How Long Would You Hold Onto A Website Before Re-Selling?

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Aequitas

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Feb 19, 2007
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So here is the situation, last month I sold a website for $600 USD, I got the payment right away, waited a week, took the money out of my online accounts, put it in my bank accounts and everything is just fine, successful payment, no issues except for one.

The issue is that the buyer is no where to be found, directly after the sale I tossed him a few private messages, let him know how to proceed, and waited a few days with no reply.

Then I sent him an email and a few hours later I got a delivery failure notification so I would think that email address is no longer valid, so I tried contacting him/her a few more times via the place I sold the site and still no replies.

Its been over a month I've made tons of attempts to get ahold of this person and its like they dropped off the face of the earth.

So how long would you hold onto it before going out and re-selling it.

I'm thinking I'll let it sit for 2 more months and continue to send him a few more messages and see if he responds and if not well might as well re-list it.
 


Yeah, I'd wait a while longer. They might have had an accident or health issue or some other personal problem crop up.

Have you not got a phone number for the person? Know of any other domain they use that you could get the WhoIs off of? Anyone on that other forum know them?
 
I would just hold onto the site and monetise it....if you haven't already...
You are so far ahead ROI wise already..

Kharma, whether you are into it or not is a Biatch...
 
guerilla said:
If you relist and sell it you owe him his $600 back.
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I agree which is why I haven't re-listed it yet.

Andrew Scherer said:
I agree. The guy might be in the hospital or something - just hold onto it.
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Fatbat said:
Yeah, I'd wait a while longer. They might have had an accident or health issue or some other personal problem crop up.

Have you not got a phone number for the person? Know of any other domain they use that you could get the WhoIs off of? Anyone on that other forum know them?
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Thats what I was thinking, something could of happened with him or her, I'm hanging onto it for at least a few more months as for looking for additional information on him, I couldn't find any, and no I'm not sure what his phone number or other domains he owns is.

It was the first time ever dealing with the person so my only real contact is via the place where it sold, which is sitepoint by the way.
 
I've had similar situations with two sites I've sold. One for $x,xxx and one for $xx,xxx so these weren't small investments.

The one for $x,xxx went fine, but the guy never took down my affiliate banners (links intact) and wouldn't answer emails any more. I made around $5k off of this site in the last 6 months or so since the deal was finalized. I'm not complaining but I thought it was weird. I'm pretty sure he died.

The second one for $xx,xxx just disappeared too. Funny thing is, the site offers a free downloadable .pdf which has my affiliate links embedded in it. The buyer was VERY interested in changing those out and so I gave him the raw files and showed him how to do everything and then HE just disappeared. The commissions from that .pdf have continued to come in, each month more than before.

It's just weird how these guys pay out money for these sites and then just let them sit...not changing a thing. I'm not complaining, but...
 
geekcognito said:
I've had similar situations with two sites I've sold. One for $x,xxx and one for $xx,xxx so these weren't small investments.

The one for $x,xxx went fine, but the guy never took down my affiliate banners (links intact) and wouldn't answer emails any more. I made around $5k off of this site in the last 6 months or so since the deal was finalized. I'm not complaining but I thought it was weird. I'm pretty sure he died.

The second one for $xx,xxx just disappeared too. Funny thing is, the site offers a free downloadable .pdf which has my affiliate links embedded in it. The buyer was VERY interested in changing those out and so I gave him the raw files and showed him how to do everything and then HE just disappeared. The commissions from that .pdf have continued to come in, each month more than before.

It's just weird how these guys pay out money for these sites and then just let them sit...not changing a thing. I'm not complaining, but...
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How do I sign up for this? haha.
 
They were probably drunk when they bought it, but the next day had no recollection where the money went and forgot some of their passwords. Back in my drinking days, I did that several times.
 
teampl4y4 said:
How do I sign up for this? haha.
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It's actually kind of stressful. I don't like weird loose ends and this is certainly a weird loose end. It's also kind of odd trying to pin down everything for tax reasons (since you have income from a site after you sold it, thus claiming the sale as income as well).
 
geekcognito said:
I've had similar situations with two sites I've sold. One for $x,xxx and one for $xx,xxx so these weren't small investments.

The one for $x,xxx went fine, but the guy never took down my affiliate banners (links intact) and wouldn't answer emails any more. I made around $5k off of this site in the last 6 months or so since the deal was finalized. I'm not complaining but I thought it was weird. I'm pretty sure he died.
.
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Do you have any more sites you are selling for 4 figures that would make 5k in 6 months doing nothing?
 
Yeah I hate loose ends like this as well, I mean shit if I purchase a site from someone or a product I'm usually right there getting things done as quickly as possible so it's strange to me that some people would buy something and just do nothing after paying but whatever works.

geekcognito said:
I take it that sounds far-fetched to you...?
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I believe it.
 
Wait

Put yourself in his/her shoes even though you have no idea what the real situation is and imagine how you would like to be treated. Give him some time, maybe 6-12 months. Email/PM the admins at sitepoint and inform them. My guess is this is not the first time this has happened, they may be able to contact him or assist.

If he is dead and gone, then sell it for $1000 in a year! This is a buyers market, waiting will benefit you more than possibly scamming the guy because you are in a hurry.
 
yea you should definitely hold on to it until the buyer is found. similar story I sold a website but the owner been using my nameserver for a month now and still not changed even though i emailed her two times but I am making money off her website.
 
sounds weird but it happened to me 2-3 times with small sites/domains sold on ebay

I tried contacting the buyers several times telling them 'I'l let it expire'

I left the domains expire, never heard back from them
 
actually relisting it could prove to be a bigger bother if it sells and then the original buyer (who has paid) gets pissy and wants it back. now it's on you to make good because you sold his property.

best thing to do is have this stuff in the sales contract ahead of time, that possession and transfer must occur w/in 'x period of time' or site is considered released back to original owner and payment is forfeited. otherwise you're on the hook indefinitely.
 
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