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Oprah Winfrey Hosts October 2 Charity Auction at Amazon.com

/news/news-details/1999/Oprah-Winfrey-Hosts-October-2-Charity-Auction-at-Amazon.com/default.aspx

Oprah-Winfrey-Hosts-October-2-Charity-Auction-at-Amazon.com

09/08/1999 00:00:00

Oprah Winfrey Hosts October 2 Charity Auction at Amazon.com

09/08/1999

1999

Proceeds benefit "Oprah's Angel Network" as part of Winfrey's charge to learn online auctions from Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos SEATTLE, September 8, 1999-/PRNewswire/-Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today that Oprah Winfrey is turning to the leading e-commerce company to teach her the intricacies of online auctions. On Saturday, October 2, 1999, Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos will guide Winfrey through the complete Internet auction experience and will host a charity auction of her personal items on Amazon.com Auctions. The lesson will be filmed for Winfrey's upcoming show on the new Oxygen cable network. The 12-part series, Oprah Goes Online, will follow Winfrey and longtime friend Gayle King as they learn how to navigate the Internet. Oprah is asking fans to join her for the special "Oprah's Angel Network" auction on October 2 (time to be announced). Auction items include everything from signed memorabilia and the computer she will be using during her Internet lessons to front-row seats to The Oprah Winfrey Show as well as many other one-of-a-kind items. Fans can find auction details at www.amazon.com/auctions, and will be able to preview items online beginning September 25. All auction proceeds will be donated to "Oprah's Angel Network," a campaign launched by Winfrey in 1997. Proving that small acts of kindness create astounding results, "Oprah's Angel Network" is celebrating its third season of making a difference in people's lives. Since it was founded, "Oprah's Angel Network" has raised over $3.5 million for college scholarships, built 145 Habitat for Humanity homes across the country, and embraced a host of other mini-miracles. Fans can participate in the auction on October 2 on the Amazon.com Auctions site (www.amazon.com/auctions). Winfrey and Bezos will oversee the online charity auction. "Our auction customers love new and unique items, and we know they'll jump at the chance to own some of Oprah's treasured personal belongings and help the 'Angel Network' at the same time," said Bezos. "We're honored that Oprah has asked us to introduce her and her fans to the excitement of the Internet and the online auction experience." "Since launching the 'Angel Network,' I'm always looking for new ways to help those in need," said Winfrey. "Events like this on the Internet provide an exciting way we can work together to improve the world." About Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About "Oprah's Angel Network" Winfrey founded "Oprah's Angel Network" in 1997 as a way to encourage her viewers to make the world a better place to live. Launched with the very successful "World's Largest Piggy Bank," Winfrey raised over $3.5 million in spare change from her viewers and through private donations to send 150 students in need to college. Also during its first season, "Oprah's Angel Network" launched a campaign with Habitat for Humanity to build nearly 200 "Oprah Houses" across the country. "We want you to really begin to open up your eyes, notice people around you, and look for ways to help those in need," says Winfrey.

