Ego vs money (how it took close to a year to close a 6 figure .tv sale)

I have been brokering names for many years, not at the level that a Rosener or Evanson does, but for some clients that I have known for many years.

One such client just deals in .tv and I have brokered some names for him in the $10k to $20k range. Most of these transaction were me also knowing someone on the buy side and it was an easy match.

He has always wanted to keep the sales private, not due to nda but rather for his disdain for some in the old .tv community. I would always get a text make sure you don’t blog about it or post on Namepros.

So last year around the start of the pandemic, actually before everyone was paying attention and the NBA cancelled games. I emailed a company that I had researched about potential interest on a specific .tv name.

The first reply showed some interest and I let my client know. He was asking $100,000. It seemed a tad high considering he sold most other names in the $10k – $20k range.

So after months of negotiation back and forth and the pandemic in full effect, it looks like we are going to complete the sale. The buyer let’s me know they want my client to sign an NDA.

I think no problem he has always wanted sales kept quiet. But it’s 2020 and whatever you think you know, NOPE.

“I am not signing an nda this is my first 6 figure sale and I want it published. I want to see it in dnjournal and namepros.”

I go back to the buyer, the seller really does not want to sign an NDA, is there anything we can do?

One word reply, NO!!!

I tell my guy they said no. He proceeds to ask me to convey a message that would make Andrew Dice Clay blush. Bleep this, bleep them, bleep, bleep you bleeping bleep.

So things were at a stalemate, in a chat I was having with @Biggie from Namepros I mentioned that I was brokering a deal (no specifics mentioned) but now we are stuck on wanting to publish a sale vs the money.

Biggie said so it’s the old ego vs money thing, I said yeah not sure why my client all of a sudden is letting the ego get the best of him.

Christmas Eve the buyer emailed me and asked if there was any change of heart on the part of my client?

I emailed him and got another bleep, bleep message. It reminded me that many years ago on Christmas Eve I was moving a .tv for another client and he gave me a message that was profanity laced because now the buyer wanted to pay $500 less just as a means of spite. (That deal worked out with no short pay).

So in January I asked my client, “if I can get the buyer to pay a privacy or NDA fee will you accept that?” He said sure, $20,000. I said you are nuts, I am not asking for $20,000. Let’s try 3%. He now bleeping me, I said look no one is paying 20%.

I went back to the buyer and said look I think you really need the domain name or we would not still be talking 10 months later.

My client would like something extra for the NDA. They offered $1,000. My client told me to go f myself. I am actually laughing because I am starting to find this hysterical.

So I went back to the buyer and said $10,000, no reply for weeks. This week I get an email $6,000 is our final offer must be signed this week.

Called my client and told him, “you got $6,000 and you are signing today”. He starts yelling I knew you could do it, I didn’t really mean for you to go f yourself.

I told him thanks I wasn’t really concerned it’s just about getting a deal done, your words mean nothing. He says, “I owe you one” I said no you owe me $12,000 because I am taking 33% of the NDA kicker. (10% on the $100K).

Biggie was spot on when peeps let their ego get in the way stuff gets dicey. I am glad this deal worked out and surprised they paid $6,000 for the NDA.

I did tell my client I would be documenting this story in a post with no mention of the name or buyer. He was cool with that.