123-reg launches premium domain names

[rwinslow]

Hi there, just wanted to let the group know that 123-reg is now offering premium domains through our order process, at http://www.123-reg.co.uk/domain-names/ , where you can search for a domain and direct match and suggested results are available.

We are partnered with sedo and NameMedia, so offering an easy to use portal for searching both networks.

As always, I am very interested in the feedback that you may have on the service and ask you to email me directly, or message me within the forums, with any suggestions / comments.

[email protected]

Thank you, Richard.

 

[Admin]

Interesting. I typed in "casino" and it offered me:

An exact match has been found in our premium domain portfolio pussycasino.com is available to buy for £1070.00

Hardly what I would call a "Premium Domain", I assume you are hooked into the database of a domain reseller, is it Huge Domains? this domain is listed there at $1,395 or £891 so you take £179 commission?

Admin

 

[Pred]

lol!

 

[rwinslow]

Sorry for delay in replying.

We are linked with Sedo and NameMedia as a feed, the price we sell at is directly the price they provide from the domain seller, converted to £ and rounded up to a round figure. With that in mind, we are not adding on additional margin - I think that is standard practice so am happy to reveal that information here.

Regarding adult domains, an exact match appears at the top of the list above our normal results, so only if casino.com was available would it be pushed as a direct match. The list of results on the right side is based on keyword matching and availability within the networks.

I have thought regarding disabling adult domains, but having checked with our base, adult orientated domains are a part of our portfolio, so with that in mind I am considering keeping them.

I think most people searching for a domain might be mikesmechanics, or accountancyleeds, at which point the keyword matching to adult domains should be very minimal.

Within this forum, I imagine that most are experienced enough to work directly with the provider networks, what we are doing at 123-reg is opening up more domain opportunities to the none domains community who would otherwise not know a great domain matching their brand is available.

Richard.

 

[morozova]

Within this forum, I imagine that most are experienced enough to work directly with the provider networks, what we are doing at 123-reg is opening up more domain opportunities to the none domains community who would otherwise not know a great domain matching their brand is available.

I think that's a fair point, 123reg launch is a fulfillment channel for more domains to be sold to end-user buyers ready to pay full price for your listing straight away.

 

[MikeJDS]

Out of interest.
Which names from Sedo are being included?

eg)
The whole inventory
Only fixed priced domains etc.

Can you expand on this?

Hi there, just wanted to let the group know that 123-reg is now offering premium domains through our order process, at http://www.123-reg.co.uk/domain-names/ , where you can search for a domain and direct match and suggested results are available.

We are partnered with sedo and NameMedia, so offering an easy to use portal for searching both networks.

As always, I am very interested in the feedback that you may have on the service and ask you to email me directly, or message me within the forums, with any suggestions / comments.

[email protected]

Thank you, Richard.

 

[MikeJDS]

Just did a little testing to see what comes up.

On first glance its easy to see that UK TLD's are being neglected.
Mainly only .com's coming up even when good .co.uk matches are listed on Sedo.

Interested to know more on how it works & what the criteria is for results. (as I'm left guessing at the moment)

Surely if someone searches from the UK some sort weight should be given to UK TLD's - A no brainer you would think!? (or is it? - doesn't seem so on first glance)

A random example...
When searching [myarrears] only .com's appear in the premium list.
myarrears .co.uk is listed on Sedo priced @£1000 as a "Featured Domain" but doesn't even show.

Guessing this is more down to the Sedo search?

I suppose my main question is..
Is there anything to be gained from this for UK domain sellers / buyers?

Interested to know.

Thanks
Mike

 

[MikeJDS]

zzzzzzzzzzzz

Couldn't be bothered waiting around for a typical 123reg response. (or lack of)

So did a bit more digging myself..

Just in case anyone else was wandering..
The answer to my question is clearly NO.
Its just a list of missed opportunities & nothing else.

 

[namealot]

Having another sales outlet would be good but seams although there a big co/uk fish the priority offered is .com simply looks like they can’t be bothered , just squeezing as much as they can out punters without offering a good service...? It Should be about providing what customers want and it also working 123 aren’t run from a shed (think it’s a big top) so why do so many of there “products” give the impression they are…

 

[doodlebug]

I give up on 123-reg years ago, if they don't want to listen their customers and it's goodbye !

Thing that done most head most was paying by Paypal and then waiting days for the reg to actually happen even though they had took for the payment.

 

[MikeJDS]

I'm not a 123reg customer anymore - But thats another story :-D

The point is a few registrars are taking this route of advertising names that are available through Sedo etc. which I think is a great method of expanding the market for secondary names.
Its just a shame its a big opportunity missed for anyone dealing in UK domains.

Its probably just the way Sedo have set it up - I can't imagine 123reg would have given it too much thought.
Just as far as the chance of earning a bit of extra commission.
Anyone with half a brain there would see that they are losing out too. :roll:

 

[sdsinc]

Its just a shame its a big opportunity missed for anyone dealing in UK domains.

I guess they favor extensions that can be 'pushed' so automation of transfers is possible.

 

[MikeJDS]

Not sure what you mean?

Can't you push UK extensions?
Also not all names listed are with 123.

 

[Whois-Search]

Any domainer here can list their domain names on either Afternic or Sedo and pay the extra commission for the premium promotion:

Sedo MLS http://www.sedo.com/us/sedo/sedomls/

Commission is based on gross sales price.

Sale originating on the SedoMLS Promotion Network - 20% of sale price

Afternic DLS http://www.afternic.com/promotion-upgrade.php

Sales commissions on Afternic are: 15% for the DLS Network and 20% for the DLS Premium promotion. Listed names parked with and sold through Afternic are eligible for a reduced sales commission of 10% for the DLS Network and 15% for the DLS Premium promotion. There is a $120 minimum commission for DLS Premium and a $60 minimum commission for DLS Network promotion. These reduced commissions are the industry's lowest and provide unmatched exposure — so you pay less for selling domain names faster!

The feed you see on 123-reg is the list coming out of both these platforms....

Many registrars now offer the 'premium names' service including Godaddy: http://my.afternic.com/faq/2011/10/is-go-daddy-an-afternic-dls-partner/

Or even recently the Largest Registrar in China: http://www.businesswire.com/news/ho...s-Partnership-HiChina-Largest-Registrar-China

Not only that the domain name doesn't have to be with that registrar for the transfer/sale to take place.

If the domain name is with any "Afternic DLS Premium registrar" for example the name can be transferred between any premium registrar instantly:
http://my.afternic.com/faq/2010/10/what-is-instant-transfer/

Therefore every name listed on premium promotion on either Sedo or Afternic can benefit from being seen on ALL premium registrars search results.

Also...

Both the Sedo and Afternic platforms have .uk domains listed in their inventory.

However because there are more dot com domains priced around $1000 - $2000 in their inventory these show up first (depending on the price limits the registrar sets).

Also .uk domains can't be 'instantly transferred' like gTLD domains can using auth codes.

You still have to pay the £10 + VAT and approve the transfer: http://www.nominet.org.uk/registrants/maintain/transfer/Process/

However hopefully as more people list their .uk names on these platforms eventually one day we might see free auth code transfers in .uk

 

[MikeJDS]

Thanks for the info Andrew.