<p>Proceeds benefit "Oprah's Angel Network" as part of Winfrey's charge to learn online auctions from Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos</p><p>SEATTLE, September 8, 1999-/PRNewswire/-Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today that Oprah Winfrey is turning to the leading e-commerce company to teach her the intricacies of online auctions. On Saturday, October 2, 1999, Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos will guide Winfrey through the complete Internet auction experience and will host a charity auction of her personal items on Amazon.com Auctions. The lesson will be filmed for Winfrey's upcoming show on the new Oxygen cable network. The 12-part series, Oprah Goes Online, will follow Winfrey and longtime friend Gayle King as they learn how to navigate the Internet.</p><p>Oprah is asking fans to join her for the special "Oprah's Angel Network" auction on October 2 (time to be announced). Auction items include everything from signed memorabilia and the computer she will be using during her Internet lessons to front-row seats to The Oprah Winfrey Show as well as many other one-of-a-kind items. Fans can find auction details at www.amazon.com/auctions, and will be able to preview items online beginning September 25.</p><p>All auction proceeds will be donated to "Oprah's Angel Network," a campaign launched by Winfrey in 1997. Proving that small acts of kindness create astounding results, "Oprah's Angel Network" is celebrating its third season of making a difference in people's lives. Since it was founded, "Oprah's Angel Network" has raised over $3.5 million for college scholarships, built 145 Habitat for Humanity homes across the country, and embraced a host of other mini-miracles.</p><p>Fans can participate in the auction on October 2 on the Amazon.com Auctions site (www.amazon.com/auctions). Winfrey and Bezos will oversee the online charity auction.</p><p>"Our auction customers love new and unique items, and we know they'll jump at the chance to own some of Oprah's treasured personal belongings and help the 'Angel Network' at the same time," said Bezos. "We're honored that Oprah has asked us to introduce her and her fans to the excitement of the Internet and the online auction experience."</p><p>"Since launching the 'Angel Network,' I'm always looking for new ways to help those in need," said Winfrey. "Events like this on the Internet provide an exciting way we can work together to improve the world."</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.</p><p>Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites:</p><p>www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About "Oprah's Angel Network"</p><p>Winfrey founded "Oprah's Angel Network" in 1997 as a way to encourage her viewers to make the world a better place to live. Launched with the very successful "World's Largest Piggy Bank," Winfrey raised over $3.5 million in spare change from her viewers and through private donations to send 150 students in need to college. Also during its first season, "Oprah's Angel Network" launched a campaign with Habitat for Humanity to build nearly 200 "Oprah Houses" across the country. "We want you to really begin to open up your eyes, notice people around you, and look for ways to help those in need," says Winfrey.</p>

Amazon.com Names Warren C. Jenson Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Names-Warren-C.-Jenson-Senior-Vice-President-and-Chief-Financial-Officer/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Names-Warren-C.-Jenson-Senior-Vice-President-and-Chief-Financial-Officer

09/07/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Names Warren C. Jenson Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

09/07/1999

1999

Delta Airlines CFO also Served at NBC, General Electric SEATTLE, September 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today it has named Warren C. Jenson as its senior vice president and chief financial officer. Jenson had been executive vice president and CFO at Delta Airlines, the nation's third-largest airline. Jenson comes to Amazon.com with a strong record of achievement in financial management, innovative transactions, and web-based initiatives that improved service to Delta's customers. He is the second key addition at Amazon.com in the last week, as the company strengthens its long-term senior management team and builds for future growth. Last week, Jeffrey A. Wilke was named vice president-general manager of operations. In addition, Joseph P. Galli was named President and COO in June. "This is a major coup for Amazon.com," said Galli. "Warren brings an unbeatable combination of financial savvy, Fortune 500 experience and a passion for customers. He is an invaluable addition who will help to ensure our success as we grow. Amazon.com has taken yet another important step on its way to becoming a lasting and important company." "This is one of those rare opportunities - once in a generation - to play in a field where history will be made," said Jenson. "Amazon.com is revolutionizing the way people shop, making their lives easier through e-commerce and providing the best in customer service." Jenson had previously been CFO at NBC, a division of General Electric, and prior to that was staff executive and manager-mergers and acquisitions and director of investor relations at General Electric. He was a key participant in several NBC acquisitions and Internet moves and in the development and structuring of MSNBC. Jenson will report directly to Galli. Jenson succeeds Amazon.com CFO Joy Covey. In April, Amazon.com announced that Covey would become the company's chief strategy officer, and she will continue to play a key role in the overall management of Amazon.com. About Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20% to 90% off retail, at www.gear.com . This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Delta Airlines CFO also Served at NBC, General Electric</p><p>SEATTLE, September 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today it has named Warren C. Jenson as its senior vice president and chief financial officer. Jenson had been executive vice president and CFO at Delta Airlines, the nation's third-largest airline.</p><p>Jenson comes to Amazon.com with a strong record of achievement in financial management, innovative transactions, and web-based initiatives that improved service to Delta's customers. He is the second key addition at Amazon.com in the last week, as the company strengthens its long-term senior management team and builds for future growth. Last week, Jeffrey A. Wilke was named vice president-general manager of operations. In addition, Joseph P. Galli was named President and COO in June.</p><p>"This is a major coup for Amazon.com," said Galli. "Warren brings an unbeatable combination of financial savvy, Fortune 500 experience and a passion for customers. He is an invaluable addition who will help to ensure our success as we grow. Amazon.com has taken yet another important step on its way to becoming a lasting and important company."</p><p>"This is one of those rare opportunities - once in a generation - to play in a field where history will be made," said Jenson. "Amazon.com is revolutionizing the way people shop, making their lives easier through e-commerce and providing the best in customer service."</p><p>Jenson had previously been CFO at NBC, a division of General Electric, and prior to that was staff executive and manager-mergers and acquisitions and director of investor relations at General Electric. He was a key participant in several NBC acquisitions and Internet moves and in the development and structuring of MSNBC. Jenson will report directly to Galli.</p><p>Jenson succeeds Amazon.com CFO Joy Covey. In April, Amazon.com announced that Covey would become the company's chief strategy officer, and she will continue to play a key role in the overall management of Amazon.com.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.</p><p>Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites:</p><p>www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20% to 90% off retail, at www.gear.com .</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Names Jeffrey A. Wilke Vice President-General Manager of Operations

