Would You Pay $355 For an E-mail Address?
I can understand the buying and selling of Internet domain names, but the buying and selling of free email addresses? It seems some enterprising individual registered an email with Yahoo for iPhone_Wholesalers @ yahoo.com and is now trying to sell the address on eBay.
The Winning Bid Was $355
First of all, I’m sure the selling of Yahoo email addresses goes against the Yahoo TOS. Once Yahoo finds out about the auction, Yahoo will most likely delete the account and the person who paid $355.00 for it will get nothing. However, if Yahoo deletes the account, someone else can register it and put it up for sale again.
Secondly, I have to ask who would pay $355 for an email address? Maybe the bidder was just stupid and thought he/she was bidding on an iPhone and not an email address. While the text of the ad clearly states the auction is for the iPhone_wholesalers@yahoo.com email address, the big photo of the iPhone may lead some misguided eBayers into thinking they’re bidding on an Apple iPhone.
I wonder if iPhone@hotmail.com is available? That should fetch at least $500.00!
Source: Bob Buskirk
- Posted in Technology, The Net
- 36 comments what's your take?
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We say the exact same behaviour each time a new “must have” is released. It was the same with the PS2, the Xbox360, PS3…
I think Apple can take it as a testament to the desirability of their new iPhone. Although it does seem an awfully daft thing to bid on, maybe every domain-owner should offer a fad-email for auction? iphone-wholesale@seopher.com or maybe wii-megasales@johnchow.com?
Slightly odd consumer behaviour in my opinion and you’re more than likely to lose the account than anything but hey, it’s not my money.
Reply to this commentUmmm, should it be iPhone_Wholesalers@yahoo.com and iPhone@hotmail.com?
Reply to this commentFrom the “Similar items on ebay” section:
TMX ELMO EMAIL ADDRESS:crazy_4_tickle_me_elmo@yahoo.com US $7.99 Jan-25-07 17:19:45 PST
iphone_4sale@hotmail.com IPHONE EMAIL ADDRESS GBP 0.50 Jan-25-07 03:15:43 PST
iphone_retailer@hotmail.com Email Address AU $1.00 Jan-22-07 15:42:59 PST
iphone-wholesale@hotmail.com Email Address AU $1.00 Jan-22-07 15:44:41 PST
Reply to this commentLOL that’s just stupid..
Reply to this commentI’m gonna head over to GoDaddy and snap some of the remaining lousy iPhone domains and resell them for 1000% ROI
People sell the oddest things on eBay eh?
Oh well.
Reply to this commentI purchased several iPhone related domain names surrounding potential products like docking stations, etc, that are sure to be released in the near future. Will Apple take them from me?
Reply to this commentOnly if they find out. Your best bet would be to sell em before they got to famous though.
Reply to this commentYou’re correct, selling Yahoo email addresses is against their Terms of Service (this is under section 11).
There were multiple bidders for this email address, so they must have thought this address is good for their business.
Reply to this commentToo bad for the owner, I doubt they’ll be fast enough to delete the account before it’s sold
Reply to this commentIt all comes down to ROI. I can’t see myself making back the $355 by a long stretch so I certainly wouldn’t do it. But somebody obviously does think they can make a bit of money with it.
Reply to this comment“I wonder if iPone@hotmail.com is available? That should fletch at least $500.00!”
FETCH DAMMIT!!!
Reply to this commentIn my mind an e-mail address is one of the last things you need to sell something. Someone willing to pay for something that is free (like an email address) is insane. It’s much better to get your own domain and have something like sales@iphonewholesalers.com (or some other available variant).
Reply to this commentWell, a business name is also (almost) free but yet big fights go over it. If you’re the first one to get something rare for free, you still have something with quite some potential
Reply to this commentTrue, but there’s always an alternative. I wouldn’t pay jack for an e-mail address, though.
Reply to this commentWell, I might pay money for something like “advertiser_payments@ttz.com”
Reply to this commentIt’s like all those idiots who bought ps3 email addresses back in november. People don’t read the small print half the time and just see a picture.
Reply to this commentWhat would you pay for JohnChow@hotmail.com?
Reply to this commentProbably the double
Reply to this commentKinda reminds me of the guy that bought a PS2 box..only the box
haha
Reply to this commentOr the guy who bought a PS3, that was actually 3 PS1’s duct taped together. LOL
Reply to this commentHow about iPhone@gmail.com ? I bet that would sell for millions
By the way, you’re missing an H in iPone_Wholesalers@yahoo.com and iPone@hotmail.com
Reply to this commentOh God why in the world would some one try to buy a email address !
Reply to this commentJohn, you typed “iPone” twice in your post rather than “iPhone.” Back on topic, there are countless auctions like this on eBay for various address @yahoo.com, @gmail.com, @hotmail.com, and so on. If you found that this auction violates Yahoo’s TOS, I’d imagine the same would be true with the others.
Reply to this commentI own a bunch of iPhone related domains and eBay kept pulling my lisitngs because of “keyword spamming” which is complete BS. Apparently even though I am selling a domain with the word “iPhone” in it, I cannot use the word “iPhone” unless I am actually selling an iPhone because it might confuse customers. More information on my blog.
Reply to this commentMaybe they’re finally cracking down on this kind of thing. You know, to protect stupid people who buy empty Xbox 360 BOXES and such.
Reply to this commentA better way to protect those people would be to remove their eBay accounts!
Reply to this commentThe iPhone madness is taking over the Internet over the last week…
By the way, would someone like to buy iphone@geekycorner.com?
Reply to this commentthat is crazy, it isnt even a good email adress
Reply to this commentI have to agree with Nomar, there really is not value in this e-mail address. It’s hard to believe someone puchased it! Hopefully Yahoo jumps on this.
Reply to this commentHow important is a domain name anyway? Wouldn’t you be able to off set the name by the right type of marketing??
Well, I guess someone thought it was $355 important.
Reply to this commentYeah it will simply be people buying what they think is an actual iPhone. Just like the PS3 email addresses that got sold etc.
If running community websites has taught me anything, it’s that a large chunk of the general population doesn’t read anything thats not 10 foot tall and flashing multiple colors.
Matt
Reply to this commentI find it hard to believe that people are that tech illiterate. Even a 5 year old knows yahoo serves free email to anyone.
Reply to this commentI think with the Yahoo account “iPhone_wholesalers” the owner will be able to open a Yahoo store with an identical name. There is some value in that.
Reply to this commentThen I would say that iPhone@gmail.com would probably go for eeeehhhhhh $850
Reply to this commentConsidering the winning bidder has only 1 feedback, this is probably for show. A way to generate traffic.
There are things that I can make 900% margin on that just take a little research and leg work to find. It always amazes me that someone will pay $120 for something that cost me $2.50
Michael
p.s. working on a review of your BLOG tonight.
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