eCOST.com Reports Improved Third Quarter Performance; Significantly Reduces Losses and Increases Gross Margin Percent from Secon

eCOST.com, Inc. (Nasdaq:ECST) (www.ecost.com), a leading
online discount retailer, today announced financial results for its
third quarter ended September 30, 2005. eCOST.com also announced today
intentions to merge with PFSweb, Inc., an industry leader in logistics
and fulfillment services.
   Net sales for the third quarter ended September 30, 2005 were
$38.2 million, a decrease of $2.9 million or 7%, from $41.0 million in
the second quarter of 2005, and a decrease of $5.2 million or 12%,
from $43.4 million in the third quarter ended September 30, 2004.
Pre-tax losses for the third quarter 2005, including a one-time
severance charge of $147,000, were $2.3 million compared to $2.9
million in the second quarter 2005 and pre-tax loss of $1.4 million in
the third quarter 2004. Pre-tax losses in the third quarter 2005,
excluding the one-time severance charge, were $2.2 million. The
reduced losses in the quarter were due to an improved gross margin
percentage, reduced advertising expenditures and lower operating costs
compared to the second quarter 2005.
   Adam Shaffer, Chairman and CEO of eCOST.com, commented, "We are
pleased with the progress that we've made in the third quarter. We
have implemented and are executing on initiatives which have helped us
to reduce our losses from the second quarter on lower sales volume. In
addition, our balance sheet at the end of the quarter included no
debt, over $6.2 million in cash and reduced inventory levels compared
to the prior quarter-end. Our average order value increased to $389 at
a higher gross margin percentage, which translates into higher gross
margin dollars per order compared to the prior quarter. We have also
been able to maintain a positive spread between our average gross
margin dollars per order and our cost to acquire a new customer. We
still have much work to do and continue to focus on our gross margin
improvement and cost savings initiatives, including implementing lower
cost freight methods and enhancing certain operational functions
offshore."
   The Company added 57,000 new customers during the quarter,
expanding eCOST's customer base to over 1.3 million at September 30,
2005. This is an increase in the overall customer base of
approximately 395,000 or 42% over the quarter ended September 30,
2004, and 4% sequentially.
   Net sales in the third quarter of 2005 declined approximately 12%
compared with the same period last year and 7% sequentially as the
Company focused on margin improvement over growth. The gross margin
for the third quarter 2005 increased to 7.1%, a 45 basis-point
sequential increase from 6.7% in the second quarter of 2005. Average
order value increased to $389, or 11%, in Q3 2005 compared to $352 in
Q2 2005, and a 22% increase compared with $320 in Q3 2004.
   Shaffer concluded, "Also today, we announced our intention, as
reflected in a non-binding letter of intent, to merge with PFSweb, a
global leader in logistics and fulfillment services. We are very
excited by the prospect of merging with PFSweb. PFSweb's advanced
distribution and fulfillment services and IT capabilities offer eCOST
a solid platform to significantly improve its web commerce platform
and increase customer service. We believe that the combination of our
core strengths would further enhance our financial position and offer
suppliers additional distribution and back-end capabilities. However,
the proposed merger is subject to due diligence, the execution of a
definitive agreement, the approval of the respective Boards of
Directors and shareholders of each company and other customary
conditions."
   "We are excited about the potential opportunity of combining with
PFSweb, while at the same time, we are staying very focused on the
ongoing improvements to the Company. We have been seeing positive
signs in a number of areas and will continue to focus on achieving
profitability. We believe we will continue to reduce the level of
losses sequentially in the fourth quarter of 2005. With these
continuing improvements, we expect to achieve operating profitability
and positive net income for 2006 overall. We will continue our
attention towards achieving profitability. As we realize earnings
improvements, we will reinvest for sales growth," concluded Shaffer.

   Investor Webcast

   Management will host a live webcast of eCOST's Third Quarter
Investor Conference Call today at 6:00 p.m. EST. To access the
webcast, go to eCOST's website at www.ecost.com, enter the Investor
Relations section, and click on the webcast icon.
   A conference call replay will be available for one week following
the live call and can be accessed by calling: [phone]
(International 617-801-6888) and entering the reservation number,
92320474.

