To equate it properly with the situation at hand, try this:

I have a car. It starts up everyday, is well maintained (have receipts), it gets 35mpg in the city, and has no know defects.
What's it worth?

Or try this one: I have a truck. It gets 16 mpg, runs great, no known defects. What's it worth?

In both cases, a min. value can be assigned to such a vehicle.

As with the car example, people have to assume the worst case - if your car happens to be a ferrari then the valuation is meaningless if people based it on a kia.

But you seem to think that my trying to help you not undervalue is me arguing with you - so why am I bothering?

But you seem to think that my trying to help you not undervalue is me arguing with you - so why am I bothering? [/B]

I never said I was looking for the max. value of a domain! I said what would be the value of a domain based on the type in traffic alone!

This is a completely pointless thread.

Safesys,

You and others have made a whole lot of sense on this matter but you're right. It's pointless to go on. It's more like a debate now and debates never cease.

Originally posted by domstar
but I've been doing this since 1997.[/B]

And your asking us for the value of your domain? We should be asking you for values. You've been around longer than most folks here.

I'm happy to answer questions regarding domain values.

On the secondary market I've bought about 100, and sold probably about 150.

I have learned that several different opinions are helpful and many times someone will have a perspective that I didn't consider, which helps.

Originally posted by safesys
This is a completely pointless thread.

It would not have been so "pointless" if you had just read what I wrote on the first day.

Not so pointless - If you would take some time to acknowledge how futile the original question was. The comments and responses you receive are from individuals that genuinely acknowledge your effort to identify domains of value. It only takes a slight shift in emphasis to see the underlying help and respect offered.

I take nicnames ending with the likes of Star/Supreme/Maximum/Stud/Etc as a warning sign: "Self-importance and fragile ego just below surface. Navigate these waters at your peril."

That said, I don't believe this analysis applies to any member of DomainState.

Nice edit PompousOldWindbag.

Originally posted by domstar
It would not have been so "pointless" if you had just read what I wrote on the first day.

Re-reading the thread... I think safesys's razor sharp attention has only cut to the bone of the issue. I think Bailey hit the nail on the head by suggesting you may not have understood what people were getting at. A little slow on the uptake, I didn't immediately agree with Snoopy's statement, until I re-read it and saw it as a continuation, and direct answer to what safesys was pointing out.

There was a point somewhere on this forum where I think I quiped that it'd probably be possible to guage the value of a name based on traffic alone... if someone was looking to ONLY sell it FOR its traffic. The PROBLEM with this idea (and I did not think about it at the time), is that the quality of traffic (% of U.S., or % from any number of other regions, referrer data - direct navigation vs. link popularity, etc) has a HUGE bearing on what someone thinks about the traffic a name gets. The more this type of crucial information is downplayed or overlooked in the absence of a real NAME to attach it to (where upon the observer can begin connecting the logic of the traffic)... the more a name represents a RISK and not a VALUE.

Past the details of traffic statistics alone, it becomes clear that the name itself may represent the best key to projecting the lifespan and quality of income the name will have over time. That there IS traffic, is not indication that there WILL BE traffic. Is the traffic connected to a spamming campaign? Is it connected to a virus? Perhaps it is a typo on a company or product recently in the news? Or, maybe it is the name of an event that happened 10 years ago, having a recent anniversary. A country name? A popular sport? Click, click, click. It all tells a story.

On that count, this thread has been a bit of an advisory note. Some good comments and insights as always. Domstar, you might try re-reading it again with some of my comments in mind.

~ Nexus

Thank you for the decent reply Nexus.

The point I was attempting to make was that a domain's value is based on it's traffic, plus the value of the name itself. Many have said it's just one or the other. I was attempting to create a basis for the additive value of the domain, (or at least a base value) but no one seems interested in this (safesys argued with it on another thread) discussion so it seems I'm wasting my time here.

I can only surmise that many here are so jaded by the con artists, that I'm just talking to the trees. Few seem genuinely interested in advancing the profession. I guess that's why so many people lump all domain sellers as cybersquatters.

Btw, Domstar.com is the business name. I did't realize I'd offend anyone by using it as my handle.

Originally posted by domstar
I was attempting to create a basis for the additive value of the domain, but no one seems interested in this (safesys argued with it on another thread) discussion so it seems I'm wasting my time here.

In my experience, safesys discusses things very succinctly. That's very different than someone arguing for the SAKE of arguing, which it seems you're implying he was doing. I think that's completely unfair, considering he provides you some very useful points to drill down on.

Sometimes when I'm talking to people, discussions get the longest, and least helpful when the initial, intended question is skipped, and the person I'm talking to begins halfway into a point meant to determine the answer to their real question in a round about way.

It would be an interesting open question to simply put it out there from ground zero and not ask about a random situation as if it is crux of the discussion.

When you say "a domain's value is based on it's traffic, plus the value of the name itself" you already have a BIG problem... no one can agree on the meaning of your statement...

What exactly IS "the value of the name itself"? Do you mean "TRAFFIC" vs. "VANITY"? Then you immediately go down the road of how to determine "VANITY VALUE" (and until you clarify that in concrete agreeable terms, attaching "traffic" with "vanity" is an impossible foundation for anything). If that's NOT what you mean... and "value of the name itself" means something more ephemeral I think it only gets worst...

Imagine you're a car enthusiast looking to buy a Lambourghini... but this model you want... has a Monet sitting on the back seat. They're bundled and inseparable (the seller says)... but you know *exactly* the range it would be in for the car, it's just the painting that's throwing off your groove.

How much do you pay? Wouldn't you rather pay for the painting OR the car, or do you just throw figures out until the seller says "yes"?

Now, imagine you're an art collector... you want that Monet... but, comes with a Lambourghini. You're going to bid on the painting, and hope the seller doesn't keep reminding you your painting is sitting inside the car.

A TRAFFIC name (with full statistics data) is the best type of name to "quantify" into measurable, liquid value, but I guess you can't really quantify it without knowing what the name actually is, so that you can begin attaching some measure of assurance and pedigree to the quality of the TRAFFIC itself.

~ Nexus

Originally posted by domstar
Has anyone ever discussed the value of a domain based on pure type in value alone?

When the following thread resolves its outstanding issues, it will be an interesting case for what's been said in this thread about immediately qualifying any "traffic" as of acceptable value. The "three mortgage domain names" mentioned, were not disclosed by name by the seller, and are being offered on traffic value alone. That exact scenario becomes a contentious one when experience dictates that something does not add up.

http://www.domainstate.com/showthrea...threadid=46943

~ Nexus