Home Page

 

Domain Sales Archive

 

Main Archive

 

 


 

 


New Owner Pays $26,500 to Take the Wheel at  MotorVehicles.com! 

by Ron Jackson  

After the blockbuster $2.75 million sale of CreditCards.com last week, you could almost feel the industry step back and let out a deep breath this week.  A sale like that is a tough act to follow! Though we have a trio of new sales over $20,000 to report, the action was a bit slower overall as buyers and sellers digested the CreditCards.com news and what effect it might have on market prices.


It doesn't look like the pause will last long as you'll see in our Pipeline section later on. Lots of significant sales are heading toward completion at the kind of healthy prices we've grown used to this year. This week's leaders are nothing to sneeze at either. #1 MotorVehicles.com filled the seller's tank with $26,500 in a deal conducted with the assistance of both DNForum.com and Moniker.com/DomainSystems.com. The domain was listed for sale in a thread at the forum and snapped up almost before the page could be refreshed! The two parties then turned to Monte Cahn's security-conscious site to oversee the actual exchange of funds.

The #2 domain in our new Top Ten is PaintballGun.com, a name that hit a $21,830 bulls eye at Pool.com. That sale was followed closely by a $20,000 deal for Grip.com at GreatDomains. After the top 3, prices on the big board were in the four-figure range and all entries were .coms except for #7 which turned out to be a lucky number for .info. That spot was taken by Minnesota.info after it changed hands for $5,000 in a private transaction. We'll have more on that deal and some other nice new extension geographical domain sales in our New TLD section below.

The balance of our new chart includes three sales at Sedo.com and one each from TopNames.comAfternic.com and Enom's Club Drop.  Here is a look at the complete Top Ten for the week ending Sunday, July 25: 

Domain Name Journal's Top Ten 
Reported Domain Sales - Mon. July 19, 2004 - Sun. July 25, 2004
Euro to Dollar Conversion (� to $) is Based on Rates in Effect Tue. July 27

  Domain

Sold For

Where Sold
1.  MotorVehicles.com $26,500 DNForum
and Moniker/
DomainSystems
2.  PaintballGun.com    $21,830 Pool
3.  Grip.com  $20,000 GreatDomains
4.  Softworks.com $7,500 TopNames
5. Villen.com
(German for "Villas")
�5,000 = $6,024 Sedo
6. SellMyCar.com $5,888 Afternic
7.  BabyStores.com  $5,400 Enom Club Drop
8. Minnesota.info  $5,000 Pvt Sale
9. Airnergy.com   �4,140 = $4,990 Sedo
10. Matchmind.com  $4,750 Sedo

Keep in mind that these are the highest value sales that have been reported in the past week. This column is meant to be an educational tool, not a complete list documenting ALL high value domain sales. Such a list is impossible to produce because many sales are kept private at the insistence of buyers, sellers or both.

Sedo hit the Top Ten trifecta this week with Villen.com, Airnergy.com and MatchMind.com. Airnergy.com is interesting because we don't see many made-up names among the weekly top sellers. Such names normally require a lot of branding work and companies tend to coin their own phrases rather than buy them on the aftermarket. Neither Overture (search popularity) nor Marketleap (link popularity) shows any apparent traffic for this name, so it would appear it was purchased for the name appeal alone. TopNames' #4 domain Softworks.com is technically a brandable name as well, but it is one where an immediate meaning springs to mind and it also has built in traffic coming from over 400 established links. The Afternic and Club Drop entries on the big board (SellMyCar.com and BabyStores.com) are the kind of traditional generic terms that tend to produce the best sales.

The list of Sedo's other sales presents the potpourri of extensions we have come to expect from that popular site. Three were .de's (German country code domains), including the misspell googgle.de at �3,000 ($3,615), Heu.de (German for "hay") at �1,800 ($2,169) and HotelStuttgart.de at �1,500 ($1,808). Their other notable .coms were Motorradteile.com (German for "motorcycle parts") at $2,888, PropertyBid.com at $2,488 and ProFormat.com at $2,288. However, the real headturner was the highest .cc sale we have seen to date - SMS.cc at �2,200 ($2,651). .CC is the rarely used country code for the Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Despite their obscurity, we have noticed more developer interest in strong keywords from some of these small country code extensions in recent months. In fact, I personally sold Wholesale.ws to Bob Mauro this week for $750. Though Bob keeps up with what is happening in the domain business, he is taking an end user view of this domain with plans to develop a wholesale business portal. .WS is the country code for Samoa, but an American company has been marketing it globally in recent years, saying it means "website". Developers like Dan McCullough (airlines.ws and employment.ws) have been successfully building (and reselling) sites on the extension for some time now. 

