Buying a domain name @ Afternic

[0degree]

I just bid (consignment auction) on a domain name at afternic.com. After being the only bidder for about 10 days, the seller decided to close off the auction and go into an offer-counter-offer round with me. The seller lowerd the selling price a bit as a new offer and I raised my price a bit as a counter-offer. We kept on going on until we reached the same price. Once that was done, we went on to the escrow agreement. We have to both agree to it before I, the buyer, should start transferring the funds. I agreed to it but the seller still hasn't. I've been waiting a long time for his agreement but nothing yet. Anyone has any idea on what I should do?

I really need this domain name (it's costing me $750 + $50 for the escrow services). I'm under the impression that we are both legally obligated to finish this transaction. I still haven't transferred any funds and will not until the seller agrees to the escrow agreement.

I've emailed afternic using their mailing forms at their site, but the email bounced to my email address!!!! (that's what I call service, huh?) I've also emailed the owner (using the whois lookup service) but he said that he does not want to sell this domain name!! I have this distinct feeling that the seller is not the same person as the owner (could this be a scam sale?). Finally, I used the comment box, which is used for communication by the 3 parties (seller, buyer and afternic.com) but I got no answer there.

Please Help!
Tony.
- Tell me again, what does Afternic do?

[zmax]

Not that this helps much but I believe register.com bought Afternic.
That should tell you something.
Maybe you can escalate the problem to someone there?!
I looked at Afternic once and yea the agreements says its all legally binding however in order to enforce it a person would need to make all possible efforts to have it enforced. It they are scamming then they should be banned from Afternic. Isnt there a public discussion forum to post this to at the afternic site or see if anyone else has a problem with these people/person?

If it doesnt work out after all and you cant get the domain name, have you thought about getting it by putting the suffix "web" after it instead?! Ok bad joke.

David

[LiquidTV]

Afternic is a zoo....you just have to bomb them with emails (thats if you have time for that, try sundays instead of vegging).
0degree-you have bad luck....but its my fault for telling you the domain is for sale. Uh!! I feel bad now.
really bad....hope you get the domain.......cuz you REALLY need it.
T.K.G

[Rich]

I've also emailed the owner (using the whois lookup service) but he said that he does not want to sell this domain name!!

Well, you can't buy something the owner (registrant) doesn't want to sell. Unless you have a written agreement with the owner, you're out of luck.

Rich

[Her.ph]

It sounds like you guys have gotten tangled up on the fine print. You want to use an escrow agent, and he doesn't want to do that. Why? Who knows.

I think that you need to just walk away from this. The more you communicate with this yo-yo, the more he'll think he's making a mistake by settling for (possibly) a low price.

There are a bunch of .info names coming available... just grab the same thing but in that form and wait this guy out.

In the end though, there are a TON of domains out there that

sound similar
could be used to sell same service/product

and in the end, its your marketing and quality service that
gives a website/domain its potency.

If you don't mind my asking... what i the general category in which your domain has to fit (don't tip your hand -- just tell me what the general service/product category is).

Robert

P.S. don't overlook those country code TLDs: