I was recently emailed about a domain that I own and had originally purchased awhile ago with intent to build a social application.<p>I'm not using it currently but still own it and randomly was just emailed asking if I would sell it to a startup drone company with the same domain but with .io<p>I haven't sold any domains before so I'm wondering how much should I ask for to sell this domain? The company says they are launching in a few weeks and they have a semi-active twitter feed. It's clear they are in the enterprise drone space and most likely will be offering logistics/command/data services around this area. The founder's linkedin list raytheon among other aerospace/tech background etc etc.<p>I don't want to ask anything ridiculous but at the same time the money could really help me out in my own startup. Is 10k realistic? 15k? 20k?<p>How do I properly start negotiation? Let him pitch first? (through email)<p>Interestingly as a co-founder of a startup I am in the same boat as I own a .io domain but cannot acquire the .com we are seeking.<p>Any advice appreciated!
Not advice you want to hear, but you did ask.<p>Call me latter-day-hippie, mired in a non mercenary and somewhat apocryphal past, but I don't much care for domain squatters. You presumably bought your domain name for a song, then couldn't use it. Give it up at your cost. It's the right thing.<p>Yeah, my employer expressed some annoyance at my having given up "tractordealer.com" years ago, but we had closed that business unit and no longer had use for the domain name.<p>Ken Duda had earlier, most graciously ceded "duda.com" to my employer out of goodness back in the day, so I just felt we were paying it forward. I'd do it again.<p>Remember that the Internet is a social experiment as much as a technical achievement - relying on global cooperation. Do your part is my advice. You'll miss a profiteering opportunity, but you'll feel better about yourself after that third beer. I'll admire you too.
You own X.com and Y.io<p>They own X.io, tell them you want Y.com and will trade it for X.com<p>It will probably result in net lower costs for all involved.