Morning Folks!!
One thing I have always learned in life is the cover up is
worse than the crime. We have all learned that. At least we were supposed to
learn that the first time you told your parents a lie. You lied about something
stupid. I can guarantee it. We barely got punished for the bad thing we did
because the lie trumped the bad thing 1000 times over. We have seen it in politics countless times, the coverup is almost always worse than the initial crime.
What can I tell you other than my personal opinion and views and what folks out there are wondering right now? I hear domainers everywhere asking if there is a massive cover up
going on in this industry as I write this? Sorry, that is how it looks and that is the topic I see time and time again. NOBODY of
authority is coming forward. They are all hiding under their desks and sending
out a “Mouthpiece of coordination” that I never seemed to of heard of before the other
day when he made the mistaken post below before it was removed and everyone saw it.Now he is famous.
'My
understanding is you will primarily speak for the company in these
forums. To that end, let’s coordinate closely on what’s being said and
how to reply.
Let me know if you have questions from here. Thanks.'
Well I have not heard many replies to what is being asked have you. None at all other than putting back online what they removed. They say it only went back 24 months and others say it went back a lot longer. That is just one thing I could point to and domainers strongly voiced their OPINIONS and Oversee did what they were FORCED to do not because it was the right thing in MY opinion and that of others.
Have you read thesettlement contract? You waive so many rights I don't have enough room to post and I am no lawyer. But I will below* and if you sign it before the facts come to light, I just want to ask one question.....Did you actually read it and ask a competent lawyer what the ramifications are??
Trust. That’s what this industry is built on and it has been
breeched, business goes on as usual and I think it sucks! As we see from that 'Smoking gun' above. Domainers are wondering if a cover up may have started from the get go? If others are involved and when are they going to come forward? How many are in legal jeopardy and is that why there is silence? It looks more and more so all the time. Again, that is my opinion and those I hear expressed in both public and private conversations. We are all wondering the same things and their ain't no way to coordinate and control that unless you startsuing your own customers. Props and Great timing to their PR firm on that one if they were the ones to 'Coordinate' that.
On the surface it seems like they want to do the right thing but that contract is so over reaching that one only has to ask why and what are they really scared of? From outside here, it looks like they are TRAPPED in a catch 22. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. So from that perspective I feel bad. But not bad enough to ignore especially when I and others keep wondering if more are involved? Others could be in similar positions. Maybe even SYSTEMATIC! I don't know, none of us do but the contract gives strong clues imo and one of them birdies is going to sing someday.
I see that the entire industry is being tarnished. I really hate that part. Why do we have to defend and explain the indefensible? We as an industry are going to have to deal with the fallout and mess for years to come. The controversy is just starting. They gave our detractors the greatest gift in the universe.
I am really sick of making these posts. But each day the anger grows and each
day new ramifications come to light and each day new questions are being asked
and we are getting lip service or nothing at all because of the 'coordination thing' I guess. It’s just wrong imo. It is just
looking like a coordinated cover up with every passing hour and day and it started with that first post above, then the history controversy and then the lack of any answers on the simplest of questions. What
is your take? Time to stand up and DEMAND answers, not just ask for them! I would like to see them get on Youtube and tell us wtf is really going on? Who else is involved? Are other companies involved? Can't do that? I understand. But while youprotect your companies and you protect those that may be involved and while you take your TIME to answer these, I truly believe harm is being done to an industry we all love and expect to make a living from for the rest of our lives. Am I a bit upset? You bet your sweet ass I am and I hope others are as well as they start to understand the CLOUD this industry has been put under due to no fault of their own.
Sorry, that is the anger coming out that I have been trying to contain for a week now. I have said what I need to say and what I have to say. Strictly my opinion. But all based on the most recent events or lack of them and the questions being asked on the forums that are very good and going unanswered as well as new info on those boards. This is OUR industry and we will ALL be judged on this. We can either be like baseball and sweep it under the rug or have some class and backbone like Ron Jackson displayed yesterday in hisweekly sales report. Evidence that we will all be mopping this up for some time. Kudos to Ron!
'So, the way we have addressed this situation is to
put apermanent notice on all of our annualYTD
charts since 2005 as well as thecurrent
ones for 2009, advising readers that even though
SnapNames sales listed between 2005 and October 2009were
completed at the prices shown, some buyers may have
received refunds after October 2009 ofa portion of the
original prices they paid. We have also placed an asterisk on every
SnapNames sale listed on those annual charts to refer readers to the
notice in the chart footnotes.'
