August 14-20, 2003

mixpicks

eBay University

Be honest: Were you recently rejected from the University of Life for lack of useful skills? If you're ready to resort to desperate measures to give your resume an injection of academic credibility, the people at eBay are coming for you. The online auction house has unveiled its own eBay University, a touring institution where simple and advanced courses are available -- for the right price, of course. This week, UeBay will set up campus in Center City, where Jim Griffith will talk about his arduous erstwhile job as the 'Bay's first (and originally only) customer-support rep.

Classes are tailored to two levels of experience: The beginner track offers participants who may have bought a few items the information on how to become a good seller, or at least to time your bid so it stands a chance; the advanced-track class, meanwhile, is designed for anyone who wants to graduate to running an online business of high sales. The, ahem, genius of the concept is in encouraging the new brand of online entrepreneurism -- no doubt spawning a range of UeBay hoodies available on the site -- while applying the eBay brand name for prestigious cachet. Now that's a hard sell.

eBay University, Sat., Aug. 16, registration 8 a.m., courses run 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., $25, Philadelphia Marriott Hotel, 1201 Market St., www.eBay.com or 888-397-6209 to register.

—Juliet Fletcher