Live Blogging the Traffic Auction
May 23, 2008 · Print This Article
I’ll be live blogging the Traffic Auction for the first few hours (at 5 pm EST I have to pick up my son from school).
It will be interesting to see how the auction goes given all the concerns with the bad economy. If it goes badly, expect people to say that timing was bad, long weekend, late in the day, low attendance at Traffic, etc. But it will do the market a lot of good if this auction is successful – so I really hope that it is.
It looks like a couple domains have been scratched from the auction: something.com was one of them and busy.net the other.
At the start of the auction, there are 40 viewers and 45 bidders online. Starting about 8 minutes late – pretty good. Monte makes a welcoming speech and goes over the rules. Brent Corwin won the draw (congrats!). Room looks about half empty. Prizes will be given out at the end of every hour. Drinks and desert in the back.
Most of the .com’s are up front, then .mobi’s, then .org and ended with .net’s. Auctioneer will be bidding on behalf of sellers – unfortunate :-(.
Without further ado, here are the results so far:
10. doug.com – pass at 75K.
20. portfolios.com – pass at 900K – not sure if this is a real bid or on behalf of seller.
30. gasprices.com – sold $225K – internet bid.
40. DiscountTravel.com – comes with DiscountTravel.mobi – sold $300K
50. loancalculator.com – sold $350K.
60. Susan.com – sold $50K.
70. oh.com – pass $250K.
80. MARINA.COM – pass $150K – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller
90. FreeHoroscope.com & FreeHoroscopes.com – pass $250K – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller
100. Greek.com – sold $275K.
110. partner.com – pass $225k.
120. Pagers.com – pass $70K.
130. Grass.com – heavy bidding on this one from the internet – sold $70K – internet bidder #14026.
140. pay.com – pass $2MM – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller.
150. con.com – pass $85K.
160. koran.com – pass $450K.
170. InsuranceRates.com – sold $225K – internet buyer #13904.
180. sagittarius.com – heavy bidding on this one – $33,500 – bidders were all in the room.
190. Athlete.com – sold $122K.
200. Track.com – heavy bidding on this one -sold $92.5K to internet bidder #14026.
It’s now 2:30 p.m. – 89 viewers, 67 bidder. The auction continues:
210. TVschedule.com – sold $17K to internet bidder #14005.
220. BabyFood.com – pass $125K.
230. coloradoriver.com – pass $22.5K.
240. confession.com – pass $85K.
250. uscitizenship.com – pass $125K.
260. SpecialOffer.com – sold $35K to internet bidder #13977.
270. Ankle.com – Monte says: “anyone with an ankle raise their paddle” – pass $25K.
280. jackpot.com – Monte says: “let’s hit the jackpot” – pass $2.5MM -not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller.
290. Managed.com – pass 65K
300. Autobody.com – pass $425K
310. IllegalImmigrants.com – pass $15K – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller.
320. televisionshow.com – pass $50K.
330. ow.com – some telephone bidders – heavy bidding – Monte whacks the auctioneer and calls out “ow!” – sold $120K to bidder in room – lots of cheering.
340. Dieselcars.com – pass $40K.
350. CLOSINGS.COM – sold $25K to internet bidder #13993. Monte calls out that we’ve reached $1MM in sales.
360. HOTPOTATO.COM – developed site. Pass at $17.5K.
370. FreeMerchandise.com – Monte says: “everyone wants this and we’ll be giving out some of this” – pass $10K.
380. travelconditions.com – pass $25K – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller.
390. Yachts.com – developed website + developed website YachtCharters.com – includes Yachts.net and a forum – pass $3.5MM – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller.
400. lasvegasresorts.com – pass $60K.
410. maybe.com – Monte makes a lame maybe joke – heavy bidding – sold $40K to internet bidder #14015.
420. Israel.com – crown jewel of the auction – pass $5MM – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller.
430. affiliateprogram.com – pass $1.25MM
440. ComputerParts.com – very heavy bidding – sold $80K to internet bidder #13993.
450. blueray.com – sold $30K to internet bidder #14036.
