Domain sales : Dealing with cranky buyers

Domain sales platforms, such as the Uniregistry Market that I use, offer sellers and buyers the ability to communicate directly.

Whether that is done via a broker, or in person, the experience of dealing with a potential buyer can vary tremendously.

The only constant is you, the seller.

Every domain buyer approaches a communication system differently: some are short with words, some get eloquent. Some are polite, others are cranky.

Crankiness is an attempt to abuse a faceless medium. In the real world, a face to face negotiation requires the use of specific manners, acceptable by society.

One cannot imagine a world whereupon walking into a car dealership, or an art gallery, that the visitor would react aggressively to the mentioning of a price.

However, to many domain buyer hopefuls, the Internet is simply a platform that is disconnected from the real, physically interactive world.

This misconception can lead to many problems, when a product such as a domain name, is the focus.

Domain buyers that thrive on a cranky attitude need to be diffused, in order for them to have a chance in engaging in a successful transaction.

Sometimes there is a language barrier, other times, there is lack of understanding about what exactly is a domain.

The first step at diffusing a buyer’s cranky attitude would be to welcome them, regardless of their manners. If they escalate the crank factor, an experienced domain seller would deflect that, sometimes using a script.

Cranky domain buyers are often impulsive in their responses.

By snapping back a response, you will not achieve anything constructive. The best approach would be to make them spend some time using their processing brain, as opposed to their primordial “hunting” lobes.

Ask them a question about what would they like to do with their project, inquire about their needs.

Take the focus away from what they “demand” for a moment, and allow them to seek their safe place. After all, cranky domain buyers are most likely facing equal resistance in real life; to them, aggressiveness might be the only way to communicate.

By all means, expand on the positive characteristics of the domain you are offering for sale, and depict it as a product that would elevate the buyer’s functions. Indicate that you are willing to negotiate, but do not focus on numbers. Let the buyer think on the reasons they are after this domain, as if they were strolling in the art gallery with fine paintings, or a great car dealership with quality cars.

The potential for conflict is always lurking, and if the other party isn’t responding well, you can pass the ball back to them. Ask them, what would they be willing to do with regards to acquiring the domain. Do they have an acquisition plan, a development plan and a business plan overall that you could offer insight on?

That doesn’t mean that you’re offering them a packaged deal of sorts, but you’re simply expanding their narrow-mindedness so that they lose the cranky approach that they thrive on.

Eventually, they will have to make a decision whether to walk away, angry still, or attempt to define a reasonable frame to work on. You can always invite them to contact you at a later time, if the domain is still available. This would give them time to hopefully shed their aggressiveness and rethink their strategy.

Your own domain strategy is to sell the domain at a price that you are most comfortable with. Dealing with cranky domain buyers need not be an unpleasant experience for you, and hopefully, your buyer will adjust their manners as well.