anyone know any people who are particularly good at negotiating with squatters and acquiring domains (we'd pay)? i'm sure there must be some tactics that people have learned over the years...

the domain we have in mind is owned by someone with whom we're in periodic phone contact (in california) but claims "they have plans for the domain" and they're "not selling it" yet the guy has a portfolio of such domains that are parked at godaddy, not even making money (they've been that way since 1995.) he may think we're not serious, he may think the domain will eventually be worth bajillions if he just holds on long enough, but for now he refuses to even sit down and talk. we wish he were just a normal squatter -- we have a substantial budget -- but he is either clueless or difficult.

yes, i know we can go get another name. but if anyone has either some domain name expert/domain acquisition expert they recommend or useful links to tactics that help with difficult sellers i'd appreciate it -- thanks!

First off, such expertise costs.

Secondly, your "periodic" contact with the speculator actually contributes to his not taking you seriously.

Please bear in mind that he doesn't need to make anything more than $6 - 7 a year in order to justify holding on to that domain FOREVER.

You will be billed. :D

Surely, unless you've got some kind of legal claim over the domain, it's just a question of supply/demand!

Keep adding zero's till he says yes? ;-)

Yep. That's the issue. Make an offer he can't refuse or go get another domain.

Nice start by calling them a squatter. I would just block your email and ignore your contact until I saw a very large figure just for that. I am guessing it is a nice generic domain (regged in 1995...) and you think they are squatting. It's theirs, they can do what they want with it. If you really do have a budget get sedo to broker for you.

Increase your offer and see what happens.

you can try gatih.com

you can try gatih.com

Excellent.

or you could register a trademark on the domain and then contest the ownership of said domain.... but that would just be nasty =)

or you could register a trademark on the domain and then contest the ownership of said domain.... but that would just be nasty =)


bingo....we have a winner

or you could register a trademark on the domain and then contest the ownership of said domain.... but that would just be nasty =)

And not a guarantee of getting what you want, either. :stickout: