Ubid is not a b2b company. I was in on the IPO. Ubid was conceived as an auction method of selling creative computer's (MALL) returns and left-over, and then expanded to sell additional lines of merchandise. But it is B2C all the way.
However, I believe ubid is undervalued and was a very good buy. They haven't come close to maximizing their business plan by expanding the lines of merchandise. They have an excellent customer service resource already built in, good name recognition and a good reputation. This is a big leg up into the auction biz for cmgi, and by combining ubid with alta vista, there should be some terrific synergies for all sides.
I note that cmgi has quietly been engaging in a very different strategy than it had in years past. While they are still an incubator, they are now acquiring eyeballs in established companies (much like xcit did to leapfrog into the number 2 position behind yhoo before being taken at by @home) but with better companies. They are building an inet comglomerate which will have enormous breadth from day one, rather than one that will be predicted to be a giant some day in the future.
While yhoo, ebay, amazon, etc., each hold their places, there will be a new boy suddenly in the game which is already positioned to challenge, head to head, each of the independent entities, drawing on each others eyeballs with a breadth that will be unmatched. I think the ubid buy was terrific.
SHG |
