HYSTERIA IN THE DOMAIN WORLD – WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST DOMAIN SCANDALS EVER?
November 19th, 2009 Posted in Business Sector, General Domain News
Up Periscope!
I’m writing an article regarding the “domain industry image” in the public and business sectors. You can and should participate if you make at least 50% of your income from domaining. It’s very simple, just read the question below and give an answer—
Question: What scandals have occured in the last five years that you believe were the WORST scandals for our industry?
I welcome all comments, all problems you’ve encountered, whether they were resolved, and what your personal feelings were about the final outcome of the scandal/s you suggest. You can submit several problems you’ve encountered if you like. Tell us your story, and what kind of “impression” about the domain industry was left in your mind, with either a good or bad resolution.
NOTE: You MUST identify yourself in your post. No “anonymous whiners” allowed. This article will be as close to being representative of true opinions from proud domainers as I can get it.
Don’t be afraid to speak your mind. You can make a difference. I will release the top 10 scandals in a survey to find out how each scandal rates in our minds as the worst. Some very prominent domain bloggers will be involved in assisting me with facts and publishing the results in their various forms. (If you are a domain blogger or domainer who wants to be involved and hasn’t talked to me yet, please email me so I can contact you directly. I will honor any requests for remaining incognito regarding your story, but I need to know it’s really you).
Thanks for your participation!
7 Responses to “HYSTERIA IN THE DOMAIN WORLD – WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST DOMAIN SCANDALS EVER?”
By Chip Meade on Nov 19, 2009
We have a few to choose from. Even bigger than the SnapNames fiasco has to be the RegisterFly debacle. It is one thing to have your bidding prices (which you approved…) driven up. It is another for a registrar to take your money, not pay renewals, hide behind falsehoods (lies)and allow businesses and sites to be taken down and transfered. Why is Kevin not in jail again?
By John Bomhardt on Nov 19, 2009
The worst scandal that has really gotten my attention has been no doubt, the Snapnames bidding fiasco. There were incalculable, unseen damages throughout the domaining world. In my opinion: Lost domains, skewed sales data, broken trust and so forth. Just as we’re trying to prepare the industry with Rick Swartz and other good domaining ambassadors for bigger and better mainstream exposure, the scandal created some problems of which I cannot even begin to express here. This whole thing will take years to blow over while the dirty laundry of the scandal continue to provide endless material to the general media whenever they feel like bashing and tearing down our industry.
By Shaun Pilfold on Nov 20, 2009
Stephen, I hardly think there is “HYSTERIA IN THE DOMAIN WORLD” over the Snapnames.com fiasco…but hey, it makes a great headline. Anyway, in my mind the biggest negative thing that has affected the domain industry is click fraud. It has probably cost hundreds of millions of dollars over the past 5 years and has had a huge impact on the bottom line for many that make money from PPC. It has driven many advertisers from the space and no doubt has a direct impact on our earnings in many ways.
Next up would probably be shaving, but that’s for another time.
XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:
Hi Shaun,
It’s funny you mentioned Snapnames because I never mentioned them once in my blog request for submissions here.
My upcoming article is meant to get an overall look at the history of the domain industry as defined by our knowledge or opinion of the effects of “unethical” behavior regarding domains. How has the various scandals affected the public’s impression of our industry (including the business sector), and how have the scandals affected us, as domain investors? Although the Snapnames situation is the “current” popular topic of discussion, so far, I’ve received some amazing stories I’ve forgotten about that also shocked the industry.
I want to thank you for taking the time to write about something that is a problem and is something for us all to think about.
By pitbullstew on Nov 26, 2009
The biggest scandal right now is snapnames is till trying to make money on the halvarez account, seems to me they would avoid anything at all that had to do with that name, yet as we see here? It is as though they have no business scrupples nor ethics at all? Unreal?
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Search Results – halvarez
View Cart3 domain names found.View My Bids & Watched Domains
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Export to Excel/CSV Domain Name Bidders Minimum Bid Order By Watch Status
halvarez.com – $59 – Backorder
halvarez.net – $59 – Backorder
halvarez.org – $59 – Backorder
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XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:
Stew, I don’t get it your point. Halverez.com is registered at NetSol, parked at Sedo, and seems by your data, is up for a private auction at Snapnames. It’s registered under privacy proxy, so we don’t know who owns the domain. How does that implicate Snapnames in anything?
By pitbullstew on Dec 2, 2009
ah yes well, I havent a clue as to what you are talking about lol….you see thats part of the problem I think, you folks speak a new lingo all your own?
You see I am one guy who sees tha name for sale at snapnames and thinks in light of what we are reading?
There would be no such sale at my site…period?
It really does seem there are no business ethics nor scrupples in your industry, all I read is gobbledeegook and double speak, no one is in charge says ICANN as of late?
This mind you as the rest of us operate under the business and profession codes?
But as you do point out the true ownership is obscured in a train of obfuscation and you see no problem with any of this?
Why be so sneaky? Why would anyone ever buy a domain name one cannot confoirm who owns to begin with?
Excuse me for being old fashioned?
XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:
Hi Stew,
So how many domains did you buy from Snapnames with “halverez” bidding on them? What was your total loss? In my last comment to you, all I did was report normal domain registration and DNS information, which is standard with anyone buying a domain name. Your point of Snapnames having “halverez.com” for sale means nothing. How about informing my readers which domains you bid on at Snapnames, and how much you lost by halverez bids, and whether Oversee’s offer to compensate you for your loss was enough to satisfy your loss. You seem to be dedicated to suing Snapnames, but what’s your general losses? Do you have a publicly filed class action lawsuit yet that you can make available to my readers?
Thanks for your input!
By pitbullstew on Dec 3, 2009
http://domainnamewire.com/wp-content/snap-classaction.pdf
It is a matter of public record here…
My point was that to avoid any sense of impropriety perhaps they would have not run this particuar name?
Being as how we agree to disagree cordially, it is important to me to be that way.
XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:
Stew, you didn’t answer my previous questions to you about your “losses” in bidding on domains at Snapnames with “Halverez”. Can you provide some details on how you were damaged by Halverez, mainly in your monetary losses?
Thanks.
By pitbullstew on Dec 4, 2009
well? okay? the loss as you term it is reflected in the bid as outlined in the complaint, no different than a pick pocket in a crowd lifting twenty bucks?
The class’s loss? Who knows already we read an estimated 50-k auctions, some opine more like 350-k, and what of the other issues regarding won or lost domains and the disposition of those?
If your asking what my magic number is, my price to call off the action? I feel comfortable saying I have had that conversation with Kamber Edelson already, I can only say?
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/johnny-cash-i-wont-back-down/2815480448