Frequently Asked Questions

Unfortunately, we don't have time to answer all of the emails we get each day, usually addressed to names from our domain portfolio, so we include this FAQ page in order to save time for all of us. Please don't be offended if the answer to a particular question isn't what you wish to hear - it's nothing personal!

Can you build us a web site?

No. We only build our own web sites. Building web sites for clients is not a good use of our time and would not be cost effective for us. There are many inexpensive and talented web designers available a quick search of Google or another search engine is certain to identify a good source of freelance web designers.

Will you buy my domain name?

We don't really respond to these requests, as we know exactly what we are looking for at any given time. Our business is highly focused and so if you have a name that is of interest to us, the chances are that we will come looking for it without being asked.

Can you value my domain name?

Regardless of what you might see on some web sites, there is no accurate valuation model for domain names. Any name is worth only what somebody is prepared to pay for it. A name worth $10 to one person or company could be worth several thousand to a company with the right incentive to purchase.

Can you broker my domain name (or portfolio)?

No. We only work with our own portfolio and have no interest in brokering domain names. Several web sites offer an intermediary sales service for domain names and we recommend that you use one of these. Unfortunately, we cannot make a recommendation for any particular organisation.

You are using a name that is mine and I want it back!

We operate a large number of generic web sites and own a large portfolio of domain names. These names have been acquired legally, either by registering them from new, buying from previous owners, or by catching them after they have expired.

Thousands of domain names expire every day because previous owners either have no use for them, or their company no longer trades or perhaps they simply forgot that they owned the name and therefore didn't renew it.

If that's the case, the name gets released back into the system as an available name.

Is what you do called "domain squatting"?

Absolutely not.

Domain squatting is when somebody registers a domain name that they know is the trading style or brand name of somebody else. They register the name in the hope that the company or individual concerned will come along and offer them huge sums of money in return for the name.

Years ago, domain squatters would register brand names as domains and then point them to unsavoury adult sites in an attempt to force the hand of the companies concerned.

This is less common these days, but it still goes on.

We register only generic domain names, but in the event of a claim being made that one of our names infringes a trademark or other intellectual property, then we would unhesitatingly offer it up to the legitimate registrant. This has never yet been necessary, as it is not a practice that we knowingly enter into.

Why do I receive Spam emails from one of your domains?

We have never sent a single unsolicited email. Unfortunately, Spammers and con artists (phishers) often forget the email headers on their emails to make it appear that the email is comping from someone else.

These people do not own the domain names concerned. All they are bothered about is that they will not receive the Spam complaints, the domain owner will.

We cannot control this activity at all unfortunately. It is completely out of our control. What we can say, is that it bothers us a lot more than it bothers you - after all, we own thousands of domain names and any or all of them could be targetedby Spammers in this way and in fact, they often are. Nobody is immune from this scourge.

You say your domains are not for sale. This is surely just a negotiation stance, right?

Sorry to disappoint, but no. Every single domain in our portfolio was bought for a reason and we treat each name we own as a property. Think of it as being like a piece of land, but on the Internet if you like.

Sometimes the property is developed. Other times, it's not. But, it's never "for sale" unless we advertise it as being so.

Your domain isn't being used and I can use it - so why won't you sell?

Just because a name isn't being used by us, doesn't mean that it will never be used by us. If there is an empty and unused plot of land next to your house, you would have no right to use it, or to insist that it is sold to you.

Despite this, we get many requests like this every week and our answer is always the same. We got it first. It's ours and we are keeping it.

Harsh? We don't think so. There are millions of unregistered names available - we know because we register new ones every day. You can do the same. Use your imagination :)

How can I do what you do?

We can't answer that. Our business is not unique, but we aren't about to give up everything we know to everyone that asks. Sorry, but we're in business, we're not a charity.