SAN FRANCISCO and CHICAGO - August 9, 2000 - Eppraisals.com, the Internet's most comprehensive source for the evaluation of art, antiques, and collectibles, and SquareTrade, the leading innovator in the development of an online trust infrastructure for e-commerce transactions, today announced a partnership in which SquareTrade's network of more than 250 mediators and arbitrators will make eppraisals.com's valuation service, EppraisalPro, available to SquareTrade users as a Dispute Resolution tool in the dispute resolution process.

Under terms of the agreement, during disputes between buyers and sellers in online auctions, SquareTrade's users will use eppraisals.com's services, as necessary, in deciding the value and identification of the item in question. Utilizing Eppraisals.com's network of more than 700 experts in 285 categories of art, antiques, and collectibles, mediators now have an authoritative and objective source to rely on when helping parties resolve disputes.

"By combining our unmatched network of experts, who evaluate thousands of items sold every day, with SquareTrade's mediation services, we hope to make the process of resolving disputes as quick and painless as possible," said Leslie Hindman, Chairman of Eppraisals.com. "Whether it's an 18th Century French commode, or a 1970's Partridge Family lunchbox, our network of experts can help users understand what the item is and what it's worth."

Furthermore, the agreement also allows online auction sellers using Eppraisals.com's certificates in their listing pages to incorporate the SquareTrade Seal, which show buyers that the seller has made a commitment to providing a reliable service and to fairly resolving any issues related to transactions. Buyers can now feel confident that a seller will work with them to resolve any problems fairly and efficiently.

"With the proliferation of online auction sites and the tremendous number of transactions taking place every day, this partnership is the perfect way to make Internet users more comfortable and confident as they buy and sell online," says Steve Abernethy, president and CEO of SquareTrade. "Eppraisals.com is an excellent tool for our mediators to make available to online buyers and sellers as they work together to resolve disagreements."

About Eppraisals.com
Eppraisals.com is the most comprehensive source for fast, accurate, and objective identification and valuation of art, antiques, and collectibles. Our network of more than 700 experts are specialists and authorities in 285 different categories - from English furniture to '70's lunchboxes, from architectural artifacts to Asian art. We help novice and experienced collectors discover the value and history of their items, or items they're thinking about buying at online auction or retail site. For those interested in selling in an online auction, the company can integrate an eppraisal certificate into a user's online auction listing page. Eppraisals.com also offers unique editorial content covering all areas of collecting, including fine art, furniture and decorative arts, collectibles, tips and trends about the market, and insights about caring for your treasures. For more information, please visit www.eppraisals.com.

About SquareTrade
SquareTrade is the leading innovator in the development of a trust infrastructure for e-commerce transactions. SquareTrade addresses the all-important issue of building trust in e-business relationships, one of the essential enabling factors necessary to fully realize the power of the Internet and online commerce. The digitally watermarked SquareTrade Seal establishes an online seller's customer service track record, helps build buyer confidence and serves as the first line of defense against fraud. It is backed by SquareTrade's patent-pending, web-based dispute resolution service and SquareTrade's international network of more than 250 mediators and arbitrators. Founded in 1999, SquareTrade is based in San Francisco, Calif. For more information, employment opportunities or to contact a SquareTrade representative, visit www.squaretrade.com.

Note: SquareTrade is a trademark of SquareTrade, Inc.