MobilePhones.co.uk - 91K - A Bargain?

[Whois-Search]

If the mobilephones.com Registrant is the same entity as the .co.uk version, that is also listed with Sedo as for sale.
So the notion that the seller didn't authorise the sale doesn't add up so far.

Both domains have the same address:

Domain name: MOBILEPHONES.COM
Administrative Contact:
William Abrahamovitch, David [email protected]
43 Hollybush hHill
Wanstead, London E11 1PS
GB
+44.2085307292

However different people as the registered owner:

Domain name: mobilephones.co.uk
Registrant: Jacqueline Ann Kearns

http://webwhois.nic.uk/cgi-bin/whois.cgi?query=mobilephones.co.uk

 

[James]

I vaguely remember that both domains once had the same whois details, but this changed in about 2006. When I asked the seller about this at the time, he told me that he (still) owned both domains.

A domestic dispute does sound like a good guess.

 

[LastPost]

Angie, sorry to hear about your problem with this domain. I had a similar issue a couple of years back and contacted Simon Halberstam, a Partner at Sprecher, Grier, and Halberstam.

http://www.sghlaw.com/partnerprofiles/halberstam-simon.html

Simon Halberstam said breach of contract claims like this can cost up to £50,000 to bring but if you are successful you can recover 70% of your costs from the other party. He quoted £375 plus VAT to write an initial letter. If you consider this domain cost £91.5k, 70% of your legal costs is £35,000 plus another £50,000 for the seller's own legal fees, and £9,000 of Sedo fees. The seller could easily end up owing money if they lost the case.

The key is to prove breach of contract, match the Sedo email address to the Nominet WHOIS, and prove the owner sent the email sending the domain to auction because they will say their email got hacked and somebody else did it. It can all be done with the right legal advice and Court orders. Speak to Nominet and see what they suggest, they may be willing to freeze the domain until the issue is resolved. I see the WHOIS details were last updated on 8 March, you need a record of what is was before and after you won the auction.

 

[GreyWing]

I think the point is though mate, it's not Angie's job to start paying out legal fees on this one. It is Sedo's, if Sedo wants to be seen as a competant marketplace then now is the crunch time for them.

They have to rally everything they have on it as a lot of people in the business were watching this one.

 

[julian]

thank you.

most people go to a brand for their phone - orange, vodafone 02 etc - or they alreaDY know the model they want and bang in 'nokia N9'5 etc.

how many people here actually type in mobile phones when looking for a new mobile... exactly...

it would be a nice name to brand though, but then you'd just be helping mobiles/co/uk

I'm just saying that it appears to be a trend, the actual search volume. The same downward trend isn't evdent with laptops, radios, tvs etc.

http://www.google.co.uk/trends?q=mobile+phones,+tvs,+laptops&ctab=0&geo=gb&geor=all&date=all&sort=0

Products like the i-phone are eating into the market, and those buying mobiles perhaps are more familiar with the big names in the market place, so don't bother searching for 'mobile phones'.

I don't think the sale was bad for either party. I'm just saying that as a search term in seems to be in decline.

 

[Systreg]

how many people here actually type in mobile phones when looking for a new mobile... exactly...

I know nothing about mobile phones so I would Google for "mobile phones" if I wanted to buy one.

 

[Paullas]

I think the point is though mate, it's not Angie's job to start paying out legal fees on this one. It is Sedo's, if Sedo wants to be seen as a competant marketplace then now is the crunch time for them.

They have to rally everything they have on it as a lot of people in the business were watching this one.

spot on and if this dosnt go through then i can see sedo facing a disaster in the .uk market.

 

[namealot]

If the seller does not want to sell not a lot you can do… (Probably been just as many winning bidders have pulled out of auctions as sellers). You could try the courts there are quite a few laws governing certain types of auctions but online domain ones can’t think of any relevant …

Doubt if sedo will do anything..? Do you think there contracts would stand to much scrutiny…? Disaster in the UK market....? Think as it’s not a major portion of there overall sales, and they think they have the market quite sewn up really don’t think they will give a toss, there be all the shouting but no real action ….?(hope I'm wrong and they do something )


Personally not sure weather it was cheap or not…? Sure its cheaper than setting up a standard high street based store etc, but as none of the big phone suppliers, manufactures, networks etc seamed bothered about it I have my doubts too its actual viability.

But if the buyer really wants it and sedo is going to do nothing... If the domain will make back what it cost to possibly win a court case then they can always pursue it themselves through the courts … or make a higher offer if it would be cheaper than going to court..?

 

[julian]

have you been locked inside a cupboard aboard a trident submarine for the last 15 years?

I know nothing about mobile phones so I would Google for "mobile phones" if I wanted to buy one.

