The Domain Negotiation Playbook

Negotiation is where portfolio theory meets human behavior. 1) Prepare before the first message Know your: • Public ask • Private minimum • Best alternative (hold vs other buyers) • Transfer constraints Unprepared sellers concede randomly. 2) Anchor with confidence, not aggression State price with a short rationale. Invite a serious counter. Avoid insulting lowball reactions. 3) Trade concessions Every discount should buy something: • Faster close • Larger deposit • Cleaner terms • Bundle of related names Never give naked discounts. 4) Control the channel Keep negotiation in writing for clarity. Summarize agreements after calls. Ambiguity is expensive. 5) Walk away cleanly Passing on a bad deal protects capital and brand. Pros exit politely and leave the door open for later. Use DropDNS Market negotiations for structured buyer–seller threads when you want conversation history in one place.