As per Wikipedia, NamePros is an online community for domain name investors. Its services include forums and domain name auctions. The forums implement a freemium business model, whereby membership is free, but paid subscriptions offer additional features.
In our opinion, it is a great community where passions meet – People with great minds share ideas about domaining and offer constructive assistance and do not expect any rewards in return.
Recently, we discovered a thread where a member trying to quickly offload some of the .AI names that he no longer sees value. That’s no shame in making mistakes.
We’ve all made impulsive buys – here’s how to fix it.
The Backstory: Hype Meets Reality
Domains Listed: Lirn.AI, ClimateHealth.AI, DetectObject.AI, SegmentAnything.AI, SocialSound.AI… all $100 each.
The Problem
- Biannual Renewals: $180 every 2 years (no 1-year option). Renewal shock is a rite of passage for domainers.
- Zero Sales: Obsecure names like ClimateHealth.AI lack buyer demand.
Why This Deserves Sympathy, Not Roasts
- The AI Gold Rush Trap: Many investors (2021–2023) registered “AI + [anything]” hoping for quick flips.
- Renewal Realities: .AI’s $90/year fee adds up fast.
- Generational Lesson: “Buying trends ≠ buying value.”
The Domains: What Went Wrong?
- Lirn.AI: Misspelled “Learn”? Then no clear use case.
- Wanna chase after LIRN.net (Library and Information Resources Network)? The owner is probably comfortable with .net and even if they are looking for an upgrade, they would prefer .com
- DetectObject.AI: Too generic (existing tools: AWS Rekognition, Google Vision).
- SocialSound.AI: Vague – music? Podcasts? Who knows.
3 Steps to Recover
- Cut Losses: Let low-potential domains expire.
- Repurpose: Build a micro-site on ClimateHealth.AI (e.g., AI climate blog).
- Negotiate: Offer bulk discounts (e.g., “5 .AI domains for $300”).
How to Avoid This in the Future
- Focus on Brandability: DeepMind.ai > SegmentAnything.AI.
- Calculate TCO: Renewals matter as much as purchase price.
- Evaluate Trends sensibly: Don’t blindly buy any names that contain the word “AI”.