Offer To Buy WickedFire for $16M!!! - WickedFire - Affiliate Marketing Forum

Jon · 01-05-2007, 11:14 PM

I just got off of the phone with a pretty well known person who runs a company that snaps up big properties and he offered me $16 million for WickedFire. The whole offer was $16M over 3 years or $11 million at one shot. Needless to say, I turned him down without even thinking twice about it.

I am not posting this to brag either. I told him I'd be posting about it and he seemed okay with it and said "are you sure you don't want to think it over for a week?". He had sounded pretty surprised about me turning him down too. By far one of the strangest business phone conversations I've had in a long time.

While we were chatting for the whole 12 minutes or so that it lasted for, I brought to his attention that we have ZERO revenue here, and that we are under a year old. Even if we had revenue coming in, I doubt it would go anywhere over the $2M/year mark. He said something to the tune of "I've been hearing a lot about your forum, and if it's grown that quickly at such an early stage, I'm kind of shocked that no one has made a similar offer for it sooner". Well, we did have an offer about a month ago for a few million dollars, but I laughed at the person because I didn't think he was serious.

I know for a fact that this offer was legitimate and that the person/company is reputable, so there is no issue about that. I just find it pretty surreal to turn down an offer like that and not be phased out by it.

2007 is going to be a weird year, and surreal in so many ways I think.

/vent

DruSam · 01-05-2007, 11:20 PM

You need more angry smilies for this to be a vent. But really, I would say yes to $16M before my rational mind realizes what I did. I know this place is special and all Jon, but $16 million for 8 months work? shit.

owningmonkey · 01-05-2007, 11:24 PM

take it and go on a long vacation.. you deserve it. Start something better (if thats even possible)

barman · 01-05-2007, 11:25 PM

SELL SELL SELL and distribute the profits amongst the members! Divie it up by posts per user.

:: sneaks away to post more ::

illusion · 01-05-2007, 11:25 PM

That guy is an idiot, you don't buy forums that you haven't checked out before, half of the forums have gotten so big because there owners have pushed it to the end of the earth and back.

Nice work Jon, at least we know some mogul is gonna persuade you into buying it

kaveman · 01-05-2007, 11:32 PM

niiiiiice, glad to see you didnt sell out, you da man

wfx · 01-05-2007, 11:32 PM

That's $4820 per forum member.

Andrew

[R]DeVore · 01-05-2007, 11:34 PM

I understand why you wouldn't sell, but I understand also why you SHOULD. I know wickedfire is something you hold close to you, but for 16M, I would rethink it for a day or two man. Seriously.

engaged · 01-05-2007, 11:38 PM

april fools already.???? hahahaha

DavidR · 01-05-2007, 11:38 PM

I think it's more about reputation than money.

lerchmo · 01-05-2007, 11:40 PM

Edit, 3,319 members!!!! 97k posts $4800 per member??? this guy needs to have a look at my 50 member forum, 250k anyone?

97,422 members, and hes willing to pay 16million? how the fuck does someone that dumb have 16million dollars laying around? what the fuck?? are webmasters even that hot of a niche? fuck

engaged · 01-05-2007, 11:41 PM

*alrert* i just bought google.com... they gave me a price break... 2 billion.... the deal will be announced monday afternoon... sell your GOOG fast.

DruSam · 01-05-2007, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidR

I think it's more about reputation than money.

lol, then I would unreputably have more money than anyone.

SEO_Mike · 01-05-2007, 11:52 PM

Good call Jon! As enticing as $16m is, I'm glad to see that you value the forum and it's membership more than just money.

surly · 01-05-2007, 11:53 PM

This forum would die the second someone else took over.

wickedDUDE · 01-05-2007, 11:59 PM

16 million? 2 million? why do I have trouble believing you. nobody offers 16 million for a site that is making $0.

and bull shit.. like you wouldn't take the money... if you were smart you would take the 16 mil, just like any other businessman, start another forum like wickedfire with a different name, for like 1000 bucks, and being that you have a VERY loyal fan base, you would have no problem at all getting that one off the ground. heck everyone here would follow you over there.

i'm sorry but i'm not as gullible as the other forum members on this board.. maybe someone made an offer like this as a joke, but theres no way they could be serious.

lerchmo · 01-05-2007, 11:59 PM

I wonder if you could get 16million on sitepoint. you could probably get sitepoint, digitalpoint webmasterworld and earners forum for 16million.

