Welcome / General Questions
This is a reverse auction in which the price drops until a willing buyer purchases the domain name or the domain name reaches our minimum price. This auction format has no standard limits on time. So prices may keep dropping and dropping for days until the auction is over, or the auction could end with a buyer within the hour. The bottom line is, if a domain you need/want goes to reverse auction, you should consider buying it when it hits a price that's appropriate for you. If your budget is far less than the starting price, check back every so often... you never know what will happen. However, if you have a real use for the domain, trying to get a real deal probably isn't worth the risk.
We'll auction the most popular domains. For the seller's
sake, a domain name should not go to auction unless there
are a minimum number of serious bidders, and/or a reasonable
reserved price.
Some ways to help your prospective domain go to auction:
1) Register and mention the domain names when you register.
2) Use the "Make Offer" link to submit an offer.
See What's "Make an Offer"
First register indicating you're interested in that domain.
We'll auction the most popular domains. For the seller's sake, a
domain name should not go to auction unless there is a minimum
number of serious bidders, and/or a reasonable reserved price.
The more people who register and express interest in a specific
domain name, the more likely it is that that domain name will
go to auction.
Some ways to help your prospective domain go to auction:
1) Register and mention the domain name when you register.
2) Use the "Make an Offer" link to submit an offer.
See "Make an Offer"
3) If you don't want to do either of the above, let us know.
Everyone. Especially companies, charities and individuals looking to use a domain name to enhance their web presence.
Although the site is targeted to non-resellers (who have been the vast majority of buyers on a per-dollar basis), about half our transactions have been with resellers and speculators. We appreciate your business, and fully intend to accomodate you the best we can. Our First transaction might seem a bit awkward, later on, we'll hopefully get to know each other a lot better. :)
To register, click here.
Registering represents no obligation to purchase anything from us. It just gives us your current contact information and lets us know you are interested in one or more of our domain names. In addition only registered users may finalize a buy order. We do not recommend waiting to register until the domain name you are interested is scheduled, as we are likely to schedule auctions based on the number of registered users expressing interest in a specific domain name. More importantly, notice and access to some auctions may only be given to registered users. We will NOT make unrelated use of your registration information, nor will we share it with third parties.
To become verified, you simply need to provide us with valid credit card information and we will place a $100 pre-authorization on your credit card. More Details
You can check as often as you like. Keep in mind that the counters may speed up or slow down, so you should reload the page occasionally. Better yet, you can leave a "Just Counter" button running on your computer. However, since the animated counters only display an approximate price, reloading is still highly advised in order to keep in sync with the official prices as well as being advised of ended auctions.
The auctions start on a rolling basis. Domains listed as "being scheduled" are likely to start within 48 hours. In order to preserve the integrity of the auction, we need to alert a reasonable number of prospective buyers. At a minimum we'd like to be sure that most of the people who have inquired about a specific domain name are aware of the auction. So, we send an initial email informing people of the auction and encouraging them to register if they are interested. If we have your email address, we will contact you when any of the domain names you inquired about, or listed on the registration form, are scheduled.
There's probably over a hundred million web surfers worldwide. Many of them go right to a domain name they remember or just type what they're looking for into their browsers, along with the "www" and "dot com" or "dot org". Even a tiny percentage of those millions of people can add up very quickly. A good domain name means your customers or patrons and other people can find your site, and can come back to do more business. If they can't find your website, by knowing the precise wording and spelling, nothing else could matter! So the right domain name in the right hands is likely to be very very valuable. On the other hand, finding the right buyer is sometimes difficult, if not impossible. And unfortunately, it's far too often prospective buyers don't fully appreciate how much the right domain name can help them until after they buy. So, we sometimes let a domain name go for far less than that. The bottom line is, if a domain you need/want goes to reverse auction, you should consider buying it when it hits a price that's appropriate for you. If your budget is far less than the starting price, check back every so often... you never know what will happen. So, if you have a real use for the domain, waiting for a really cheap price probably isn't worth the risk. Be aware that other domain name resellers are also looking for a great deal.
If you feel you don't have the time or inclination to participate in the auction, yet want to purchase a particular domain name, you might want to consider taking your chances by submitting an offer to buy a particular domain name at a price you designate. Unlike clicking "BUY", "Make an Offer" isn't considered binding, unless you specifically state otherwise. But, it is certainly going to increase your chances of getting the domain name. An offer may be made at any time in the auction up to the time your price is reached, as long as the domain name has not been removed from auction or sold. Offers can also be made on domain names not currently being auctioned. If the domain name is not sold at a price above your offer, the auction will stop at the price you have formally offered. To make an offer, use the "Make Offer" link on any individual domain page or click here.
