January 6, 2012
By the ZippyCart Content Team

There are several activities people engage in while drunk that are generally looked down upon like drunk driving, dialing or texting. However, ecommerce retailers are loving a new activity that is swiftly gaining popularity: drunk online shopping.

According to a recent study in the UK, many respondents admitted to logging into their favorite ecommerce websites and making purchases. This trend has been called “BUI” or buying under the influence. For some shoppers, late night plastered purchases result in a “Heart’s Greatest Hits” CD, like one woman confessed in Times, but sometimes they are more detrimental to one’s bank account than an unwanted addition to your music library.

For example Chris Tansey, an accountant from Australia, recalled his $10,000 drunken online shopping purchase: a motorcycle trip around New Zealand. Although the trip was fun, Tansey said in an email to the Times, “The hang-ups of spending your hard-earned cash are so far removed from your life when you’ve had a bottle of wine.”

Retailers are far from ignorant to this trend with sites like eBay and The Guilt Groupe reporting a noticeable spike in consumer purchases in the late hours of the night. eBay has the highest traffic daily between 6:30 pm and 10:30 pm in each time zone. Vice president for mobile for eBay, Steve Yankovich, commented on drinking being a possible factor for the volume of shoppers between those times:

“I mean, if you think about what most people do when they get home from work in the evening, it’s decompression time. The consumer’s in a good mood.”

Many ecommerce marketers have taken advantage of consumers late-night behaviors and have adjusted their promotions accordingly. An array of promotional emails are sent out after dinner time and well-into the night. High-end flash sale site The Gilt Groupe says it plans on adding more deals that begin at 9 pm. Although retailers will not say if they specifically target intoxicated shoppers, judging by the timing of promotional emails we can draw our own conclusions.

Additionally, mobile shopping apps and one-click checkout options that many retailers offer for convenience have contributed to the spike in Alcohol-fueled purchases. This is considered a problem to some as it is well-known that alcohol reduces working memory, which means shoppers may not have the cognitive clarity to make rational judgments and think through purchases.

However, many people don’t see BUI as a particularly concerning habit, but rather a fun game full of surprise. Many of these shoppers don’t regret their post-bar buying behaviors, but actually enjoy the surprise gifts that show up at their door several days after the fact.

Whether it is a problem or not, perhaps In Icon’s Steve Jobs action figure sales will benefit from this phenomenon.

November 14, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Some businesses will go to unusual lengths in order to make a profit. Several southern-based websites have taken their ecommerce solutions to a dark and twisted place by collecting and selling “murderabilia”.

There are currently six different ecommerce solutions focused on the selling of memorabilia from some of the most notorious murderers in the United States. Items for sale include a signed Christmas card from Charles Manson, handwritten letters from the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgeway, and a sketch of the Charlotte Strangler Henry Wallace’s hands. This seems to be a pretty sick and twisted business to be in, but apparently is highly profitable. The Christmas card from Manson was sold for $170 and a lock of his hair is currently being auctioned off with the starting bid at $2,500.

The owners of these macabre ecommerce solutions don’t see any problem with what they are doing because it is perfectly legal. Although the Son of Sam law prevents inmates from making any profits from their crimes, only a handful of states have laws preventing a third party from profiting from the sale of memorabilia. The 8 states that have laws against this kind of commerce include California, Texas, Alaska, Montana, Utah, and New Jersey.

Popular ecommerce solution eBay banned the selling this unusual and perverse “murderabilia” in 2001, but the market forged on with the 2005 launch of Murder Auction. Murder Action was the first site of its kind and since its launch even more sites have sprung up including SerialKillerInk.com and several others.

The owners of these sites do not show concern about being viewed insensitive and immoral businessmen. However, on one popular “murderabilia” ecommerce solution, this message is posted:

“We do sympathize with the families of victims. We’re sure they have a tremendous amount of pain to bare, but we make no apologies for our business. We do not solicit anyone. People seek us out with an interest in purchasing true crime memorabilia. If you are offended by what this website has to offer, you simply do not have to visit.”