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Names-Jeffrey-A.-Wilke-Vice-President-General-Manager-of-Operations/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Names-Jeffrey-A.-Wilke-Vice-President-General-Manager-of-Operations

09/03/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Names Jeffrey A. Wilke Vice President-General Manager of Operations

09/03/1999

1999

SEATTLE, September 3, 1999--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today named Jeffrey A. Wilke as its vice president-general manager of operations. Wilke was formerly vice president and general manager of AlliedSignal's Pharmaceutical Fine Chemicals unit, a $220 million business with 750 employees. Joining AlliedSignal during its Total Quality revolution in 1993, Wilke moved through a series of increasingly complex operational and general-management leadership roles. As Total Quality matured into Six Sigma, Wilke led process-improvement teams, optimized a global logistics network for an electronic-components business, implemented world-class inventory-planning processes, and led the recent efforts to focus on key customers in the rapidly growing pharmaceutical marketplace. Wilke was directly responsible for 15 plants/distribution centers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. "We are extremely excited to have Jeff join our team at Amazon.com," said Joe Galli, president and chief operating officer of Amazon.com. "Jeff is truly a world-class operations executive and a high-potential general manager. We look forward to bringing Jeff's Six Sigma and operations-management skills to the Amazon.com team. He truly shares our passion for customer service." "Amazon.com is the pioneer of e-commerce," said Wilke. "I'm delighted to be a part of Amazon.com's efforts to build the world's most customer-centric company. We're currently building out a distribution network that will play a key role in providing our customers the best end-to-end shopping experience." Prior to AlliedSignal, Wilke was an Information Technology consultant with Andersen Consulting's Financial Systems group. He is a 1989 graduate of Princeton University with a B.S.E. in chemical engineering and has an M.B.A. and Master of Science in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Galli also announced the resignation of chief logistics officer Jimmy Wright, who came out of retirement in July 1998 to lead in the development of Amazon.com's supply chain and distribution operations. Wilke will report directly to Galli and will succeed Wright. "With some effort, we coaxed Jimmy out of retirement to help us build a world class distribution system, and we wish him the best," Galli said. "He's left a legacy-both systems and people-that will contribute to our success for years to come." About Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>SEATTLE, September 3, 1999--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today named Jeffrey A. Wilke as its vice president-general manager of operations. Wilke was formerly vice president and general manager of AlliedSignal's Pharmaceutical Fine Chemicals unit, a $220 million business with 750 employees.</p><p>Joining AlliedSignal during its Total Quality revolution in 1993, Wilke moved through a series of increasingly complex operational and general-management leadership roles. As Total Quality matured into Six Sigma, Wilke led process-improvement teams, optimized a global logistics network for an electronic-components business, implemented world-class inventory-planning processes, and led the recent efforts to focus on key customers in the rapidly growing pharmaceutical marketplace. Wilke was directly responsible for 15 plants/distribution centers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.</p><p>"We are extremely excited to have Jeff join our team at Amazon.com," said Joe Galli, president and chief operating officer of Amazon.com. "Jeff is truly a world-class operations executive and a high-potential general manager. We look forward to bringing Jeff's Six Sigma and operations-management skills to the Amazon.com team. He truly shares our passion for customer service."</p><p>"Amazon.com is the pioneer of e-commerce," said Wilke. "I'm delighted to be a part of Amazon.com's efforts to build the world's most customer-centric company. We're currently building out a distribution network that will play a key role in providing our customers the best end-to-end shopping experience."</p><p>Prior to AlliedSignal, Wilke was an Information Technology consultant with Andersen Consulting's Financial Systems group. He is a 1989 graduate of Princeton University with a B.S.E. in chemical engineering and has an M.B.A. and Master of Science in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.</p><p>Galli also announced the resignation of chief logistics officer Jimmy Wright, who came out of retirement in July 1998 to lead in the development of Amazon.com's supply chain and distribution operations. Wilke will report directly to Galli and will succeed Wright. "With some effort, we coaxed Jimmy out of retirement to help us build a world class distribution system, and we wish him the best," Galli said. "He's left a legacy-both systems and people-that will contribute to our success for years to come."</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.</p><p>Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites:</p><p>www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended</p><p>December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Offers Exclusive Blair Witch Footage and Movie-Related Products

