Rules for Buyers and Sellers on DomainUI Auctions
DomainUI Auctions is an open marketplace where buyers and sellers deal with each other directly. The platform is completely free for buyers. Sellers pay a small listing fee when submitting a domain for auction.
We offer two auction formats:
By listing a domain, you enter into a legally-binding contract with the highest bidder. You are obliged to sell your domain at the highest bid price, with Reserve Price auctions as the only exception. You cannot sell the domain to anyone else until the auction has ended.
Once an auction has started, sellers cannot change the starting bid, reserve price, or other auction properties.
All domain listings are subject to approval by the DomainUI team before going live.
You must be a registered and email-verified user to bid. By bidding, you confirm that you are ready and willing to purchase the domain for your bid amount, plus any applicable domain transfer charges.
All bids are final and non-retractable. If you are the winning bidder, you are entering a legally-binding agreement to purchase the domain. If you can't pay on time, don't bid.
The minimum bid increment is 5% of the current bid (minimum £1).
Bidders are displayed anonymously (e.g. "Bidder 1", "Bidder 2") to protect privacy.
Some auctions include a Buy Now price set by the seller. Clicking Buy Now immediately ends the auction and you purchase the domain at the stated price. Buy Now is available on both standard and reverse auctions.
Sellers may set a Reserve Price above the minimum starting bid. Bidders can see whether an auction has a reserve price and whether it has been met, but the actual reserve amount is not shown until met.
If the highest bid does not meet the reserve, the seller is not obliged to sell and the highest bidder is not obligated to purchase.
Auctions close at the scheduled time. However, if a bid is placed within the final 5 minutes before closing, the auction enters overtime and is extended by 5 minutes. This repeats as long as new bids are received.
Overtime prevents "sniping" — placing a last-second bid to prevent others from responding. This ensures all bidders have a fair chance to counter-bid, similar to a live auction.
In a reverse auction, the price starts high and drops automatically at set intervals until a buyer purchases at the current price or the price reaches the floor. There is a floor price below which the domain will not drop. Reverse auctions end immediately when someone buys at the current price.
All domain prices listed on DomainUI Auctions are the final price the buyer pays. Sellers select their accepted payment methods when creating an auction (bank transfer, PayPal, Stripe, cryptocurrency, or escrow).
Buyers do not pay platform fees. Payment arrangements are made directly between buyer and seller after the auction ends.
For higher-value transactions, we recommend using an escrow service for protection.
Both buyer and seller are notified by email when an auction ends successfully. Each party receives the other's email address to arrange payment and transfer.
Both parties are expected to make contact within 3 days and complete the transaction within 7 days of auction closing.
The domain must be transferred (registrant change) within 21 days. If the transfer is not completed, the transaction is deemed failed.
You can also communicate with the buyer/seller via the messaging system in your account.
Buyers can send messages and make offers to domain owners directly through the platform. All messages are stored in your account under the Messages tab. Sellers are notified by email when they receive a new message or bid.
Membership is limited to one account per person. Your membership will be terminated if you register more than one account.
Email verification is required to participate in auctions. Members caught bidding on their own domains will be banned immediately.
If you find yourself in a disagreement with another member, contact us. While we cannot guarantee a resolution, we will contact both parties and help mediate. Any illegal activities or contract violations should be reported immediately.
Membership can be terminated for any breach of these rules or at DomainUI's sole discretion. Non-paying buyers and non-transferring sellers will have their accounts suspended.
By using this platform, registering an account, or using any DomainUI Auction services, you agree to accept and comply with these rules. These terms constitute a legally binding agreement.
Revision 1.0 — 9 June 2026