Employees use the programs to get out of having to pick up dry-cleaning or wait at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

WSJ: Practical Perks: Workers Get Credits at Task Outsourcers

Observers offered slightly mixed assessments so far, with some describing a pick-up but others feeling there is still a wait-and-see tendency in the market.

FORBES: FOCUS: Analysts: Physical Market Watching To See If Gold Price Stabilizes

Gibson says it is strong enough that investors looking to pick up shares on the cheap would be well-served to wait.

WSJ: Is the 'September Swoon' for Real?

While Amazon's customers punch in their credit card details and wait for the postman's knock, eS-Books' literary surfers will pick up their order from the nearest of the 8, 000 7-Eleven stores nationwide - and pay in cash.

CNN: FROM THE WEB