4 ms·

I see valid points for both "offer in the first email" and "no offer in the first email" positions. I think the logical conclusion is this: 1) Create a Gmail a

by zavulon 15y ago

I see valid points for both "offer in the first email" and "no offer in the first email" positions. I think the logical conclusion is this: 1) Create a Gmail account for some common name (Joe Smith) and email from that account first, asking for the price. 2) If you get a response, proceed from there. If no response, create another Gmail account for a common name, and email with a concrete offer.

jacquesm 15y ago
No offer in the first email goes straight into the trash. Just another data point for you. No real name of person making offer: ditto. Joe Smith from randomemail at gmail.com which I can't google for: ditto. In other words, if you start by playing games you likely are not serious anyway and there is no point wasting time. An email from a real person (sorry to all the Joe Smiths in the world) with an established reputation accompanied by a non-insulting offer will always get a response, even if it is a polite 'sorry, not interested'.
- zavulon 15y ago
  I understand that's your reaction and that's fine. But as you put, that's just "another data point". Not every domain owner is like that - I got good results using this approach, often with a "Sure, I'd like to sell, my price is $number". My point is - even if you get no response for the first email, since you didn't send it from your real address, you can always send a second one, and you can send it "as youself", and make an offer right away - as soon as you get an idea of what kind of seller you're dealing with.
- sriramk 15y ago
  I agree with everything except revealing your identity. Often seen sellers hike prices when they know you can afford it/ you need it badly/ etc. when we were looking at domains to buy in Microsoft, we were told to never access it from the corporate network since sellers had hiked prices dramatically when they knew it was Microsoft on the other end. Sad, but I totally see a case for hiding your identity or going through another entity - brokerage, low-cost lawyers, etc.

by zavulon 15y ago

jacquesm 15y ago

No offer in the first email goes straight into the trash. Just another data point for you. No real name of person making offer: ditto. Joe Smith from randomemail at gmail.com which I can't google for: ditto. In other words, if you start by playing games you likely are not serious anyway and there is no point wasting time. An email from a real person (sorry to all the Joe Smiths in the world) with an established reputation accompanied by a non-insulting offer will always get a response, even if it is a polite 'sorry, not interested'.

zavulon 15y ago
I understand that's your reaction and that's fine. But as you put, that's just "another data point". Not every domain owner is like that - I got good results using this approach, often with a "Sure, I'd like to sell, my price is $number". My point is - even if you get no response for the first email, since you didn't send it from your real address, you can always send a second one, and you can send it "as youself", and make an offer right away - as soon as you get an idea of what kind of seller you're dealing with.
sriramk 15y ago
I agree with everything except revealing your identity. Often seen sellers hike prices when they know you can afford it/ you need it badly/ etc. when we were looking at domains to buy in Microsoft, we were told to never access it from the corporate network since sellers had hiked prices dramatically when they knew it was Microsoft on the other end. Sad, but I totally see a case for hiding your identity or going through another entity - brokerage, low-cost lawyers, etc.