Make a counteroffer. Initially, they just want to make a profit. Unfortunately, since you've expressed an interest in the domain, they'll probably renew it. If

Make a counteroffer. Initially, they just want to make a profit. Unfortunately, since you've expressed an interest in the domain, they'll probably renew it. If your site becomes popular, expect to pay much more later (or let it sit parked forever, you'll be in good company). FWIW, I've obtained parked domains by doing a command line whois (DON'T use a registrar or other web-based tool) to check the expiration date, then patiently waiting until they're available again. It seems risky, but it pays off sometimes. Also, before contacting anyone about purchasing a domain, make sure you've purchased the name under any other TLDs that matter to you, or you might find them scooped up and held hostage based on your interest. To check availability, always do a DNS lookup before a whois lookup, and don't ever look it up at the registrar until you're prepared to buy it on the spot.