How to Buy Domain Names on eBay

In the world of real estate, investors buy distressed properties at a low price, fix them up and either sell or rent them for a considerable profit. Virtual real estate works in a similar fashion online. Webmasters expiring domains through eBay, fix them up, and resell then for profit. Here are a few steps you can take to buy domains on eBay and begin building your virtual real estate empire.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Before You Buy

1. Go to eBay.com and sign in to your account or register for the first time. If you already have an eBay account, then proceed to Step 2. If you need to register, then begin the simple process by clicking on “Register.” The steps are pretty self-explanatory. Return to eBay.com after your successful registration and go to Step 2.

2. Select the the “Computers & Networking” category. Look under “Web Domains & Services” and choose “Domain Names.” You'll be brought to the current listings of available domains.

3. Browse through the list of available domains. There will be thousands, so choose the options in the “Sort by” drop-down menu to organize the displayed results a little better. Some domains will be great and others will be absolute duds that may only apply to some obscurely named company. Keep in mind that .com domains are going to be more profitable than .info, .net or some other extension.

4. Open each listing that interests you and click the “Watch This Item” button to save the listing to your “My eBay” area. Repeat this process until you have at least domain names you find most interesting. If domain flipping is new to you, then just buy one to start so you can learn the ropes.

The Buying Process

5. Review the seller's feedback for each chosen domain name. Obviously ratings in the 90th percentile are best. The number next to the seller's name lets you know how many transactions they've conducted through eBay. Click on the number to see details regarding their feedback. Choose more experienced sellers over those who have feedback in the single digits or low double digits.

6. Check the expiration date. When you purchase domain names, you are responsible for renewal, so you need to be aware of this information as most sellers auction expiring domains. If this expiration info is not in the auction details, then search for the domain via WhoIs.sc.

7. Consult your favorite domain registrar to see if the domain(s) of choice are already registered with them. If they are not, then the domain(s) will have to be transferred to them. It's better to keep all of your domains organized with one registrar instead of trying to manage them across many.

Tips & Warnings

• For large amounts or situations where you want added protection, ask the seller if they would be willing to use Escrow.com to accept the payment. This provides an added level of protection for you and the seller. If the seller is opposed to using Escrow.com or a similar service, then dismiss them and move on to another seller.
• Focus on quality domain names versus those that only have low prices. You'll come across lots of junk domains on eBay with unprofitable extensions, exorbitant prices or poor names. Focusing on quality names with .com extensions and brandable or useful names will keep your search in the realm of quality.
• Avoid sellers who have negative or little feedback. Everyone has to start somewhere, but if the domain has a price that you consider to be significant, then you need to go with a more experienced seller who has a positive feedback score in the upper 90s or betters.
• Protect yourself against fraud. If a valuable domain is being offered for mere pennies, then you should be wary. You can either dismiss the domain altogether or contact the seller and perform a WhoIs search to confirm that the owner agrees to selling on eBay.

Resources

• WhoIs Search
• Domain flip guide
• EBay
• Escrow.com

[knoelle12]

on 11/2/2008 Very Helpful!