Buy.com is an online retailer based in Aliso Viejo, California. It began by selling computers and electronics in 1997 and has since expanded into many other categories. Initially the company sold items below cost and intended to make up the losses from the sale of advertising and ancillary services like warranties and equipment leases. Buy.com sold $111 million worth of goods and services in 1998, its first full year, beating Compaq’s record for most first-year sales of any company.
Founder Scott Blum sold his stake to SoftBank in 1999 for $195 million just before the company first filed to go public. Stock values plummeted in the year following Buy.com’s initial public offering and in 2001 Blum reacquired Buy.com and took it private for 17 cents per share.
What got my attention was some of the witty youtube videos floating around promoting buy.com.. They are hilarious.. You are sure to buy something if you see the ads..