IBS claims to be the biggest online book shop, and while biggest is not always best, in the case of a bookstore, it means a lot. O.K., browsing through a bookstore is like meditation for me; I lose all sense of time, who I am, where I am. That is, if it's a big enough bookstore, if I can get away from any windows to the outside world, then you won't see me for at least a couple of hours. IBS, with 780,000 titles, is big enough. The fact that it's online means no distractions, like sirens from the street, or loud people.
Browsing a bookstore's shelves is a lot like surfing Web pages, which is probably why an online bookstore seems like such a good fit. As far as online commerce goes, it's easier to ship books all over the world then it is to ship cars, or pets. And shipping is an important factor with IBS, because it's based in Britain, or Oxford, to be exact. Worldwide shipping has a lag time of four to 14 days, which doesn't matter a heck of a lot when you're ordering a title you can't get from any local bookstores. For Web pages, a U.K. address also means slower response time, which could be a problem if you're doing extensive searches.
Oh yes, there's a search utility, an essential resource for a site like this. It's quick and easy to use, allowing you to search by title, author, ISBN, or publisher. If you're not sure where you want to start browsing, then the subject listing might be the place for you, although I did find the subject breakdown just a little bit weird, such as the category "Fiction, 'True Stories,' Humour." I'm not really sure what 'True Stories' have to do with fiction. In fact, I think they are kind of the opposite. The site also has the Bloomsbury Good Reading Guide, a compendium of recommended authors and books, which is an excellent way to find new favorites.
What really endeared me to IBS was it's special focus section on Hergé's
*Tintin*. Not only does it have every one of the graphic novels, each page
has picture from the cover.-WKC
A
A HOUSE OF CLOCKS
If you have a thing for cuckoo clocks or other large timepieces, skip the
GIFs of the actual House of Clocks (in suburban Seattle) and peruse the
rest of this page for a few moments. But for purchases that range from a
Krazy Kat model ($30) to mantel clocks ($300-$600), you might want a bit
more description, more refined dimensions, or at least a better image than
you'll see here. At least Clockstore offers a three-year warranty on its
clocks - and a page of links to other clock-lovers' sites.-KW
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Atomic
Books Electronic Catalog
The electronic catalog is the online version of the physical Atomic Books
store in Baltimore, MD. And I know just how to get there because there's
a map on the site. The book selection is great; it consists of all the weird
and eclectic stuff you won't find at Barnes & Noble. Besides underground
comic books and graphic novels, there are sections for revenge, hiding your
identity, and trash culture. Unfortunately, online ordering isn't very sophisticated.
No shopping basket; you just have to type the name of your selection into
a text box.-WKC
C+
Classified Flea Market
All ads are in the 510 area code (which is the East Bay Area, that vast
district across the water from San Francisco), unless otherwise noted. Again,
real handy if you're in this part of the country; means bupkis if not. The
site offers free listings, simple search by any of the 90 categories, etc.
The novelty here is CFM's ad of the week, which, on this outing, was a beaded
wedding dress. -RR
B-
Classifieds
2000
Classifieds 2000 specializes in cars. Sellers list free; buyers can easily
access offerings either by scanning entire listings or scanning desired
criteria. My search string of "Japanese car, manual, under $1,700"came up with more than a few good leads. If the car of your dreams isn't
currently listed, a "cool notify" feature will e-mail you when
one arrives. Classifieds 2000 currently only serves the San Francisco Bay
Area, but expansions to Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Boston are in
the works. Real handy, and they took time to make it look good, too.
-RR
B
eMall
eMall is not exactly ready for prime time. The promising front-end covers
a multitude of sins - skimpy product lines, unappealing text blocks describing
those products, dead-end screens just two layers from the top. Basically,
it's an inch-deep cover for just a few items, and not ones generally considered
"must-have." The assortment is strange, too: mens' suits, gardening
magazines, T-shirts, wooden picture frames, the ubiquitous Web florist,
spices, coffee and tea, commercial leasing - not exactly a "full-service"mall. Next time, eMall, get your vendors in a row before declaring yourselves
open for business.-KW
D
EPage Internet Classifieds
This general merchandise online ad paper claims 75,000 actual readers ("not
hits!"). Commercial ads support the free placements by regular humans.
Searches are available by region and subject, which are broken down into
detailed sub-groups. It could be a good source to find what you're
looking for, but it needs more ads to choose from. Still, if you have something
to sell, it can't hurt to post it here.-RR
B-
FreeAdz
Classifieds
This electronic version of the Boulder County, CO paper lets individuals
list free. Businesses, collectors, and breeders (which, I assume, refers
to people who deal in animals, and not the slang expression for heterosexuals)
pay for theirs. Also included is a "Soap Box" page, where you
can rant about any issue you want, as long as you present solid arguments
(which takes the fun out of it, if you ask me). Useful, but only if you
live in the area, or have a desire to see what they're trying to unload
out there.-RR
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Internet Shopping Galleria
Main Menu
Welcome to a plain-vanilla grid of non-imperative shopping choices: pet
products (rain slickers for dogs), cuckoo and grandfather clocks, a modeling
agency (featuring two models), San Diego singles, golf balls, extremely
sparse jewelry (one item only when I looked), Dial-A-Contact Lens, and,
of course, the standard Web floral offerings. Chances are you wouldn't head
to a mall off-line with such generic, scanty, and wildly diverse outlets.
