Doing Our Part

In our Inbox this morning, regarding the sale of 212-867-5309 on eBay:

You were the first outlet to mention the auction. We've now been on radio/tv/print media all over the country including Good Morning America, CNN and WNBC news. The auction is currently at $61,000+ and 143,000+ hits in 3 days. Congrats on the power of Gothamist.

-Ebay Seller

While "power" is certainly relative, Gothamist is very happy that we can further grease the eBay machine. We thanked eBay Seller, wishing good luck and that thoughts of Gothamist be summoned when PayPal'd a nice chunk of change. Perhaps in the form of a commission or something for our first birthday today (Happy Birthday to us!).

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts and Events on February 16, 2004 1:35 PM

Comments [rss]

vanessa

yes, the auction is off: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/165488p-144900c.html

adi

and now it seems they ended the auction. well, the number had a good run.

Greg S.

Holy Shit, you have made that girl RICH.

Nobody

I think the system time is set incorrectly on the server. It is 10:30am, right now.

Nobody

Verizon has no right to auction phone numbers. They don't own them either. They license them from us, the public.

jake

yeah... no way are those legit bids... but that's not our fault... and even if it was legit, verizon wouldn't put up with it. but verizon should take note, and begin auctioning popular numbers itself. thats what they do in china and other east asian countries. lucky numbers go for high prices.

Nobody

According to a Verizon spokesman, the auction is moot anyway.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/7957736.htm

"But there's a question of whether the number can even be transferred to the winner once the auction ends Feb. 22. Verizon says there's no question: It can't. Individuals do not have ownership of the numbers given to them, , a Verizon spokesman said."

Nobody

Historically, when a rather unique eBay auction such as this gets a lot of press, people start bidding falsely just to be a part of it. I seriously doubt the sincerity of any bid over $1,000.

The power of Gothamist, indeed.

PatGav

Yes, happy Birthday. May Gothamist celebrate many more.

But I gotta call attention back to the auction. It's currently at $202,000. Holy Shnikes!

ShinGo

May the Power of Gothamist multiply and crush its enemies without mercy and decorate its throne with their skulls and bones! Oh yeah... Happy B-Day!!

krucoff

to many more.

just let me know when you cut the cake and royalty checks!!

Michelle

happy birthday!

my blog's second birthday will be tomorrow. ;)

bruce

happy birthday, gothamist.

Hilton

GoGothamist!

Can the ebay seller plug gothamist in his interviews? Symbiotic relationships never hurt.

-H

Matteo

Happy Birthday!!

Jen

I call the Ephemera period as well as a month and a half at the beginning of 2003 our "beta" period. I insisted on a few weeks of making sure we could generate enough posts (week of January 19 is a good example) and then we agreed to "launch" on February 16, 2003, a day that is burned into my memory. We didn't get our logo until April 23, 2003, so take your pick.

jake

when is gothamist's first birthday? i mean, there are really two dates: the day i started "ephemera" on bluejake, and the day we moved "ephemera" to www.gothamist.com and started it as its own site. jen- can you give exact dates?