[codingthewheel]

Single-word domains from the common vocabulary usually make for shitty brands.

Probably because business efforts behind these domains are rather transparently profit-seeking and wired for the short-term, make a quick buck, approach.

Also there's a good amount of technological quackery that goes on in the hyping of these domains to not-so-tech-savvy investors who don't realize that a typical 14yo kid understands intuitively that "sex.com" is probably a crap parked site or link directory, whereas pornhub.com, on the other hand, provides a service that 14yo will love.

"..and we've got a GREAT domain name, pets.com, I mean, if you want a pet, where you gonna go? We're right there."

Labors of love are what win and enable you to eventually fleece your customers and have them thank you for doing it -- not having a 13 million dollar domain.

[puredemo]

Are there any single, common word domain brands that have been successful? I can't think of a single one.

[aberkowitz]

From what I understand, Diapers.com is a highly successful business. Their parent company Quidsi, who also owns Soap.com, was recently acquired by Amazon for $540 million.