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" (2) the domain transfer market is terrible and ripe for someone smart to wreak havoc on the existing players." The only thing that could wreak havoc on the e

by larrys 12y ago

" (2) the domain transfer market is terrible and ripe for someone smart to wreak havoc on the existing players." The only thing that could wreak havoc on the existing system (which has multiple players) is hiring a consultant who is knowledgeable about this in order to help you navigate the obvious bullshit that anyone will encounter when purchasing a domain name. For people who deal with this type of thing all that the OP has described is often anticipated and is worked around. For example I had a case recently with buying a name (for someone) where the seller told me that "the transfer has to be done with godaddy that's the only way that escrow.com works". For someone who doesn't know "how it works" unraveling (and getting the seller to change their opinion) would take many phone calls to get to the point of being able to simply get the auth code to transfer the name to the registrar of their choice (which is not godaddy). There is not a technology answer to this issue. It's a knowledge and people answer. That said if anyone thinks they have a way to disrupt this I would be glad to hear about it and tell them what I thought about it (based on my 18 years approx in this business.)

will_brown 12y ago
>That said if anyone thinks they have a way to disrupt this I would be glad to hear about it and tell them what I thought about it (based on my 18 years approx in this business.) I see the problem as follows: Buyer/OP found and purchased the domain from a broker/escrow agent/middle-man, as a result the buyer was subjected to the additional time required for seller to transfer the domain to broker/escrow agent/middle-man. Solution: Once the domain was transferred to broker/escrow agent/middle-man it appears the buyer had the domain a few hours later. Therefore, the broker/escrow agent/middle-man could require all domain listings be transferred to their account upfront. In theory after the payment, the buyer will have the domain within hours with no need to rely on the seller. Perhaps the only downside is the seller agreeing to an exclusive listing, but there is nothing prohibiting a system where the seller could cancel the sale and request the domain be return prior to any closing.
- larrys 12y ago
  "for seller to transfer the domain to broker/escrow agent/middle-man" Well to start domains aren't transferred to these parties these parties merely facilitate the transfer by way of others that have a stake for one reason or another. Perhaps it's best to state how this typically works. a) A person owns a domain b) A person may be acting as a broker or middleman for some reason on that domain. c) There is the current "old" registrar of the domain. d) There is the new registrar that the new owner wants to transfer to. e) c&d may or may not be the same company. f) There may be an escrow service, say escrow.com in between. Purpose to make sure the right thing happens and the ownership is actually transferred. If Dave is the buyer, Joe is the broker, and Jane is the seller, Godaddy is the existing registrar and namecheap is the registrar that Dave (buyer) wants to use, here is what should happen. 1) Joe gets the auth code from Jane or Dave gets the auth code from Jane etc. 2) Joe or Dave gives the auth code to Namecheap. 3) Namecheap gets the name transferred over from Godaddy (I'll skip the exact details on that part for simplicity). Much happens here obviously to make this actually happen. 4) Both buyer and seller agree the transaction is "ok" and the escrow company releases the money to the seller.
- joelennon 12y ago
  The problem with this solution is that many people listing domains on sites like Sedo will want to continue to run a website (or a "parked" landing page with spammy ads) until the site has sold. I guess ownership could be transferred with the understanding that the broker will keep the name servers intact until a sale, but this sounds kind of messy and difficult to manage.

by larrys 12y ago

will_brown 12y ago

>That said if anyone thinks they have a way to disrupt this I would be glad to hear about it and tell them what I thought about it (based on my 18 years approx in this business.) I see the problem as follows: Buyer/OP found and purchased the domain from a broker/escrow agent/middle-man, as a result the buyer was subjected to the additional time required for seller to transfer the domain to broker/escrow agent/middle-man. Solution: Once the domain was transferred to broker/escrow agent/middle-man it appears the buyer had the domain a few hours later. Therefore, the broker/escrow agent/middle-man could require all domain listings be transferred to their account upfront. In theory after the payment, the buyer will have the domain within hours with no need to rely on the seller. Perhaps the only downside is the seller agreeing to an exclusive listing, but there is nothing prohibiting a system where the seller could cancel the sale and request the domain be return prior to any closing.

larrys 12y ago
"for seller to transfer the domain to broker/escrow agent/middle-man" Well to start domains aren't transferred to these parties these parties merely facilitate the transfer by way of others that have a stake for one reason or another. Perhaps it's best to state how this typically works. a) A person owns a domain b) A person may be acting as a broker or middleman for some reason on that domain. c) There is the current "old" registrar of the domain. d) There is the new registrar that the new owner wants to transfer to. e) c&d may or may not be the same company. f) There may be an escrow service, say escrow.com in between. Purpose to make sure the right thing happens and the ownership is actually transferred. If Dave is the buyer, Joe is the broker, and Jane is the seller, Godaddy is the existing registrar and namecheap is the registrar that Dave (buyer) wants to use, here is what should happen. 1) Joe gets the auth code from Jane or Dave gets the auth code from Jane etc. 2) Joe or Dave gives the auth code to Namecheap. 3) Namecheap gets the name transferred over from Godaddy (I'll skip the exact details on that part for simplicity). Much happens here obviously to make this actually happen. 4) Both buyer and seller agree the transaction is "ok" and the escrow company releases the money to the seller.
joelennon 12y ago
The problem with this solution is that many people listing domains on sites like Sedo will want to continue to run a website (or a "parked" landing page with spammy ads) until the site has sold. I guess ownership could be transferred with the understanding that the broker will keep the name servers intact until a sale, but this sounds kind of messy and difficult to manage.