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September 28, 2001 - Andale Donates $50,000 to "Auction for America" Disaster Relief
Andale, a provider of auction management tools and services for online sellers, announced enhancements to its Commerce Management Service
so sellers can list through Andale to "Auction for America" -- eBay's effort to raise $100 million in 100 days for the victims, families and communities affected by the
events of Sept. 11. All of Andale's new "Auction for America" product enhancements became available online on September 26th. Andale also announced that it will donate
$50,000 to the Auction for America campaign.
http://www.andale.com
DMA Protests USPS Rate-Hike Request
The Direct Marketing Association (The DMA) has voiced grave concerns over the timing
and size of the postal rate increase request that was filed this week. The United States Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors (BOG) filed a rate case with the PRC, seeking a $6.1
billion hike in postage rates across the board. This proposed increase is in addition to the $3 billion in hikes that the Postal Service has implemented since January 2001. Under the
USPS's proposal, the price of a First-Class stamp will jump three cents, from the current 34 cents to 37 cents.
"The Postal Service has already hit the mailing public
with two rate increases this year that will take $3 billion out of the American consumers' wallets. Now they are seeking to take an additional $6.1 billion next year," said H.
Robert Wientzen, president & CEO, The DMA. "In an economy that has been struggling all year and is now under additional pressure from the September 11 tragedy, it is
unfathomable that the Postal Service would ask consumers and businesses to sustain yet another postage increase. Such new increases, which average 8.7 percent overall and are far in
excess of the rate of inflation, will be a major drain on our softening economy." Since the approval process takes 10-12 months, the new rates could take effect just as
businesses and consumers are gearing up for the 2002 holiday season.
http://www.the-dma.org
Ableauctions.com Moves Forward on iCollector Acquisition
Ableauctions.com said that all conditions of the offer to acquire iCollector plc have now been satisfied and the offer has therefore been declared unconditional in all respects.
iCollector was founded in 1994 and provides an indexed catalogue of art, antiques and collectibles for over 300 auction houses, dealers and galleries in the United States, Europe and
the United Kingdom and facilitates transactions by broadcasting live auctions over the Internet in conjunction with eBay Live Auctions. Ableauctions.com is a high-tech
business-to-business and consumer auctioneer that conducts auctions live and simultaneously broadcasts them over the Internet. The Company liquidates a broad range of products
including computers, electronics, office equipment, furniture and industrial equipment that are acquired through bankruptcies, insolvencies and defaults. http://www.ableauctons.com
===========================
September 27, 2001 - eBay Extends Free Subscription Period for Storefronts, Will Charge Listing Fees Oct. 1
eBay will extend the
free subscription period for eBay Stores through the end of 2001. eBay Stores subscriptions will not be charged until January 1st, 2002. eBay will begin charging the 5-cent listing
fees for Store fixed price items on October 1st, 2001, as originally scheduled.
eBay is planning to add the following features to its storefront product:
- ability to search for Stores by store name
- ability to browse Stores by sub-categories
- extended duration listings for Store fixed price items
In addition, eBay said
it would promote the Stores during the holidays. "We want to encourage Store sellers to continue to learn and experiment with their Stores, as well as to participate in Auction
for America. We hope you will use this extended free trial period to do both," read the announcement. http://www.ebaystores.com
eBay Allows PayPal Charity Links
From now through the end of the year, eBay will allow sellers to insert a special PayPal graphic link in their eBay auction listings. This graphic link will enable potential
bidders to donate money directly from their PayPal account to the Red Cross through that link. The link must meet eBay's size requirements. To reduce confusion, the links cannot be
placed in the Auction for America charity listings, since the PayPal effort is not a part of eBay's charity auction program.
http://www.ebay.com
http://www.paypal.com
FairMarket Waives Fees for Charity Auctions
FairMarket, a provider of e-business selling and marketing solutions incorporating dynamic pricing, announced it is supporting eBay and its "Auction for
America." FairMarket invites merchants to sell products on eBay's "Auction for America" using FairMarket's MarketSelect service free of charge for the duration of this
charitable initiative. http://www.fairmarket.com
Yahoo/Nazi Case in U.S. Court
Law.com is covering the Yahoo France case regarding France's ban of Nazi material
on the Yahoo site. Unfortunately, the URL is too long to include here, but go to
http://www.law.com
and enter the search terms "Yahoo French": "Yahoo, French Groups Face Off in California Court," The Recorder, September 26, 2001.
There is also an
interesting piece by Bill Thompson, a journalist and BBC columnist who writes and talks about "the digital future", on the Yahoo/Nazi case.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/column/col52.shtml
Butterfly Ballots Banned in Florida, Machines to go up on eBay
Florida's Palm Beach County has ordered new
electronic voting machines and will list its old punch-card machines on eBay starting November 7th. Proceeds will be used to help pay for the new machines. (Reuters, September 26,
2001)
======================
September 26, 2001 - AuctionWatch Announces New Product & Pricing, Discussion Boards to Remain Free
AuctionWatch announced
the introduction of a new product, Sales Manager Business Edition, for sellers who list more than 300 items per month. The fee is $49.95/month with a Final Value Fee of 1.5% and no
listing fees. Sales Manager Business Edition provides all of the features of Auction Manager and includes an inventory management system and other features. AuctionWatch also
announced pricing changes to its image hosting service and listing fees for sellers on its Standard Plan. The company said it will continue to offer its Message Center discussion
boards for free.
http://www.auctionwatch.com
Auctionworks Named eBay Preferred Solution Provider
Auctionworks said eBay has named it an eBay Preferred
Solution Provider (PSP). As part of the agreement, Auctionsworks is enrolled in eBay's Application Program Interface and Developer's Program (API). Auctionworks provides
online-inventory and auction-management solutions for online-aucton sellers.
http://www.auctionworks.com
Amazon "Targets" New Range of Products
Amazon and Target
announced that Target will open a store on Amazon.com later this fall. This will expand product offerings available at Amazon.com to include thousands of apparel, home, electronics
and jewelry products. The companies also announced that Target has chosen Amazon.com's complete solution of e-commerce technology services, order fulfillment, and customer care
services for its current online properties, including target.com, MarshallFields.com, Mervyns.com and GiftCatalog.com, beginning in Summer 2002. All of these online properties will
continue to be owned by Target Corporation. The release read, "Under the five-year strategic alliance, Amazon.com will receive per-unit fees and annual fixed fees, while Target
will receive the benefits of the Amazon.com e-commerce platform and vast customer base to accelerate its already-rapid growth online." http://www.amazon.com
JustBeads.com Holds Charity Auction for Breast Cancer Research
JustBeads.com will hold its Third Annual Charity Auction to benefit the Susan Khomen Center for Breast Cancer Research. The auction will start on Monday October 1st and will
run through midnight on October 31st. JustBeads.com allows registered users to buy and sell various kinds of beads and bead related items including: lampwork beads, polymer clay
beads, vintage beads and findings and semi-precious beads, as well as beaded jewelry, beading books and bead supplies and tools.
http://www.justbeads.com.
