I get these mails now and then. Usually, I don't respond, but this time, I did. I had my reasons.

Hi,

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to reach out as I've been acquiring forums since 2017 and over the years, I've built a collection of notable forums, including the likes of ***********.com, ********.com, and ********.com.

Your forum has recently come onto my radar, and I think it would be a great fit! I'm genuinely interested in discussing a possible purchase, and it'd be great to touch base and have a conversation if you are open to that.

Even if you're not currently thinking about selling or any transitions, it would be good to confirm that I have the correct contact details for you.

I recognize the effort that goes into managing such platforms and truly appreciate you taking the time to consider my email. Looking forward to your feedback.



Oh, I see. He wants to talk to me to confirm he has the correct contact information, which will be of no use to him since I'm not selling, and he's looking forward to my feedback.

Alrighty. I responded:

Hey there, Matthew. You want to buy SIGforum? Sure. USD 1.75 million

Do not contact me again


You would figure that would do it, yes?

No

A couple of hours later, I check the registration queue and I see that he's registered for the forum. hmmmmm





Oh, and a Packet Hub IP address. He's using a VPN. Yes, gosh, I can feel the bond of trust growing stronger by the second. Naturally, I declined the registration and had the system send him an email telling him so. I added a note to it:

What's the matter? Do you have a learning disability? This forum is not for sale, and if it were for sale, I wouldn't sell it to someone who doesn't respect my wishes. I told you to not contact me again.

You're not getting your greasy little paws on this forum. I'd sooner turn it into a smoking hole in the ground than sell it to a pack of jackals.


Every time an owner of a web forum sells to a group like this, the independent voice on the internet grows fainter. They're not getting this one.

Most excellent!

“Do you have a learning disability?”

lolol

Out of curiosity, do these "buyers" ever offer a dollar figure?
What's the most (and least) you've ever been offered for this?

"I hope this message finds you well". That opening line is a red flag for me as I don't think that most people write or talk that way. Another red flag is when the message opens with "I hope this message find you in good health".

Are you certain you’re not undervaluing the forum?

Agree ^^^. This forum is worth at least 5 times more than you stated.

Thanks for keeping an eagle eye on, and lookin out for the SIGforum Para!

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
You're not getting your greasy little paws on this forum. I'd sooner turn it into a smoking hole in the ground than sell it to a pack of jackals.

This reminds me of the last episode of Little House on the Prairie where they each took turns blowing up their houses with dynamite rather than allowing the corporation that bought the town to have them. Is it ok if we call you the first two letters of your screen name?

Kudos, my good man! Send those vultures packing.

Strength of conviction. People think everything can be just bought. Then, there are those who buy things, not knowing what the hell to do with them. Let them go create their own Forum.

quote:

USD 1.75 million

I think you failed to add a sufficient number of trailing zeros.

Thank you Para.

excellent response


and agreed on forums loosing out when corporations buy them
Gunboards is one such forum that was bought and has suffered

Thank you, Para. For everything you do.

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:

quote:

USD 1.75 million

I think you failed to add a sufficient number of trailing zeros.

Yup. I'm thinking at least one.....USD $10.75M

To paraphrase "Clear and Present Danger"...

"How much for this forum?"
"10 Million Dollars."
"How much to just join for a week and test drive it?"
"10 Million Dollars."

quote:

Originally posted by creslin:
Out of curiosity, do these "buyers" ever offer a dollar figure?

I've never had any of them offer a specific amount, but of course they would need to do so eventually. They've never gotten the chance from me, because the answer is and always will be 'no'.

If you respond to them that you are interested in discussing this with them, what they'll do is to present you with the web stats for your site. The amount of traffic a site receives is directly proportional to its value to these jackals. Subject matter, doesn't matter to them; only the amount of hits a site gets. Think about that. All they want are places which draw sufficient traffic for placing advertising.

So, they'll tell you that based upon these figures, your site is worth a particular price they will offer you. There will be only enough room for negotiating that price for them to be able to not have to say that their offering price is non-negotiable.

I don't know what they would offer me, but I can tell you it's going to be some low five figures bullshit while they glance at their wristwatch while trying to "close" me, Glengarry Glen Ross-style.

You just KNOW this asshole is reading the responses and getting angry at all the members taking great joy in the fact that THEY CANT HAVE IT. I watched a great Marlin based forum get taken over several years ago and it ruined it. I don’t even look at it much anymore much less post there, but I did notice that traffic dropped off precipitously as time went by. Meanwhile SF continues to be a bastion of free thinking and rationality. Thank you Para.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
I watched a great Marlin based forum get taken over several years ago and it ruined it.

<takes a look...> Acquired by Second Media Corp., which was, in turn, acquired by Vertical Scope.

Vertical Scope has acquired several web forums in which I used to regularly participate. The key words there being "used to." Following acquisition by VS they all became markedly less interesting.

The one that was the most disappointing for me was AVSforum

Another reason I avoid them, now, is this: Warning: Web Forums Compromises Or A Bad Actor (And A Note Of Appreciation For SIGforum)

Now this is just sheer speculation on my part.

DEMs are spending huge dollars (hundreds of millions, maybe Billions) to defeat Trump

It might not be totally out of the question that the Forum has tripped their awareness about support for Donald Trump and firearms in general

And there may be an attempt to buy such forums, then turn them to the dark side.

Ala what happened to Drudge Report

just saying