Owners of the “murderabilia” websites discuss how they build relationships with incarcerated murderers in order to get items from them to sell. Eric Gein, owner of Serial Killers Ink spoke about how he writes letters to serial killers and befriends them. He said the relationships take time and rely on trust. Gein believes that most killers send him items to sell because they thrive on the attention.

As far as the target market for this macabre material, Gein said customers come from both the United States and Europe. Some customers are collectors, while others are military personnel and university professors who use the items as lecture material.

September 16, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an official federal investigation into Craigslist’s allegations that eBay employees stole confidential information about the company and used it to launch a competing site.

A California court issued a grand jury subpoena last week outlining the allegations against the ecommerce giant. Craigslist claims that eBay executives, who also held a seat on Craigslist’s board of directors, unfairly and illegally used their position to steal classified information about the company. Craigslist alleges that eBay then used the information to start its own competing classifieds ecommerce solution, Kijiji.

eBay has held a seat on Craigslist’s board of directors since 2004 when it bought a 28 percent minority stake in the company. The grand jury subpoena states that the department of justice will investigate:

“Incidents where eBay employees engaged in alleged criminal activities and misconduct focused around the misappropriation of proprietary/confidential information from Craigslist.”

Those being accused of stealing trade secrets include Pierre Omidyar, eBay’s founder and chairman, who allegedly requested information about Craigslist’s finances and strategies in 2005 and then passed it on to other eBay employees.

Craigslist and eBay have been in conflict since eBay launched its own Internet classifieds site, Kijiji, in 2007. The company later renamed the site eBayClassifieds.com. Allegations also state that after the launch of its online classifieds site, eBay began buying Internet ad space that would steer users away from Craigslist and onto eBay’s site.

eBay representatives deny the validity of allegations that the ecommerce solution used any of the information to benefit its own classifieds site. The company is countering with claims that Craigslist breached terms of a shareholders’ agreement. Amanda Miller, an eBay spokeswoman, had this to say:

“We will cooperate with any inquiry related to the disputes between eBay and Craigslist. eBay believes that Craigslist’s allegations against eBay are without merit. We will continue to vigorously defend ourselves, and we will aggressively pursue our claims against Craigslist.”

This newest investigation is just the latest in a series of legal battles between the two ecommerce solutions. Last year Craigslist owners James Buckmaster and Craig Newmark attempted to relinquish eBay of its board seat. The owners believed that having a shareholding member of eBay seated on the board posed a serious threat to their company. eBay won the ruling however and retained its rights as a minority stakeholder in Craigslist.

Back in May a similar case occurred when Paypal sued Google over the launch of its mobile payments ecommerce solution, Google Wallet. Paypal alleged that Google obtained trade secrets from a former employee who switched from one company to the other.

September 8, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Everyone’s favorite online auction site, eBay, has updated their mobile app to incorporate recent feature updates, making the iPhone, iPad, and iPod application a bit easier to use. The new application is available in the App Store, and follows hot on the heels of massive mobile application updates from other big names like Facebook and Google+.

Some of the new features include a barcode scanner, which allows eBay users to scan UPC’s at a local store and find better deals on the ecommerce solution. This relatively new technology was pioneered by RedLaser, an application that scans barcodes and links users to online stores selling the same product, some of which may be offering a better price. RedLaser was acquired by Ebay in 2010, and the application has been tremendously successful in the ecommerce world. According to TechCrunch, RedLaser has seen more than nine million total downloads of its iPhone and Android apps, a dramatic increase from the 2 million downloads at the time of the acquisition. eBay also added QR Code scanning to RedLaser. eBay says that more than half of RedLaser scans are in the U.S., and the top five U.S. regions using RedLaser are New York City, New Jersey, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area and Houston. Ebay’s new iOS app features the same technology, and eBay hopes it will bring in new users who are unfamiliar or wary of the auction site.

eBay has also incorporated their “Instant Sale” feature into their iOS app. This new feature allows eBay users to sell their items directly to eBay, no auction or negotiation necessary. The ecommerce solution pays for shipping, and the eBay user receives payment in their PayPal account. This feature was previously only available via the ecommerce solution’s web platform. So now, if you want to sell the iPhone or iPad you’re using to browse the new eBay App, you can do that instantly through the eBay Instant Sale feature.