So like I stated above, WE may be cleaning up THEIR mess for YEARS to come before we even know the full details and impact. This just NEEDS to be said to set the record straight and let folks outside the walls of our industry KNOW that we do NOT operate like this! That while some engage in activities that are as we have seen, the core of the domain industry is made up of solid and responsible business people that do business on a handshake because of a foundation of trust. Grab a mop and SOUNDOFF!
Rick Schwartz
*I, the undersigned, individually and jointly, for myself and my successors, assigns, trustees, partners, joint venturers, directors, officers, affiliates, associates, managers, licensees, and for any other claiming through or under each or all of them and for any person or entity with or for whom I may have purchased the above mentioned names (collectively, the “Releasors”) hereby release and forever discharge, acquit, covenant not to sue and acknowledge complete satisfaction from, SnapNames, and its past and present parent companies (including Oversee.net), affiliates, successors, assigns, agents, attorneys, servants, representatives, employees, independent contractors, trustees, administrators, predecessors-in-interest, insurers, partners, joint venturers, stockholders, members, directors, officers, parent companies, associated companies, holding companies, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, associates, managers, licensees, accountants and consultants of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Releasees”) for any and all claims, actions, arbitrations, charges, complaints, grievances, hearings, causes of action, actions, suits, damages, costs, expenses, judgments, liabilities, demands, inquiries, investigations, proceedings or suits of every kind and nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, previously existing, or now existing, or hereafter arising, in law or in equity (collectively, the “Claims”), which the Releasors or any of them had, may have had, or now has, from the beginning of time to today’s date against the Releasees, collectively, or any of the Releasees, individually, for or by reason of any matter whatsoever relating to the auctions for and acquisition of the Domains, including without limitation, any Claims relating in whole or in part to the bidding activity of the SnapNames user associated with the user name “halvarez” (the “Released Matters”) for damages, restitution, disgorgement, unjust enrichment, civil penalties, statutory penalties, injunctive and/or declaratory relief, whether class, individual, representative, or otherwise in nature, including costs, expenses, penalties, and attorneys fees.
David Rosenbaum
So, just to set the record straight, other companies (even a company that you Rick were in bed with for years) pulled the same crap in a LIVE auction. I was IN the auction so I know what I am talking about. Slimy people are everywhere.
Rick Schwartz
Do tell.
David Rosenbaum
Happy to discuss in person with you Rick.
Rob Sequin
Still waiting to hear from Craig Snyder.
He was the CEO of iReit for three years while they bought domains from Brady and now Snyder is the General Manager of Snapnames.
He owes us, Snapnames employees and Oversee a public explanation as to what he knew and when. If he knew nothing, why not?
Simple question, right Rick?
Rob Sequin
Examples:
Domain: CineMagazine.com (Snap auction price $1660)
Registrant as of January 19, 2006: original owner
Registrant as of March 7, 2006: Halvarez
Registrant as of November 30, 2006: iReit
Registrant as of January 29, 2009: Oversee
————-
Domain Name: Tvizle.com (auction price $1650)
Registrant as of August 17, 2005: original owner
Registrant as of December 30, 2005: Halvarez
Registrant as of December 3, 2006: iReit
Registrant as of November 24, 2008: Oversee
————-
Domain: ExtraWallpapers.com (auction price $1309)
Registrant as of December 7, 2004: original owner
Registrant as of August 17, 2006: Halvarez
Registrant as of February 4, 2008: iReit
————-
Who did iReit send checks to? Some anonymous name? Did Brady use a fake name on a bank account?
Did Brady use fake tax info?
What about the parking companies who paid him? What did he put on his W-9 form that we all have to fill out in order to get paid.
Too bad for all of us, Snapnames employees and Oversee but now they have to deal with the damage and put this behind them.
They can’t do that with silence.
