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If you think some Internet businesses are bad investments because they're losing money, consider the prospects for DollarDiscounter.com. From their website: *****
Remember that line from Mission Impossible that said, "This message will self-destruct in 60 seconds?" Fiction begets reality -- a start-up high-tech firm, Disappearing Inc. (get it?), has developed a way to put time bombs in e-mail messages. *****
On the lookout for the next hot stock? Better steer clear of NetJ.com Corp. (OTCBB: NETJ), the company which does... well... nothing. According to their profile, "NetJ.com Corp. is a development stage company that currently has no business. Its business plan is to seek one or more profitable business combinations or acquisitions to secure profitability for shareholders. It has no day-to-day operations at present time. In their most recent SEC filing for the fiscal year ended 12/31/98, the company reports no revenues. Net loss decreased 68% to $30K. Results reflect the company's cost saving efforts in general and administrative expenses." *****
Is all the banter about the viability of the Foolish Four getting you down? *****
As George Bernard Shaw said, "My way of joking is to tell the truth. It's the funniest joke in the world."
As investors, we are constantly on the lookout for truly innovative investing ideas. Now that practically the whole world is connected via the Internet, we're bound to run into times when innovation crosses the line and the stuff of fiction morphs into reality.
Here are some companies I've encountered while surfing the Internet start-up seas. Honestly, I didn't make them up.
"Thank you for visiting DollarDiscounter.com. We will be offering our registered users the opportunity to purchase dollars for 95 cents."
Sign me up!
Even my 5-year-old nephew can figure out that buying a dollar for 95 cents is a good deal for consumers. But how the heck will this company ever make money? It's the brainchild of three UCLA students who plan to bridge the revenue gap that such a business model ensures by selling ads and collecting commissions from referring shoppers to other sites.
I tried to buy some discounted "money" on the site, but was greeted by a prompt "Coming soon." Perhaps they're still figuring out a way to generate profits on a transaction where they lose 5% every time.
According to Maclen Marvit, Disappearing Inc.'s CEO, "Unprotected email is like a postcard -- the wrong people can read it, there is no proof of delivery, and it stays around forever. Our email policy management system protects messages while they are in use, and then makes them expire whenever the company chooses."
I'm a lot more secure knowing that I can delete any top-secret documents, love letters, and embarrassing gossip that I send to my friends and don't want traced back to me. Imagine how helpful this would've been for the Unabomber.
According to a release issued by the company, "With the Disappearing Inc. system, companies can specify and consistently enforce policies that govern how long they want to retain different types of messages. For example, a public company might require that all messages related to SEC compliance be archived permanently but that everything else is deleted after a period of ninety days." Right. Or... they might want to delete those messages relating to SEC non-compliance.
How does Disappearing Inc. support online sales and service applications? According to their example, an Internet retailer might use the Disappearing Inc. system to send order confirmations and bills via e-mail. I see... pay this bill now , or this e-mail will self-destruct in your face.
Or, a financial services company might use the system to respond to customer questions. So sorry, but that stock we recommended has just dropped 40%. BOOM!
This turkey actually has a market cap of $77.4 million. Hello! May as well throw those hard-earned dollars into the ocean. You'll have an equally good chance of showing a return on your investment, although throwing it in the ocean may be a better idea -- you will at least get a tan for your efforts.
Don't panic. If you're feeling confused, you can abandon all reason and choose an earthy technique. In Stockholm, artist Ola Pehrson has attached electrodes to the leaves of a Yucca plant. Through a sensor, Ms. Pehrson monitors the plant's growth and movement, which she has linked to a computer program tracking Stockholm's 16 most active stocks. When the yucca's stock recommendations perform better than Stockholm's general stock index, the plant is given water and light. If it underperforms, it stays dry and in the dark.
Maybe if we tried that with mutual fund managers, their returns might begin to look better? Yuk-ka!
P.S. If you're looking for the most insightful, candid, timely, and Foolish stock research available, check out the Fool's new Research Reports. You can download a free sample by clicking here. That's no joke.
