David Maloney, a nationally renowned appraiser and author, has joined Sales Online Direct as Chief Appraisal Officer. Maloney will direct the activities of the "Ask the Appraiser" online appraisal service offered on the company's CollectingChannel.com Web site. Maloney is the author of "Maloney's Antiques & Collectibles Resource Directory," a unique database of resource people, organizations and institutions in the collecting field, and the "Complete Online Course in Personal Property Appraising."

Online appraisals are based on a digital photo and the information provided by the owner. Because there is no direct inspection of the object, an online appraisal is not a binding evaluation of an object. Formal in-person appraisals are extensively researched and appraisers may charge $75/hour or more for their services. The Ask the Appraiser service charges $19.95 per item appraised.

Eppraisals.com, an online appraisal service founded by auctioneer and television personality Leslie Hindman, offered a similar model. Eppraisals closed its site last June, and other services soon followed, leaving Ask the Appraiser as one of the only U.S. appraisal services on the Internet.

Sales Online Direct maintains and develops portals and Web sites for various companies and industries with a focus on the antique and collectible industry. Its CollectingChannel.com property will acquire ownership and all rights to Mr. Maloney's directory as a result of his appointment.