Why should you settle for it on the Web?-KW
F
marketplaceMCI
HOME
MCI is making a valorous attempt to corral online shoppers with its Marketplace.
There are several points in its favor: It's signed up a few name-brand retailers
(Hammacher Schlemmer, Lillian Vernon, Nordstrom, Footlocker, Mac, and PC
Zones); the page is fairly easy to navigate and comprehend; and you don't
have to register in order to browse. But none of the retailers offers a
full line of products, or anything approximating their (paper) catalog selection.
It's clearly just the beginning, and though you may not be tempted to shop
here yet, chances are good you'll want to come back.-KW
C+
Monkey
This is primarily a store for hats and shirts, with unique artwork by Ken
Brown. Wait a minute. Did I say "artwork?" This is clothing with
prints of things like coffee cups. Artwork may be a stretch, but it is unique.
The prices seem reasonable, although to actually order anything, you will
have to revert to voice communications. Seems like good gift material for
people in their early 20s.-WKC
C
Offworld Metaplex
An extremely groovy and eclectic shopping mall with an outerspace theme.
The credits read "Offworld Metaplex, founded by Slith Darkmass, 2035."One purpose of the site is to advertise Darkmass Productions' Web design
services, so the graphics are really good, although somewhat unrestrained.
Unfortunately, it lacks one very important factor that most malls have:
shops. You know, places where you can buy things? It does have enough goofy
stuff, like art galleries, a wishing well, and the black hole of pain, that
it's fun to go there anyway. And you won't spend any money.-WKC
B+
Speak To Me Catalog
The unifying element to each item sold on this site is that it speaks. Ahhh,
the wonders of microchip technology. The catalog runs from the serious -
tapeless recorders - to the humorous - swearing keychains - to the bizarre
- a talking spatula. Talking spatula? At this point, we should all collectively
say "Go figure," and get on with our lives. Complete online ordering
capability, but the graphics are way-bad. Lots of audio clips, though.-WKC
B+
The
MegaMall
To put it simply, MegaMall is just a tad overblown. There are impressive
front doors, navigational text, and graphics aplenty, but these are merely
a facade for a hodgepodge of small vendors with fairly scant offerings.
The categories are many (antiques, jewelry, sporting goods, pets), but the
pickings few. MegaMall focuses on unappealing text blocks and has few pictures.
Also, a fair part of its site actively promotes the mall to new clients,
which lessens a customer-friendly feel. If this is what shopping online
is all about, "traditional" malls don't have much to worry about.-KW
D
Violet
This classy looking site that makes just a few products very appealing.
The slightly-precious categories ("Cozy" for two styles of comforter,
"Covet" for earrings and a necklace, "Handy" for a toothbrush
holder) are still lovely to behold on the screen, and the products are not
items you run into every day - as the prices will testify. Even so, the
images of the products, their brief and informative descriptions, including
price, will surely whet the appetite of shopping devotees. Ordering is easy;
you can choose to charge by phone or fax if you're nervous about credit
card numbers. Put your bookmark here.-KW
A
Virtual Book
Shop
Used books may be among the products best-suited to be on the Web, as the
audience is clearly full of readers and researchers who delight in finding
a very particular item. The folks at Virtual offer you access to their no-frills
database of rare books, first editions, antiquarian, and collectible titles.
You can search by author or just check out their listings. When it comes
time to order, the VBS process is refreshingly painless and straightforward.
-KW
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Welcome
to Cybershop
Cybershop's bold, busy, colorful, and loaded with lots of graphics and buttons
that take you s-l-o-w-l-y to products listed by manufacturer (!) under generic
categories like bathroom, bedroom, electronics, gourmet food, toys, and
so on. You can also do a custom search of the Cybershop database - but be
prepared for long waits, annoying mandatory jumps from product description
to price (why don't they appear on the same page?), and unfamiliar product
names. This site is about as much fun as waiting for a clerk to get off
the phone to wait on you.-KW
D+
Welcome
to ISN
Internet Shopping Network is a Web pioneer, with handsome graphics; clear,
readable screens; a sensible directory of products; and shopping categories.
Its shopping categories make sense for the Web: computer and photography
gear, specialty foods, flowers, home and office accessories. Being a trailblazer
doesn't ensure volume or quality, however; there's still no compelling reason
to buy here. But at least you won't develop a headache by browsing, and
ISN will be worth visiting more than once.-KW
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Welcome to Web Warehouse
Web Warehouse is kind of like a strip mall , and most of its shops are holding
a closeout sale. WW wants to grow, of course, but at the moment, the mix
of vendors includes purveyors of luggage, watches, an off-brand long-distance
service, diamonds, coffee, books, office furniture, and, of course, flowers.
Each of these hedges its bets by only offering you a few items. You don't
get to pick through much, and you don't know why. Let's hope the strip mall
goes away, or gets smarter before too long.-KW
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