Quote:
Originally Posted by buildingfutures
So here's the deal. A few weeks ago I came across a very nice 4 letter .nl domain. It's an existing word and it's a huge restaurant chain over here in Holland.
I emailed the host who owned the domain saying I was interested to buy the domain, since it hadn't been updated in a few years. I asked them if they could forward my email to the owner.
A few days later they reply saying they can move the domain to me for the reg fee + some administration cost. Obviously I was exited.
Yesterday night I get an email from the previous owner asking how the hell I got his domain. He now claims the host made a "mistake" but are ignoring his tickets and requests to solve the issue. I haven't heard from the host yet either.
He's asking (very politely and genuine) if I could return the domain name to him.
Now, I'm a very ethical and standup guy, but I don't see how a host can screw up something like this? I mean, if he paid for the domain, it's his. If he hasn't paid, tough luck, you lost your domain. But for some reason they're not responding.
The domain is very solid and I can probably sell it for a nice amount. Nothing like $xx,xxx but still a good ROI.
How would you deal with this? Ask the host for some kind of settlement? This ain't America unfortunately, I can't go ahead and sue them for their fuck ups and make some money while I'm at it  |
It wasn't yours to start with. It cost you zero time and a couple bucks, which I am sure you will be refunded. You have nothing invested in this. Its also very likely going to turn into a big lawsuit, which you will be dragged in even though you did nothing wrong. I would transfer it back to the owner, would be nice though if you could get some future business out of the deal from the owner or at least some free food for "doing the right thing".
It's the name of the guys business, put yourself in his shoes. Obviously the register fucked up. Now if the domain had expired then all bets off but the owner did nothing wrong (besides use a crappy register) it's the name of his business and he was paying his reg fees. To be honest I don't see how the original owners loses it. He will have to sue the register and at the end of the day I wouldn't be surprised if you have to give it back. How can the original owner get fucked out of his domain when he did nothing to lose it???
Do you really want to be involved with all of that when you have nothing vested into it? Going the good route could make you more money in the long run and save you a lot of head aches. Most people here are very short sighted. You even admitted that something didn't seem right from the start, if the domain is worth several thousand and the *register* decided to give it to you for free while someone else still owned it. You never did hear from or deal with the owner.... its obvious the deal was messed up to start with.