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Retraction on Mobi Madness
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November 11th, 2007 by 
Jay Westerdal
In the last blog post I explored all the madness around DotMobi domains in Moniker’s auction. Moniker sent out an email saying that a bidder was delayed in paying for 8 DotMobi domains. Upon further clarification from Monte. The bidder was a Sri Lanka Investment group who also was delayed on payment of Computer.com and 8 DotMobi domains. Monte went back and sold Computer.com to the second bidder for $2.1 Million instead of $2.2 Million. Monte has the right as an auctioneer to award domains to the second bidder if the first bidder takes too long in paying. It is shame because I remember the first and second bidder battling on that one. However Monte says the Sri Lanka Investment group would still pay the $2.2 Million but they are delayed and he has elected to just move the domain to the faster party.
My staff notes also reflected inaccurately that Rick Schwartz was the winning bidder of Shopping.Mobi. He in fact was not the last bidder, the audio recording clearly shows it was bidder #161 on the phone (the Sri Lanka Investment group). I want to apologize to Rick publicly for making such a big mistake. I should have done more due diligence rather then relying exclusively on my notes. I will try and do a more through job reporting facts in the future.
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Posted in Domain Auction |
November 11th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
You shouldn’t have tools that allow someone to find out all the domains someone owns. This tool doesn’t benefit any domainers.
I hope you rethink this. Please take it down.
UPDATE BY JAY: I have started another thread on that subject. Please comment over there.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Jay,
I think you do alot of good things for the industry. I even like the registrant search tool. However, when you screw up as you did today, it is important you REALLY try to set the record straight. I think your Bullshit apology is just that BULLSHIT. If it was a mistake…be a man, step up, highlight the apology and let everyone move forward.
But, as I have read on several forums you have not really made a real effort to admit you were wrong. Do the Industry, yourself, and your interests a favor…Be man and make a real apology not hidden in the comments or some added comment.
UPDATE BY JAY: What is hidden about a dedicate post? Upon Ricks suggestions I have added the paragraph back in and put a strike through it. Along with a disclaimer next to it. Not sure if someone could possibly miss that.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
As a commenter said on Sevenmile.com, what about the shill bidder in NY? That sounds like a more interesting story.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Dude, it seems that in an effort to discredit .mobi and mTLD, your two faces have bitten you square in the ass.
And many wonder what is wrong with the domaining industry when the obvious answer is…the domainers!
You have done more to discredit your own self-worth, dignity and respect. That’s something you can not buy back no matter how many million dollar .com sales you can come up with.
UPDATE BY JAY: I can understand you are upset, I am deeply embarrassed that I got a critical fact wrong. It goes to show you need to double and triple check facts.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I would like to add, that this apology is a step in the right direction.
But come on…
give the .mobi it’s due and respect. It is not going away because you want it to.
UPDATE BY JAY: My post was not about Mobi. I have nothing against the extension, however I would not buy one.
November 12th, 2007 at 10:47 am
I have a few .mobis, registered at regular prices, but I’m spooked enough not to reg anymore.
I certainly wouldn’t pay premium prices. I think .mobi is going to be a big fizzle. I don’t see much evidence of a .mobi platform being developed.
November 12th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
If I was the underbidder on computer.com I would not accept the price of $2.1 million. If the high bidder backs out that means the high bidder backs out OF EVERY SINGLE BID THEY MADE. PERIOD.
The price should drop all the way down to the second under bidder and then give the second underbidder the right to outbid the first underbidder. See what a mess this makes?
People may not like to hear this rule but what if the high bidder was a shill bidder and never paid. Should the underbidder take the domain for his highest underbid? Bullshit!
If I was the underbidder on Computer.com I would negotiate the price WAY DOWN because if the underbidder is not interested then the price drops WAY DOWN to the second underbidder.
By rights, the domain needs to be auctioned off again.
Monte is getting a great education on auctions and I’m sure they will work out all these problems.
(I have been selling on eBay since 1997 and going to antiques auctions with my father since I was 15 or so)
November 12th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
You messed up … no big .. happens to the best of us. As for .mobi … it’s like a pump and dump stock. What’s the point in .mobi anyway when all newer cellphones can visit a .com domain and the website is easy to read. You all have seen an iphone I’m sure … and Verizon’s new phone comes out in 2 weeks.
December 2nd, 2007 at 4:22 pm
One thing is for sure, if .mobi is like a pump and dump stock we will all get hurt. The .mobi format needs to maintain the .mobi format it was intended for. Anyone who wants to “dump” their .mobi (s) please contact me. markone@optonline.net.
December 2nd, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Jay,
When you are ready to do your first, I have really good one’s for you… LuckyMe.mobi (and the alt) LuckieMe.mobi