And the stock itself is arranged in a numbering system that would drive an old Dewey-decimal librarian crazy. Many dye their hair in hues that range across the full spectrum, and adorn an impressive number of pierced body parts with jewelry. But in recent weeks the company has been so thoroughly deluged with holiday orders that it has hired hundreds of temporary workers here and at its other big distribution center, in New Castle, Del., and brought executives from the downtown Seattle headquarters to the warehouse in an industrial neighborhood here. In any event, some of the company's brainiest talent, people who are usually found designing new Web pages or researching other products for potential sales online, can now be found taking the merchandise off the shelves one book at a time, or pitching in at the loading docks. With Christmas now at hand, the company says it has largely met its commitment to ship any book in stock out the door within 24 hours.
Some analysts say the price still has far to go.
But other analysts remain skeptical. Its officials say the company is focused solely on developing its customer base. It's completely what drives us. In this business, the real power is in the hands of the customers. They're always one click away from another store.