Classic Autos to be Made into Matchbox Collectibles
Barrett-Jackson, a leading auction company of classic and collectible cars, has teamed with the world's largest toy
maker, Mattel Inc., to introduce a line of Matchbox Collectibles featuring some of the classic and collectible vehicles that have sold on the auction block over the years. "The
Barrett-Jackson Collection" of Matchbox Collectibles will be available at retailers nationwide. Each vehicle will be packaged in a "collector" box to showcase its
unique styling. The first series is scheduled for release at the time of the 2002 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, January 17th-20th.
http://www.barrett-jackson.com
Sharon Boccelli & Company Auction - Sunday, Boston Area
A Bakker-Boccelli Auction will take place this Sunday at noon
at the Hibernian Hall in Watertown (Route 16). Includes lots of art and antiques, and some very interesting autographs! (Catalog on Web site.)
http://www.sbauctioneers.com
==============================
September 25, 2001 - AuctionHelper Waives Fees for Charity Auctions
AuctionHelper is offering the use of all of its tools for free
for anyone that uses them to list or invoice items in eBay's Auction for America program to help in the 9-11 relief efforts.
http://www.auctionhelper.com
Lenox Relaunches Web Site for Gifts & Collectibles
Lenox Collections, a leading retailer of gifts and collectibles, announced the relaunch of its web site with a host
of features designed to enhance the online customer experience and simplify the purchase process. LenoxCollections.com has streamlined its checkout process, including a one-page
checkout procedure with the ability for customers to include gift wrap and gift messaging.
http://www.lenoxcollections.com
Toy Auction - Boston Area
WexRex is holding an auction this Sunday, September 30th, in Framingham, Massachusetts. A list of all items and driving directions are on the Web site. "Star Wars, Disney,
Britains, Robots, Action Figures, Character Collectibles & Fun Stuff..." Not only can you pick up some great toys at great prices, but WexRex auctions are the most
entertaining ones around - standup comedy with no cover charge! Hosted by Gary Sohmers of Antiques Roadshow fame.
http://www.allcollectors.com and click on "Live Auctions"
Collecting Diva to Appear on Television
Judith Katz-Schwartz, author of "Protecting Your Collectible Treasures - Secrets of a Collecting Diva," will be
appearing on the Sally Jesse Raphael Show this Thursday, September 27, along with John Bruno and Judith Martin. Consult local listings for the time and
station. http://www.studiosusa.com/sally
and click on station search.
http://www.msjudith.net
Arab Sheikh Donates $5 Million to U.S. Disaster Relief Efforts
The Keeneland race course has raised $5.7 million
so far for its disaster relief fund that will benefit the American Red Cross. The largest donation - $5 million - was made by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince
of Dubai and Minister of Defense of the United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Mohammed is an avid horsebreeder and races his horses throughout the world. "Sheikh Mohammed was deeply
touched by the tragic events and the recovery and relief efforts that followed. Across the planet, despite our differences, those things we have in common are much greater than those
that separate us," stated Keeneland President Nick Nicholson. Keeneland is a world-class Thoroughbred race course and the world's largest Thoroughbred auction company, located
six miles west of Lexington in the heart of Kentucky's famous Bluegrass Region.
MoreDeals Offers Investment Tips
Where do you put your money in times like
these? MoreDeals.com says if you are a long-term investor, don't panic; see this interesting article, "Crisis Investing: Where to Put Your Money" on its site under
"More Money Tips."
http://www.moredeals.com
==============================
September 24,
2001 - eBay Extends Ban of WTC/Pentagon Items - Except for Charity Auctions
eBay announced that it is changing its policy after consulting with the government of New
York: eBay will now allow "positive" commemorative items that relate to the 9-11 terrorist attacks to be sold in its "Auction for America" charity listings. This
includes items that incorporate images of the World Trade Center or Pentagon before the attack. This policy change ONLY applies to "Auction for America" listings.
However, eBay is extending its ban of items - commemorative or otherwise - that have World Trade Center, WTC, Twin Towers, Pentagon, September 11, Auction for America or similar terms
in the auction titles (except for Auction for America listings). eBay is extending the ban for the rest of the year.
Half.com, a fixed-price site owned by eBay, is allowing
items that relate to the World Trade Center or the Pentagon to be sold through its site, but asks that users not refer to the World Trade Center, the Pentagon or the events of
September 11th in the comment section of offerings.
PayPal "Strengthens" User Agreement
PayPal said it is strengthening its User Agreement (formerly
known as Terms of Use) in the following ways:
1) To clarify that PayPal acts as a money transfer agent and custodian on your behalf, and that PayPal provides a payment processing
service rather than a banking service; and
2) To describe PayPal's practice of safeguarding customer funds left in the PayPal system by placing the funds in an account at an
FDIC-insured bank or in a highly-rated liquid security, and to make clear PayPal's legal commitment to that practice. As part of this commitment, PayPal will also continue its
practice of holding customer funds in an account that is entirely separate from the general corporate accounts.
=========================
September 21, 2001 - eBay Adds Features to eBay Stores
eBay will introduce new graphics that will link to eBay Stores
from the following pages: bid confirmation, watch confirmation, seller search, bidder search and feedback forum pages. eBay will also display the Buy It Now price instead of the bid
price for Buy It Now auction listings within the Store. eBay will also allow sellers to edit the price and/or quantity of their fixed-price listings at any time throughout the
duration of the listing. See the eBay Marketing Announcements Board for more information. http://www2.ebay.com/aw/marketing.shtml
Check IRS Rules for Charitable Donations
eBay reminds sellers who are donating items for eBay's Auction for America charity program that they should check IRS rules
regarding regarding allowable deductions for charitable contributions.