If a domain name leaves the auction due to a "reserve not met" message, it will usually be considered for sale at or near the "asking price". If this is still too much, contact us. We may be able to suggest lower cost, 'still available' non-premium domain names. See Below: The auction ended with "Reserve Not Met". Can I still buy it at or near the reserve price?
If you really need a specific domain name that goes to reverse
auction, you should consider buying it when it hits a price
that's appropriate for you.
If your budget is far less than the starting price, you shouldn't
be discouraged. Check back every so often... you never know what
will happen.
But if you have a real need for the domain name, trying to get
a real deal probably isn't worth the risk.
If the auction does end without you winning, and feel you really
*need* the domain name, here are some options:
1) Let us know so we can contact you in case the deal falls
through.
2) Wait a few days and see if the new owner's name is listed
on the whois record. If so, contact them and see if they're
willing to sell the domain name.
3) If the auction page says 'Pending Verification' as opposed to
'Sold' the auction isn't really over. Contact us immediately
and be verifed before the other buyer, and the domain name is
yours (after full payment).
4) If the domain name is removed from auction because it hit
the reserve or minimum price, contact us. The domain name
may still be for sale at the asking price.
1. You should get VERIFIED in advance so that the auction will stop when you click "BUY". Otherwise, a VERIFIED bidder could buy the domain name between the time you click "BUY" and and the time you are able to set up an acceptable payment. 2. Follow the auction. When the counter reaches a price you are willing to pay, click "BUY". If you wait to get a lower price, you risk losing the domain name to someone else; if that "someone else" is verified, there won't be any warning before the auction goes to "SOLD". Or the auction might end suddenly and unexpectedly for some other reason 3. Or you can "Make an Offer"
We apologize for not having been more attentive. Most of these domains have been held unsold for years because we haven't been able to keep up with inquires. In particular, most people inquire without making any offer. It seems that most people who do make offers try offering very low amounts hoping it will help the "negotiation process". For the most part, however, it has meant that we haven't been able to seriously pursue most inquires. This reverse auction is intended to "cut through the red tape". Unfortunately, to protect the seller's interest, a domain name should not go to auction unless there is a minimum number of serious bidders, and/or a reasonable reserved price. See Also What can I do to get the domain name I want auctioned?
If you speak English well enough, the best way is to call us at:
1-800-387-7413 (US/Canada)
+1 617 464 0012 (International / Alternate)
If you call and get an answering machine, please leave a
message. We may get back to you sooner than you would
expect, and we don't mind making international phone calls.
Or, you can email us at:
auctiondomains@buy-our.com
There is no preset limit for the length of the auction. The auction ends when one of the following events occur: 1) A verified user finalizes a buy order. 2) An unverified user finalizes a buy order, and becomes verified or places a $100 deposit with us. 3) The domain name reaches its minimum / reserve price and is removed from auction. Reserve prices may either be visible or hidden. If a domain name has a visible reserve price, it will be listed on the auction page.
If a domain name has a visible reserve, you know that the auction will end when the domain name counts down to that price. If a domain name does not have a visible reserve price, the reserve price is hidden. Auctions with a hidden reserve can and often do disappear suddenly and without warning when they hit the reserve price.
The current price appears on the counter at the time the page is loaded. The text-only and the price on the buy and buy-verification pages are official. Animated counters should also depict the price, But, reloading occasionally is highly advised in order to keep in sync with the official prices as well as being advised of ended auctions.
It depends a lot on how you make payment. If you are in a hurry to receive ownership of the domain name, we recommend you send us full payment in the form of a Bank Check, Cashier's Check, or Money Order via Standard Overnight Federal Express and email us the tracking number.
The prices listed on the auction page are the official prices at the time the page is loaded. Animated prices may vary slightly but the textual prices including the ones on the bid and buy pages are official. Please also see our terms about technical errors and exceptions.
Because it does. The speed of the counter may change at any time.
The best thing to do if you don't want to keep checking the page is to "Make an offer". However, keep in mind that verified users clicking "BUY" during a live auction may be given priority over other "offers", regardless of price and date submitted.
It is very unlikely. Many of the closing prices are deliberately low in order to promote these auctions. An auction is usually held because we feel that enough people are watching the auction and that an appropriate buyer will be found. If a domain leaves the auction due to "reserve not met", it will usually be considered for sale at or near the "asking price". Sometimes an auction will repeat immediately after stopping. However, more often than not, it will be considered to be "at the bottom of the list" of domains to be auctioned soon and might not reauctioned for years to come.
See the previous question above: (The auction ended with "Reserve Not Met". Can I still buy it at or near the reserve price?)
Absolutely not. Actually, you're more likely to get a helpful nerd.