Sellers who utilize the ecommerce solution’s mobile app can now see how much a particular item is currently selling for. The app also features social networking integration for Twitter and Facebook. The site says:

“When listing items for sale, use the research feature to find out how much your item is going for, then save time by pre-populating your listing. Editing, adding your own iPhone pics. Sharing items you are selling or buying with Facebook and Twitter friends is quick and easy with the eBay for iPhone app.” Sellers can now also track their shipments through the mobile app, which used to require tracking via third-party sites.

The updated iOS app also included new support for international payments. Users in Canada, Germany, France, and Italy can now pay for purchases by using the app. Additionally, the app now supports payment via eBays rewards program, called eBay Bucks. When buyers purchase items on eBay, they receive a percentage of their final purchase price back as an eBay gift certificate applicable to future purchases. Finally, the iOS app’s Checkout page now supports eBay gift cards, coupons, shipping addresses, and shipping options where available. All these new features are sure to make using the ecommerce solution much easier in the future, and with all the hype about mobile apps becoming the future of the technology world, eBay is taking steps in the right direction by incorporating new features and updates into their mobile offerings.

August 16, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

If you invested in gold a couple years ago you’ll be glad to hear that the ecommerce solution eBay has been hit with a boom of gold auctioning.  Gold and silver sales on the auction site have been rising steadily over the past several years.  This type of auction has become so popular the company has decided to dedicate an area just for sales of precious metals.

Many investors have been flocking to gold because of uncertain economic forecasts, hoping that it will be a stable investment.  ”When people are coming down to the question, do they want to have cash in the bank or gold in their hands, the answer is they’d rather have gold or silver,” said Jacob Chandler, CEO of Great Southern Coins, the largest seller of precious metals on eBay.

The stock market just ended one of its most volatile weeks in recent years.  In addition investors have been rattled by the recent downgrade in the country’s credit rating, so it’s no wonder that so many want a safer investment.  Monday the Dow Jones industrial average fell around 6%, the worst drop since 2008.

The Pamp Suisse brand of gold bars have sold for an average of $1,787 on Aug. 5 and climbed nearly 8% to $1,927 by Wednesday.

“With all the turmoil in the markets, this is seen as a way to diversify,” said Anthony Delvecchio, eBay’s vice president of business management and strategy for eBay’s North America business.

eBay, which is based in California does not require minimum purchase amounts for bullion. Sellers offer gold both through auctions and “Buy It Now” fixed-price sales.
The increased popularity of gold on eBay obviously shows what’s happening in the gold market in general, where prices have spiked dramatically during the past two years.

Gold traded at only $900 an ounce in the summer of 2008, before the financial crisis. It passed $1,600 in May and even rose above $1,800 for a moment on Wednesday.

People concerned about an apocalyptic future are most likely causing sellers the ability to charge a premium for the real, physical metal.  However what good a chunk of gold is going to do in the end times is still up for debate.

August 15, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

The elegant diamond seized back in 2006 by an undercover FBI sting operation will be available for online auction on September 6th.  The rare diamond will have an opening bid at $900,000, a high dollar amount for an online auction ecommerce solution.  The auction will also require the winner to secure their bid with a $180,000 deposit, to ensure they’re serious about the offer.

According to court documents concerning the case businessman Paul Monea attempted to sell the diamond, along with an extravagant home he owned in Ohio, to an undercover FBI agent for $19.5 million and a boat.  It was reported that the home had previously been the estate of boxer Mike Tyson.

