San Francisco

Wigix

While anyone can appreciate the ability to sell and acquire goods on the Internet, it takes a special kind of jerk to do it cunningly. If you're not that kind of jerk, reduce your timesuck at Wigix.

Started in Oakland by an ex-Schwab exec, Wig's taking aim at eBay's breadth of merchandise (they already list everything from iPods to Lamborghinis), but uses a highly navigable catalog that cuts out 'Bay's inefficiencies (e.g., "AIR JORDAN I II III IV AIR FORCE ONE NIKE REEBOK HONDA RARE…"). Buy-wise, Wig eradicates endless sifting with easily reached product tabs complete w/ specs and recent- transaction-based market value; weeds out clutter by automatically tossing whatever doesn't fit your pre-set price limit/desired condition; and places unavailable items on your now Remington-Steele-loaded "watchlist". When you're ready to unload product, there's no need to create a profile or earn user points for trustworthiness; simply throw your stuff up, and get back to planning your awesome cosmetic-sales pyramid scheme.

Wig also forgoes 'Bay's hidden fees, and incentivizes users who expand the catalog by offering them a small percentage of company revenue on the items they add -- so before you know it you'll move from essentially running your own online business, to running some Schwab guy's.

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