CLEVELAND, Sept. 13, 2000-- When BoinkMail's co-founders launched their site one year ago, they didn't worry about inventory. After all, when your primary product is an empty box, what could you possibly run out of -- air? A year later the two Cleveland entrepreneurs are still laughing -- all the way to the bank -- about the successful business they originally drafted on a cocktail napkin. Their site, http://www.BoinkMail.com , allows visitors to send huge, embarrassing packages -- often empty -- to recipients anywhere in the USA. "Picture sitting in your office when your receptionist announces that a huge package has arrived for you from the Inflatable Doll of the Month Club (or from Sheep Lovers Anonymous, or Inept Bosses of America)," explains Marcus May, BoinkMail's CEO. "After the entire office stops laughing, you can try to explain that you didn't order the package (contrary to labels indicating 'The Items You Ordered Enclosed'). But by then, it's too late -- You've Been 'Boinked!'" "Our goal at BoinkMail is to offer visitors a funny, inexpensive way to embarrass someone -- for their birthday, retirement, bachelor party, or just for laughs," continues May. "We've got more than 50 hilarious gag boxes -- a "Boink" for every occasion." The "gag" is that each box is made to appear as though the recipient has ordered it for himself/herself. "Ideally, you send it to someone at their workplace -- for maximum embarrassment," explains May. "As you can imagine, Boss's Day and April Fools are huge days for us." Perhaps the biggest gag is that most BoinkMail boxes are shipped empty! Although the site offers a wide variety of gag gift items -- from inflatable sheep to oversized adult diapers -- many customers apparently find the boxes funny enough to send empty. But that's not worrying the owners, as BoinkMail is already exceeding their expectations. In fact, within three months of launch, BoinkMail was already in the black and capturing media attention. The founders have done numerous radio interviews, and BoinkMail has even appeared on a national late-night TV talk show. "Why should we worry?" jests May. "If our customers want to send air, we'll send air. Heck, we've got enough air to last us to our IPO."

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), November 08, 2000

Answers

LOL kritter!!!

Why couldn't we have thought of this?? Anybody else out there got an entreprenuerial designs to make a fast buck?? The fruitcake season nears....

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), November 09, 2000.

But can they fax chicken soup to another FRL's soul?

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), November 09, 2000.

There was a place where you could buy a lump of coal for 15 bucks. They send it to the recipient of your choice, with a Christmas card included. I bookmarked it...am gonna have to find that sucker!

What was it that PT Barnum used to say? ;-)

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), November 15, 2000.

This company is nothing but a scam. Strangely, you can't reach these people via phone. I placed an order and needed to change the shipping address. Most of their links do not work. Several of the e-mails that I sent were returned because of a daemon error. I think I have been scammed by a fictitious company. I will be canceling my order because of lack of customer service. It's seems very strange that you cannot contact these people by phone. No phone number on their website, seach engines, or 1-800 phone directory information. I think the gag is on me and if these boobs are millionaires it is only because they are conartists.

-- Danielle (kickin@aol.com), January 24, 2003.