The extremely large 43.5- caret yellow canary diamond is 1 inch wide and comes with a nickname, “Golden Eye.”  It’s not clear if there is any kind of James Bond connection to the diamond or if agents just couldn’t come up with something more clever. The rock, which is being auctioned by the U.S. Marshals, was seized from Stark County businessman Paul Monea and Micky Miller, according to Cleveland Deputy U.S. Marshal Ryan Helfrich.  Authorities arrested Monea after he attempted to sell the diamond to an agent who was posing as a big time drug dealer.  Paul was later charged with a count of money laundering and is reportedly being held on a $2 million bail.

If you’re interested in rare diamonds and would like a chance to bid in the auction it begins at 8 a.m and eds at 3 p.m on Sept. 8.  For those of you who want to see the goods before you consider an offer the U.S  Marshals will kindly be holding viewing sessions from Aug. 29 through Sept. 2 in Cleveland.

Many of you are probably wondering what auction house will be selling the expensive rock.  Bid 4 Assets, the ecommerce solution who has a reputation of auctioning high priced seized assets will be entrusted by the U.S Marshalls to oversee the auction on their platform.

For tons of more information and even pictures of the diamond, visit their website at
Bid4Assets.com/Diamond27.

July 22, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

PayPal, whose parent company is ecommerce giant eBay, recently announced a record quarter. In Q2, PayPal made $1 billion for the first time, passing 100 million active users. According to the release, a total of nine million merchants use PayPal around the world. Merchant services account for over two-thirds of operations and transactions. And following the recent trend, mobile payments are booming for the company. eBay said Paypal mobile payments will grow to more than $3 billion this year, compared to $750 million in 2010.

Great numbers from PayPal are offset a bit by less-than-stellar reports from eBay itself, who reported a drop in net income and lower-than-anticipated earnings. eBay has gone through a spree of acquisitions as of late, and those purchases are likely cutting into recent profit margins. The company purchased ecommerce solution GSI Commerce in March for $2.4 billion.

These strong numbers follow nicely with the recent announcement of a new PayPal/eBay product, the details of which are still under wraps. PayPal’s senior director recently unveiled a NFC (Near Field Communication) product, but eBay executives have been cautious when it comes to the new NFC ecommerce solution. eBay CEO Jeff Donahoe says “I don’t think that you’re going to see NFC with large merchants. You don’t want anything that has friction at point of sale.”

So what’s eBay’s new product? And when is it coming out? Well, even though details are scant at the moment, there are a few well-substantiated reports out there. CEO Donahue said eBay is looking to expand into in-store payment products, which the company is reportedly testing with retailers this year. The company plans to roll its new ecommerce solution out to more merchants in 2012, contingent upon the results of its testing. The products may include the ability to pay with wireless systems, such as NFC, or an alternative technology that eBay may be keeping under wraps.

Despite its apparent success and expansion, eBay continues to lose ground to its main competitor Amazon.com. The online marketplace wars continue, as Amazon is reportedly looking to expand in to NFC as well.

July 15, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Ever wanted to ride with Snoop Dogg to the studio? Does meeting Taylor Swift at her concert in Lexington, Kentucky sound appealing? How about a one-hour tennis lesson from Chris Evert, one of the greatest female tennis players in history? If any of this sounds good to you, then charity auction site CharityBuzz has great news for you. The site allows users to add celebrity experiences and memorabilia to their online shopping carts, all while benefiting charitable organizations.

Current offerings include the ride with Snoop, which includes a seat in the studio while the rapper cuts a track. Other options on the site vary from a meet and greet with Nickelodeon TV star-turned-singer Miranda Cosgrove, four backstage passes to a Selena Gomez concert, and a signed guitar from Country Western singer Zac Brown. A tour of Facebook Headquarters and lunch with the co founder of Firefox, Blake Ross, is also up for bidding. In addition to celebrity encounters, users can also win travel packages, power lunches with business executives, and add hard-to-find tickets to major sporting events to their shopping cart.