It varies. Currently, most of the domain names sold here are owned by individuals I have worked with closely in the past. I've been entrusted to sell these domain names in whatever way I think is in the owner's best interest. Unlike some other organizations, we're not in it "for a quick commission". We try to get the best customer/offer for a domain name rather than jump at the first reasonable offer.
Buying Outright / Other Domains
Feel free to make us an offer on any of our domain names.
See What's "Make an Offer"
If you make an appropriately serious offer, we will respond right away.
See What's "Make an Offer"
Participating in the auction (and becoming verified)
If you log in and see a "Get Verified" link next to the "Buy" button, you aren't yet verified.
Once a user clicks Buy, the user should then contact us as soon as possible to discuss payment terms and/or address any other questions/concerns they may have. The winner of any auction on our site is the first verified buyer to finalize a buy order by clicking the Buy button on the Final Confirmation Page. When an unverified user confirms buying a domain name, the auction may continue until the purchase request can be verified. This is intended mainly to prevent "false warnings" of the auction ending. If a verified user confirms buying the same domain name or the auction hits its reserve price before the unverified user can be verified, the unverified user may lose out on the auction. Verified users clicking "BUY" during a live auction WILL be given priority over other "offers", regardless of price and date these offers were submitted at.
If you do not have a credit card, you can become verified by sending a $100 deposit through any of our other forms of payment. If you send such a deposit and don't get the domain name you need (or change your mind for any other reason), simply contact us for a prompt refund of your unused $100 deposit. We may also make a special exception and verify you without a deposit especially if we've done business with you before.
The preferred method of payment for "Becoming Verified" is Mastercard, Visa, or Discover.
| Verification |
 | | Credit Card Preauthorization | PayPal | Bank/ Cashiers or Certified Checks | Personal or Business Check | Money Orders | Wire Transfers |
| | |
|||||
| Ok for Verification | | Preferred | Yes | ||||
| Time to become effective | Right away | Instant | Usually right away | Upon verification by issuing institution |
|||
| Actual $100 deposit required | No... we just preauthorize a $100 limit... you won't be charged unless you buy! | Yes | |||||
When you're ready to buy
AS YOU BUY: After a user finalizes a buy order, we will most likely require a deposit. If the user has become verified by providing credit card information, we may charge a $100 non-refundable deposit to their card on file. If the user is not verified, the user needs to contact us as soon as possible to prevent a verified user from finalizing their own buy order. This is intended mostly to prevent "false warnings" of the auction ending. Deposit may be made by Mastercard, Visa, Discover, or Paypal. Once the deposit is received, final payment can be sent via one of the following methods, and ownership of the domain name will be transferred within about 1-3 days. Final payment should be made via Money Order, Bank Check, Cashier's Check or Wire Transfer. We ask that payment be sent via a trackable delivery method such as Fedex Standard Overnight. Under some circumstances we may accept Mastercard, Visa, Discover, or Paypal, and additional restrictions WILL apply.
You will have full use of your new domain name as soon as we receive final payment. There may be a waiting period before you can change the domain registration information or transfer it to another registrar, depending on how you make final payment. Some payment methods have no waiting period.
The preferred method of payment for final payment is to mail a
bank check or money order via a trackable delivery method such
as Standard Overnight Federal Express and to forward us the
tracking number.
All the forms of payment listed below are also valid for deposit
payments for non-verified buyers. However, since an auction
continues until deposit is received, we do recommend payment
methods that can be processed quickly.
We occasionally make exceptions on a case-by-case basis. If none
of these payment options seem suitable, please ask about other
arrangements.
| Final Payment |
|
|
Bank/ Cashiers or Certified Checks |
Money Orders |
Wire Transfers |
Personal or Business Check |
Credit
Card Charge (directly or via PayPal) |
PayPal (not using a Credit Card) |
| | |
|||||
| Ok for Final Payment | | Yes |
Case-by-case basis |
||||
| Domain available for use |
When you tell us it's been sent |
Upon Receipt | Instantly |
Upon Receipt |
|||
| Change of Registration or transfer to another registrar |
Upon collection or
verification of funds (fast) |
Upon collection of funds. Usually one week US, 2 to 3 weeks international. |
Up to One Year
after Purchase |
Case-by-case basis |
|||
When we receive payment, we will change the "whois" registration information on the Domain Name to match your name and address, or any other name(s) and address(es) you specify, so the domain name's "registered to" field" and "contact" fields show that it is yours. Once the whois registration information has been changed, you may transfer the Domain Name to any Domain Registrar. If you do not transfer the Domain Name, we will provide free DNS information as long as you pay the annual $25 registration fee. More Details