Michael Roebuck's Blog

I recently became affiliated with an organization whose goal in a teeny-tiny nutshell is to help others. It is the lifelong brain child of a long lost friend of mine. Through "divine timing" as he calls it, our paths crossed and here we are. Since I'm the Internet guy, I decided to help out by buying the domains he will need to progress. I find out that he lost his primary domain by changing his email address and the domain expired. He didn't get the renewal notices and the domain expired and was picked up by someone else. This is the golden domain. The big one. The primo domain for his organization. In the hands of someone else. My thoughts were a domain broker with a Mercedes.

We consulted back and forth for a while and decided to contact the domain owner and see if they were willing to sell. It was a private registration and not listed as available to buy so I was not very hopeful. I've bought domains before. I've had clients pay over $100,000 for a domain and I recently acquired one for just over $14,000. I think the cheapest I've ever paid for a domain from someone was $500. My friend and I decided we could spend about $100 for the domain. Remember, this is a new organization with little to no actual money but a line of people wanting some.

I sent an email to the domain owner on Thursday morning. Two hours later I get a reply stating the domain wasn't really for sale, but what am I willing to give for it. That was it. No way could we afford to buy it. I told my friend we might as well give up. I'll reply with our offer but we better start working on an alternate plan.

He tells me to just reply with the truth and let it roll. So Friday morning I reply;

"....The previous owner of the domain didn't update his new email address and didn't realize the domain had expired. It is being set up for a charity website that does job training and job placement. It's been in the works for over 15 years now and we are now incorporated and in the final stages of approval and getting this started. We realize this is not your concern but wanted to let you know we aren't deep pockets. We'd like to offer $100 to acquire the domain...."

Yeah, right. I barely wanted to even sign my name to that. No way would I get a response now. The domain owner probably fell out of their chair laughing. Friday afternoon comes and goes. No two hour response time anymore.

Later Monday morning I received an email from the domain owner. A reply! A spark of hope! I open an email which reads:

"Hi Michael, I'm sorry for the delayed response. After considering everything that is going on in my life and in the life of the citizens of Haiti, I would like to offer it to you for the price that you listed ($100) but please donate the money to an organization that will send the money for relief. I will honor your word if you are willing to donate it. Let me know what the process will be in order for you to obtain the domain name. Many Blessings to you, ~ Mabel ~ "

The Angels started circling and singing in my office. I started thinking about how my family adopted our last child. We try to help an orphanage in Mexico and sponsor a girl in Africa. Both my brother and sister have adopted children and do charitable things, my sister-in-law is heavy into Habitat for Humanity, my Dad has his own list of donations and the list goes on. Maybe she is for real and just wants to do her thing to help out a little bit. We all do our good deeds but still focus on the negatives in people. Mabel is the spark of hope that we all need sometimes!

It's now Wednesday night and the domain has been transferred to my registry account and the organization has it's domain. The children of Haiti have $100 and I have a new friend; Mabel.

And Everyone else should have a renewed Faith in Humanity!

Luv Rules!

Labels: domain, faith, humanity, mabel