Kinko's and eBay Forge Joint Marketing Agreement; Two Category Leaders Join Forces to Provide Greater Internet Access and Online Trading Support Services to Customers

Business Wire, May 5, 1999

SAN JOSE/VENTURA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 1999--

Kinko's Inc., the leading global retail provider of document-copying and business services, and eBay, the leading person-to-person online trading community, Wednesday announced a cooperative marketing agreement.

The agreement provides customers of both companies with greater access to eBay through Kinko's computer and Internet services at more than 900 Kinko's locations in the United States. It also creates linkages to a wide variety of Kinko's support services to make the online trading process easier and more effective.

"This relationship is a great fit, enabling us to leverage our brand and service synergies to provide greater value for our customers," said Ellen Turner, chief marketing officer for Kinko's. "Our customers use Kinko's to express their ideas and information, and giving them access to technology is an important aspect of effective communication.

"Joining together with eBay, a clear leader in electronic commerce and one of the best-known Internet companies today, is another example of how we function as a highly effective communication tool for customers."

"The agreement was established because of the highly complementary services of the two brand leaders. We are excited about this and believe it is mutually beneficial to Kinko's, eBay and, most importantly, our customers," said Steve Westly, vice president of marketing and business development for eBay.

"Kinko's provides an excellent resource that can make the eBay user experience easier and more efficient with their locations nationwide and complete business services."

Under the agreement, Kinko's Web-site links will be featured on eBay site pages in the computer, business/office and big-ticket categories. eBay will receive in-store signage in Kinko's locations across the country. In addition, eBay site visitors will receive 15 minutes of free computer-rental time at any participating Kinko's branch.

The two companies are exploring further opportunities for future joint promotional programs.

Kinko's keeps eBay buyers and sellers close to the action 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through Internet access via its rental computers.

Kinko's can help eBay customers check the bidding status of eBay items, scan photos of items for digital posting, correspond via e-mail with other buyers and sellers, fax signed documentation, use FedEx(R) and UPS(R) shipping services, make color copies and even hold a live video conference to see items and meet other buyers and sellers "in person."

The agreement also will introduce many Kinko's customers to eBay and the benefits of its marketplace approach to an efficient, one-to-one Web trading format.

According to Turner: "Both Kinko's and eBay are pioneers of our respective business categories. We share similar operating philosophies of around-the-clock personalized customer service and innovation in meeting customer needs. We look forward to a relationship that brings our unique customer communities closer together through the combination of retail and electronic commerce."

Named in 1999 as one of Fortune magazine's top 100 companies in America to work for, Kinko's is a leading global retail provider of document-copying and business services. It is a privately held corporation with 25,000 co-workers and operations in nine countries. For additional information, call 800/2-KINKOS or visit the company's Web site at www.kinkos.com.

eBay (www.ebay.com), the world's personal trading community(TM), pioneered person-to-person online trading. Founded in 1995, eBay has developed an efficient and entertaining trading site on the Web that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. eBay has more than 3.8 million registered users.

Currently, there are more than 1.9 million items listed for sale. More than 250,000 items are added daily in more than 1,500 categories, including antiques; books, movies and music; coins and stamps; collectibles; computers; dolls and figures; jewelry and gemstones; photo and electronics; pottery and glass; sports memorabilia; and toys.