http://www2.ebay.com/aw/announce.shtml
eBay Adds Vintage Toy Portal Page
eBay's portal pages are
useful indexes in particular categories. eBay has recently added a Vintage Toy portal page. http://pages.ebay.com/catindex/catvintagetoys.html
Half.com Adds Categories to Its Site
Half.com has added a category called "Software" to its "Computers" category and has created a new category called
"Everything Else." http://www.half.com
The Photo Review to Hold Annual Benefit Auction on November 3rd
On Saturday, November 3 at 7 PM, The Photo Review
will hold it's 2001 Benefit Auction at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Among the work featured are rare vintage prints by Arnold Eagle, Walker Evans, Laure Albin Guillot,
Philippe Halsman, Lewis Hine, Russell Lee, Arthur Rothstein, and Lou Stoumen, as well as some wonderful contemporary work from such photographers as Jayne Hinds Bidaut, Elinor
Carucci, Keith Carter, Lucien Clergue, Larry Fink, Lois Greenfield, Arthur Tress, Jerry N. Uelsmann, and William Wegman. In addition, a broad range of 19th century photographs are up
for bid. A preview at the University of the Arts, Dorrance-Hamilton Building, Broad and Pine Streets, Philadelphia, will be held on Friday, November 2 from 11-5 PM, and on Saturday,
November 3 from 11-6 PM. The annual auction is free of charge. A fully illustrated catalogue is available for $10 from The Photo Review, 140 East Richardson Avenue, Suite 301,
Langhorne, PA 19047-2824.
http://www.photoreview.org/auction.html
Theriaults Barbie Auctions Held Through September 24th
This week through September 24th, Avant Auctions at
http://www.theriaults.com
will be featuring Vintage Barbie and Barbie Accessories. For all the doll news from Theriaults, go to http://www.theriaults.com and click on Doll-e-new
=========================
September 20, 2001 - PayPal Extends Customer Service Hours
Effective September 10, PayPal's Customer Service Call Center will be available from 4 AM to 10 PM
Pacific Time. Dial (888)221-1161 for Business/Premier Accounts, and 402-935-7733 for Personal accounts. PayPal provides email-based support 24 hours a day.
http://www.paypal.com
Auction for America Live Chat Event
eBay said hundreds of members attended its first Auction for America Live Chat. It is hosting a second event this week from 17:00 PDT to
18:00 PDT on Thursday, September 20th.
In a related story, eBay has removed their poll asking users if they intend to participate in Auction for America. According to an
announcement on the eBay boards, "This week's poll on the Auction for America program has not been used as the
poll was intended. Because the program allows users with cookies disabled to post as many times as they wish, many users began skewing the voting on both sides to the point that the
poll became too unrealistic to continue."
At the time the poll was removed, 72% of the respondents had voted that they would not be taking part in AFA.
http://www2.ebay.com/aw/marketing.shtml
Auctionworks Waives Fees for Charity Auctions
In response to last week's terrorist attacks on America, Auctionworks will waive standard sales commission fees on all items launched to eBay's "Auction for America."
Auctionworks provides online marketplace sales management services to sellers. eBay's charity auction aims to raise $100 million in 100 days through its community of buyers and
sellers. As previously announced, Auctionworks revenue received on September 11 has been donated to the American Red Cross.
http://www.auctionworks.com
Disney Donates Auction Procees to eBay's "Auction for
America" Program
Disney Auctions said that all proceeds from items auctioned during the week of September 17 will be donated to September 11th Fund.
http://www.disneyauctions.com
CheapPins.com to Manufacture WTC Commemorative Pins
CheapPins.com, an independent retailer of lapel pins in the world, has announced it is manufacturing a memorial pin for
the World Trade Center disaster. It will donate 100% of the profits (no less than $4.50/pin), to a charity to benefit WTC disaster-related charities. CheapPins.com has a goal of
selling 25,000 pins and raising over $112,500. The pin is expected to be available for sale online at http://www.CheapPins.com this weekend.
Dept. 56 Purchases Axis Corp.
Department 56, a leading collectibles and specialty giftware company, announced it has completed the acquisition of the Axis Corporation, a privately held designer, importer
and specialty retailer based in Salt Lake City. Axis' products, primarily porcelain dolls, doll accessories and plush items, are marketed under the brand name Geppeddo. The company
operates customized kiosks located in approximately 350 major malls and shopping centers throughout the United States and Canada during the peak holiday shopping season. Revenues for
the fiscal year ended February 28, 2001 were nearly $15 million.
==============================
September 19, 2001 - AuctionWatch Slashes Staff
AuctionBytes has learned that AuctionWatch, an eBay Preferred Provider of auction management services, has made
substantial layoffs within the past 72 hours. AuctionWatch President Rodrigo Sales confirmed the layoffs, putting the number at "fewer than 50%".
Sales said
AuctionWatch will discontinue its efforts in the enterprise market. It will instead focus on the tools and services for individual sellers, power sellers and small businesses, an area
that he said continues to generate strong revenues for the company.
AuctionWatch will no longer update its "News & Information" feature on its Web site. Sales
said they are still evaluating whether to continue their discussion forums. He would not confirm the number of people that
AuctionWatch employs, nor the exact number of people laid off. http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/newsflash/newsfl ash.html
New Virus Warning
Information about the latest, nastiest computer virus going around.
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.nimda.a@mm.h tml
ChannelAdvisor Pitches In for "Auction for America"
ChannelAdvisor Corporation, a
provider of enterprise marketplace management solutions, is offering its marketplace management services at no cost to help retailers and manufacturers list products for eBay's
Auction for America. Auction for America is a program to raise money for the 9-11 disaster relief efforts. ChannelAdvisor is waiving all fees for their marketplace management services
to assist retailers and manufacturers in selling items through the Auction for America. Companies participating in Auction for America include Palm, JC Whitney, Omaha Steaks, West
Marine, Restaurant.com, Outlet Computer, ABT Electronics, MovieGoods, BargainBuilder and EconoZone. ChannelAdvisor is a preferred vendor of eBay.
http://www.channeladvisor.com
Pen Auction Site to 'Sign Over' Money to Charity
Penbid.com, which says it is the largest online auction dedicated exclusively to writing instruments, announced its
sponsorship of a charity auction to raise funds for donation to the "Red Cross" New York Chapter. The auction is to be held online from Sept. 19th to Sept. 26th.
http://www.penbid.com
New York City Memorabilia for Auction
Over 400 lots of New York City memorabilia will be offered on Tuesday, September 25th, at Swann Auction Galleries in its second annual
New York Sale. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to the United Way of New York City and The New York Community Trust's September 11th Fund to support the
immediate and longer-term needs of the victims, their families, and communities affected by the tragic events of September 11th. The sale, composed of 405 lots ranging in value from
$80 to $8,000 and dating from the early 1800s to the 1970s, contains many one-of-a-kind items related to the history of New York City.
Disney Donates $5 Million to Relief Funds
The Walt Disney Company said it will make a total corporate contribution to the "DisneyHAND: Survivor Relief Fund" of $5
million in addition to individual Walt Disney Company employee donations. The donations will be given to organizations providing assistance to the victims of last week's tragedies in
New York and Washington, D.C. and their families, the announcement said.
