By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD
A few months ago, I choose not to renew a tertiary domain name for a website. One semi-resourceful individual saw that it was now available, researched that I owned a similar one, and offered to procure it for me — not realizing that I was the former owner. (See “The Difference Between Good and Bad Marketing.”)
A few months ago, another enterprising person noticed that a domain name, which was a shorter, more desirable version of one I already had, would soon be available. For a fee, he offered to obtain it for me. I never asked how much—I merely registered it myself. I was grateful for his email, because I really wanted this new address, but wasn’t aware it had become available.
Last week, I received an offer for a marketable domain name. It is somewhat aligned with my business. If I had it, I would find something useful to do with it, but it does not have enough value (to me) that I would buy it from someone else.
Anyway, the pitch was that he was liquidating his domain names and discovered one that would be perfect for me. He was willing to sell it for only $600!
(I discovered that he had just bought it the day before. It would have cost him less than $10 to do so—and he was selling it for $600. That would be quite a nice profit.)
Whenever a domain name is registered, there is a 5-day grace period, in which you can receive a refund of the registration fee. I suspect that he may do that. If so, it will become available again in a couple of days. If it does, maybe I will register it for the $10 fee. That would sure beat $600.
Read more in Peter Lyle DeHaan’s Sticky Series books, including Sticky Living, Sticky Customer Service, Sticky Sales and Marketing, and Sticky Leadership and Management featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips.
Peter Lyle DeHaan is an entrepreneur and businessman who has managed, owned, and started multiple businesses over his career. Common themes at every turn have included customer service, sales and marketing, and leadership and management.
He shares his lifetime of business experience and personal insights through his books to encourage, inspire, and occasionally entertain.