ZipZoomfly was an internet retailer for computer parts and related products. Based in Newark, California, ZipZoomfly was founded in 1998 under the name and ownership of XtraPlus Corporation.[1] The site relaunched in January 2000 as Googlegear, but after a dispute with Google in 2003, they relinquished the domain name and rebranded as ZipZoomfly.
Name change
editA formal complaint by Google to an ICANN domain-name dispute resolution provider led to the company changing its name from Googlegear to ZipZoomFly in 2003.[2] The domain googlegear.com is now owned by Google, was redirected to a Google page that used to explain that Googlegear had never been associated with Google and provided a link to zipzoomfly.com, but it now it displays an HTTP 404 error.
Mascot
editThe original mascot of Googlegear was a smiling bean-shaped cartoon character as the first letter "O" in the name.[3] Named GoogleGuy, the mascot was shown giving a thumbs-up sign with one of his two floating hands. The U.S. trademark filing describes GoogleGuy as an edible nut without a shell. Nevertheless, the website claimed that GoogleGuy was neither a bean nor a pancake, but a numeral "zero" from the virtual googol of products they carried.[4]
Claims of fraud
editSeveral customers accused ZipZoomFly of committing "rebate fraud" or promising good deals on technology once rebates are applied.[5] Several reports indicated that the company failed to follow up on rebates, making false claims of refunding money lost through rebate fraud.[6]
In January, 2011, the company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation was revoked due to failure to respond to one or more customer complaints filed with the BBB.[7]
In November 2011, the company's BBB rating was again listed as their highest rating: A+.
Their web site was marked "closed for maintenance" beginning in September, 2011.[8]
In January 2012, the website was updated to read:[9]
Dear ZipZoomFly shoppers, We apologize for the inconvenience. Please come back later.
Thank you - NM80
In May 2012 the website went offline permanently.
References
edit- ^ Lorber, Laura. "For This E-tailer, Deal Sites Are a Bargain". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ Google, Inc. v. Xtraplus Corp (2001-05-16). WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. Case No. D2001-0125. Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
- ^ "ZipZoomfly". Archived from the original on December 4, 2003. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ Archive.org cache of Googlegear.com, Retrieved on 2007-01-27
- ^ "ZipZoomfly.com". consumeraffairs.com. Archived from the original on 2010-04-24. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "ZipZoomFly.com (Formerly Googlegear)". resellerratings.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Zipzoomfly.com | Better Business Bureau® Profile". bbb.org. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
- ^ "ZipZoomfly". Archived from the original on September 27, 2011.
- ^ "ZipZoomfly". Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2024.