>> March 27, 1999
Jordan card scores big for Bid.Com Web site
Stock soars 8 per cent as takeover rumours swirl
By Anthony Massucci
Bloomberg News
Shares of Bid.Com International Inc., the Canadian Internet auction operator, rose 8 per cent yesterday as the company got set to sell a talking Michael Jordan trading card to boost Web site sales.
Bid.Com said the card, which replays a 12-second sound bite from last season's final National Basketball Association championship game, begins shipping today and is available only at Bid.Com's Web site.
The Mississauga-based company said the card, which has a sound chip embedded in it, will boost sales while bringing more Internet users to its auction site.
Bid.Com is trying to raise its profile while awaiting the verdict from Nasdaq on an application to list on that U.S. stock market.
''We think the card is going to be a high seller for us, and margins are extremely attractive,'' said Jeff Lymburner, president and co-founder of Bid.Com.
After a customer buys a card, he or she is automatically registered as a user, Lymburner said. The card retails for $14.99, (U.S.) plus $2.49 for shipping.
Bid.Com shares rose $1.05 (Canadian) to $13.90 in Toronto trading of 13.2 million, making them the most actively traded Canadian shares. The shares have more than doubled this week.
Bid.Com shares jumped the previous day on speculation that eBay Inc. might acquire the company.
But Lymburner said there are no talks with the Number 1 online auctioneer.
''That is a rumour,'' he said.
Thursday the company said it's adding advertising to its Canadian Web site beginning April 15.
Bid.com has formed an alliance with Rogers Media Inc. and added online music retailer CD-Plus.com Inc., business directory Yellow.ca and Indigo Books Music and Café.
Lymburner said the company has registered users numbering in the ''six figures and growing,'' although he wouldn't be more specific.
Bid.Com sells items such as jewelry, perfume, computers, electronics and sports collectibles.<<
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