800.com's Surprise Successes On the Web

800.com finds consumers not afraid to purchase HDTV, DVD, PVRs and PDAs on-line

By David Dritsas

If one thing is true, it's that the Internet is still a host to surprises. For 800.com, the types of products it is moving aren't necessarily the ones it expected to. HDTV is the prime example. "It's one of our hottest categories right now," said Greg Drew, CEO and founder. "It's only eclipsed by digital camera products right now." The thought was that televisions were the kind of product that depended on a live demo, but this idea seems to have taken a back seat. "What they (customers) have said to us repeatedly is that going into many of the big box retailers and looking at 30 TVs on a wall doesn't help them," said Drew, "They feel undeserved right now, that's why there is a growing need for specialty retailers."