   About eCOST.com, Inc.

   eCOST.com, Inc. is a leading multi-category online discount
retailer of high quality new, "close-out" and refurbished brand-name
merchandise for consumers and small business buyers. eCOST.com markets
over 100,000 different products from leading manufacturers such as
Apple, Canon, Citizen, Denon, HP, Nikon, Onkyo, Seiko, Sony, and
Toshiba primarily over the Internet (http://www.ecost.com) and through
direct marketing. Prior to April 11, 2005, eCOST.com was a subsidiary
of PC Mall, Inc. (NASDAQ:MALL).

   Forward-Looking Statements:

   This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such
statements include the Company's expectations, hopes or intentions
regarding the future, including but not limited to statements
regarding business and financial trends, the Company's expectations
regarding profitability, the Company's implementation of certain cost
savings initiatives, including establishing offshore operations and
using new freight carriers, the Company's intention to merge with
PFSweb and the expected benefits of such a merger. Forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties and actual results may
differ materially from those discussed in any such statement. Among
the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are
the following: reliance on PC Mall's maintenance of the Company's
systems; the Company's ability to maintain existing and build new
vendor and supplier relationships; ability to obtain favorable product
pricing and vendor consideration; product availability; outages of the
Company's systems and website; ability to attract customers on
cost-effective terms; political, economic, legal and other risks
associated with operating in a foreign country, risks due to shifts in
market demand and the economic climate and, with respect to the
proposed merger, the inability of the Company and PFSweb to, among
other things, obtain approval from their respective boards of
directors and shareholders for the transaction, reach agreement on
definitive terms for, and subsequently close, the transaction, and,
assuming the merger is consummated, the inability of the companies to
successfully integrate their business to achieve the anticipated
benefits of the transaction. Additional factors that could cause
actual results to differ are discussed under the heading "Risk
Factors" and in other sections of the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission and in its other periodic reports filed from
time to time with the Commission. All forward-looking statements in
this document are made as of the date hereof, based on information
available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company
assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

   WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

   In connection with the Company's solicitation of proxies with
respect to any meeting of its stockholders that may be called with
respect to the prospective merger, the Company will file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and will furnish to
its stockholders, a proxy statement. Stockholders of the Company are
advised to read any proxy statement when it is finalized and
distributed to stockholders because it will contain important
information. Stockholders will be able to obtain a free-of-charge copy
of any proxy statement (when available) and other relevant documents
filed with the SEC from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Stockholders
will also be able to obtain a free-of-charge copy of the proxy
statement and other relevant documents (when available) by directing a
request by mail or telephone to eCOST.com, Inc., 2555 West 190th
Street, Suite 106, Torrance CA 90504 Attention: Corporate Secretary,
Telephone: [phone], or from eCOST.com's website, www.ecost.com.
   The Company and certain of its directors, executive officers and
other members of management and employees may, under the rules of the
SEC, be deemed to be "participants" in the solicitation of proxies
from such company's stockholders in favor of the prospective merger.
Information regarding the persons who may be considered "participants"
in the solicitation of proxies will be set forth in any proxy
statement that is filed with the SEC. Information regarding certain of
these persons and their beneficial ownership of the Company's common
stock is also set forth in the Schedule 14A filed by eCOST.com on May
27, 2005 with the SEC.
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                            eCOST.com, Inc.

                       STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                 (in thousands except per share data)


                              Three months ended    Nine months ended
                                September 30,         September 30,
                             --------------------  -------------------
                               2005       2004      2005       2004
                             ---------  ---------  --------  ---------

Net Sales                   $  38,186  $  43,397  $134,290  $ 120,389

Cost of goods sold             35,456     39,294   125,084    109,055
                             ---------  ---------  --------  ---------

Gross profit                    2,730      4,103     9,206     11,334

Selling, general and
 administrative expenses        5,088      5,527    17,393     12,783
                             ---------  ---------  --------  ---------

Loss from operations           (2,358)    (1,424)   (8,187)    (1,449)

