Being emotional in business is good?

15 replies
Recently I purchased a PR3 expired domain and started building my site around family values like domestic violence, relationship and marriage maintenance.

While I have been planning whole of last week on how to build this site based on its domain name, I was surprised with an email from the ex owner of this domain. The message reads as follows:

"Hi, it looks like you recently purchased ****-*******.com. we have owned this domain since 2006, and it apparently expired two months ago in October. it is a site for a nonprofit organization (, and someone obviously did not respond to the expiration notice. Anyway, according to a whois search, you now own it. we need this domain back. can you work with us?"
When I did my research to see if this claim to be genuine I happend to find out they are a
grassroots non-profit organization formed by foster/adoptive parents, social workers, and community leaders to address an extremely critical need (nurturing foster kids) in ****** (a popular city in US).

What would you do if you were in my situation would you do?

#business #emotional #good
  • Profile picture of the author David McAnulty
    Think of it this way. If you are able to monetize the site to the level where it becomes the cornerstone of your business would this not always be in the back of your head.

    Speaking for myself I personally like to be invested of something I built without strings attached.

    Unfortunately, things are not always as black and white as you would like. I believe your decision will have emotional attachment involved either way you look at it.
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    David

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  • Profile picture of the author Shoaib
    mrenish, I guess here's your chance for your "good deed of the day".

    The question is, are you going to do it or not?

    If you've been able to verify that the organization is legitimate and they aren't BS'ing you about being previous owners of the domain name, and if you think you could conceivably move the contents of your newly-built website to a different domain name, possibly find another expired domain that you may be able to purchase with some PR already, then why not do a good thing? (I know that was a long sentence).

    One thing I will say, however, is that if there was time & money involved in you purchasing the domain and developing a website onto there, you are entitled to ask them to reimburse you those costs before they can have the domain back. That is just my opinion.
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Originally Posted by Shoaib View Post

      mrenish, I guess here's your chance for your "good deed of the day".


      One thing I will say, however, is that if there was time & money involved in you purchasing the domain and developing a website onto there, you are entitled to ask them to reimburse you those costs before they can have the domain back. That is just my opinion.
      I think this is totally a fair thing to ask for !! You should NOT have to lose money due to their blunder !!
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      • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
        Originally Posted by discrat View Post

        I think this is totally a fair thing to ask for !! You should NOT have to lose money due to their blunder !!

        No, you should ask for a receipt for the amount as an "in kind" donation to the organization that would be tax deductible.

        And then discuss how he can assist the organization on an ongoing basis as a paid consultant with drastically reduced rates.

        MAYBE setting up a side site with a different, but related domain, and entering into a long-term JV relationship with the organization, who could help him promote his other site to their existing database (all NPOs have a database).

        Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.
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        • Profile picture of the author avani
          Originally Posted by MichaelHiles View Post

          And then discuss how he can assist the organization on an ongoing basis as a paid consultant with drastically reduced rates.

          MAYBE setting up a side site with a different, but related domain, and entering into a long-term JV relationship with the organization, who could help him promote his other site to their existing database (all NPOs have a database).
          I completely agree - I was going to suggest something like this myself, but couldn't put it better than this.

          Essentially - having verified that they are legitimate folks, try to find some reasonable way of collaborating with them - something that will make you (and them?) *some* money and give you a good of karma


          My two cents!
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  • Profile picture of the author rondo
    Have you actually seen the site?
    I'd ask to see it just to make sure this is a legitimite request.
    It should still be online at their web host.


    Andrew
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    • Profile picture of the author Shoaib
      Originally Posted by rondo View Post

      Have you actually seen the site?
      I'd ask to see it just to make sure this is a legitimite request.
      It should still be online at their web host.


      Andrew
      Good point Andrew. You can also use http://www.archive.org/ to see what may have been on that domain in the past.
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    • Profile picture of the author David McAnulty
      Originally Posted by rondo View Post

      Have you actually seen the site?
      I'd ask to see it just to make sure this is a legitimite request.
      It should still be online at their web host.


      Andrew
      I would give Alexa a try. Their in the habit of keeping snapshot histories of sites.
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      David

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      • Profile picture of the author John Dales
        If I were in the case of the OP and if I can verify that the past owner of the domain is a non-profit organization I WOULD give it back to them but they have to reimburse everything that I have invested on the site.

        There are sooo many ways to make money online aside from that expired domain. And if you make a killing on that domain there will be that nagging conscience that will be bothering you. But you could also make big money online without feeling guilty.
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      • Profile picture of the author mrenish
        Originally Posted by David McAnulty View Post

        I would give Alexa a try. Their in the habit of keeping snapshot histories of sites.
        Yes I did have a chance to look through the archive and found it to be legitimate site.
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  • Profile picture of the author blacktom
    Banned
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    • Profile picture of the author David McAnulty
      Originally Posted by blacktom View Post

      Hello
      When we talk of EMOTIONS or EXPRESSING EMOTIONS often we conjure up the images only of artists and writers.
      Self expression is a wider term as each one of us is a unique, transparent individual, peculiar in the traits and behavior.
      Emotional intelligence is not only about being able to understand our own feelings, but it is also about being able to Tune into how others are feeling around us.
      The world's most effective leaders are alike in one crucial way: They all have a high degree of, what has come to be known as, emotional intelligence quotient or "EQ" for short.
      Business is all about good communication with the right people. Whether we are in a Small Business Organization or a Family Owned Business we need to know the art of communication well. The purpose of communication in business is in a form of transaction, it may be related to marketing, trading, or networking.
      I love how this post comes straight out of an article off "computer Weekly"
      The role of 'emotional intelligence' in business - 13/09/2007 - Computer Weekly

      Good JOB!!
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      David

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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    Originally Posted by mrenish View Post

    Recently I purchased a PR3 expired domain and started building my site around family values like domestic violence, relationship and marriage maintenance.

    While I have been planning whole of last week on how to build this site based on its domain name, I was surprised with an email from the ex owner of this domain. The message reads as follows:

    When I did my research to see if this claim to be genuine I happend to find out they are a
    grassroots non-profit organization formed by foster/adoptive parents, social workers, and community leaders to address an extremely critical need (nurturing foster kids) in ****** (a popular city in US).

    What would you do if you were in my situation would you do?


    My answer is do unto others as you would want them to do unto you !!
    Put yourself in their shoes and if you made such a huge mistake and somehow did not renew your Domain wouldn't you want the person who snapped it up to work with you ??
    End of story !!

    So go ahead and make arrangements to get it back to these people. Karma goes a long way in this World !!
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  • Profile picture of the author marketeers
    If you can verify there the legit organisation i would do it.
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  • Profile picture of the author WebSolutionKey
    If i would find the organization is legitimate and the request is genuine, i would take this opportunity to serve for that Non-Profit Org in this way.

    Anyway, I'm sure it would have cost you to get PR3 domain and you would have taken strain to move your FTP files to that domain server. You can demand your compensation from the organization that amount and give back their domain.
    "Service to Humanity" should be done at least when almighty demand us and paves a way!!!

    Paul.
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanzona
    I like the idea of trying to partner with them in some side venture that would benefit both of you. In the absence of that I would give them the domain, not charge them anything for your expenses and consider it a charitable gift. Good time of the year to do this anyway!
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