Back at the Pool, we saw PrescriptionConsultation.com go for $3,000, despite its marathon length (28 characters is the domain world equivalent of swimming the English Channel!). This one proves long isn't always wrong as it scores 116 with the extension in Overture (though we shudder to think how much traffic must leak to a hundred different misspellings)! Pool also collected $2,050 for MobilePay.com and found someone to leave a $2,000 tip for CyberWomen.com. No .nets topped the 2K mark this week, but Pool did move Yugoslavia.net at $1,550, Trekking.net for $1,350 and Crib.net at $1,200.

We're starting to see some results from all of those new registrars added by Enom's Club Drop. One cool sale was ChillOut.com at $3,000. WestBengal.com was worth $2,100 and SnackFood.com added a lot more than empty calories, selling for $1,600. ClubDrop has some bigger ones currently in the pipeline.

Other notables included Afternic's sales of BetSite.com for $4,000 and BuyBritish.com for $2,660 and the $2,200 sale of ServiceClient.com at Moniker.com/DomainSystems.com. Several new TLD domains also went in this range, but we'll save those for our new extension report below.

In the Pipeline: It looks like a powerful week is shaping up for our next report.  In two big auctions at Pool, Headstones.com went for $28,000 and HooverDam.com ended at $26,500. If the money arrives those will be among the headliners next week...Moniker.com/DomainSystems.com says they expect to close a $25,000 sale of JetCharter.com in the next few days. They are also wrapping up a $10,400 transaction for 888.org...Afternic has also just about finished an $11,000 deal for DebtCollection.com...At Enom's ClubDrop an auction for B2B.net is scheduled to end July 31. As we went to press July 27, the bidding was already up to $8,300. Another auction for AirborneExpress.com ended at $5,000 and Club Drop is just waiting for payment on that one...Pool is also awaiting a $7,550 payment for MySence.com (6,377 in OT with the extension!) and one for $6,388 from the winner of 800Number.com

Our Year-To-Date chart remain unchanged this week. MotorVehicles.com just missed crashing the YTD list by $500. Here is the complete rundown of big winners so far in 2004:

Domain Name Journal's Year-To-Date Fab 45
Highest Reported 2004 Domain Sales through Sun. July 25, 2004  
Euro to Dollar Conversion (� to $) 
Based on Rates in Effect When Sales Were Originally Reported by DNJ

 - Domains entering the chart this week are highlighted in green -

  Domain

Sold For

Where Sold
1. CreditCards.com $2.75 Million Private Sale
2. Mercury.com $700,000
(700K cash + $400,000 in goods & services)
Private Sale
3. ME.com $460,000 Moniker / DomainSystems
4. Smoking.com $325,000 GreatDomains
5.  Commerce.com $180,000 Sedo
6. Beef.com $150,000 GreatDomains
7.  IQTest.de     �123,625 = $147,635 Sedo
8. TourismAustralia.com AUD $201,000 = US$146,200 Pvt Sale
9.  Sexkontakte.de
"Sex contacts" in German
 �110,000 = $141,175 Sedo
10.  MR.com $125,000 GreatDomains
11.  Truck.com  $101,000 Moniker / DomainSystems
12.  Kreuzfahrten.de
"Cruises" in German
�70,000 = $88,853 Sedo
13.  Kazalite.com $83,500 Pool
14. Sedo.com $80,000 Private Sale
15.  BackCountry.com $75,000 Private Sale
16.  Boxen.de
"Boxing" in German
�56,500 = $72,509 Sedo
17.  Stop.com  $62,500 Moniker/
DomainSystems
18. ClearDay.com $60,000 Moniker / DomainSystems
19.
tie 
FKK.de  �40,000 = $51,333 Sedo
19.
tie 
Busen.de
"Bosom" in German
 �40,000 = $51,333 Sedo
21. Mirror.com $50,000 Moniker / DomainSystems
22. CarFinancing.com $46,000 Pool
23. Hardcore.co.uk �25,000 = $45,951 Sedo
24. Meningitis.com $45,000 Private Sale
25.  Mister.com    $38,800 Pvt Sale
26. Faces.com $38,700 Moniker / DomainSystems
27. Metropol.com �30,500 = $38,230 Sedo

28. 

