Former Namepros member MapleDots left a comment on a post I published yesterday.
The idea for a verified section of Namepros is a good one in my opinion.
MapleDots wrote:
I suggested namepros make a new forum section for verified accounts, real names or real business names, and make that for sale forum exclusive to verified members. As more members verify the forum would become more and more popular and after a couple of years they could drop the other for sale forums and expect everyone to be verified. Verification is the only way namepros can work, one cannot conduct business with a faceless avatar, there will always be fraud if that is allowed.
As a real business man and someone who depends on his transactions to be legitimate I can only say that members would be far more responsible when posting if they were not anonymous.
I agree with the notion and think that at least for a marketplace it would be a big step forward.
Opinions?
I don’t really see the point. Verification can be gamed.
Escrow exists for transactions where there is no established trust between the parties.
But escrow only guarantees payment, it does not guarantee that the merchandise is not stolen. You have to conduct due diligence. You should not let your guard down because the other party is ‘verified’ (whatever that means).
If I want a name, then I have no choice but to buy it from whoever owns it.
We are not buying potatoes, it’s not like we can take our business to another outlet because we prefer to deal with ‘verified’ entities.
What is the problem we are trying to solve ?
To some extent, verified status already exists: some members have corporate badges so you can assume they are real persons working at a real company. In truth, the status carries no weight because NP will not indemnify anybody if things go wrong.
This proposal won’t work because:
1. the vast majority are not professionals but hobbyists and they don’t expect nor desire to operate in a businesslike environment
2. the vast majority of people don’t want to post under their full, real name for privacy reasons (among others, like stalking) and they are right. The benefit is not obvious, this won’t generate more sales because what matters is the domain name and not the owner.
Last but not least, speech and behavior show who is a professional and who isn’t. No badge can change that.
the vast majority of people don’t want to post under their full, real name for privacy reasons (among others, like stalking) and they are right.
2 should read most don’t want to post under their real names because they are scumbags, thieves and charlatans.
Really? Then let’s start with NamePros itself! Let the owner verify himself!
WHO will be protecting your identity? You deserve to know.
If you give your personal info to some anon with a track record of editing media to suit their needs, you’re a fool.
If something goes wrong? There’s STILL no accountability on their part. Read the terms perhaps? They are not ‘protecting’ you. If you get scammed – that’s on you. Do you trust NamePros to research these individuals? DO you WANT them researching you?
So while you get nothing back, nothing works in your favor. That is, people will fake it, and take the money and run at the most opportune time. Then, what is NamePros going to do about it? Refund you, and go after the scammer themselves? NOT.
Why should we be required to verify ourselves with an anon?
People don’t use real ID because ‘scumbags’. You sound like a NAZI. I mean, look at you, ALPHA. Does this handle to fit your namepros profile? Do you even have a website? Nope, probably none of the above. Just an ANON trolling on a forum while hypocritically calling out people who don’t use their ‘real names’.
Double standards much?
NamePros is no more professional than this blog and never will be. Change my mind.
It’s the reason why little real business is done on namepros.
I should also add that *old* accounts are more likely to be trustworthy (all things being equal) + the quality of contributions + completed sales + attitude. Credibility goes hand in hand with history.
Godaddy Auctions, sedo, dan, uni etc, they are all verified. I guess namepros could do similar and allow user names but have a verified status.
Countless times we have seen new members join just to try and scam there way into a sale. Having a verified section were only verified users can perform transactions would add a lot of credibility. It would allow members a choice but in my opinion verified would do more than reduce fraud, it would also get most people to be more civilized.
Example…. Notice more and more comment systems are going to facebook login. The reason… people behave better than if it were anonymous.
There will always be arguments for and against…. that is why they could try both for a year or so and see what works. In other words, verified status is optional but comes with more perks, like a little graphic in the signature etc etc.
My accounts aren’t verified on Godaddy auctions, sedo, or Uni, what makes you think they are verified? I use the same fake name on each too because if you don’t they put your name on the whois (‘By accident’ uh huh), no thanks.
Namejet forced me to verify to bid into the thousands but noone else did.
NamePros has no authority or means to protect you in the case of a scam! Ultimately, you need to be responsible for yourself whilst there. Are they going to be Big Brother?
Registars, on the other hand, have an authority to help you – granted by ICANN. NamePros is trying to be something they’re not IF they do this. Over-reach. Over-reach in the eye of the public.
In fact, if I were a register swamped by scams (hypothetical ones) happening namepros I would be yelling far and wide to avoid them. “Make it stop!” NamePros passing the buck on!
When the bullet meets the bone, NamePros is complacent. They have no means or authority to help you. Things can get ugly quick. What if someone fakes a scam, just to get the info on someone, and NamePros wrongfully provides an address, etc?
If things get worse (it will) someone with real authority might start accusing them of facilitating fraud! Domaining just isn’t mainstream enough. NamePros would be wise to keep cover and keep their hands off of our identities.
The more ‘responsibility’ they take on (collecting identities), the more at fault they become in the eyes of the law. It’d be a mess. People will assume NamePros have more duty while collecting their identity. Shoot their own foot, they would.
spot on Kate.
sellers have plenty of ” verifed ”
platforms .
Cheets
Raymond,
We’ve been thinking about this idea since last week when MapleDots shared it with us on NamePros.
It’s an interesting topic because there are many kinds of trust metrics (e.g., verification and reputation).
We’ve written a detailed post about them on NamePros:
https://www.namepros.com/threads/would-a-verified-marketplace-be-something-namepros-should-entertain.1188954/#post-7756065
Thanks for getting more feedback on the idea. We appreciate it.
I’m banned from namepros Guess you have to read the blogs to see what I’m doing!
In regard to a marketplace, I already built the perfect model. No one can beat it. Only copy it. I am not afraid of anyone copying me. I encourage it. Too many scams and gouging in domaining.
At some point, I’m going to promote https://ntld.bid/
The back end listing UI is way nicer than even the front. Full functioning register and automated/integrated ‘push’ when credits are received by the seller. Literally, no one can move a domain out while it’s in the auction. Unable send a seller credits unless the listed domain is in the registrar.
Functions (like domain lookups) don’t work, because I don’t have them activated. Everything will work though, all I need to do it turn it on.
I’m really not trying to promote it here. I have better methods. What I am doing is explaining that the problems in domaining are fees for payment processing, commissions (on every sale), and scams. The model I show solves everything (for the users).
I don’t usually show things like this so early. It’s been done for months though. I built it for ~ $100.
…in case you’d like to know how to ‘evolve’, obviously if you see the site, you integrate your own registrar – step 1. step 2, you bring back NP$ and assume all liability of charge-backs when you sell them.
nameslot.com has a domain listing feature, which try to solve the overcrowding problem of NamePros. Since domains are categorized, you can list your domain there and buyer can contact you even if your post is months old (at namepros your post is buried after 1 day)