There are good deals to be had buying domain names from eBay. I purchase a few every week and bid on lots more. Here are a few guidelines for a successful domain buying experience on eBay.
(1). Verify Buyer Feedback
After each EBay transaction both the buyer and seller are invited to rate the performance of the other. This provides a valuable rating tool that allows you be comfortable that the seller will bear out their obligations after you pay them for a domain. On the far right of each EBay listing is a section that says “Meet the Seller”. To the right of the sellers name is a number in set – this indicates the number of unique feedbacks by other buyer or sellers. Below this is the percentage of positive feedbacks. Personally I look for unique criticisms of at least 10 and percent positive criticism of 100% or at the least in the high 90’s. You can clack on the feedback number to see the individual comments of other EBay’ers who have buy or sold with your dormant seller.
Certainly you can never get rid of the risk that seller will not perform but knowing your seller you can considerably limit the risk. I have done hundreds of purchases on EBay and my losses from non-perfuming sellers – less than a dollar.
(2).Double check the domain addition
If you want a .com domain make sure that check that it’s what you are buying. A few times I’ve read through the domain description too quickly and ended up buying a .net domain or .data domain when I thought I was trade a .com domain. Ouch!
(3). Verify for handling charges
A few domain sellers charge a handling indict for transferring the domain to you. Read the EBay listing carefully toward see if there is a handling indict. If there is a handling charge takes away this amount from the maximum that you are willing to pay for the domain.
(4). Recognize the Value of What Are Buying
There are lots of resources on the internet to check the value of domains. If you are buying 3 character domains 3character.com give a price guide each month. Another great source of historical price data is EBay itself. At EBay.com clicks on Buy tab. In the search small package type in ‘domain names’ and click on the Search button. The brings up the following steering:
Computers & Networking > Other Hardware & Services > Domain Names > .com
Click on the Domain Names link to get a list of all domain names. Now click on the Advanced Search link. Then next page click on the checkbox near the top that says “complete Listings Only” and ensure that the ‘In this group pick list reads ‘Domain Names’. Now scroll to the bottom and click on the ‘Search’ button. You should now see a listing of new selling items. The items in red are those which unsuccessful to sell and the green items are those which did sell.
(5). Verify the Register
If you have a favorites registrar where you want all your domains to be located make sure that the domain is by now at that registrar. Or if you are willing to accept a domain at a dissimilar registrar – make sure that registrar offers a free push. in the midst of the registrars offering a free push of a domain to a new account are GoDaddy, Moniker, ENom, Fabulous, Dotster, DynaDot, Domain Site and NameCheap.com. If its a different registrar make a rapid check of the web site to make sure that a free push is offered.
(6). Use sniping software
Derogatory software is used on EBay to automatically place bids just a few seconds before an auction ends. The benefit of sniping software is that you avoid bidding early which would tend to drive up the price of the domain. By using sniping software you get to suggestion in the final seconds of the auction without having to be at your computer when the auction ends. The derogatory software that I use is public sale Defender – available at AuctionDefender.com. A free trial version of the program is available. Cost of the program is $14.95 with a charge of $9.95 per year after the first year if you want to carry on to receive hold up and upgrades.
(7). Be selective on the auctions you bid on
While there are a few gems there is also a lot of rubbish domains listed on EBay. Domains that are poor names, the wrong addition or just expensive. You will be a lot better off buying focusing on excellence rather than attempting to every domain on the list.
(8). Check the Expiry Date
Once you buy a name you will be in charge for any renewals. Some sellers place names on EBay which are about to expire. You may still decide to buy but you need to be aware of the imminent renewal fee. Best place to check both the registrar and the end date is a whois checker like Whois.sc or very often the registrar and expiry date are listed in the item report.
(9). If it looks to be good quality to be true…
If you see an extremely valuable domain being offered for pennies on the dollar be careful – fraud does happen on EBay – you don’t want to be the next victim. A couple of things you can do. One is simply to forget the listing inactive on the theory that it simply is too good to be true. Alternatively you could contact the owner of the domain using whose in order plus confirm that the owner is for selling on EBay. Or you can is contact the seller by means of their EBay listing and ask if they will accept payment via Escrow.com – see suggestion below.
(10). For large amounts
If you are not at effortlessness paying the predictable price because of the latent for fraud an option is paying through Escrow.com. You will need to contact the seller to confirm that they will accept payment via Escrow.com and to discuss who will pay the escrow accuses. Normally the escrow charges are either paid by the buyer or split between the consumer and seller. If the buyer won’t agree to escrow – move on to the next domain – there are lots of opportunities to buy.