Nackt.de
"Nude or Naked" in German
�30,000 = $38,081 Sedo
29.  Fotos.com �30,000 = $35,793 Private Sale
30.  Cairo.com $35,001 Sedo
31. 
tie
Miss.com $35,000 Afternic
31.
tie
Spamzilla.com $35,000 MarketEvolver
33. CleanEnergy.com $31,950 Moniker / DomainSystems
34. Humor.de �25,520 = $30,449 Sedo
35.  Single.co.uk  �24,600 = $30,341 Sedo
36.  DiscountDrugs.com $30,010 Namewinner
37.
tie 
AntiDepressants.com $30,000 Private Sale
37.
tie
Actor.com $30,000 Sedo
39.  NewYork.info �22,000 = $28,086 Sedo

40.

XPart.com $27,981 Moniker / DomainSystem

41.

Messaging.com   $27,600 Pool

42.

HotelReservation.com $27,500 Sedo
43.
tie
LH.com    $27,000 GreatDomains

43.
tie

NQ.com $27,000 Afternic
43. 
tie
Computadoras.com
(Spanish for "computers")
$27,000 Pvt Sale
Unforgettable Footnotes:
Below are landmark sales where the price level (denoted by X characters) was released but not the exact price paid. This will allow us to note significant sales that are among the Year-To-Date leaders but cannot be ranked numerically due  to a confidentiality agreement that kept the exact price private. Date shown indicates when the sale was first reported in Domain Name Journal. High - Mid - Low indicates the range within the price category shown by multiple X's.
Juegos.com (June 29, 2004) High $XXX,XXX Pvt Sale
Woman.com (Feb. 10, 2004) Low $XXX,XXX Sedo
CellularPhones.com (May. 11, 2004) Low $XXX,XXX Pvt Sale
IS.com (May 4, 2004)  (No range) $XXX,XXX Pvt Sale
B�cher.de (Mar. 16, 2004)
{"books" in German)
High $XX,XXX Sedo


New TLD Section

This week's New TLD chart has the most even distribution among the three extensions we cover (.info, .biz and .us) that we have seen to date. There are three .infos, two .biz and two .us and each one had at least one four-figure sale. .Info did claim the top two sales, Minnesota.info at $5,000 and VirginIslands.info at $3,000 and both went to the same buyer - Norway's Rune Langhelle. The sellers, partners Bob Connor and Dan Stager, had begun development on the two sites and Langhelle said he would continue what they started. He also has a number of other .info and .biz development projects in the works.

Money seems to burn a hole in Connor's pocket! As soon as he sells one nice property, he is off buying another to develop, as was the case this week when he purchased the #3 domain, Honolulu.us for $2,500 at the DomainState.com forum. Just last week, Connor purchased Fresno.us and Vancouver.us, so he will be a busy new extension developer in the weeks ahead. 

A pair of .biz sales at Sedo took the 4th and 5th positions on our new Super 7. Accenture.biz went for $1,500 while DigitalDruck.biz (a German term meaning "digital compression") sold for $977.  Here are all of the New TLD top sellers  for the past week:

Domain Name Journal's New TLD Super 7 
  Reported .info, .biz & .us Domain Sales  July 19, 2004 - July 25, 2004
Euro to Dollar Conversion (� to $) is Based on Rates in Effect Tue. July 27

  Domain

Sold For

Where Sold
1. Minnesota.info  $5,000 Pvt Sale
2.  VirginIslands.info    $3,000 Pvt Sale
3. Honolulu.us    $2,500 DomainState
4. Accenture.biz $1,500 Sedo
5.  DigitalDruck.biz
(German for "digital compression")
 �810 = $977 Sedo
6.  Sausages.info    $750 Sedo
7. PPC.us $702 Pvt Sale

I liked seeing the sale of Sausages.info at Sedo for $750 as I have Sausages.biz. I would like to develop mine, but my waistline would be better off if I kept my mind off that subject! PPC.us, which sold for $702, was one of several high quality 3-letter .US domains that Dan Stager auctioned off this past week in three major domain forums. His other sales included WAV.us at $362 and JPG.us at $330.

