I've seen so many ridiculous domain names on EBAY with a reserve of like $25,000 or even $2,000,000!

Names that likely wouldn't sell at $0.99.... like prisoner-of-azbakestan.com and other nonsensical domain names.

Is this some sort of scam? Why are people wasting their EBAY fees over and over and over again?

It's likely they are hoping someone makes a lower offer via email so that they can complete the transaction away from ebay and avoid the "final value" fees.

Fee avoidance is not allowed, but it happens. Technically, you're supposed to report people to ebay who attempt it.

this by far is the best.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2041008890

its a steal at 10mil!

Originally posted by RandyL712
I've seen so many ridiculous domain names on EBAY with a reserve of like $25,000 or even $2,000,000!

Names that likely wouldn't sell at $0.99.... like prisoner-of-azbakestan.com and other nonsensical domain names.

Is this some sort of scam? Why are people wasting their EBAY fees over and over and over again?

1. You can't see the Reserve price of an ebay auction, unless the ad lists it in the description. You probably refer to the Starting bid (minimum bid) price being "high".

2. Everyone evaluates domains differently, although there is a set of unwritten rules concerning domain value, based on certain domain attributes and also on "supply and demand".

3. Some auctions might be a "joke" or a prank, but these are evident.

4. Everything has a price tag. :D

Originally posted by timechange
1. You can't see the Reserve price of an ebay auction, unless the ad lists it in the description. You probably refer to the Starting bid (minimum bid) price being "high".Same difference.2. Everyone evaluates domains differently, although there is a set of unwritten rules concerning domain value, based on certain domain attributes and also on "supply and demand".If you see what I'm talking about, the domains clearly have no value.3. Some auctions might be a "joke" or a prank, but these are evident.Again, not the case here. People run these auctions again and again, racking up EBAY fees each time.

There has to be some logical reason.

What seems illogical to you makes sense to someone else. Unless you are more specific about which absurd name was on auction for insane amounts of money, I won't be able to offer more of my insight.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2043042006

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2041008890

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2042765797

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2041876217

Originally posted by RandyL712
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2043042006
1. Koreans are weird :D

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2041008890
2. Ditto

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2042765797
3. Interesting, $500,000 for a subdomain LOL

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2041876217
4. Domain got 6.5 million hits - in how much time he doesn't say. Most likely high hopes for something that would never sell that high.

I seem to recall getting a marketing e-mail ie spam which basically advised getting your domain name on things like eBay with an active link back to your site - they seem to suggest that having a link from someone like eBay will be a huge boost for search engine rankings - maybe that's why the rediculas prices - no one will dream of buying so they have an eBay link to their web site so long as they keep paying the eBay fees.

Or maybe they think if someone sees the extreme selling price they will click on the link out of curiosity!

Whether or not this improves search engine rankings or increases sales is anyones guess.

Yours

Kevin

Hmm if that were the case, they would use an astronomical reserve price, to make sure no one actually bids on it. Otherwise, if someone bid they'd have to pay a huge fee - which they'd have to reclaim once the buyer would not pay.