01-05-2007, 11:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jon Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York City Posts: 7,521	Offer To Buy WickedFire for $16M!!! I just got off of the phone with a pretty well known person who runs a company that snaps up big properties and he offered me $16 million for WickedFire. The whole offer was $16M over 3 years or $11 million at one shot. Needless to say, I turned him down without even thinking twice about it. I am not posting this to brag either. I told him I'd be posting about it and he seemed okay with it and said "are you sure you don't want to think it over for a week?". He had sounded pretty surprised about me turning him down too. By far one of the strangest business phone conversations I've had in a long time. While we were chatting for the whole 12 minutes or so that it lasted for, I brought to his attention that we have ZERO revenue here, and that we are under a year old. Even if we had revenue coming in, I doubt it would go anywhere over the $2M/year mark. He said something to the tune of "I've been hearing a lot about your forum, and if it's grown that quickly at such an early stage, I'm kind of shocked that no one has made a similar offer for it sooner". Well, we did have an offer about a month ago for a few million dollars, but I laughed at the person because I didn't think he was serious. I know for a fact that this offer was legitimate and that the person/company is reputable, so there is no issue about that. I just find it pretty surreal to turn down an offer like that and not be phased out by it. 2007 is going to be a weird year, and surreal in so many ways I think. /vent __________________ There's someone in my head... but its not me. Skittles - Taste the rainbow... in jail. The Best in shamwow PPC

01-05-2007, 11:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
DruSam Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,744	You need more angry smilies for this to be a vent. But really, I would say yes to $16M before my rational mind realizes what I did. I know this place is special and all Jon, but $16 million for 8 months work? shit. __________________ Create Gmail accounts quickly with The Mailbot. Enable forwarding and POP automatically. Proxy support.

01-05-2007, 11:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
barman hoodrich Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,897	SELL SELL SELL and distribute the profits amongst the members! Divie it up by posts per user. :: sneaks away to post more :: __________________ be a super affiliate eh join the ppc.bz fan club noob

01-05-2007, 11:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
kaveman Giant Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: santa barbara, CA Posts: 3,358	niiiiiice, glad to see you didnt sell out, you da man __________________ Ads4Dough - Ask For Kaveman As Your Affiliate Manager

01-05-2007, 11:52 PM	#14 (permalink)
SEO_Mike Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4,453	Good call Jon! As enticing as $16m is, I'm glad to see that you value the forum and it's membership more than just money. __________________ $1000 days are uncommon with Ads4Dough. Usually, they are much higher. Copeac Mutha Fucka's. That will be all. Auggie's the shiz-nit for Design Work! Link redirection tracker - Find out where that affiiliate link redirects to

01-05-2007, 11:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
owningmonkey Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 19	take it and go on a long vacation.. you deserve it. Start something better (if thats even possible)

01-05-2007, 11:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
illusion Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,497	That guy is an idiot, you don't buy forums that you haven't checked out before, half of the forums have gotten so big because there owners have pushed it to the end of the earth and back. Nice work Jon, at least we know some mogul is gonna persuade you into buying it

01-05-2007, 11:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
wfx Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 106	That's $4820 per forum member. Andrew

01-05-2007, 11:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
[R]DeVore Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 703	I understand why you wouldn't sell, but I understand also why you SHOULD. I know wickedfire is something you hold close to you, but for 16M, I would rethink it for a day or two man. Seriously.

01-05-2007, 11:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
engaged I can get it juicy for ya Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,486	april fools already.???? hahahaha

01-05-2007, 11:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
DavidR Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: WA Posts: 493	I think it's more about reputation than money.

01-05-2007, 11:40 PM	#11 (permalink)
lerchmo Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,219	Edit, 3,319 members!!!! 97k posts $4800 per member??? this guy needs to have a look at my 50 member forum, 250k anyone? 97,422 members, and hes willing to pay 16million? how the fuck does someone that dumb have 16million dollars laying around? what the fuck?? are webmasters even that hot of a niche? fuck

01-05-2007, 11:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
engaged I can get it juicy for ya Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,486	alrert i just bought google.com... they gave me a price break... 2 billion.... the deal will be announced monday afternoon... sell your GOOG fast.

01-05-2007, 11:53 PM	#15 (permalink)
surly Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 303	This forum would die the second someone else took over.

01-05-2007, 11:59 PM	#16 (permalink)
wickedDUDE Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 414	16 million? 2 million? why do I have trouble believing you. nobody offers 16 million for a site that is making $0. and bull shit.. like you wouldn't take the money... if you were smart you would take the 16 mil, just like any other businessman, start another forum like wickedfire with a different name, for like 1000 bucks, and being that you have a VERY loyal fan base, you would have no problem at all getting that one off the ground. heck everyone here would follow you over there. i'm sorry but i'm not as gullible as the other forum members on this board.. maybe someone made an offer like this as a joke, but theres no way they could be serious. __________________ "I need a wickedfire break."

01-05-2007, 11:59 PM	#17 (permalink)
lerchmo Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,219	I wonder if you could get 16million on sitepoint. you could probably get sitepoint, digitalpoint webmasterworld and earners forum for 16million.

01-06-2007, 12:02 AM	#18 (permalink)
Moon54 Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 94