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Offers-Exclusive-Blair-Witch-Footage-and-Movie-Related-Products/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Offers-Exclusive-Blair-Witch-Footage-and-Movie-Related-Products

09/01/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Offers Exclusive Blair Witch Footage and Movie-Related Products

09/01/1999

1999

Customers can now access a new Blair Witch video clip, pre-order the video, and purchase Blair Witch merchandise SEATTLE, September 1, 1999-Amazon.com, the No. 1 video retailer on the Internet, announced today it will feature "newly discovered" film footage belonging to the filmmakers of The Blair Witch Project, an Artisan Entertainment release. Featuring a live video stream launching today, Amazon.com will host a complete Blair Witch Project area at www.amazon.com/blairwitch featuring the highly anticipated clip along with opportunities to pre-order the video and discover other Blair Witch memorabilia on sale and for auction at Amazon.com Auctions. Continuing Amazon.com's reputation for cutting-edge technology, the Blair Witch footage marks the first-ever live video stream for the Video Store. Featuring footage not included in the theatrical release or in the upcoming home-video version, Amazon.com will be the only place online for visitors to access this piece of film history. "The success of The Blair Witch Project opened the industry's eyes to the impact the Internet can have on Hollywood," said Jason Kilar, group product manager, Amazon.com Video Store. "We are thrilled that Artisan is continuing this commitment by giving us exclusive online rights to this footage. It is only fitting that a film that gained much of its massive popularity through the Web is now offering this exclusive footage via the Internet at Amazon.com." "We are excited to work with Amazon.com to bring this exclusive online footage to Blair Witch fans through the power of the Internet," said Steve Beeks, president, Artisan Home Entertainment. The Blair Witch Project area will be housed exclusively on Amazon.com from September 1 through the end of the year. Amazon.com visitors can view the footage using RealPlayer software. Visitors without RealPlayer can click to download the software for viewing. With the Amazon.com Blair Witch area launching seven weeks before the film debuts on video, Amazon.com is extending the excitement surrounding the summer box-office sensation that scared its way into the history books as the most profitable film of all time. The area can be accessed via www.amazon.com/blairwitch. In addition to the exclusive footage, film fans will enjoy a number of other Blair Witch Project features. Amazon.com visitors will be able to: Save on pre-orders of The Blair Witch Project videos available October 22, including DVD and VHS versions Pre-order the documentary The Curse of the Blair Witch Pre-order a two-pack set of the VHS film version and the documentary Pre-order the DVD and Blair Witch logo T-shirt before October 22 and receive a special $5 discount Order Blair Witch merchandise including the book, soundtrack, T-shirts, hats, and posters Send free Blair Witch e-cards About Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About Artisan Artisan Entertainment Inc. is a diversified entertainment company that specializes in the development, production, acquisition, marketing, and worldwide distribution of quality feature-length motion pictures. The company has secured a major pay-TV deal with ShowtimeNetworks; an output deal with Hallmark Entertainment, which covers all Hallmark, Crayola, and Cabin Fever product; a distribution deal with the Shooting Gallery for its film product in all media; the purchase of an equity stake in Summit Entertainment; and an output deal with Alliance in Canada. Artisan is composed of four key groups: Artisan Pictures Inc., Artisan Home Entertainment Inc., Artisan Television, and Artisan International. Artisan Entertainment Inc. controls a library of more than 6,300 titles, which include Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Reservoir Dogs, Dirty Dancing, Total Recall, The Piano, and the successful Rambo series of films, as well as a library of widely recognized children's programming under its Family Home Entertainment brand. The company maintains offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Dallas.

