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  Q1: Our main challenge is to convince people to be adventurous enough to give it a try. We are offering actual customer reviews and testimonials on our website, and we would appreciate any pointers in this area. (2 pieces of advice)

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  by mhowson 

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  05.14.08 | 02:03 PM

  Add a forum so people can discuss the somethings, and run an occasional 'SomethingSale' where the somethings are $5.00. May have a 'SomethingPodcast' highlighting a different amazing (or not so amazing) Something each day through song, like the Woot podcast.

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  by br1168 

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  05.15.08 | 01:38 PM

  I just thought of something - you should seriously consider selling gift cards. Not only do gift cards introduce new people to your site, but often times they're never used after being purchased. I think the gift card idea would work especially well with your site because it allows someone to give something truly unique - they won't even know what it is so it'll be a mutual surprise. I would imagine this being quite appealing for people who don't know what to give someone for their birthday or what have you, although you may want to start adding $20 items to appeal to someone who wants to give a gift and not seem too stingy.

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  Q2: Do you think this idea is patentable? Should we try to do it? (1 pieces of advice)

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  by mhowson 

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  05.14.08 | 02:04 PM

  Patenting may be going a bit far, but you could sell your web software as a maintained package for something operators in other countries. Take either a % of the sales, or charge a monthly fee. This would encourage official collaboration, with less of the expense and time of patenting.

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  What advice do you have to help me grow my idea?
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  by br1168 

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  05.15.08 | 01:31 PM

  If you think your process or technology may be patentable you should just file a provisional patent, they cost about $100 and will give you a year to think about the proprietary rights you may be able to protect. Pretty well explained here:
  http://inventors.about.com/od/provisionalpatent/a/Provisional_Pat.htm
  

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  by zzdaysleeper 

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  05.14.08 | 02:14 PM

  i think this idea has definite potential... but it's vague. the surprise itself is great, but wouldn't it also be great to love your something, whatever it is?
  
  people love the idea of custom design.. anything, as long as it's personalized. so perhaps you should invite customers to take a "somethings interview" with personal/quirky questions or puzzles to help you select their "random "special something that "you know they'll love." this reminds me of the old bazaar fishing games, where someone behind a curtain picked out what you'd catch :)
  
  also, i don't know what your inventory is like, but i would suggest finding unique but useful items, like... penguin cufflinks or a book on how to cure a cold with jello and duct tape (??ha??). fun, quality (aka not out of a cracker jack box) items that you can't find at your local mall.
  
  there's my 2 cents :)

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  by mja5006 

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  04.28.08 | 10:42 PM

  This is a great idea! I think it would be great if the user could select a category of their "something", such as electronic gadgets, sports, etc. This way people are still receiving a random "something", however they are receiving a random "something" with a high probability of having it be something they will enjoy!

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  by ttaulli 

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  04.28.08 | 08:02 PM

  One thing you might try -- if you haven't already -- is to have seasonal offerings. For example, have some "somethings" for Mothers day. This can be a way to get people more interested in trying your web service.

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