Travelcuba.com: How can NameJet.com sell this??

2008 March 26
by Michael H. Berkens

The domain TravelCuba.com is currently at auction at NameJet.com.

There are over 2 days left the high bid is at $750 and there are 86 people who backordered the name.

Now here’s the problem.

NameJet.com is owned in part by Enom.com. Actually NameJet.com platform is based on enom’s own auction platform.

It was just earlier this month that we told you about a New York Times article about how the same enom, had taken away 80 domains owned by a non-US resident which were all ‘cuba” related travel names. As you may recall, enom took the domains away from the owner, not even allowing him to transfer the domains to a non-US registrar.

Now the same company is selling, maybe the premier cuba travel name, travelcuba.com

So they are taking names away from owners though the backdoor, while at the same time selling the same type of name a through the front door.

So what is the plan, sell the domain for 4 or 5 figures, transfer it to the new owner and then take the name away??

I certainly have a problem with this, any thoughts from anyone else??

Here is my post from earlier this month

And of course if your one of the 86 bidders in this auction be warned.

15 Responses leave one →
  1. 2008 March 26

    Bis business baby … there do what they like. Right or wrong – not a chance in the world you can stop it. We all have legal options available but when the fight is not financially viable guess who will always win. Same old story – just a different headline today.

  2. 2008 March 26

    Well, the biggest issue here is that the domain name is not in fact owned by Enom, in this case. The domain is registered through Network Solutions (who is in joint venture with Enom for the auction platform NameJet). I wouldn’t expect Network Solutions to forgo good money because Enom makes ridiculous business moves.

  3. 2008 March 26
    admin permalink

    Justin

    But enom owns part of the platform the domain is being auctioned off on, and the two positions are clearly inconstant.

  4. 2008 March 26

    Our industry is filled with whores, whose only God is Money. Thats how this can happen.

  5. 2008 March 26
    admin permalink

    Jeff

    i just really wanted to remind all of the other 85 bidders what just took place a few weeks ago.

  6. 2008 March 26

    Even though both Enom and NSI own the platform, I dont think you can expect enom to tell NSI what they can and cannot sell on it. If the domain was being held by enom, I would agree with your point, but because its not, I see this as business as usual.

    Justin

  7. 2008 March 26
    Yvo permalink

    Thanks for the warning!!

  8. 2008 March 26

    I believe part of the reason the other website got pulled was that the site was purposely creating a way for Americans to travel to cuba. It wasn’t a generic cuba travel site – there are probably hundreds of those hosted by us based registrars.

    I could be wrong, but I think if you just provide generic information about traveling to cuba then you’d be ok…

  9. 2008 March 26

    Here is the key piece of the article:

    “[the feds said] Mr. Marshall’s company had helped Americans evade restrictions on travel to Cuba and was…. “

  10. 2008 March 26

    Not shady practices.

    Totally legit auction but maybe you should let me win it just in case :-)

  11. 2008 March 26
    admin permalink

    Rob

    I am passing.

    However I don’t know about the other 84 guys

  12. 2008 March 28
    admin permalink

    This domain sold at NameJet.com today for $4,211

  13. 2008 March 28

    Interesting article – there is the Master which sets it’s own rules which are Company’s like Enom / NameJet.com and others then there are the servants like individuals. The master will WIN at all times

  14. 2009 February 13

    Well the buyer must not be an angel either. It has a bunch of popups on a parked page.

  15. 2009 August 29

    Thank you! It is a wonderful, useful post!

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