Bleeped off over Sedo appraisal

[snowflakegirl]

I am really PO'd. I requested an appraisal (39.00) for my domain "squeakers.com" from Sedo.com a few days ago and they really screwed up in my opinion.

I wouldn't mind so much if they had used good comparisons but Noooo!

They compared my domain name: squeakers.com with
Rompers.com (that's ok)
euromovers.com (a two word domain name)
kitesurfers.com (also a two word domain name)

When I questioned their wisdom in using two two-word domains to evaluate the worth of a 1 word domain name, I was told:

"The point of the comparable sales section was to illustrate the value of plural -er domains in conjunction with a .com extension.
It is difficult to find recent sales to compare favourably with a plural of a relatively unknown, non-generic word.
On the other hand, if you wish to use the name in relation to birdlife (a squeaker is a young bird) the value of the domain would be negatively affected.
Also, please note the word "squeakers" is mainly used among US-English speakers.
The word does not translate well in other languages and is not widely used in British-English."

I think that is a load.

I really would like to hear from others in this forum if you think using these three domain names was a valid comparison or should I complain about it or just take my listings elsewhere?

[emarketinvestor]

I'd go with a 2000-2500 USD value.

Use the free assessment link listed in the sticky above. Though far from being accurate, it will give you some idea of where to begin.

Good luck,

[snowflakegirl]

Lots of lurkers but no opinions eh?

[fryman]

"I'd go with a 2000-2500 USD value."
You don't have a clue about domain appraisals. Could you tell me what criteria are you using to give such an illogical value?


This is the first time in my life I hear about the word "squeakers", and I can't imagine any use for it on a website.

$100 would be more than enough for it.

[jawn_tech]

I went with 500 in my vote, but it has potential to be more.

I don't claim to be an expert on domain appraisals. If anyone else here is an expert, open up an appraisal business. If not, this is still a place where people can share their opinion, and that's all she's asking.

I see pros and cons with squeakers. The pros outweigh the cons.

Pros: It's a one word domain. Congratulations. Squeakers may not be in the dictionary other than a bird (I haven't looked), but people do use it as the noise device in toys that squeak. Great potential for that line of product! Imagine -- Squeakers, like rubber duckies, and a line of other characters, animals. Or a new line of shoes. I understand these may not be things you are prepared to do yourself (we're talking trademarks, possibly patents, manufacturing, etc.) But in marketing, we do things like create a dynamic proposal and sell the idea to a company. That's where the domain might get value, if you've got a concept that looks like a winner. Or, a simpler approach with less overhead is to sell other products that squeak, in an online store called Squeakers. It's a cute name and could spread around.

The plural version in this domain seems more valuable than the singular, "squeaker.com"

Having never heard of squeaker sometimes can add value. Who ever heard of a Google? An Ebay? An Altavista? etc... These are cases where the name was developed and branded.

Now I know I'm off the point, because we're actually considering the value of the domain straight out of the box, to sell to someone else to develop. That said, the value would come from developing it yourself. The domain is a great asset, because it's catchy and easy to remember.

The cons are just that -- out of the box, it's a hard sell (unless someone has a prior idea in mind, and they just couldn't get by without that name).

My encouragement is to keep it, develop it, and I think it has great potential to take off, and rub it in to the nay-sayers. Remember me when you get rich.

[emarketinvestor]

Hi fryman,

I may not have a clue about domain appraisals, but I have been lucky enough to sell one in the $xxx,xxx range, not having a clue. Not bad for someone who doesn't have a clue. Read my press release in my signature.

I arrived at the value by using the NetSol value assessment tool for those who don't know how much to offer for a domain. Using the NetSol value assessment tool won't give you an absolute value, but it can give you some idea of where to start. It takes the personal opinion out of the equation.

https://www.certifiedofferservice.com/CertifiedOffer/offer/makeoffer.do?dom=YourDOMAINHERE.com

Peace,

[AGS]

Im sorry i could not vote

there wasnt an option lower than 100.00 I see single word dictionary .coms exchange hands everyday many better than the above mentioned domain and the never see 100.00

of course this is wholesale but still people all expect their domain to instantly be worth millions and it just isnt the case, very few sell for those prices. www.dnjournal.com is a great resource last week 1p.com a nice 2 character . com sold for 10,000.00 and SSM.com another nice domain sold for 145,000.00 another resource you might want to look at before getting to upset with SEDO is namepros.com the best in the business

[gworld]

Hi emarketinvestor

I am happy for you that you sold a domain for such high price as you mentioned in your post but the link that you have in your post and it is sticky in top of this forum, is just a "FEEL GOOD" link.

