Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Jun 11/01) - It sounded too good to be true for Markus Weber, and so it was at first.
He hadn't set out to test Futureshop's integrity last fall by ordering a big-screen TV during a promotion by the electronics store. It was an offer to ship free in Canada.
Futureshop, a major appliance retail chain in the south, balked at the $400 it would cost to send the TV to Iqaluit. Weber says he was told "that's too far, we're not going to do that."
But a salesman called Weber back 15 minutes later, presumably after managers thought things over. Yes, Futureshop would ship the $1,500 unit free after all.
A lawyer by day but computer addict into the wee hours at home, Weber thought, "Why not take advantage of these offers?"
"I thought there must be a million other places that have free shipping."
He proceeded to build a Web site listing companies willing to ship for free, even to the Northern reaches. Futureshop's not on the list -- the store had second thoughts about the promotion.
Weber has a couple hundred listings of companies with free shipping, but is falling behind, with more than 100 more waiting to be added to his site.
Twenty of the stores pay him a commission ranging from five to 10 per cent.
He contacts companies he wants to see listed, and tries convincing them to ship for free. In addition, "some of my visitors are starting to recommend sites." After listing them for free, he e-mails the companies to let them know. So far none have been against the idea.
For now, Weber's not focused on making cash, but wants to get more hits on the site, found on the Web at www.nunashop.com." Eventually I hope to make a profit on this," he said.
"There are no employees or anything, it's just a Web site. Pretty much every night I spend a few hours at it," he added. "My wife calls the computer my girlfriend."
The most popular companies he lists with free shipping sell books and $6 T-shirts.
Putting the idea to work is the first time he's made use of his MBA from the University of Alberta, which he combined with a law degree.