This isn’t your typical, all-for-profit eBay auction where the seller walks away with the proceeds. A portion of the proceeds from every auction go to a charitable organization. Many of the auctions benefit Urban Farming, an organization that “supports and encourages the establishment of gardens on unused land and space while increasing diversity, raising awareness for health and wellness, inspiring and educating youth, adults and seniors to create an economically sustainable system to uplift communities around the world.”

CEO Coppy Holzman founded CharityBuzz to lead nonprofits toward a collaborative approach to fundraising in April of 2004. The company is headquartered in Manhattan, and has raised more than $40 million for nonprofits worldwide. The company aims to combine pop culture and charity for the mutual benefit of everyone involved. In July of 2010, the site passed a major milestone with $200 million in bids. In December of 2010, the company auctioned the first Chevy Volt available to the public on behalf of General Motors. Everyone here at ZippyCart (or anyone, really!) would certainly appreciate one of the current travel experiences, 5 Nights aboard a Private Yacht bound for Cabo San Lucas! Anyone willing to pony up the current $26,000 bid?

July 14, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Andy Warhol paintings are well known for fetching large dollar amounts in exclusive auctions, yet few if any have ever been sold via an ecommerce solution.  Online auction firm Artnet is reportedly selling a work from Warhol’s “Flowers” series with an estimated pricetag of $1.1 million. Bidders will break the rules of the traditional auction and instead be sitting in front of their computers, placing bids with a simple mouse click.

Artnet operates similarly to ecommerce solution eBay.  They provide the platform for transactions, but after the item is sold, it is shipped directly from the seller to the buyer.  The CEO of the company, Hans Neuendorf,  wanted to be clear that the two auction sites definitely have their differences.  Hans said in an interview, “we don’t leave our customers alone like eBay does. It merely connects sellers and buyers. We advise our customers and we use experts to assess the authenticity and the value of the items on sale.”

Ebay does often get high priced items on the site but some, including the Artnet CEO, have criticized their level of quality in customer service. The ecommerce solution Artnet is all about focusing on the art market, while reducing the costs for both parties involved. According to the company, the specialize in providing a safe and cost effective environment without having to rent an exhibition space (which saves on transport costs) and they are able to charge their customers less.

“On average, we charge half as much in commissions as conventional auctioneers. We can complete an auction from start to finish, including payment and transport, in five weeks, where auction houses usually take five to six months,” explained the executive.  The majority of the art sold through the site is not famous, more in a low to middle price range, with the average piece selling for $7,000.

The company appears to be growing and continuing to make the art selling industry more transparent and accessible for those new to it. One in Five Artnet buyers is a first-time customer said Nuendorf.  According to the statistics Artnet is growing quickly.  In the past year the company has grown by 140 percent, and in the first quarter of 2011 by another 50 percent.

July 12, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

If you’re someone who is fascinated by gruesome mob exploits and your favorite movie happens to be The Godfather, then now may be the time to hop over to Ebay. Members of the ecommerce solution are reported to be selling James “Whitey” Bulger memorabilia left and right. The reason for this sudden cashing in on notoriety comes after Bulger was recently arrested in California last month.

Tons of Bulger-related items are popping up on the site including bobbleheads and various documents. There are over a dozen documents that relate to a $14.3 million lottery ticket Bulger split with three men in 1991. The ticket was numbered 8-15-32-35-40-42.
The documents include a notarized agreement with Bulger’s signature that guranteed him an annual check of over $100,000. After his arrest the money was forfeited to the U.S government. The documents are being auctioned by a former wife of one of the men who shared the prize.

“It is authentic,” said Joslin LaFleur. “I would think it’s part of Boston’s history. I have a lot of sympathy for the things he’s done to people’s families. I don’t respect him.” LaFleur’s stepfather is Michael Linskey who once cut a deal with one of Bulgers associates.

With the notorious South Boston mob boss currently locked up, LaFleur told the Herald he and antiques dealer Kevin Colvin are selling the memorabilia to a buyer who will hopefully share it with the public, either through a museum, book or film.  Some aren’t so enthused about the public glamorizing such a ruthless murderer.

