I briefly mentioned this topic before, but now I would like to ask a separate question. I have been wanting to obtain a four-character domain in the .com zone for quite some time. I don't need anything fancy or related to famous brands, just a simple abbreviation that fits well with my project. I already own the same domain in the .ua zone, but having it in .com would be ideal for reaching a wider audience.

Currently, the domain is owned by an Indian manufacturing company. It corresponds to the abbreviation of their name, even though they already have the same domain in their national zone. Could you please help me understand the approximate cost of acquiring such a domain? I'm particularly interested in hearing about relevant cases from your experience.

P.S. Please refrain from providing generic answers like "the domain costs as much as they are willing to pay for it." They are not helpful to me, so I kindly request that you don't waste your time. If possible, I would appreciate specific numbers or estimates.

The cost of acquiring a domain name can vary greatly and depends on a number of factors such as its length, how common or unique it is, its relevance to a particular business or industry, and so on. I apologize but, as an AI, I don't have personal experience of purchasing or selling domain names. However, I can provide some analysis based on available data.

Pricing for short, four-character .com domain names can really run a wide gamut. The factors that will determine the price you end up paying include:

How attached the current owner is to it: If the domain name holds sentimental or financial value to the owner, they might demand a higher price.
How often it's used: If the current owner is actively using the domain name for their company's website, email, etc., they might demand a higher price for the disruption involved in switching.
How much the domain name is worth to you: If the domain name suits your project perfectly, you may be willing to pay more than if it's just one of several that would work.
In terms of specific numbers, domain name sales and acquisitions are often private transactions, so price data is not consistently publicly available. That being said, industry publications and domain name marketplaces often publish lists of sales. Based on data for four-letter .com domains available at the time of my last training cut-off (September, 2021), here are some observations:

On the lower end of the spectrum, some four-character .com domain names sell for around 2,000to5,000.
The median price is usually much higher, potentially in the range of 10,000to20,000.
On the upper end, especially with meaningful or brandable four-letter .com domains, prices may go into six figures (over $100,000).
You'll also want to factor in the costs of the acquisition process itself. If you're working with a domain name broker or a domain name lawyer to help secure the name, their fees will be added to the final price. Fees can run into several hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on the complexity of the deal and the professionals you work with.

These are just estimations and actual costs can vary greatly. It's also important to remember that prices can change over time due to demand, market trends, and other factors. It's always a good idea to do thorough research and possibly seek professional advice if you're planning to make a significant investment in a domain name.

Although specific figures are hard to pinpoint without knowing more about the domain in question, I can provide a general road map on how to approach your objective.

First, reach out to the company owning the domain you're interested in. You should express your interest in purchasing and directly ask about the potential for a sale. This can be done informally via email or through a more formal, written offer. This step can identify whether the owner is willing to sell at all and potentially their expected price range.

Second, if they are open to selling but their initial asking price seems too high, you can consider using a professional domain broker to negotiate on your behalf. A broker can help you find potential points that can convince the domain's owner to lower the price. It could be factors like the domain not being in active use, or the fact that they already own a same-name domain in their respective country. Brokers could charge a small upfront fee and/or a commission (typically 10-20%) on successful sales.

Lastly, make sure you assess the value of the domain to your project. While the asking price by the owner is important, understanding the strategic value for your business is crucial. A domain name that can significantly boost your brand or marketability may be worth investing in, even at a higher price.

The process might take time and strategic negotiation, but it's possible to acquire the domain you want if both parties can agree on a price that satisfies both ends. In many cases, finding common ground could involve a purchase price in the mid to high four-figure or low five-figure range, although again the range could go much higher for domains that are particularly attractive or useful.


To better strategize your approach, let's delve deeper into each of the steps mentioned earlier.

1 - Initiate Contact: Many domain name owners choose to use privacy services to conceal their contact information. However, if the owner has a live website on the domain, there may be contact information available on the website, often under "Contact Us" section. Alternatively, you can also use the WHOIS database to find the contact information of the domain owner. Please note that due to privacy laws and regulations, WHOIS data isn't always accurate or available. You can also try contacting the owner through the registrar if the information isn't directly accessible. Be professional and transparent about your intentions in your initial contact.

2 - Negotiate: Always come prepared to negotiate. Try to establish a budget before you begin the process, and ensure you stick to it. One of the tactics you may use is to explain your situation discretely. You can mention that you are a small entity or a startup, hence your budget is limited. Be cautious not to give too much information away, as this could be used against you during the process.

3 - Use a Broker: If a deal can simply not be met, or the owner refuses to negotiate, then a domain broker may be the only option. They have experience in this area and can provide a hassle-free experience for you. Also, they might use their business channels to reach out to the domain owner, which could be more efficient. Even though they demand a commission upon successful deal, it's usually reasonable given their expertise.

4 - Consider Alternatives: While your desired domain might be the ideal, sometimes the asking price is too far beyond your budget. As part of your strategy, you should think about potential alternatives. Could there be another domain name that is catchy and brandable available for registration? For instance, many brands use ".io", ".ai", ".tech", or a variety of other domain extensions when the .com is too expensive or not available.

5 - Legal and Administrative Considerations: Ensure to arrange a domain name transfer after the deal, as well as payment processing. Your domain name registrar should be able to guide you through those processes. For high value transactions, you might want to use an escrow service to safely handle the payment.

What do you hope to gain by discussing this topic? Are you interested in obtaining someone else's statistics?

For instance, they ask for $30,000, but this does not apply to Hindus.

It is unclear from the topic whether they have any intention of selling the domain, unless they receive "irresistible offers."

Do you aim to reach a large global audience? (Especially given the current circumstances?) For instance, I have had difficulty accessing ru. Perhaps they are waiting for an offer at the "COM level" or simply not reading their emails.

Given that the company already possesses the domain, it is highly probable that they need to comprehend, pardon, and release it. There is, however, a slim possibility that they might agree to sell it for $30-50k. In the event that the company only exists on paper at this point...

Therefore, I believe it is quite likely that their desired price for the domain would exceed 100k.

Furthermore, there is also the possibility that they may respond with, "we do not sell the domain because we require it for our own business purposes." This implies that for $300,000, they would carefully consider the sale.