The domain name Prepare.com wasn’t renewed in December and it’s now being bid on at GoDaddy auctions, with bids above $41,000 dollars currently.
Registered in 1996, this premium domain name was once presented by its registrant as not for sale. In fact, its registration email was “what.part.of.its.not.for.sale.dont.you.understand@prepare.com”
Prepare.com in 2022
Of course, the domain’s lander was a pitch to entice offers of varying magnitude. The language used was intentionally provocative, for example:
If you want to acquire the domain because you think you can get a greater fool to pay you even more for it, it is nice for you to have dreams. If you enjoy bargaining, good for you. I will not do it. I will admit that there are foolish amounts of compensation for which I would consider a transfer. That would be cash-in-my-hand-now foolish compensation, not any slick gimmicks or deferred payments compensation. “Foolish amounts” are not 1,2, 3, or 4 digit numbers. So you say “that must mean it is a five digit number.” No, I didn’t say that. Remember, I said it is not for sale. If I told you what the foolish amounts were, you would say “that’s foolish, why do you expect you could get that amount for that domain?” I don’t expect to get that amount, remember I said it’s not for sale. Advertising that the domain is for sale just encourages people to waste my time with all kinds of proposals. If you want to get a response to an offer to purchase, I require a non refundable 10% of the proposed purchase price as a good faith offer processing fee to demonstrate you are serious. It can be sent to my address listed in the Whois records. Once the check clears I will provide you an acceptance or rejection of the offer and any necessary follow up instructions. If you are a “greater fool investor”, go big or go home.
It’s not known if the domain’s expired because the registrant passed away, lost control of the account, or is playing the usual game of gauging GoDaddy auctions for bids, then renewing the domain, much to the frustration of the auction’s winner.
What’s certain is that if the domain does sell prepare to wonder about what would happen next if the current registrant came back from the dead.
Story kudos: Jamie @dotweekly.
Update: The domain Prepare.com has been renewed prior to the auction’s end.
