Lisa

Amazon/Overstock Gamble May Pay Off

I purchased some books and CDs from Amazon to be delivered to my address (NY), and found for the first time that Amazon is charging me sales tax. In the past, I've bought big ticket items -- particularly electronics -- from AMZN because it's much cheaper than purchasing locally, largely due to the sales tax difference. Now I'm not sure I'd do this. Wonder whether this will have a big impact on AMZN's sales until it's resolved.

Any update on what's going on with the sales tax issue?

5 Key Quotes from Netflix on the Movie Distribution Business

"Hudson News VP of corporate communications Laura Samuels said the addition of Flexplay is part of the retailer's overall strategy to offer services that "fill the gap" in areas that airlines have cut back... "We've been kind of keeping pace in our stores with what airlines have been cutting back on," she said. ****** Samuels said they also liked that Flexplay discs can be recycled and said customers will be encouraged to do so.******


On Jul 28 06:52 PM Toni + wrote:

> "Flexplay disposable DVDs"
>
> Nice, more shit to pollute the planet.
>
> Fucking idiots.

5 Key Quotes from Netflix on the Movie Distribution Business

Note that Flexplay disposable DVDs are now available in Staples stores and now airports too:

www.videobusiness.com/...

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

"Take that, Google. A Yahoo-less Microsoft (MSFT) has a new search-ad trick up its sleeve: cash rebates for products found through Microsoft's live.com. "Live Search cashback" will get you percentage-based rebates deposited directly to your bank account, PayPal (EBAY) account, or by check. Participating vendors include Canon (CAJ), Barnes & Noble (BKS), Circuit City (CC) and Home Depot (HD)."

Promoting an inferior product with cash rebates never works.

Google App Engine Challenges Amazon in Web Services

Any sense of what kind of revenue Google could generate from this, and how profitable it might be?

Signs of a Slowdown in E-Commerce

"Strong areas included consumer electronics" -- presumably that means Apple.

Click Fraud Claims 28% Of Search Ads

I find this really hard to believe. What's the motivation of the hordes of people guilty of click fraud?

Audible Fits Right in with Amazon's Digital Product Growth Mission

This now looks kind of unadventurous given the MSFT bid for YHOO, doesn't it?

Amazon Strengthens Its Digital Hand With Purchase of Audible

What do you mean by "a platform expansion agenda"?

Amazon Shares Showing Resilience as Analysts Defend Stock

How does Mark Mahaney get an "attractive valuation"?

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

The UPS news is yet another negative data point on the economy. Surprised the market isn't picking this up. Or maybe a really glum economic outlook is already priced in.

Amazon Strengthens Its Digital Hand With Purchase of Audible

Not so sure this is negative. Amazon gets the best distribution for audiobooks on other platforms, and positions itself for the creation of its own audiobooks.

Quiz: 7 Amazing Facts From 2007

Nice touch for a day when the market is closed!

Is E-commerce Affected by Broader Slowdown?

From Bloomberg today:

"EBay Inc., the largest Web-based auction company, and Amazon.com Inc., the biggest Internet retailer, slumped on signs holiday sales growth online is slowing. ComScore Inc., a research firm, said online spending from Nov. 1 through Dec. 14 rose 18 percent to $22.7 billion, trailing the firm's forecast for 20 percent growth in November and December and last year's 26 percent gain."

Amazon's New MP3 Store No Threat To Apple's iTunes

Excellent article, particularly the chart and "And the $630 million in gross margin from the iTunes Store this year is about 1/4 of Amazon's gross profit for its entire business."

I just don't get Amazon's valuation. It's core CD and DVD business is at risk from digital downloads, and shipping costs crimp the profitability of its other businesses.

Can anyone justify AMZN's valuation?