Company to Host Convention for Computer-Game Fans
Origin Systems, an Electronic Arts
development studio, today announced that it will host Online Worlds FanFest 2001 on October 26 and 27 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. Origin Systems expects more
than a thousand die-hard computer game fans to gather at the two-day event to meet and interact with some of the industry's top game producers, get a glimpse into the future of Ultima
Online (UO) and socialize within the enormous UO community.
http
://www.onlineworldsfanfest.com
=============================
September 18, 2001 - eBay
Announces Fundraiser for Families of 9-11 Attack Victims
eBay announced a program in which its members will be able to buy and sell goods specifically for the purpose of
raising money for the victims and families of last Tuesday's terrorist attacks. The company hopes its community will be able to raise $100 million in 100 days through a separate
"Auction for America" category on the site.
The charity items will be highlighted throughout the eBay site so that buyers can clearly identify them. Once a sale is
made, all proceeds from the transaction will be contributed directly to the charity selected by the seller. In order for eBay to guarantee payments to the charities, all "Auction
for America" transactions will be processed through Billpoint, eBay's online credit card payments service. eBay, along with its partners, Visa USA, MasterCard International,
Wells Fargo Bank and Discover Financial Services Inc., will waive all of their customary fees. AOL Time Warner has agreed to provide marketing support and products for this effort.
One hundred percent of the money raised by every transaction will go to charity. To start the march towards the goal of $100 million in 100 days, the eBay Foundation will contribute
the first $1 million dollars.
Sellers will not have to pay listing and final value fees, but they will have to pay shipping and handling fees, and one hundred percent of the
proceeds go to charity. eBay will give sellers a charitable donation receipt for tax purposes.
http://www.ebay.com
AuctionWorks Says eBay API Improves Service to Members
AucitonWorks says it is
among the first companies to implement eBay's API. "Our access to the eBay API servers will minimize any disruptions due to eBay changes. The speed increase and better
reliability is a great advantage for our members," according to AuctionWorks Chief Technology Officer Jerry Ablan. AuctionWorks users can now easily launch inventory to their
eBay store, providing an additional sales venue. In addition to launching to eBay stores, Auctionworks will continue to support its own e-commerce-enabled StoreFronts at http://www.auctionworks.com/store/allStores.asp
It's worth noting that on September 12, Auctionworks pledged to donate all revenue generated on September 11 to the American Red
Cross Disaster Relief Fund. http://www.auctionworks.com
Gegy.com Auction Site Plans Launch for October
On July 6th, we reported that Gegy.com, an online auction site in
Beta testing, had admitted a relationship between themselves and AuctionEagle.com, a site that was taken offline for spamming users. Gegy.com founder Troy MacDonald had denied in a
July 2nd statement any relationship with AuctionEagle.com. The site now says it will go live in October.
How to Cope with Grieving
Market research firm
Forrester has some advice for people and employers who are dealing with the 9-11 tragedy of last week. One piece of advice we should all pay careful attention to: "Take care of
yourself. Don't neglect yourself. Get sleep, get exercise, and make your own time for communing and reflection. It's a long-distance run, not a sprint. Conserve your energy." The
advice comes from George F. Colony, Chairman, CEO, and President, Forrester, who gleans the advice from his own experience in dealing with loss. http://www.forrester.com/ER/Marketing/0,1503,243,00.html
=======================
September 17, 2001 - FREE Delivery Confirmation on USPS Priority Mail
You can
create and print USPS Priority Mail labels with bar-codes from your computer with no special forms required. These labels allow you to have FREE delivery confirmation. The
"label" will print out on regular 8.5" X 11" laser-printer paper. You can see a sample by going to the Web site, filling out the form, and checking "Create an
online label as a sample (not to be used for shipping)."
http://www.usps.com/cgi-bin/api/shipping_label.cgi
Bidville Auction Site Holds Fund-Raiser
Due to
the tragic 9-11 Attacks last week, Bidville members have organized a fundraising auction beginning on Tuesday, September 18th. Sellers supporting the event will be donating all or a
portion of their sales directly to the Red Cross. There is a banner on the home page that will bring you to the event organizer's page, and you can find details in the Bidville
Community Message Center. "Buyers can look forward to finding very good deals on merchandise. Best of all, your purchases will support the ongoing struggle being faced by our
nation," read the announcement.
http://www.bidville.com
MAD List of Cancellations
Maine Antique Digest, which publishes a calendar of antiques-related events, is
publishing a page of cancellations, postponements and sceduled events in light of the 9-11 Attacks.
http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/buzz/wtcpost.htm
eBay Looks for Volunteers for 9-11 Tragedy Program
eBay is designing a program to honor the victims of the 9-11 tragedy, and to help the survivors and the families of those
who were lost. They are looking for volunteers to sign up, and will announce more details about the program today.
http://www2.ebay.com/aw/marketing.shtml#091501190127
Amazon Auctions & FundRaising Sites Crashed
According to CNET, Amazon.com suffered a hardware failure that crashed its Auctions section and the area where Amazon was
accepting donations to help victims of Tuesday's terrorist attacks.
http://investor.cnet.com/investor/news/newsitem/0-9900-1028-719 6204-0.html
Take to Auction Changes Name to Nimbus Group
Take to Auction, a provider of e-commerce solutions and one of the largest sellers at online auction, announced
it is changing the name of the corporation from Take to Auction.com, Inc. to Nimbus Group Inc. effective immediately. The name change is the first step in a transitional plan to
leverage its highly sophisticated proprietary logistics technology. Nimbus intends to make business jet travel broadly affordable, through an air taxi service.
http://www.Nimbusjets.com
.
BidBay Introduces Search Engine Site
BidBay has launched a search engine site where Web site owners can pay to be included in search results.
http://www.bidbaysearch.com
======
Special Bulletin: 9-11-01 Update
The following is a note we received from an AuctionBytes reader, who wanted us to know what an important role the Salvation
Army is playing in the New York City Disaster Relief efforts:
"Tonight I have spoken with a friend who was at ground zero at The World Trade Center and just returned to
his family tonight. My friend is a New Jersey State Trooper. He was on one of the search teams looking for survivors.
He has served in Vietnam and has seen many atrocities in
his life. He told me that this was the worst thing he has ever seen. But, he also saw more love exhibited at this site than he has ever seen in his life. He couldn't speak highly
enough of the men and women who volunteered not only to search, but to feed, cloth (these people have to throw their clothes out after a shift because of contamination), and to
provide help in every area that you can think of.
