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SquareTrade SideBar Debuts at DEMOFall - A Smarter, Safer Comparison Shopping Assistant for Demanding Online Shoppers
DEMOfall and SAN FRANCISCO - September 20, 2005 - Despite all the comparison shopping sites on the Web, research suggests that online shoppers still scour multiple sites before making a purchase decision to secure the best deal and avoid buyer's remorse. While online shopping is surging in popularity, it remains a time-consuming and often complex task.
Now, a new comparison-shopping application called SquareTrade SideBar is helping online consumers make smarter, safer online purchase decisions. SquareTrade SideBar was publicly demonstrated for the first time here at DEMOfall, an annual preview of the hottest new technologies coming to market.
Convenient, Smart and Safe
SquareTrade Sidebar is an always-on application that acts as your online shopping assistant. It detects when you are shopping and automatically delivers relevant information necessary to make a better-informed purchase-pricing comparisons, availability, reviews and seller trust ratings. SquareTrade Sidebar makes shopping more convenient and comprehensive by displaying a broader range of purchase options-from stores to auctions and classified ads.
The application is also the first comparison-shopping tool to incorporate anti-fraud and anti-phishing technology. This protection incorporates specialized databases shared by consortiums that include eBay, Microsoft and Visa. Best of all, SquareTrade SideBar is free to consumers. For a beta version of the SquareTrade SideBar, go to www.squaretrade.com. It takes less than a minute to install on your web browser.
"Research says most online consumers shop inefficiently - often visiting up to 10 sites per day over 10-20 days to assure themselves of a good deal," said Steve Abernethy, SquareTrade CEO and co-founder. "That's a lot of wasted time hunting for the best price."
"In the end, many are still asking: 'Did I get a good deal?' 'Should I trust this merchant?' "SquareTrade SideBar is trying to address these issues. We're providing peace of mind to people who hesitate to click."
DEMOfall Executive Producer Chris Shipley noted: "There are hundreds of online shopping sites. SquareTrade SideBar is a well-considered application that eliminates some of the complexity and inefficiency, and gives people the assurances they demand in their online shopping experience."
Building Consumer Trust
SquareTrade has been building consumer trust by helping millions of consumers each month verify the legitimacy of thousands of merchants on eBay and elsewhere online through its SquareTrade Seal program and its pioneering online dispute resolution services. SquareTrade's services provide one of the most recognized symbols of trust online and are utilized by the largest search engines and by governmental and trade organizations ranging from the California Association of Realtors® to the Federal Trade Commission's econsumer.gov program.
About SquareTrade
SquareTrade is the leading provider of online shopping services addressing the "trust deficit" in ecommerce. Established in 1999, SquareTrade delivers industry-leading merchant verification, post-purchase protections and online dispute resolution. SquareTrade works with eBay, Yahoo! and other leading brands, as well as with thousands of online merchants to help millions of consumers shop safely every month. SideBar-a smarter, safer online shopping assistant-is the latest in the company's growing portfolio of services helping consumers shop more confidently and safely online. Privately held, SquareTrade is headquartered in San Francisco. |
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