Domain-squatting parasites not interested in haggling, apparently.
jwz.org
jwz.org
Or is it just because the guy wouldn't sell it for $200 that he's a parasite?
The reason he is a "parasite" is that he adds no value and charges money for it. His "product" consists of laying claim to something, then charging a lot of money to someone else for it.
The squatter didn't create anything and doesn't increase the value of anything, he just holds it waiting for someone who is willing to pay for it. He didn't even buy something someone else created.
This is similar to patent trolls, with the exception that it's possible there is a real innovation in a patent, and that the existence of the troll gives incentive for innovators to create knowledge that benefits society.
The closest you can get to arguing a domain squatter adds value is that he prevents someone who doesn't value the domain as highly from getting it, keeping it available for someone who will pay more for it - but surely some low-value user of the domain would be willing to sell for a price similar to what the squatter asks.
No value add, taking resources (dollars) from productive market participants = parasite.
Which is the exact same model behind the real estate market (excluding property flips).
I hate domain squatters as much as the next guy, but it's as viable a business model as buying up land 30 miles from a big city and waiting 20 years for the value to appreciate and then selling it for a huge profit. How is that any different? Seems to be an acceptable practice in today's society, no one labels them parasites.
- real estate "squatters" provide liquidity for property owners (this is theoretically possible in domains, but I've never heard it claimed to be a common case)
- lack of homesteading
When "new territory" opened up (in the US), people could be granted chunks of land if they improved the land, making productive use of the property for some time (homesteading). They could then file a claim for the land and have it deeded to them for continued ownership, resale, etc.
That initial productive use is lacking in domain squatting. No one has "improved" the claimed domain name or made productive use of it. The squatter has only filed a claim for it, hoping for a profit.
what if they want it for just email? what if they had plans for it but life happened and they didn't get around to it?
if it wasn't a .com would there be all this stink?
like i said below a domain is not a physical asset. it's 0's and 1's. it's vapor. the value of that domain exists in peoples minds. it is not like land at all.
The analogy would be bridge with a toll booth vs a gate in a natural mountain pass with a toll booth.
In both cases there is a service (passage from one area to another) for a fee. However the former is providing a service, the later is removing an intentionally created obstruction.
The only value I can see it providing is that the system places a valuation on domains based which prevents desirable ones from being bought by people who don't "seriously" want them. However that logic is shaky (transfer domain from non-serious to serious) and the value is questionable.
There are already tons of local businesses called DNA Cafe, and so the domain is worth at least $5k.
When you come up with a great name for your business, it is natural to be disappointed when you discover that someone thought of it before you and registered the .COM.
It is, however, a sign of stupidity to then allow your disappointment to grow into anger and decide that the owner is a squatter, to allow your anger to distort reality.
.COM domains have always been first-come-first-served, so, by definition, a domain owner cannot be squatting unless someone has a trademark that pre-dates its registration.
Many .COM domains are openly offered for lower prices on any of the hundreds of online marketplaces but if a domain has NOT been listed for sale and you want that one specific domain, you want someone else to give you their property which they have been renewing for years, a low-ball offer like $250 is ridiculous.
Think about it: most domains were originally registered, purchased or bought at auction for a lot of money because someone, much like yourself, had an idea for it. Like most ideas, it didn't happen but the owner continued paying the annual renewals, aware that the name had value. The chances are that the owner has been paying annual renewals on at least a few dozen names, because most idea guys have dozens of ideas over the years.
Now, in mid-2011, you come along, all excited because the same idea has now occurred to you ten years later, and you say "Gee, thanks for keeping this lovely domain for me, here's a couple of hundred bucks, bye!".
If he doesn't jump at the chance to let you cherry-pick the best of his domains for probably less than he originally paid, he's suddenly a "domain-squatting parasite"?
Should he spend his valuable time "haggling" with some idiot who has no idea of the actual value of a good domain?
Or should he just wait for a real business person to come along, someone who understands and is willing to invest in a good name, someone who, unlike the no-clue, cheap-ass kid, will probably be organised enough to actually complete their project and use the domain?
If you are serious about your business and manage to find, as late as 2011, the perfect name for under ten grand, be glad that it has been kept for you by someone that is actually willing to name a price.
This is one of those taboo subjects about which people are in serious denial.
The price for a domain name have basically been too cheap.
there are just some ways I dont want to make money...
To anyone here who has been/is a domain squatter - how many offers do you typically pass up on per domain (I'm sure it varies, so generalize)? Is there some sort of offer that you could not pass up on? Do you think this guy would even pass up on $1k. I don't understand the mentality behind it all.
Here's another different example. Someone buys up land near a proposed hiway exit. And then they hold out until a fast food chain wants to buy the land for the restaurant and pay the price that a large corporation can pay for that type of land. Somebody made money on that transaction. But the small restaurant is upset because "all the good land is taken by squatters and I can't locate my restaurant there because I can't pay the price what gives them the right to charge me all that money.".
Does that make sense?
I own a few domain names that I had really big plans for--but just haven't gotten around to developing them (so they're parked at the moment).
Does that make me a domain-squatting parasite? I sure hope not!
By the way, to french-speaking people: I've bought quite a few nice french-sounding SEO-optimized domain names and am willing to sell some of them for less than $10000 :-)
People who don't own a particular domain name that they want seem to feel entitled to that name at the price they determine is acceptable. This defies everything out there about a free market system.