The one thing he said was that the Salvation Army was one of the first organizations there, and they immediately had food on
hand for these men who were working 18 hour shifts. I personally haven't heard a word about the good being done by the Salvation Army either on TV, the Net, or the radio. These people
are truly one of the most honest organizations functioning today. I have known for years that the Salvation Army does a great job without tooting there own horn. Everyone is being
told to give to the Red Cross or the United Way. I for one am giving to the Salvation Army, as I know that they are there and have been told by my friend that they are taking care of
these people.
Please pass this on to others, so that we may help an organization that is out there doing the job without getting any credit. They do it for the love, not the
glory.
Ray"
=============================
September 13, 2001 - eBay Censors Auctions, Bans Mention of World Trade Center or Pentagon in Auction Titles
eBay has suspended trading of any items related to the World Trade Center or the Pentagon until October 1st. All items with "World Trade Center" or "Pentagon"
in the title will be removed. This temporary ban goes beyond eBay's existing "Offensive Material" policy, which covers items like crime scene material, etc.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/png-offensive.html
USPS Files for Another Rate Hike
In an announcement made yesterday, the U.S. Postal Service will file for a
rate hike that could increase the cost of a first-class stamp to 37 cents. The cost of Priority Mail service may also rise by 13%. There have already been two rate increases by the
USPS, one in January and another this summer, but the post office still faces a deficit of $1.6 billion this year. A rate request filed this month would be unlikely to take effect
before the autumn of 2002 and the rate commission may modify or reduce the requested increase.
==========================
September 12, 2001 - eBay Cautions Members
over Terrorism Attacks
eBay received reports from some members that some postal offices were closed on Tuesday due to the events taking place on the East Coast of the
United States. It also warned that some trading partners may be slower to complete eBay transactions than they might ordinarily be. eBay temporarily suspended the eBay Stores Grand
Opening Spin to Win Game and Sweepstakes and has cancelled the Mills Malls events for this weekend in light of the recent tragedies in the United States.
***
Our hearts go out
to everyone affected by the cowardly acts of terrorism and murder committed in the United States of America yesterday. If you are considering giving blood to the American Red Cross,
here is its Web site address where you can get more information.
http://www.redcross.org
Here's a message from the American Red Cross Web site:
To help the victims of disaster, you may make a secure
online credit card donation <
or"http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html>or
call 1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Or you may send your donation <http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html#dm> to your local Red Cross or
to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. To donate blood, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543), or contact your local Red Cross to find out about
upcoming blood drives.
Amazon Sets Up Disaster Relief Fund Online
Amazon has set up a
relief fund that it is displaying prominently on its home page. As of last night, it had collected 3,085 donations totaling $74,742.50. All donated money will go to the American Red
Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Amazon.com is waiving its usual fees in taking up this collection through its Amazon Honor System
program.
http://www.amazon.com
====================
September 11, 2001 - ePier Institutes Fees
ePier will institute final value fees (FVF) beginning September 17th, but it will continue to have a no-insertion fee policy. For
Premium Services and Storefronts subscribers, the first $9.95 in final value fees each month will be waived. The fee structure is as follows: $0.01-$25: 2.5%, $25-$1,000: 1.5%,
$1,000+: .5%, see the Web site for more details. http://www.epier.com/pricing.asp
Tech Problem Blitzes AuctionBlitz.com Sniping Site
On Sunday night, AuctionBlitz's server
suffered a catastrophic failure when the company attempted to upgrade its mail server software. The company is scrambling to upgrade its backup server and promises to move up its
plans to add two additional "redundant" servers to prevent such an occurrence from happening in the future. The server that AuctionBlitz is using - the original backup
server - "is not as responsive as it needs to be to meet our members' needs," the company stated. The company expects to resume normal operations by Tuesday night.
AuctionBlitz is a brand new site offering online auction "sniping" services to members. In related news, Bidnapper, another sniping service, will begin charging members for
its services on September 15, 2001. Users may select from service options priced from $9.95 to $29.95.
http://www.auctionblitz.com
http://www.bidnapper.com
SONICblue Chooses FairMarket Auction Technology
SONICblue will use FairMarket's MarketSelect solution as its infrastructure to sell excess and refurbished consumer
electronics, including its RIO MP3 players, on eBay. MarketSelect is a selling tool that enables merchants and manufacturers to easily sell large quantities on eBay. http://www.fairmarket.com
Major League Baseball Teams up with Army & Air Force
MLB Advanced Media, the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball, has teamed with the Army
& Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) to offer Major League Baseball merchandise and subscription services to AAFES's 10.5 million members around the globe via the Internet. MLBAM,
which operates MLB.com, the official league Web site and the 30 individual club sites, will design, manage and maintain a co-branded Web site offering AAFES customers a wide array of
authentic baseball merchandise, memorabilia and collectibles, as well as exclusive audio, video and editorial content. AAFES provides merchandise and services at discounted prices to
active duty military, Guard and Reserve members, military retirees and family members.
http://www.AAFES.com
==========================
September 10, 2001 - eBay Wins Copyright Case
A
federal judge ruled that eBay was not liable for copyright infringement in a case involving the sale of bootleg copies of a documentary film. http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1007-200-7084114.html
eBay Serves Up Cookies to All Members
All eBay visitors will have to accept "cookies" on their
computers in order to use eBay. Cookies are small text files that track the online movements and "remember" the preferences of distinct users.
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/169827.html
USPS Enhances eBillPay & Priority Mail Services
The U.S. Postal Service announced unique enhancements to USPS
eBillPay, a service that allows customers to view and pay their bills online. The Postal Service launched USPS eBillPay in April 2000, after signing a long-term strategic alliance
with CheckFree Corp. In addition to moving money electronically, the USPS eBillPay service allows payments to be made to businesses not yet equipped to receive electronic payments by
issuing paper checks sent via First-Class Mail.
"Pay@Delivery" is similar to its existing Collect-On-Delivery (COD) service and combines e-payments with Priority Mail and Delivery Confirmation
services. For example, sellers of merchandise at online auctions can, for example, print out the buyer's address label with Delivery Confirmation barcodes from their personal computer
and drop off the package at any of over 38,000 post offices. Buyers of merchandise at online auctions can send their money to the seller online and have the money released
electronically when the mail carrier delivers the package and scans the Delivery Confirmation barcodes. Sellers can place the Pay@Delivery
logo and link on their web site to offer this convenient and secure payment and delivery option to their customers.
"Send Money" is similar to a Postal Money Order,
but enables anyone to send money to anyone else using the Internet. This person-to-person payment addition will allow customers to send money securely to anyone with a
checking-enabled account and an email address. The payment plans include two by subscription, in which new users receive three free months of service, and one non-subscription plan.
