How to deal with a cybersquatter?

Cybertronic · 9 Aug 2009 at 13:53

Recently I've been looking up domain names to use for an online portfolio and other things too to help me stand out in my job search. Unfortunately, the domain names I'm after have been taken up by cybersquatters.

It's strange that they have been cybersquatted because I'm after a domain that uses my surname which is not common as well as not being used for any popular acronyms or by any companies.

I emailed the owners of surname.com and surname.co.uk over a week ago and have not heard anything. I decided to send emails asking for updates regarding my enquiry today. The owner of surname.co.uk replied immediately asking for £3000 and stating that the offers holds for several days. This is frankly quite a ridiculous asking price but then I guess it's not surprising since this person owns cybersquatting company judging from his main website.

Does anyone have methods on trying to deal/bargain with these cybersquatters since it's my first time dealing with a cybersquatter as well as buying a domain name

Russinating · 9 Aug 2009 at 14:00

My experience is that if it's taken, give up. Is firstnamesurname.com/.co.uk not available?

Sorry I can't be a more positive help!

Cybertronic · 9 Aug 2009 at 14:36

Thanks for your reply, they are available but I would like to use the domain for hosting things publicly. I'm not really keen on my full name displayed when hosting and I've been trying to come up with a decent email address that includes firstnamesurname.com/.co.uk but [email protected]/.co.uk is so much nicer

If it's any help in dealing/bargaining with the cybersquatter, neither domains appears on Google Search.

AbsenceJam · 9 Aug 2009 at 14:55

It's not cybersquatting, they've just registered names on the offchance.

Try making them a very low offer if you really want it. Mention that they're unlikely to ever receive any other offer, let alone a better one. If you do buy it be careful as you could be ripped off.

daz · 9 Aug 2009 at 14:56

I would go for a different domain entirely, or try a different extension.

Cybertronic · 9 Aug 2009 at 15:04

AbsenceJam said:
Try making them a very low offer if you really want it. Mention that they're unlikely to ever receive any other offer, let alone a better one. If you do buy it be careful as you could be ripped off.

What would a very low offer be? I don't want to offer too low in case I may get laughed at and not received a reply unless the seller is really after some amount of money.

daz said:
I would go for a different domain entirely, or try a different extension.

I will consider going for a different domain if I'm unable to bargain with the seller. There are other extensions available such as less popular ones like .me.uk but I'm not really keen on those extensions

AbsenceJam · 9 Aug 2009 at 15:24

Cybertronic said:
What would a very low offer be? I don't want to offer too low in case I may get laughed at and not received a reply unless the seller is really after some amount of money.

As much as a length of string costs. You've nothing to lose at all.

Personally I wouldn't pay a penny and think firstnamelastname is more sensible for portfolio or use initials to shorten it.

Spyhop · 9 Aug 2009 at 15:41

Cybertronic said:
I will consider going for a different domain if I'm unable to bargain with the seller. There are other extensions available such as less popular ones like .me.uk but I'm not really keen on those extensions

Try .name. AFAIK that's the "official" TLD for personal websites.

I'm sure the peanut gallery will knock it since they're not used to seeing it. But who cares.

Bat · 9 Aug 2009 at 15:45

I had the same trouble, just used the plural of my surname and left the losers to it.

Spyhop · 9 Aug 2009 at 15:51

If the surname is the one listed on your trust the price is probably due to it being 4 letters and "word-like" in construction.

Domain squatters are "trying it on" by their very nature, so they'll all be well open to haggling if you approach it right. Whether their real minimal ask is acceptable is another matter

Energize · 9 Aug 2009 at 16:04

Unfortunately until someone like ICANN does something about the cybersquatting problem there's not anything you can do. Paying for it just encourages them.

Cybertronic · 9 Aug 2009 at 16:27

Thanks for your replies everyone. I've decided to get a domain with my nickname (which I completely forgotten about) as a friend recommended me to go for something memorable and short since I no longer wanted to be suckered into paying for a domain name.

Just need to read the OC Host Review site now

NickK · 9 Aug 2009 at 16:37

Personally I think that any name ending in .co.uk should have to require a registered company with the same name to own it (or at least have overriding priority in reclaiming the name).

Tripnologist · 9 Aug 2009 at 19:24

NickK said:
Personally I think that any name ending in .co.uk should have to require a registered company with the same name to own it (or at least have overriding priority in reclaiming the name).

So you would prefer it if .co.uk domains were only available to companies and not individuals?

Beerbaron · 9 Aug 2009 at 19:29

i thought you couldnt make profit from selling a domain name. if they are asking for money and its not being used then surely they are out to make profit.

daz · 9 Aug 2009 at 19:43

horseracing.co.uk and onlinecasino.co.uk went for half a million each recently. ;p

MarkW7 · 9 Aug 2009 at 19:47

See who sold them the domain, isn't it on a yearly basis and off them more ;D

NathanT · 9 Aug 2009 at 19:52

Premium names such as the above can command such high prices.

Its just a shame that the million£ that they just made will go in to buying hundreds of thousands of "non-premium" domain names to screw over small businesses looking for a web presence that fits their company.

stoofa · 10 Aug 2009 at 10:32

Oh I wish people would stop using the word "Cybersquatting" every time they find the domain name they wanted has already been taken.

It is not cybersquatting, it is called good business sense.
Somebody had the sense to purchase the domain name before you did.
If they then make a profit out of that domain name then it was certainly good business sense.

Cybersquatting is the purchasing of a domain name with the express reason of getting money from a particular company.
So for example I see an up and coming company called Tesco.
I rush out and buy tesco.com
I've got no real rights to the domain name and the only reason I bought it was because I know Tesco will pay me big for it.

If I search domain names and I find that Zardiner.com is available and buy it.
Six months later John Zardiner finds his "ultimate" domain name is already taken.
I've not done any cybersquatting, I've simply done a speculative purchase.

People who own all these domains maybe annoying, but in 99% of the case they are certainly not Cybersquatting.
Even if there is no web site associated with a domain it doesn't mean it isn't being used for other things.

ja3h · 10 Aug 2009 at 10:51

stoofa said:
....

Ah, so that's the difference between cyber squatting and domain parking.