- Impact
- 16
On February 8, 2024, I received an email from SnapNames stating that a domain I had previously ordered was available for purchase at a BIN auction for $25,000. Hours later, I purchased the domain.
A few hours later, I was told the payment failed to complete—not sure why, as I had the funds. Nonetheless, I used a different payment method, loaded $25,000 into my SnapNames account, and then paid off the domain that way. This payment was accepted, and I was congratulated for purchasing the domain.
Am I wrong in believing that at this point, SnapNames and I have entered a written contract where I must purchase and they must sell the domain?
Over the next several days, I reach out to SnapNames about this transaction. I am told that the domain was listed with one of their sales partners, and that I will be contacted soon about completing the transfer of the domain. I continue to push the person I am speaking with to verify with me that my payment was accepted. I am told the following:
Yesterday, I continued to push and was told the following:
Today, I received the following email:
They also stated that I would be refunded.
This is very unusual to me. How are domains being fraudulently listed? Do they not need to be ownership-verified using DNS records or some other method? This explanation is very shallow to me. Additionally, after entering written contract to buy the domain, I've made investment and credit decisions that are now very consequential that they are not honoring the sale.
Is this normal practice? Is this something I should reach out to an attorney about?
A few hours later, I was told the payment failed to complete—not sure why, as I had the funds. Nonetheless, I used a different payment method, loaded $25,000 into my SnapNames account, and then paid off the domain that way. This payment was accepted, and I was congratulated for purchasing the domain.
Am I wrong in believing that at this point, SnapNames and I have entered a written contract where I must purchase and they must sell the domain?
Over the next several days, I reach out to SnapNames about this transaction. I am told that the domain was listed with one of their sales partners, and that I will be contacted soon about completing the transfer of the domain. I continue to push the person I am speaking with to verify with me that my payment was accepted. I am told the following:
Yes, I see the $25k in your account, the domain name was listed for sale via one of our registrar partners, which means our system will initiate a transfer from their registrar to ours, Network Solutions. Once the transfer is complete, the system will stuff the domain name into a Network Solutions account. At that point, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access the account and will have full access to the domain name.
The whole process can take a few days to complete, and I will keep an eye on the transaction to ensure it completes.
Yesterday, I continued to push and was told the following:
The transaction is still processing, specifically the transfer of the domain name. I will continue to monitor and let you know when we have any updates.
Today, I received the following email:
I have just received unfortunate news from our partner, the listing for [redacted] was not a legitimate listing and the transaction will need to be canceled. Not sure if you’re aware, but we partner with Afternic and SEDO and their inventory is listed for sale on our site. They are experiencing a wave of listings that are not legitimate, and unfortunately this domain is one of those.
They also stated that I would be refunded.
This is very unusual to me. How are domains being fraudulently listed? Do they not need to be ownership-verified using DNS records or some other method? This explanation is very shallow to me. Additionally, after entering written contract to buy the domain, I've made investment and credit decisions that are now very consequential that they are not honoring the sale.
Is this normal practice? Is this something I should reach out to an attorney about?