A collection of limited-edition Whitey bobblehead dolls (in handcuffs and wearing orange Plymouth County jail jumpsuits) have some people up in arms.  Widow Mary Callahan, who lost a husband in what prosecutors suspected to be a Bulger related hit, had this to say:

“They’re selling T-shirts: ‘Free Whitey.’ It’s what we did with Billy the Kid and Bonnie and Clyde,” she said. “They were murderers and we made them legends.”

The 81-year-old Bulger has pleaded “not guilty” in connection to 19 murders.  Whether he’ll  beat the charges or be put away for life is still anyone’s guess.

July 7, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

It may be time to ditch that old Verizon phone and add a new smartphone to your shopping cart from Sprint. The country’s biggest cellphone carrier, Verizon, announced that its users will have to sign up for a usage-based data plan to accompany their handset. AT&T has already moved to a tiered model and T-Mobile has been penalizing excessive data users, leaving Sprint as the only carrier now offering an unlimited data plan with no strings attached.

With future users potentially adding a Sprint iPhone to their shopping carts this unlimited plan could be a huge plus. In the past Sprint has constantly been beaten out by its competitors but the possibility of a massive number of people switching from Verizon could become a competitive advantage for them.

Analyst Roger Entner had this to say:

“[Sprint] is becoming a haven for heavy users.”

The switch from Verizon targets high-end users unlike AT&T.  When AT&T moved to the tiered model, it sold a $15 plan with limited access. Verizon doesn’t offer this option and instead is introducing more expensive plans for heavy data users.  T-Mobile is of course continuing to brag about their “unlimited plans” but if a customer exceeds a certain amount, the carrier will slow down the connection, a practice called “throttling.” No matter the size of your data plan, T-Mobile’s Lumia 710 offers a 4G Network and a host of features that will allow you to operate with a streamlined mobile lifestyle.

Verizon’s new plans will start at 2 gigabyte for $30 per month, $50 for 5GB of data and $80 for 10GB of data.  Going over your data plan will cost $10 per gigabyte. The good news for current Verizon customers is that existing customers will be able to retain their unlimited plans beyond July 7, even after upgrading to new smartphones, the company says. Customers will have until today to add the popular $29.99 Verizon unlimited plan into their shopping carts.

In recent years, the increasing popularity of smartphones and tablets has led to overloaded wireless networks, which have even caused outages. With new technology requiring more data usage, wireless data has become a “scarce resource,” said Dan Hays who works at a D.C consulting firm. Afghan Wireless has joined along with other countries. Several other markets, including Asia and Australia, have already implemented plans that disperse wireless plans in smaller chunks.

“It’s less about making money and more about managing expectations,” Hays said. “The challenge for the network operators is to satisfy the ballooning demand they’ve created.”

June 24, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

A local newspaper printed just a couple miles from the location of the fatal accident involving Ryan Dunn sold for $11,100 on the ecommerce solution Ebay.  18 bidders battled it out early Thursday morning to see who would be taking home the somewhat historic newspaper.  Currently their is an auction in progress for the same paper selling for over $100,000 while another has a “buy it now” option for $500.00.  If this is a joke involving countless fake bidders it is quite elaborate and garnering a good deal of media attention.

We decided to look into who was selling the mysterious newspapers on the ecommerce solution and if people were truly trying to buy this dubious item or if all the bids were fake.  The seller of the two high-priced papers is named Jayne918 and currently has a 100% feedback.  In the past Jayne has auctioned pants, collectible Monopoly sets, and boots, but nothing similar to a $100,000 local paper.