The pricing is as follows:
-- Subscription Plan -- $6.95 per month for up to 20 payments, and 50-cents for each additional payment transaction;
-- Subscription Plan -- $1.50 per
month, plus 65-cents for each payment transaction;
-- Non-Subscription Plan -- $1.00 per payment transaction.
http://www.usps.com/paymentservices/welcome.htm
=============================
September 7, 2001 - eBay and IBM Cozy Up with Technology/Marketing Agreements
eBay and IBM announced a strategic technology and
marketing alliance yesterday. eBay has selected IBM's WebSphere infrastructure software to upgrade its infrastructure. The upgrade effort, referred to as "V3" within eBay,
is designed to achieve several goals, including: increasing developer productivity and API integration; enhancing eBay's ability to easily add new features and user tools; allowing
for greater flexibility in adding new businesses; improving site dependability; and, improving the overall user experience.
IBM said it will significantly expand its presence
on eBay and will expand its sales of PCs, servers and software within its eBay storefront. It will also include a direct link to eBay on the IBM.com home page.
The two
companies have also agreed to explore joint-marketing opportunities across television, print and direct marketing channels. "By increasing our presence on the site, we'll
increase traffic to IBM's eBay store as well as to IBM.com," said Lou D'Ambrosio, vice president, marketing and sales, IBM Software Group. "We are excited about the
marketing synergy between eBay and IBM, and believe our partnership will provide exciting opportunities for our customers, channels and our brands."
OAUA Seats Newly-Elected Board of Directors
The Online Auction Users Association announced the results of its Board of Director elections last evening. Joining OAUA
President Jen Hassler and Joy Borlogio on the BOD will be re-elected members, Ken Knull and Betsy Summers and newly-elected members, Deb Anderson-Silvers and Karen Siddiqi. Officer
elections will be held in October at a date to be determined. For the formal announcement go to: http://www.auctionusers.org/forums/Forum4/HTML/000043.html
http://www.auctionusers.org
eBay Announces Grand Opening of eBay Stores
eBay launched the 'official' grand opening of eBay Stores yesterday and is featuring popular store categories and
individual sellers on its home page and throughout the site. It also announced a "Spin to Win" game and sweepstakes in which users have a chance to win a $10,000 eBay
shopping spree and a trip to Las Vegas as well as other prizes, including eBay gear, magazine subscriptions and restaurant gift certificates. In addition, eBay will introduce eBay
Stores to thousands of shoppers around the country at a dozen malls. eBay, which has 20,000 storefronts on its site, now offers buyers the ability to search within a store and browse
all items a particular merchant is selling. Also, buyers can search for items and browse among stores across all categories from the eBay Stores Directory at http://www.ebaystores.com. It said
will make available additional inventory management tools and enhanced navigation through eBay Stores in the coming months.
http://www.ebaystores.com
http://www.ebay.com/promo/stores/index.html?ssPageName=HD0 1
OverStock.com Picks Infopia Marketplace Manager Service
Infopia, developers of Marketplace
Manager, service, announced that they have been selected by Overstock.com as its preferred service to sell inventory on online marketplaces and auctions such as eBay, MSN, Yahoo,
Amazon, NexTag, Excite and uBid.
http://www.infopia.com
http://www.overstock.com
PayPal Surpasses 10 Million Registered Users
PayPal today announced that it has surpassed 10 million registered users
serving more than 35 countries. It said it recently earned membership in the Santa Clara County chapter of the Better Business Bureau for improving its overall customer service
standards.
http://www.PayPal.
com
eBay's Pierre
Omidyar and Jeff Skoll Rank Number 2 & 3 "Richest Young Americans"
FORTUNE announced its third annual ranking of the richest young Americans, "America's
Forty Richest Under Forty." Pierre Omidyar, 34, Chairman and Founder of eBay, came in at No. 2 with $4.39 billion. eBay Vice President Jeff Skoll, 36, came in at No. 3 is with
$2.63 billion.
==============================
September 6, 2001 - AuctionBlitz Launches New Web Site for Bidders
AuctionBlitz officially launched its Web
site yesterday, offering "sniping" tools for auction bidders. AuctionBlitz.com helps buyers place last-second bids on auctions at eBay, eBay Motors, and eBay International
sites, with plans to support additional auction sites in the future. Users can place unattended bids within the closing seconds of online auctions without having their computer turned
on. To prevent bids from being placed too late, AuctionBlitz.com constantly monitors Internet traffic and automatically accounts for network congestion when submitting bids. Users can
schedule bids for multiple auction items and then instruct the service to stop bidding as soon one of the bids is a winner. AuctionBlitz.com offers unlimited-usage memberships for as
little as $13.99/year. All memberships come with a 30-day free trial period and payment is accepted via PayPal.
http://www.auctionblitz.com
Changes to eBay Wreak Havoc With PayPal
Changes to eBay's Web site have apparently caused problems with PayPal's Automatic Daily Update feature. As a result, PayPal
is unable to update users' auction logos. In an email sent to its users Paypal stated that when their
system failed to update logos, it may have "inadvertently sent you an email stating that your eBay user ID and password were denied as invalid by eBay, which is incorrect."
PayPal expects a resolution within the next 24 to 48 hours, but in the meantime, recommends manually inserting logos by
cutting and pasting the HTML provided by PayPal on their Web site. http://www.paypal.com
Channel Advisor and uBid Enter Into Agreement
ChannelAdvisor Corporation, a provider of enterprise-level
marketplace management solutions, and uBid, an online auction marketplace, announced an joint marketing agreement. ChannelAdvisor will offer its retailers and manufacturers an
opportunity to present a unique branded shopping experience to uBid's more than 2.5 million registered users, while enabling uBid to offer its buyers a broader selection of items to
purchase. ChannelAdvisor will be adding uBid to the ChannelAdvisor Pro Network in the coming months. ChannelAdvisor works with companies to formulate a strategy to quickly increase
online sales of overstocked, returned or unsold inventory through dynamic-pricing channels such as uBid.com, eBay, Amazon and Yahoo Auctions. ChannelAdvisor's customers and strategic
alliances include West Marine, Memorex, Omaha Steaks, eBay, Yahoo and Amazon Auctions.
http://channeladvisor.com.
Online Payment Service MoneyZap Offered on Achex Platform
First Data
Corp., which owns Western Union and recently acquired Achex Inc., will soon provide the Western Union MoneyZap service on the Achex platform. First Data Corp. acquired Achex Inc. in
July to meet the growing need for online business-to-consumer payments. Western Union's MoneyZap service will continue to handle person-to-person transactions, but will now provide
businesses with an online payment service that can be integrated into their current payment options quickly and easily.