Look 99% of kids already know what phone they want - its just not a long term investment - holidays.co.uk is a long term investment

 

[binny]

I'm just saying that it appears to be a trend, the actual search volume. The same downward trend isn't evdent with laptops, radios, tvs etc.

http://www.google.co.uk/trends?q=mobile+phones,+tvs,+laptops&ctab=0&geo=gb&geor=all&date=all&sort=0

Products like the i-phone are eating into the market, and those buying mobiles perhaps are more familiar with the big names in the market place, so don't bother searching for 'mobile phones'.

I don't think the sale was bad for either party. I'm just saying that as a search term in seems to be in decline.

Most drop from '04-'06 levels. The laptop market has grown massively and the TV market has diversified so they've bucked the trend. Take a look at 'computers' or 'phones' and 'mobile phones' is reasonably consistent in comparison.

 

[scooter]

What a mess.

Problem is, how to enforce the sale? If the buyer refuses to sell, it can only be the legal route. It should be sedo's responsability, Will they do this? I don't think so. They make 9K from the sale. This would be swallowed up in legal fees in a few months. So they will not. Then you have the time scenario.

What if it takes 2 years to get to court? Is the buyer still obligated to purchase? Does this mean their £91k is in limbo. What if it were to take 5 years?

Sedo need to get something legally set in stone to prevent this happening again. What would Christies do if a seller backed out of parting with their rembrandt after the sale?

One way for high ticket names would be to take ownership of the name before the auction started.

Bid made, reserve met. Seller transfers ownership to Sedo. Sedo then start the auction.

.

 

[Skinner]

I agree any name I bid 1k+ I would happily pay a £50 premium to have the name transfered to Sedo for holding, until completion, which included the transfer to them, then to me, and some 'admin money'.

 

[diablo]

thank you.

most people go to a brand for their phone - orange, vodafone 02 etc - or they alreaDY know the model they want and bang in 'nokia N9'5 etc.

how many people here actually type in mobile phones when looking for a new mobile... exactly...

It seems a very strange argument that the name isn't worth the money simply because people don't all type mobile phones into the search box. Search engine marketing and marketing in general is so much more than that.

And if someone types in Nokia 95, there's no reason that they won't be directed to mobilephones.co.uk with the correct seo in place.

Anyone else's subjective valuation is meaningless anyway. A lot of people seem to confuse something's value and its price - they are not the same by a long chalk.

We have no idea of Angie's proposed business strategy for its development or how the numbers stack up for her. As I've said before 100k is cheap if the name is going to make you a million. Expensive if its going to make you £1000.

Angie - hope it all goes well for you.

 

[domainking]

mobilephones.co.uk

Hi Angie

hope you have luck in recovering the name you bought I think its a great buy for the price.

But once again auctions let you down when gomes to tranfer. 2years ago I bid in greatdomains for st-tropez.com I won the auction sent over the wire tranfer by escrow and the seller would not give me the name.

the auction house where a complete waste of time and I will never buy another name at auction until there is a better system in place.

good luck with the deal if goes ok. great name.

 

[TinkyWinky]

spot on and if this dosnt go through then i can see sedo facing a disaster in the .uk market.

Too right - I am considering moving my 2000+ domains away (been a bit lazy to date) as :

a. SEDO auctions rarely provide more than the initial bid (although they are good to test the waters with some)

b. The legal framework doesn't work from experience i.e. I had a recent domain that wasn't bought cos the seller "didn't fancy it anymore"

c. I would rather handle things myself when i get enquiries and not pay a fortune for the smaller domain transfers....

If they don't step up to the plate on this one or very soon provide information on exactly what has happened - I won't be the only one.

Oh to have a competing auction website....

TW

 

[Skinner]

I'm kinda hoping Domain Monster (who are kinda aggressively moving into the after market) bring an auction platform, their response times to questions and making changes and suggestions in comparison with Sedo has been nothing short of phenomenal .

 

[foz]

Just an after market platform would be good, auctions later. I would be fully behind someone like DM doing this, to hell with the Germans.

 

[retired_member12]

...to hell with the Germans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuIJqF8av6I

 

[ANY-Web]

Auction Marketplace

The weekend has brought much-needed distance and reflection.
My investigations into the auction of MobilePhones.co.uk are still ongoing and are yielding interesting information. Please forgive me for not sharing more at this stage.
Thanks to everyone who has come out in support and provided their angle.

Thanks, DomainKing, for sharing the story of St-Tropez.com.
Thanks (and a slap on the wrist) for DoubleTap with the Carling ad for making me smile. Bad boy.

But I think rather than bashing Sedo, we need to come up with suggestions of how the auction process can be improved in the interest of the marketplace.

Skinner's idea

any name I bid 1k+ I would happily pay a £50 premium to have the name transfered to Sedo for holding, until completion, which included the transfer to them, then to me, and some 'admin money'.

may be a step in the right direction.

I have never given much thought to how the system could be improved, but there must be some clever people out there who can come up with a more trustworthy system that is also easy to handle administratively?

I know Sedo can get this right. Let's give them the (positive) encouragement they need.

 

[cvs]

I know Sedo can get this right. Let's give them the (positive) encouragement they need.

The only encouragement they need is a competitor.