Howard Hoffman
I have double checked every auction that I was in at Snapnames (nearly 1900 over the years), and I can say that the proposed settlement check, $2836 + interest, is exactly what Snapnames owes me. It is true what Rick has said, that perhaps, with those funds in hand earlier, perhaps I could have done a lot more. Oversee.net is the biggest victim in this whole matter (assuming that they had no prior knowledge). It is hard to believe that they, a company that wanted to go publice, would tolerate anything like this. So, I probably will sign the agreement, get my check and be satisfied. Class Action lawsuits are for the lawyers. It is a legalized form of corporate extortion in the guise of helping the consumer. I applaud the management at Oversee for handling a terrible situation in a professional manner.
CurtisNeeley
The entire”industry” is on the ropes. I am glad Rick made out so well before it crashed. Every registry expiration date that is published by a registrar without written permission violates the copyrights or TM rights of the original owner. It is disclosing private data. They will say, and say to me now, that it is required by ICANN of all registrars and is disclosed in their registry agreement. They are so screwed. ICANN requires a registrar to allow free access to registry data. That is correct. This in no way excuses publishing and advertising domains with registrations about to expire. Registrars sell a registrar contact obfuscation but I think we are seeing the true nature of the fraud that the entire industry has always been.
NameMedias.com
Steven emory
Shill bid auctions have been around for hundreds of years. Only natural for it to happen in domain auctions. Don’t believe the hype that the entire domain Industry is tainted. Serious domainers don’t sell there domains at auctions. They target a suitor or a suitor targets them. Majority of domains at auctions are of scrap quality. A few cronies from scrap metal auctions are not gonna have an effect on the value of truly premium domains. Our portfolios will”forever” appreciate.
Sc
Ditto Rick. It’s a sad day in domaining.
As a victum that was scammed a lot deeper than an auction schill bidder I can tell you they are running for cover. The strategy seems that once the scam is uncovered everyone cover for themselves like in any criminal operation.
They are waiting to see who has the biggest lawsuit and if they can break down the doors of corporate secrecy and deals made all over the world.
I will say again, Snap names is done. Auctions of domain names will never be the same and will probably never be as big an item as they have been. The party is over for those guys in that who were less than reputable.
What I can’t figure out is why they keep sending me the list of names I monitor daily. Apparently it has not snuk in and they are keeping the schill machine running to make it look like they are still in business as usuall and the compaliners are in the minority.
Or something like that. My 2 cents worth.
Sc
From the”You’ve Got to be Kidding” dept.
Unbelieveable…
Hank Alvarez – or Nelson Brady as his alias was at Snapnames – was hired with a starting salary of $185,000 annually, plus a bonus of $125,000 if he brings in 50,000 new customers to Bido in the next 18 months. In his own words:
“Well, I’m excited to be able to start again here at Bido – Sahar is a great, cool guy with a radical hairstyle. I love it here in Florida and I’m getting warmed up to bring to Bido the success that Snapnames enjoyed under my command. I’m totally stoked.”
Sc
I apologize for not including the source in the above post…
http://domaingang.com/
Jarred
@Sc – DomainGang is a parody website – that post there that you quoted about Halvarez (Nelson Brady) and Bido is entirely manufactured and untrue. It was a joke they posted there. All the posts on that site are jokes and parody. Bido did not hire Nelson.
Rick Schwartz
If you are outside the industry and read domain gang you really have no idea it is a parody. I would hope they would mark it as such in the future. Not everyone knows. And outside the walls of our business, nobody knows so they do take it seriously.
Jarred
The post on DomainGang has been edited. A footnote by the editor has now been added at the end of the post:
http://domaingang.com/domain-news/breaking-news-hank-alvarez-hired-at-bido-com/
Glad we got that cleared up, thanks for bringing it to our attention.
Rick Schwartz
I hope they do the same with all future and past posts. Much better!
DomainGang
Greetings.
The post at DomainGang.com has been edited to include a disclaimer, as a special favor to Jarred and Bido – it was written as part of the”Make fun of Bido” contest a few days back.
Now, for those that proclaim that they can’t deduce the entire content of DomainGang.com is humorous and a parody, I suggest that they read the”About Us” section which contains an entire disclaimer; also found at the bottom of every page, albeit in smaller print (lawyer style).
Regardless, I suggest perusing the Onion.com where there is no disclaimer whatsoever.
I hope this takes care of business; at DomainGang.com we strive to bring daily humor to domainers and non-domainers alike. One of our technology related posts – about Yahoo’s Yo! programming language – generated 3,000+ visitors over two days.
Have a great weekend folks – and remember,”Hank Alvarez” is a fictional identity.