It makes people feel good about their invetsment of $8 to buy a domain; which is what network solution does, even if they charge much higher price than 8.

I have about 90 domains and I tried about 10 of them, they were all valued between 8000-10000 which makes the sum of 80,000-100,000 for these 10 domain.

I will sell these domains for 10,000, any taker?

[emarketinvestor]

Hi gworld,

Thanks for the remark about my domain sale. That was a three years ago. I'm ready for another one, or I'll have to go back to work soon.

As I stated in the previous post
...NetSol value assessment tool for those who don't know how much to offer for a domain. Using the NetSol value assessment tool won't give you an absolute value, but it can give you some idea of where to start.

It's not really a feel good link, but it does come in handy when someone offers you $xx for a domain worth a minimum of $x,xxx or more. The link does have the ability to relieve any feeling that a potential buyer may have that you're just pulling a value out of your hat. The best thing is that it doesn't cost them anything.

The tool can only calculate word relevance of most commonly used words. This throws it off, as well as the inability to distinguish between an active website and a parked domain. Plus the top value is $10,000. Check DNJournal.com to see if that's a legitimate maximum.

I hope you do have good luck with your domains.

Peace,

[snowflakegirl]

I've had ample time to cool off and have enjoyed reading all the posts in response to my temper tantrum...especially those small people who begrudged my domain an especially teensy value, perhaps reflecting their IQ's moreso than the domain
s actual value.

I am now of the opinion that domain value lies solely in the eye of the buyer and it matters not what Sedo or freebie appraisals says. I think that one word domain names are no more valuable than 5 word domain names.

It's the message conveyed that makes the domain name meaningful. EG: bank.com is not better than BankofAmerica.com, depot.com is not better than homedepot.com in my humble opinion. So all those folks nesting like mother hens on their roost of one word domains have only succeeded in forcing the world to become more creative.

I've decided that my domain Squeakers.com is of at least 5,000 value and I will hang onto it till doomsday before I let it go for less. My decision. Screw the appraisers. And screw you detractors.
I still think it is reprehensible of Sedo to appraise my one word domain with two-word comparibles, but alas...they have only succeeded in losing my business.

[activeco]

...especially those small people who begrudged my domain an especially teensy value, perhaps reflecting their IQ's moreso than the domain
s actual value.

Many people tend to be emotionally tied to their domain names and often feel offended when they receive a low appraisal or offer.
Needless to say, appraisal is the opinion of an individual, no matter how (un)substantiated it is.
Don't fall into this trap, this lowers your critical thinking and real world perception ;-).

Of course the manner someone gives his opinion MATTERS a lot and this should be properly responded to, but again try to accept appraisals just as individual votes.



I am now of the opinion that domain value lies solely in the eye of the buyer and it matters not what Sedo or freebie appraisals says.

That is the biggest truth in domain business!



I think that one word domain names are no more valuable than 5 word domain names. It's the message conveyed that makes the domain name meaningful. EG: bank.com is not better than BankofAmerica.com, depot.com is not better than homedepot.com in my humble opinion.

That's certainly true for websites having developed businesses behind it, but for empty domain names only a few factors are in the game:

- natural type-ins:
How many visitors types your domain name directly into url bar, without advertising, linking, etc?
This is what mostly makes a difference between one or more words names, altough the word(s) popularity is the most important here.
Did I mention it MUST be a .com?

-length of a name:
Shorter the better! :-o
If you can find a three-nonsense-letters .com for under $1k that would be a real steal.
However you can still register some four letter .coms.

-dictionary word:
Dic words have some value even if not type-ins (most are). But mostly nouns and verbs, the rest is not so valuable. There are still one-word generic names available for registration!
E.g begrudgedly.com is free to register. ;-)

-possible brand
If a name could be easily trade-marked with a nice sounding name, this could also bring some value to it.
Personally, this is where I see your name best fits in.



I've decided that my domain Squeakers.com is of at least 5,000 value and I will hang onto it till doomsday before I let it go for less.

I can't recall how many names I let drop after earlier refusing a pretty good offer, jus because I thought they were MUCH more worth. Baby steps, I guess.
Of course, this does not have to apply to your name, but reality is often beyond our perceptions.

Squeakers.com is indeed a nice sounding name, IMO worth $400-$750 for most end buyers.
It doesn't mean you can't sell it for $15,000 to some cr... err... enthusiast company.

In the meantime it doesn't have to wait for a buyer-angel to be fully used.
As jawn_tech suggested, I would think of slowly developing the site bit-by-bit. Businesses around babies, kids, guinea-pigs... comes to mind.
Good luck with the name.

[madmonk]

great post! I dont think much of sedo anyways.
as long as buyer is willing to pay, higher prices are possible.