"First Data is a global leader in payment
processing for merchants in the brick and mortar world and we are committed to replicating that expertise in the online world as well. By providing the MoneyZap service on the Achex
platform, First Data businesses will be well positioned to meet the future online payment processing needs of both businesses and consumers," said Elaine Bolle, president of
Achex.
First Data Corp. serves approximately 2.6 million merchant locations, more than 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers.
http://www.achex.com
http://www.westernunion.com
http://www.firstdata.com
eBay Announces Proposed Changes to Antiques & Art Categories
eBay has revised proposed changes to Antiques & Art Categories. Details can be found here: http://pages.ebay.com/preview/chg-antiques.html
=========================
September 5, 2001 - ChannelAdvisor Joins Ranks of eBay's "Preferred Vendor"
ChannelAdvisor Corporation, the leading provider of enterprise marketplace management solutions, and eBay today
announced that ChannelAdvisor has become an eBay Preferred Provider.
The companies, which have had a successful relationship since their licensing agreement in 1999, will
expand efforts to bring brand-name retailers and manufacturers to the eBay marketplace. eBay's Preferred Provider Program recognizes a select list of qualified vendors that provide
products and services to retailers, manufacturers and other merchants to assist them in selling brand-name merchandise on the eBay marketplace including eBay Stores.
``We are
very excited that eBay recognizes that we are a leading provider of enterprise solutions focusing on large corporations and proud to become an eBay Preferred Provider,'' says Scot
Wingo, chief executive officer and president of ChannelAdvisor Corp. ``ChannelAdvisor's auction management technology and services offers Fortune 100 manufacturers and retailers with
the most successful way to automate selling on eBay in a broad range of categories.''
HP and Compaq to Merge
Hewlett-Packard and Compaq announced a definitive merger agreement to merge, creating an $87 billion global technology leader. The press announcement stated that the combined
company will have #1 worldwide revenue positions in servers, access devices (PCs & hand-helds), and imaging & printing, as well as leading revenue positions in IT services,
storage, and management software.
Olympic Scoreboard on the Block
Bid4Assets, a full-service asset disposition and advisory services company, announced that
it will auction the arena scoreboard that was used in the 1996 Olympic Games for the state of Georgia. The online auction will be held through Sept. 20 on the Bid4Assets Web site. The
scoreboard was originally built for the Georgia World Congress Center in 1992. Since that time, the scoreboard has been used for SEC and ACC basketball championship games, the 1996
summer Olympics in Atlanta and the 1998-99 Atlanta Hawks basketball games. The four-sided basketball scoreboard is approximately 12' square. It displays game time, team names, scores,
period and five player numbers with game stats for each player.
http://www.bid4assets.com
McDonald's Dishes Up LEGO Toys in Happy Meals
McDonald's is dishing up miniature versions of the LEGO Company's popular new toy BIONICLE. The toys will be available in McDonald's Happy Meals and Mighty Kids Meals beginning
September 7. BIONICLE fans will be able to collect six tribal villager figures called "Tohungas," a brand-new collectible line available exclusively in McDonald's Happy
Meals and Mighty Kids Meals. In true LEGO style, elements from the individual figures can be taken apart and re-assembled in a variety of combinations to build different-sized
creations. Using their imaginations, collectors of all six figures also can combine the parts to create even larger super-structures. To add to the storytelling value of the toys,
McDonald's also will provide children with a BIONICLE DC Comic book with the purchase of each Happy Meal or Mighty Kids Meal for a limited time only, while supplies last. Launched by
the LEGO Company in June, BIONICLE tells the story of biomechanical action heroes from the imaginary island of Mata Nui. Based on an epic tale of good and evil, the BIONICLE
characters encourage fantasy and role-playing with a story line that is extended through similarly themed Internet games, software titles and a trading card game.
http://www.LEGO.com
http://www.BIONICLE.com
==================================
September 4, 2001 - Music Auction Site Debuts
MusicLoversAuction.com launched late last week. A free auction Web site
designed specifically for musicians by musicians, it offers CDs/albums, musical instruments, concert tickets, rehearsal space, studio time, bands and DJs for hire, music software,
music videos, stereo equipment, group memorabilia, and lessons from pros.
http://www.MusicLoversAuction.com
Antiques Dealers Association Endorses GoAntiques Site
The
Antiques and Collectibles Dealers Association (ACDA) announced its exclusive endorsement of GoAntiques as the Online Solution for the antiques industry. GoAntiques is a full service
provider of Internet-based sales and marketing activities for professionals in the antiques business. It offers complete e-commerce enabled Web site development, corporate
sponsorships, direct email campaigns and newsletter sponsorships all specifically geared towards building brand and selling merchandise and services for this niche market. The ACDA
consists of a group of approximately 4,000 antiques and collectibles dealers throughout the U.S. who have banned together for education and other common business interests.
http://www.goantiques.com
http://www.antiqueandcollectible.com
BidBay Offers "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" Van
The van from the movie "Jay and Silent Bob Strike
Back" is up for auction on BidBay.com.
http://www.bidbay.com
===========================
September 3, 2001 - Power Sellers Allowed to Purchase eBay Banner Ads
eBay said it will soon offer eBay advertising
packages to its Power Sellers in cooperation with AdVariant, an online advertising application from Amazing Media. Sellers will have the option of displaying their ads throughout the
eBay site or on specific category pages. The banner ads will link to the individual Power Seller's eBay Store or About Me page. While this advertising package will only available to
Power Sellers, eBay says it may expand the service in the future to include all sellers who meet certain minimum criteria.
BargainandHaggle.com Launches Referral Program
Registered users of BargainandHaggle.com can receive $5 for every new member they refer who signs up. See Web site for details. http://www.bargainandhaggle.com/referral
Flea Market Finds with the Kovels
Collecting experts Ralph and Terry Kovel are hosting a new program on Home and
Garden Television called "Flea Market Finds with the Kovels." The show premiers today at 1pm and features fishing collectibles, egg cups, coffee grinders, Couroc trays,
rustic washstands, antique cameras and wedding photographs. The show will air regularly on Wednesday evenings at 8:00 pm EST beginning October 10th. http://www.hgtv.com
========================
August 31, 2001 - PlanetRX.com to Auction AIDS.com
Domain Name
PlanetRX.com, an online pharmacy that decided to liquidate and sell its domain names, has decided to auction off the names that include AIDS.COM,
HEPATITIS.COM, BIRTH.COM and STROKE.COM. "Interest in purchasing the AIDS.COM domain name has been brisk, but our client wants to allow all interested parties to have an equal
chance to bid on this valuable and unique domain name," said Tim Pluma, vice president of Sales and Marketing of AllNetCommerce.com, the company organizing the auction. Bids will
start at $40,000 and will continue through the bidding deadline of 5 p.m. PST, Friday, Sept. 21, 2001, or until the
unpublished reserve price has been met, whichever comes first.