In addition to their three chart entries, Sedo sold SoapBoxDerby.info for $600 and Bergland.info ("mountain land" in German) for �450 ($543). Pool sold another .info, Mikrotechnik.info for $380 and I just received a $300 payment for Carey.biz today. 

Minnesota.info was strong enough to crack our Year-To-Date New TLD leader's list,  tying Woman.info for the 20th position. Here is a look at 2004's top new extension sales through July 25: 

Domain Name Journal's Year-To-Date New TLD "Top 27" 
Highest Reported 2004 .info, .biz & .us Domain Sales through July 25 
Euro to Dollar Conversion (� to $) 
Based on Rates in Effect When Sales Were Originally Reported by DNJ

 - Domains entering the chart this week are highlighted in green -

  Domain

Sold For

Where Sold
1.  NewYork.info   �22,000 = $28,086 Sedo
2. Casino.info �17,500 = $20,899 Sedo
3.  HMS.info �9,280 = $10,492 Sedo
4.
tie
Tampa.info $10,000 Pvt Transaction

4.
tie

Moscow.info $10,000 Sedo
6. Vitamins.info $9,500 Afternic
7. RioDeJaneiro.info $9,000 Pvt Sale
8. Stocks.us $8,062 Sedo
9.  Party.info   �6,000 = $7,166 Sedo
10. Book.biz $7,000 Galcomm
11. BDSM.info �5,500 = $6,947 Sedo
12. Reifen.biz
"tires" in German
 �5,500 = $6,894 Sedo
13. Vancouver.info �5,000 = $6,378 Sedo
14. Party.us $6,000 Pvt Sale
15. Beach.info     �5,000 = $5,972 Sedo
16.
tie
Finanzen.info
("Finances" in German)
�4,900 = $5,888 Sedo
16. 
tie
Steuer.info
("Tax" in German)
  �4,900 = $5,888 Sedo
18. InvestmentFonds.info
("investment funds" in German)
  �4,750 = $5,673 Sedo
19. Vacations.info $5,500 Pvt Sale
20.
tie
Woman.info $5,000 Sedo
20.
tie
Minnesota.info  $5,000 Pvt Sale
22. Erotica.info �4,000 = $4,913 Sedo
23. CityGuide.info 4,000 = $4,773 Sedo
24.
tie
Meningite.biz
("Meningitis in French & Italian)
$4,250 Sedo
24.
tie
Meningite.info
("Meningitis in French & Italian)
$4,250 Sedo
26.  Grafik.info   �3,500 = $4,249 Sedo
27.
tie
Houston.info $4,000 Pvt Sale
27.
tie
Washington.info $4,000 Pvt Sale
Unforgettable Footnotes:
Below are key sales where the price level (denoted by X characters) was released but not the exact price paid. This will allow us to note significant sales that are among the Year-To-Date leaders but cannot be ranked numerically due  to a confidentiality agreement that kept the exact price private. Date shown indicates when the sale was first reported in Domain Name Journal
Fashion.us (May 25, 2004)  $XX,XXX Private Sale

As always, we welcome all verifiable sales reports from companies, private sellers or individuals with knowledge of an important sale made through any channel. To contribute information and help make this column better,  just drop a note to [email protected].

We truly appreciate the industry leading companies represented on our charts who share their sales information with us to help everyone in the business get a handle on current domain values. Individuals like Richard Meyer of the American Marketing Corporation also provide invaluable help by sending us data for these sales reports each week.

Every Tuesday we publish the highest reported domain name sales for the previous week. On Monday our contributors send us their sales data for the previous 7 days. We then compile that information and write this report for Tuesday publication to give you the freshest sales report in the industry. 

We will close with this standard caution. These are not average selling prices - these are top selling domains. One of the biggest impediments to making sales is pricing domains at unrealistic levels. For most of us, pricing domains at the levels achieved on the Top Ten chart will leave us waiting a long time to make a sale! We hope you will use the information presented here as a measuring stick that will help you price your domains at levels that will put more money in your pocket more often!

Editor's Note: If you wish to review previous Domain Sales columns, they are available in our Archive.

 

 




Archive of Previous Domain Sales Columns   -   DNJ Home Page

Copyright 2004
Domain Name Journal
A Division of
Internet Edge, Inc.
 


Hit Counter