SUMMARY: * Our domain was Chili / Open / com; theirs was Chili / Open / org. * Buyer represented a low-end mid-sized nonprofit. * We contacted the buyer. * Buyer requested that we donate domain. * We declined his request and presented a $300 price tag. * Buyer accepted straight away. ============================================================================== From: [E-mail] To: [Prospect - website contact] Cc: [Prospect - whois contact] Date: Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 8:07 PM Subject: For [Owner's name] - [Their domain] website question Dear [Owner's name], I'm [Name], a software developer from [Location]. I am writing to let you know I currently have the domain name [Our domain] available for purchase. Because I am looking to clear out my domain names by the end of April, I would be willing to offer you [Our domain] below market value for use with your golf classic's online home at [Their domain]. If you would like to consider acquiring this domain name, please reply to this message before noon ET this Monday, 4/6. In the event I do not hear from you by that point, I will contact my next [Our domain] candidate the following week. Thanks for taking the time to read this message. I look forward to speaking with you soon. All the best, [Name] Software Developer, [Organization] [Organization's URL] tel: XXX.XXX.XXXX ============================================================================== From: [Prospect - website contact] Date: Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 9:04 PM Subject: Re: For [Owner's name] - [Their domain] website question [Name], I take it that you looked at our website. [Prospect Organization's Fundraiser] is a fundraiser for charities and that's the sole purpose of it. You stated that you are willing to sell it below market and I am hoping that you may be generous and consider donating it. Let me know. [Owner's name] ============================================================================== From: [E-mail] Date: Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 1:37 AM Subject: Re: For [Owner's name] - [Their domain] website question [Owner's name], Thank you for getting back to us. We did indeed peruse your charity's site, and while in an ideal world we would not hesitate to donate you [Our domain], we, too, need to put food on our tables. It might help to think of of a domain name as a piece of virtual real estate. We are in no better a position to donate [Our domain] than your facility's landlord is to donate you office space. However, we have computed what we believe to be a very modest asking price of $300 for the purchase of Chili / Open / com. We arrived that this figure based on listing prices of similar domains and the fact your organization appears to receive $50,000-$100,000 in donations per year, and we are absolutely confident the economic benefits of owning [Our domain] would quickly outwrestle the $300 overhead, most likely within just a few months. If you would like us to help guide you through possible strategies for harnessing your new domain to boost your charity's reach, we would be more than happy to do so. In past years we have completed many successful domain name transactions, ranging from $250 to $2500, with other charitable causes. The most accurate way to gauge a domain's market value is to examine past sales of similar domains. The three most recent -Open domain sales that have been reported sold are Euro / Open / com (Feb. '07, $2200), u / Open / com (Aug. '08, $2500), and Photo / Open / com (Sep. '08, $490). Seeing as most -Open domains currently listed for sale at Buy / Domains / com -- the #1 domain name retailer on the web -- center around the $1800 mark, the ballpark cash amount the seller of a typical -Open domain may reasonably expect in exchange for such a name falls in the low four-figures. But, as we did promise to present you a price tag "below market value", we can offer you Chili / Open / com for $300. If you chose to move forward we would transfer you Chili / Open / com and then invoice your group for $300 via PayPal or an alternate payment method of your choosing. The fact both [Our domain] and [Their domain] are both registered with Network Solutions would allow this transfer to proceed very quickly. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and will keep our offer open through Friday if necessary. Please do not hesitate to dial my work line at XXX.XXX.XXXX if any questions regarding this offer come to mind. Warm regards, [Name] ============================================================================== From: [Prospect - website contact] Date: Wed, Apr 8, 2009 at 7:59 PM Subject: [Our domain] On behalf of [Owner's name] and the [Prospect's Membership Club]- Our board of directors approved a price of $300.00 US for the purchase of chili / open / com. I will pay for the transaction via PayPal. Please let me know the details. [Prospect's Full Name]