Thread

Oh, I found that the “make an offer” link goes to the same service no matter which registrar shows up.  So the registrar changes but that particular link does not, even though most registrars have their own alternatives.  I suppose the site could be getting paid off for providing this link as opposed to a competing service.

If you do a search on Aboutus you will see many people share the opinions expressed here.  Some of the wiki pages show names, phone numbers and addresses pulled from whois data.  But where does the fault lie?  Does it lie with Aboutus for showing this information or does it lie with the original source of the whois data?  You can get this data at Aboutus or you can get it just as easy by running a whois search. 

Now this thread is getting much more complex because we have the issue of showing the “make an offer” link, showing private information and then monetizing a site that exists for the sole purpose of publishing information yanked from properties they don’t own.  Did I miss anything?

Ok, so these guys are not being good net citizens.  Where does the problem really lie though?  Can this be fixed by laws or is this simply something we have to live with?

Edit:  For one, I think information in whois data should have a free privacy option.

Edit:Edit:  A Netraising search on Google has an Aboutus entry on the front page.  In fact, lots of domains do.  Just think how many front page Google results this site is getting.

Edit:Edit:Edit Wow, this guy basically has a Google friendly auto-content generator which is creating massive numbers of top page results for a ton of searches.  This guy must make a ton on Adsense.

This friendly little community wiki starting to look a little different to you now?

Hey, this discussion would have been no fun if someone would not have taken the other side.  😉

Is this when we do the “trust fall” part now . . . or is it merely time to break out the water balloons? And really get serious?

Maybe it’s just me but I think this is a petty argument. It’s a simple brokering advertisement.

Nothing different than you looking at a house and a real estate agent asking you if you want to make the owner an offer.

They can’t make any decision of acceptence on the domain. This argument to me would have some merit if they had the ability to approve or deny something, but they don’t. They’re doing nothing more than saying “Do you want this? make an offer and we’ll go present it” which is perfectly legal and pretty much a fundamental part of free market

Except in this case, the house isn’t for sale, and the real estate agent is taking a partial fee for making the offer.

“For 20 bucks, I’ll go ask the Government if they will sell you that freeway over pass”. Its not for sale, but if you’ll pay me 20 bucks, I’ll ask the Government if they are interested to letting you have it for a price.”

Is that just “free market” or something else?

Just like the whole topic you’re exaggerating and also making statements that are not true.

you don’t pay unless they accept the offer. you know, like every other broker offer there is.

it’s absurd to make the claim you do. especially when it says right there that there is no charge unless the offer is accepted.

Mountains>molehills.

it’s petty, and it’s more deceiving than the ad you’re complaining about 😊

You won’t be charged the offer price until the offer is accepted.

Furthermore, they’re very straight forward in their definition, even telling up front that the domain isn’t even determined to be for sale!

  *  Determine An Offer Price
    Domain name Buyers can make an offer between $100 and $25,000 USD. If you need help determining an offer price, use the Free Value Assessment tool.  You will be charged $19.00 per Certified Offer to use the Certified Offer Service. This fee is non-refundable and is charged whether the offer is accepted or not.
  * Offer Is Presented
    On behalf of the Buyer, Network Solutions presents the Certified Offer to the Seller via e-mail using the primary contact data available in WHOIS.
  * 10-Day Process
    The offer is limited to 10 days so Buyers can quickly determine whether the domain name is available for purchase. The Buyer’s offer is valid for a period of 10 days. The Seller may respond at anytime during this period. Under certain circumstances, a seller may be permitted to request that a Buyer reopen an expired offer.
  * E-mail Updates
    The Buyer receives daily e-mail updates for 10 days or until the Seller responds. Buyers will be notified immediately when the offer is accepted or rejected.

I’m sure most registrars do this. I know for sure eNom does and they’re 10 times bigger than netsol

Just like the whole topic you’re exaggerating and also making statements that are not true.

you don’t pay unless they accept the offer. you know, like every other broker offer there is.

This is the first bullet point of the text you’ve copied here:

You will be charged $19.00 per Certified Offer to use the Certified Offer Service. This fee is non-refundable and is charged whether the offer is accepted or not.

What I read here is that there is a non-refundable fee of $19.00 for the service.

If I’ve made some statement here you feel is untrue, please be specific.