Many retailers fear such comparisons can slice into profit margins.
Lycos is seeking to reinvigorate its shopping strategy after the setback it received last May, with the collapse of its proposed merger with USA Networks Inc., owner of Home Shopping Network. The combination would have been a potentially potent, though untested merger of television and Web commerce. Initially, the site will aim to reach the more than 25 million registered Lycos users, along with newcomers. A company executive said that 40 percent, or about 12 million, of the users of its Web search system are looking to buy something. Merchants who choose to participate in comparison shopping can enter their products directly into the Lycos comparison shopping database.