Interest income                   (49)        (7)     (139)        (7)
Interest expense -- PC Mall
 commercial line of credit         --        304        --      1,264
Interest income -- PC Mall
 commercial line of credit         --       (304)       --     (1,264)
                             ---------  ---------  --------  ---------

Loss before income taxes       (2,309)    (1,417)   (8,048)    (1,442)

Income tax provision
 (benefit)                         --       (525)    5,350       (535)
                             ---------  ---------  --------  ---------

Net loss                    $  (2,309) $    (892) $(13,398)      (907)
                             =========  =========  ========  =========

Loss per share:
  Basic                     $   (0.13) $   (0.06) $  (0.76) $   (0.06)
                             =========  =========  ========  =========
  Diluted                   $   (0.13) $   (0.06) $  (0.76) $   (0.06)
                             =========  =========  ========  =========

Shares used in computing
 per share:
(in thousands)
  Basic                        17,738     15,155    17,576     14,385
                             =========  =========  ========  =========
  Diluted                      17,738     15,155    17,576     14,385
                             =========  =========  ========  =========



                            eCOST.com, Inc.

                            BALANCE SHEETS
                   (in thousands, except share data)


                                         September 30,   December 31,
                                              2005            2004
                                         -------------   -------------
Assets
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents             $       6,290   $       8,790
  Short-term investments                           --           7,000
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance
   for doubtful accounts                        5,080           2,039
  Inventories, net                              6,737           1,794
  Prepaid expenses and other current
   assets                                         894             263
  Due from Affiliate, net                          --             813
  Deferred income taxes                            --             883
                                         -------------   -------------

        Total current assets                   19,001          21,582

  Property and equipment, net                   1,868             342
  Deferred income taxes                            --           4,467
  Other assets                                    179             123
                                         -------------   -------------

Total assets                            $      21,048   $      26,514
                                         =============   =============

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:

   Accounts payable                     $       7,015   $         585
   Accrued expenses and other current
    liabilities                                 3,208           2,635
   Due to Affiliate, net                        1,082              --
   Deferred revenue                             1,167           2,014
                                         -------------   -------------

        Total current liabilities              12,472           5,234
                                         -------------   -------------

Total liabilities                              12,472           5,234
                                         -------------   -------------

Stockholders' equity:
   Common stock, $.001 par value;
    100,000,000 shares authorized;
    17,747,133 and 17,465,000 shares
    issued and outstanding at September
    30, 2005 and December 31, 2004,
    respectively                                   18              17
   Additional paid-in capital                  34,152          33,834
   Deferred stock-based compensation             (958)         (1,333)
   Accumulated deficit                        (24,636)        (11,238)
                                         -------------   -------------

Total stockholders' equity                      8,576          21,280
                                         -------------   -------------

Total liabilities and stockholders'
 equity                                 $      21,048   $      26,514
                                         =============   =============



                            eCOST.com, Inc.

                        SELECTED OPERATING DATA


                          Three months ended      Nine months ended
                            September 30,           September 30,
                        ----------------------  ----------------------
                          2005        2004        2005        2004
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Total customers (1)     1,343,989     949,056   1,343,989     949,056

Active customers (2)      507,029     389,133     507,029     389,133

New customers (3)          56,668      88,147     257,128     228,634

Number of orders (4)      102,022     140,468     415,417     376,828

Average order
 value (5)             $      389  $      320  $      338  $      331

Advertising
 expense (6)           $1,307,000  $1,377,000  $4,784,000  $3,878,000



    (1) Total customers have been calculated as the cumulative number
        of customers for which orders have been taken from our
        inception to the end of the reported period.

    (2) Active customers consist of the number of customers who placed
        orders during the 12 months prior to the end of the reported
        period.
 
    (3) New customers represent the number of persons that established
        a new account and placed an order during the reported period.

    (4) Number of orders represents the total number of orders shipped
        during the reported period (not reflecting returns).

    (5) Average order value has been calculated as gross sales divided
        by the total number of orders during the period presented. The
        impact of returns is not reflected in average order value.

    (6) Advertising expense includes the total dollars spent on
        advertising during the reported period, including Internet,
        direct mail, print and e-mail advertising, as well as customer
        list enhancement services.
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