460. Tune.com – pass $250K – not sure why – reserve was $100K – $250K – perhaps this was a bid on behalf of seller.
470. rainbow.com – sold $170K – to internet bidder #14005.
480. ladybug.com – pass $45K.
490. PregnancyCenter.com – pass $25K
500. action.com – pass – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller
510. minerals.com – pass $150K – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller
520. idol.com – pass – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller
530. SUPERSTARS.COM – pass $25K – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller
It’s now 3:00 p.m.. There’s a draw going on. Jeff Beasley wins. We’re at 106 viewers and 70 bidders online.
540. carwax.com – pass $70K.
550. breathalyzer.com – pass $45K – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller.
560. SexShows.com – sold $55K to internet bidder #13903.
570. XmasList.com – pass $4K – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller.
580. liens.com & bankliens.com -pass $150K – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller.
590. hoodia.com – pass $400K – reserve was $100K to $250K – must be bid on behalf of seller.
600. UsedLamborghinis.com – sold $3,500 to paddle #215.
610. CertifiedDiamonds.com – pass $200K – not sure if this is a real bid or bid on behalf of seller.
620. FertilityServices.com – pass $30K.
630. flavoredwater.com & flavoredwaters.com – pass $30K.
640. SleepAwayCamp.com – pass $20K – looked like a bid on behalf of seller.
650. FilmMaking.com – active website – sold $55K to internet bidder #14026.
660. crowds.com – pass $40K.
670. WeddingParty.com – includes .ca, .org., .biz, .net, .info, etc. -includes active website – pass $200K -looked like a bid on behalf of seller
680. laptopcomputer.com – pass $45K.
690. SoccerBalls.com – pass $45K.
700. something.com – scratched.
710. Anger.com – heavy bidding on this one, but in small increments – sold $49K to internet bidder 14026.
720. desktopcomputer.com – pass $45K.
730. MetricConversion.com – very heavy bidding on this one – sold for $8,250 to internet bidder 14182.
740. ClothesShopping.com – auctioneer says: “someone asked why I hold my wife’s hand all the time – if I let go she goes shopping” – pass $25K – looks like bid on behalf of seller.
750. patti.com – heavy bidding on this one – sold $12K to paddle 254
760. Lemons.com – pass $50K.
770. exerciseballs.com – sold $17.5K to internet bidder 14037. Energy level in the auction room seems really high.
780. SlangDictionary.com – pass $25K – looks like bid on behalf of seller.
790. boxingnews.com – sold $25K to internet bidder 13895.
800. Affect.com – pass $15K – looks like bid on behalf of seller.
810. Naturalists.com – pass $20K – looks like bid on behalf of seller.
820. Hector.com – pass $20K – looks like bid on behalf of seller.
830. LabSupplies.com – heavy bidding on this one – sold $18K to paddle 216.
It’s now 3:30 p.m. – 115 viewers and 70 bidders.
840. refinancerates.com – sold $12.5K to internet bidder 13980.
850. underconstruction.com – sold $12.5K to internet bidder 14083.
860. luxurygifts.com – pass $30K – looked like bid on behalf of seller
870. PinballWizard.com – pass $10K – looked like a bid on behalf of seller
880. ElectronicFundsTransfer.com – Monte says: “this is how we take most of the payments for this auction – pass $12.5K.
890. FootballScores.com – sold for $37.5 to paddle 217.
900. MusicDVDs.com – pass $15K – looked like a bid on behalf of seller.
910. floortiles.com – sold $30K to paddle 239
920. GraphicsSoftware.com – sold $2.5K to paddle 249
930. nannycams.com – pass $8K – looked like a bid on behalf of seller.
940. Asphyxiation.com – pass $4K – looked like a bid on behalf of seller.
950. longer.com – Monte says: “Who’s longer?” – pass $45K.
960. CarpetStores.com – Monte says: “If you have floor tiles you should go to a carpet store” – pass – looked like a bid on behalf of seller
970. typo.com – Monte says: “Very popular in the domainer community” – sold $25K to internet bidder 14033.