Jayne 918’s West Chester Daily Local newspaper doesn’t really have too eloquent of a description.  The item page includes a grainy picture and a brief description that reads:  ”FOR AUCTION IS THE NEWSPAPER WITH THE NOTICE OF DEATH OF RYAN DUNN “JACKASS STAR”.  IT IS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PAPER WHERE HE LIVED AND DIED “WEST CHESTER, PA, IN CHESTER COUNTY”.  THIS IS A NEW UNREAD NEWSPAPER.  PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS.  THANKS FOR LOOKING !!”  For a $100,000 product you think a person would want a little more detail.

The celebrity was killed early Monday  morning in a horrific car accident when he reportedly exceeded speeds of 130mph before crashing his vehicle.  His 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 erupted into flames on impact. Dunn died at the scene. His passenger was killed as well.  Police say Dunn’s BAC was approximately .196, which is twice the legal limit.

So far the ecommerce solution Ebay has not commented on if the bids were authentic but several credible media outlets have picked up on the auction.  More news should surface throughout the day as new information comes to light.

June 17, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Jennifer Smedley, 34 will be selling her Omaha property on the ecommerce solution Ebay.  What makes her house worthy of news coverage?  Smedley’s house happens to be the first home of billionaire investor Warren Buffet.

Buffett’s parents moved into the home at 4224 Baker Ave. shortly around 1925.  Buffet was born in 1930 and lived in the house for several years until his parents decided it was time to move to a larger dwelling.

Buffett’s parents, Howard and Leila, moved to the house soon after they were married Dec. 26, 1925, according to biographer Alice Schroeder. His father took a job selling insurance, eventually taking a stockbroker and winning election to the U.S. Congress.

The traditional 1 ½ home has two bedrooms on the main level with hardwood floors.  It’s reported that the living and dining room feature the original 8-inch oak baseboards and built in cabinetry.  There is a fenced yard and detached garage.  Another selling point potential bidders using the ecommerce solution may want to consider are three large walk in closets.

The ceiling has been refinished with crown molding and tile in keeping with the home’s original style. There is also a 400-square-foot finisher dormer upstairs that could be remodeled into a master suite, Smedley says.  Also according to Smedley the unfinished basement’s original fruit cellar is perfect for storing wine.

The home was listed on the ecommerce solution with an opening bid of $120,000.  As of today there are no bidders and the auction has 26 days left.  In the house description Smedley of Venice, Calif., describes the 1923 house as charming and the perfect place for a Hathaway shareholder to stay during the annual Omaha meeting of Buffet’s company.

Buffet disciples may be interested in the fact that the house is just blocks away from his favorite restaurant, Groat’s Steakhouse and not far from his current home.  The location is a perfect spot to meet the billionaire and also not a bad conversation starter.

June 17th, 2011
By the ZippyCart Content Team

Julian Assange, the mastermind behind Wiki-Leaks, is auctioning a lunch date with 8 lucky bidders on eBay. The three-hour lunch will be held at a London restaurant, followed by an event at which Assange will be speaking. Currently, bids are starting at £1900. This is Assange’s first eBay auction, and denotes WikiLeaks’ first attempt at a personalized e-commerce solution to it’s current financial isolation.

Assange has been wrapped up in some expensive legal proceedings in Sweden, and is currently on house arrest in England. Last year, WikiLeaks published what were then confidential government correspondence. As a result, many online payment sources such as Visa, and PayPal have banned donations to the site. Some are considering Assange’s auction as a sign of desperation, an attempt to resolve issues surrounding Wikileaks’ funding. A former spokesman claims WikiLeaks has raised plenty of money, it’s overhead is very low, and the site is not concerned with funding.

Since being turned down by Visa and PayPal, two major online payment sources, Wikileaks has turned to alternate forms of receiving donations. Following the story yesterday about $500,000 in BitCoin being stolen, WikiLeaks has had to start accepting the grey-market currency BitCoin. Assange has also turned to Facebook as an e-commerce solution to funding his legal defense.  The auction is expected to net anywhere from £5,000 ($3,100) to £8,000 ($4,960) a seat. This could potentially net Assange and WikiLeaks a combined $40,000. Not too bad for an extended lunch and a quick eBay listing.