an get it. To my experience DO NOT use the registrant search utility or even whois unless you're to register right away, I've found registered winthin hours domains that I checked as free. I have no idea how they do it, but it has happened to me a few times.

lowonenergy

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

11/07/2005 06:35:59 PM · #6

Originally posted by carlos:

yep, do that !

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS

11/07/2005 06:41:19 PM · #7

Originally posted by lowonenergy:

Originally posted by carlos:
Why will you pay $250 for something that cost some 15 bucks?. By agreeing to pay that amount you contribute to this "domain hickjacking" thing. Choose a domain which is free and register for a few bucks with decent registrant or your ISP itself. My ISP will even pay the first year fees for me!!

One way to find a free domain is... just write it on your browser, if nothing happens i.e you get a "cannot find" message it's almost cerntainly free, go find a legal registrant an get it. To my experience DO NOT use the registrant search utility or even whois unless you're to register right away, I've found registered winthin hours domains that I checked as free. I have no idea how they do it, but it has happened to me a few times.

yep, do that !

The problem is, I want this specific domain.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

11/07/2005 06:44:57 PM · #8

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Originally posted by lowonenergy:

Originally posted by carlos:
Why will you pay $250 for something that cost some 15 bucks?. By agreeing to pay that amount you contribute to this "domain hickjacking" thing. Choose a domain which is free and register for a few bucks with decent registrant or your ISP itself. My ISP will even pay the first year fees for me!!

One way to find a free domain is... just write it on your browser, if nothing happens i.e you get a "cannot find" message it's almost cerntainly free, go find a legal registrant an get it. To my experience DO NOT use the registrant search utility or even whois unless you're to register right away, I've found registered winthin hours domains that I checked as free. I have no idea how they do it, but it has happened to me a few times.

yep, do that !

The problem is, I want this specific domain.

Then you'll pay the $250.

Not everyone who sells domain names is a domain hijacker - it is usually the registrars or their affiliates. That is why they sometimes setup a "Search for the domain you want here" that allows them to collect that information and snatch the name before you get a chance to, knowing you're looking for it.

Anyway - I would go through the escrow company if it is legit - do not pay until you know the domain name is yours. Good luck.

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

11/07/2005 06:50:29 PM · #9

You can spot the domain squatters a mile off. If the domain you want is currently displaying a page with tons of search links, with a 'contact us to buy this domain', chances are they are squatters.

But squatters are not always conmen, they are just making profit from sitting on domains that people want. So, if they *are* squatters, and you *do* want to fund their continued activity by paying $250, then that's your choice.

I should mention that I had a domain hijacked by a registrar-affiliated squatter a few years ago who tried to sell it back to me for $1200...

Message edited by author 2005-11-07 18:50:58.

Nikon MF 180mm f/2.8 ED AIS

11/07/2005 08:33:36 PM · #10

It's strange how people refer to this activity as 'hijacking'. Have you ever been to a subdivision that a contractor is developing? Are they 'hijacking' the real estate?

If this site was $20, then maybe some other shmo would have purchased it and not used it. Anyhow, this shmo is off to blow $250 on a web domain name...after he asks his wife!

By the way, this particular site was in use just a few months ago when I last checked it...it's now available.

mcmurma

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

11/07/2005 08:52:28 PM · #11

Then I have to ask... have you checked godaddy to see if its available through them? If this domain has only recently expired then it may be for grabs by anyone, and whoever this is you are working with may simply be trying to maximize their profit. They may not even own the domain name and wont until you send the money.

I don't profess to be the most knowlegable in these matters, but I have owned and lapsed 3 different domains. There always seems to be a kind of gray area when they expire, where no one really seems to own them... until one day they become "available" again. I suspect that some domain brokers have a means of looking into this gray area and securing these domains before they are made public.

250 bucks is not that much for a name you really want, but its nothing to sneeze at either. Especially if you can get it elsewhere cheaper.

11/07/2005 08:56:13 PM · #12

Yeah, it's not listed as available anywhere else and when I type in the website address a site comes up indicating that it's for sale by the owner...which is the same company that replied to my offer via email.

I have bid on a similar website before and offered $150 and it was not accepted...

11/17/2005 11:24:03 AM · #13

Ok, I finally got it...www.mikeschneider.com - but now I have a question.

I'm with netfirms.com and I have both www.mikeschneider.CA and www.mikeschneider.COM registered with them now. When I log in to my account as "www.mikeschneider.COM" I can only edit the ".CA" website and I can't seem to login to change the new ".COM" website.

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

Message edited by author 2005-11-17 11:29:45.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/17/2005 11:24:56 AM · #14

Pfff...nevermind, it works now.

Canon EOS-20D

11/17/2005 11:25:05 AM · #15

I think the best idea would be to contact netfirms and ask them. Maybe there's a problem with the account set-up.