980. ENDORSEMENT.COM – heavy bidding on this one – sold $16.5K to internet bidder 14083.
990. InvestmentIncome.com – pass $20K – looked like a bid on behalf of seller
1000. onlinecounseling.com – sold $12.5K to internet bidder 14026.
1010. petbirds.com – auctioneer chirps like a bird – pass $10K – looked like a bid on behalf of seller.
1020. Conglomerate.com – sold $20K to internet bidder #14083.
1030. CivilClaims.com – heavy bidding on this one – sold $8.5K to internet bidder 13977.
1040. UniformServices.com – sold $3.5K to internet bidder 14114.
1050. VintageCigars.com – pass $4K – looked like a bid on behalf of seller.
1060. RainChecks.com – pass $5K – looked like a bid on behalf of seller
1070. livestreaming.com – Monte says “we’re live streaming right now” – pass $12.5K – Monte says “unbelievable”.
1080. Demonstrated.com – Auctioneer says “show ’em how its done” – pass $12.5K
1090. Flammable.com – pass $10K – looks like bid on behalf of seller – Monte says “wasn’t as hot as we thought it would be”
1100. thankyougiftbaskets.com – sold $3K to internet bidder 13916.
1110. beerkegs.com – pass $17.5K
1120. EmploymentAds.com – sold $9K to paddle #235
It’s now 4:00 p.m.. Monte says: “They’re going to be swapping out the food soon, in case you’re interested in the chocolate. Right hand corner of the room.
1130. engraved.com – very heavy bidding on this one – sold $19K to internet bidder 14083 – wild clapping in the auction room.
1140. WebClass.com – heavy bidding on this one – sold $5.5K to paddle 223
1150. Migrate.com – heavy bidding on this one – sold $9.5K to internet bidder 13925.
1160. BodilyInjury.com – auctioneer said “Monte said if I don’t sell any more, I’d better buy this name – I don’t know what he means by that” – pass $20K – looks like bid on behalf of seller.
1170. influential.com – Monte said “anyone influential in this room?” – sold $12K to internet bidder 13981.
1180. postalcodes.com – *extremely* heavy bidding on this one – lots of cheering – probably the most competitive auction so far – the crowds are going wild – sold $42.5K to paddle 274
There’s a new draw – nice GPS
1190. celluliteremoval.com – Monte says: “Gene Simmons and his wife just had this” – sold $10K to paddle 215.
1200. bavarian.com – Monte calls out “Beer!” – pass $7K
1210. FreeTrailer.com – auctioneer says to Monte “so you’re moving, are you?” – sold $17K to internet bidder 14026.
1220. subsidiaries.com – pass $6K.
1230. scraper.com – sold $5K to paddle 286.
1240. burningdvds.com – sold $3K to paddle 218.
1250. rabid.com – sold $3K to paddle 217.
1260. Commodes.com – Monte says “get off the pot” – Auctioneer says “no crap” – pass $20K – looks like bid on behalf of seller.
1270. establishcredit.com – pass $25K – looks like a bid on behalf of seller
1280. BathSupplies.com – Monte says “goes with floor tiles” – sold $9.5K to internet bidder 13977.
Dot Mobi Starts – 4:25 pm. Comes with usual terms of dot mobi premiums – ie must be developed in 6 months.
1290. computers.mobi – sold $9.5K to internet bidder 13886. Cheers from audience.
1300. airlines.mobi – Monte takes a cell phone call. He says “I’m in the middle of an auction right now – I’ll call you back” – sold $9.5K
1310. boats.mobi – sold $6K to internet bidder 13983.
1320. mortgage.mobi – heavy bidding on this one – sold for $18K to internet bidder 13981.
1330. men.mobi – heavy bidding on this one – crowd seems a bit more energetic than before – lots of cheering – sold for $10K to paddle 216.
1340. sales.mobi – heavy bidding on this one – again crowd is cheering – auctioneer says “it’s like 5 Euros” – sold – $10.5K
1350. forsale.mobi – Monte says – “you can’t let this one go if you’ve got sales.mobi” – sold $5K to paddle 425.
1360. drugs.mobi – heavy bidding – sold $17.5 to paddle 221.
1370. films.mobi – sold for $10K to internet bidder 13894.
OK, I’ve got to go now…