http://www.allnetcommerce.com
Gator.com Accused of Page Jacking, Fights Back with Lawsuit
Gator.com publishes software that can post unauthorized ad banners onto Web sites. The program is causing a
furor among Webmasters and advertisers, who accuse the company of "stealing" their ad revenue. Gator.com sued the Interactive Advertising Bureau, which is on the verge of
filing a complaint against the practice of "traffic hijacking" with the Federal Trade Commission. Scumware.com publishes more information on programs that ad links or ads to
sites without site owners' permission.
http://209.11.43.220/editorandpublisher/features_columns/article_
display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1031119
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/editorandpublisher/headlines/ article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1031551
http://slashdot.org/features/01/07/31/2015216.shtml
http://www.scumware.com
================================
August 30, 2001 - Yahoo Introduces New Pricing for Stores
Yahoo Store will
implement a new four-part pricing model that lowers the barrier to entry and equitably shares costs with merchants, making it easier for businesses to open and operate a Yahoo Store.
Beginning in October, Yahoo Store merchants will pay a $49.95 monthly hosting fee, a .5% fee for all transactions conducted through their Yahoo Store, a 10-cent per-product insertion
fee, and a 3.5% revenue share for sales driven through the Yahoo network, including Yahoo Shopping. Yahoo also said it entered into an agreement with GotMarketing allowing Yahoo Store
merchants to design direct-marketing emails in order to increase exposure and attract new customers. http://store.yahoo.com
Couch Potato Alert: eBay TV Coming Next Fall
Columbia TriStar Television Distribution (CTTD) and eBay are teaming up to launch a new television project for Fall 2002. The
daily half-hour show will tap into the phenomenon of modern-day collecting through the unique stories behind the millions of items traded daily on eBay and other venues. The series
will be produced by eBay and LMNO Productions, in association with CTTD. The series, designed for afternoon and early-evening time periods, will be distributed to local stations in
syndication. Although no format has been decided upon yet, according to eBay spokesperson, Kevin Pursglove, some of the ideas being discussed include: highlighting how some users are utilizing eBay, examining how has collecting changed over the past few years and how eBay has played a role in that
change, and possibly featuring the Top Ten hot items on eBay for a given day.
http://www.ebay.com
http://www.CTTD.com
eBay Foundation Opens Computer Training
Centers for Seniors
SeniorNet and the eBay Foundation, the charitable fund of eBay, opened two new SeniorNet Learning Centers in Salt Lake City and Midvale, Utah. Since
launching eBay's Digital Opportunity Program for Seniors last year, the eBay Foundation has donated $1 million dollars to SeniorNet, a major international nonprofit organization that
teaches older adults to use computers and the Internet. http://www.seniornet.com
QXL Announces Step One in .NET Initiative
QXL ricardo plc announced the first stage of its .NET application
development since its announcement in May 2001. QXL members will be able to log in via Microsoft's Passport authentication service by the end of next month. QXL also announced that it
will work with Compaq Global Services, Intel & Razorfish to develop its QXL XPress application, part of its Microsoft .NET initiative. QXL, Compaq Global Services, Intel &
Razorfish will work together with Microsoft to develop QXL XPress, which will provide instant access to its service from the desktop. The application will be showcased in the Windows
Catalog that will be available to Windows XP users via their Start menu. QXL members will have instant access to their personal auction details and will have the option to be notified
on the status of their current auctions via instant notification. http://www.qxl.com
Drive Down Memory Lane: Live Chat for Route 66 Lovers
The Collecting Channel will host a live chat with
Laurel Kane for Route 66 memorabilia collectors tonight at 9pm EST.
http://www.collectingchannel.com
MIT Professor, Key Internet Player, Passed Away on Monday
Michael
Dertouzos, who was central in establishing the Web as an international standard, died Monday in a Boston hospital. Dertouzos, 64, was director of MIT's Laboratory for Computer Science
since 1974 and lived in Weston, Massachusetts. His concept of the "information marketplace," which he first wrote about in 1980, offered an ambitious vision of networked
computers that prefigured the Web.
http://www.boston.com/news/daily/29/obit_dertouzos.htm
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-7008131.html
=======================
August 29, 2001 -
Amazon Launches Computer Store
Amazon.com launched a computer store offering deals and authoritative
sales help on a wide selection of new and refurbished computers. The store will offer new and refurbished computers, components and peripherals. Order fulfillment for new computers
sold through the Amazon Computer store will be handled by Ingram Micro.
http://www.amazon.com/computers
Small Businesses Confused over Internet Taxes
A survey
conducted for the National Federal of Independent Business by the Gallup Organization indicates that the ongoing debate over Internet taxes leaves small businesses confused about
their legal obligations to state and local governments. With more than 7,100 different and often conflicting tax jurisdictions, collecting and disbursing sales taxes online has proven
a difficult task for many businesses, particularly smaller enterprises.
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/169483.html
Keno Brothers Auction Books for a Good Cause
The Keno Brothers, appraisers made popular by their appearances on the
Antiques Roadshow TV program, are selling their book on eBay. Proceeds will go to the "Norma Keno Animals in Crisis Fund" at the Herkimer County Humane Society of New York.
The two brothers co-wrote "Hidden Treasures: Searching for Masterpieces of American Furniture" with Joan Barzilay Freund. It outlines their more than 60 years of combined
experience in hunting-and discovering-priceless "junk." The books will be signed and dated by both authors and
personally inscribed to whomever the buyer wishes.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/keno_brothers/?ssPageName=H B09
===============================
August 28, 2001 - eBay Under DOJ Microscope?
WSJ speculates that a change in wording in eBay's latest SEC filing may be in anticipation of a possible antitrust
investigation. eBay has added this language to their most recent SEC filing:
"Third parties or governmental agencies may view our behavior as anti-competitive. Third parties
have in the past and may in the future allege that actions taken by us violate the antitrust or competition laws of the U.S or other countries, or otherwise constitute unfair
competition. Such claims typically are very expensive to defend, involve negative publicity and diversion of management time and effort and could result in significant judgment
against us, all of which would adversely affect us.
"Should the Department of Justice or any other antitrust agency open other investigations of our activities, we would
likely be harmed by negative publicity, the costs of the action, possible private antitrust lawsuits, the diversion of management time and effort | | | | |
