AUCTIONWATCH JOINS EBAY`S "PREFERRED PROVIDER PROGRAM"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AuctionWatch Offers New Merchant Services to Facilitate Trading on eBay`s
Online Trading Site
San Bruno, Calif., (July 24, 2001) - AuctionWatch (www.auctionwatch.com), a
leading provider of software solutions enabling businesses to efficiently
sell merchandise on emarketplaces, and eBayŽ (NASDAQ: EBAY), The World`s
Online Marketplace TM, today announced a strategic agreement in which
AuctionWatch will become an eBay Preferred Provider. The company also
announced it is enrolled in eBay`s Application Program Interface and
Developer`s Program (API).
eBay acknowledges a select list of qualified vendors through its Preferred
Provider Program who market their products and services to manufacturers,
liquidators and other high-volume sellers to help them sell merchandise on
the eBay trading site. AuctionWatch qualified to be a part of this program
that was recently launched, along with a handful of other select companies.
AuctionWatch, already the largest third party merchant supplier to eBay
helping merchants transact more than half-a-billion dollars in merchandise
in 2000, offers services and solutions to provide businesses with a seamless
process to connect into eBay`s trading site. AuctionWatch`s recently
announced Business Solutions program will provide companies of all sizes
with a choice of automated and scalable plans and customized solutions to
manage the entire selling cycle and fulfillment process. In addition,
AuctionWatch provides value-added information to arm merchants with
knowledge of the marketplace to effectively merchandise, market, price, and
brand their items for the best return on their investment.
"We are extremely pleased to be working with eBay and honored to qualify as
a Preferred Provider," said John Vigouroux, President of AuctionWatch.
"eBay recognizes the value that AuctionWatch offers to enterprise businesses
looking at eBay`s platform as a powerful distribution and liquidation
environment for their goods. We`re excited to develop and cultivate this
strategic relationship to help volume sellers leverage eBay`s powerful
marketplace."
"We are happy to welcome AuctionWatch to the Preferred Provider Program,"
said Jeff Housenbold, vice president and general manager of the eBay B2C
Group. "AuctionWatch will help retailers, manufacturers, and liquidators
efficiently market their merchandise to eBay`s dynamic marketplace of nearly
30 million registered users."
"As online auctions evolve into emarketplaces and continue to gain traction
in online retailing, large volume sellers such as manufacturers and
liquidators need to equip themselves with the tools to reach the most buyers
and to administer auctions efficiently. The tools and services needed for
these sellers include automating order fulfillment and processing,
integrating with the online marketplace channel and the company`s other
backend systems, and culling data from the auctions for future marketing
purposes to help large volume sellers leverage this channel," said Jonathan
Gaw, research manager with IDC. "And, obviously, any complete online sales
and emarketing solution targeting consumers needs to have a close
relationship with eBay."
As part of the overall agreement, AuctionWatch joined eBay`s Application
Program Interface and Developer`s Program (API), and will access eBay`s data
directly through the API. In order to provide its customers with a more
reliable, secure, scalable and seamless integration into eBay`s marketplace
AuctionWatch has agreed to disable its robotic access to the eBay site.
Launched in November 2000, eBay`s API provides the knowledge and tools
developers need to create applications based on eBay technology.
About AuctionWatch
With three-quarters of a million registered users and nearly three million
unique visitors to the site per month, AuctionWatch is widely recognized as
the company of choice for businesses looking to efficiently distribute
merchandise online and cost effectively acquire customers. In addition to
its suite of powerful seller services, AuctionWatch offers buyers an
industry-leading search capability, allowing them to conveniently locate
items across numerous auction and fixed-price sites. The company also
publishes daily content on the auction industry and has the most active
independent message boards of its kind. Based in San Bruno, California,
AuctionWatch is privately held and funded by Sequoia Capital, Technology
Crossover Ventures, CMGI @Ventures, meVC Draper Fisher Jurvetson Fund I
(NYSE: MVC), Angel Investors LP, Bulldog Capital, Argus Capital and private
investors. Visit the AuctionWatch Web site at www.auctionwatch.com.
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