<p>Customers can now access a new Blair Witch video clip, pre-order the video, and purchase Blair Witch merchandise</p><p>SEATTLE, September 1, 1999-Amazon.com, the No. 1 video retailer on the Internet, announced today it will feature "newly discovered" film footage belonging to the filmmakers of The Blair Witch Project, an Artisan Entertainment release. Featuring a live video stream launching today, Amazon.com will host a complete Blair Witch Project area at www.amazon.com/blairwitch featuring the highly anticipated clip along with opportunities to pre-order the video and discover other Blair Witch memorabilia on sale and for auction at Amazon.com Auctions.</p><p>Continuing Amazon.com's reputation for cutting-edge technology, the Blair Witch footage marks the first-ever live video stream for the Video Store. Featuring footage not included in the theatrical release or in the upcoming home-video version, Amazon.com will be the only place online for visitors to access this piece of film history.</p><p>"The success of The Blair Witch Project opened the industry's eyes to the impact the Internet can have on Hollywood," said Jason Kilar, group product manager, Amazon.com Video Store. "We are thrilled that Artisan is continuing this commitment by giving us exclusive online rights to this footage. It is only fitting that a film that gained much of its massive popularity through the Web is now offering this exclusive footage via the Internet at Amazon.com."</p><p>"We are excited to work with Amazon.com to bring this exclusive online footage to Blair Witch fans through the power of the Internet," said Steve Beeks, president, Artisan Home Entertainment.</p><p>The Blair Witch Project area will be housed exclusively on Amazon.com from September 1 through the end of the year. Amazon.com visitors can view the footage using RealPlayer software. Visitors without RealPlayer can click to download the software for viewing.</p><p>With the Amazon.com Blair Witch area launching seven weeks before the film debuts on video, Amazon.com is extending the excitement surrounding the summer box-office sensation that scared its way into the history books as the most profitable film of all time. The area can be accessed via www.amazon.com/blairwitch.</p><p>In addition to the exclusive footage, film fans will enjoy a number of other Blair Witch Project features. Amazon.com visitors will be able to:</p><ul><li>Save on pre-orders of The Blair Witch Project videos available October 22, including DVD and VHS versions</li><li>Pre-order the documentary The Curse of the Blair Witch</li><li>Pre-order a two-pack set of the VHS film version and the documentary</li><li>Pre-order the DVD and Blair Witch logo T-shirt before October 22 and receive a special $5 discount</li><li>Order Blair Witch merchandise including the book, soundtrack, T-shirts, hats, and posters</li><li>Send free Blair Witch e-cards</li></ul><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.</p><p>Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About Artisan</p><p>Artisan Entertainment Inc. is a diversified entertainment company that specializes in the development, production, acquisition, marketing, and worldwide distribution of quality feature-length motion pictures. The company has secured a major pay-TV deal with ShowtimeNetworks; an output deal with Hallmark Entertainment, which covers all Hallmark, Crayola, and Cabin Fever product; a distribution deal with the Shooting Gallery for its film product in all media; the purchase of an equity stake in Summit Entertainment; and an output deal with Alliance in Canada. Artisan is composed of four key groups: Artisan Pictures Inc., Artisan Home Entertainment Inc., Artisan Television, and Artisan International. Artisan Entertainment Inc. controls a library of more than 6,300 titles, which include Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Reservoir Dogs, Dirty Dancing, Total Recall, The Piano, and the successful Rambo series of films, as well as a library of widely recognized children's programming under its Family Home Entertainment brand. The company maintains offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Dallas.</p>

Amazon.com Hosts the Harry Potter Magical Candy Contest Celebrating the Release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Hosts-the-Harry-Potter-Magical-Candy-Contest-Celebrating-the-Release-of-Harry-Potter-and-the-Prisoner-of-Azkaban/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Hosts-the-Harry-Potter-Magical-Candy-Contest-Celebrating-the-Release-of-Harry-Potter-and-the-Prisoner-of-Azkaban

09/01/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Hosts the Harry Potter Magical Candy Contest Celebrating the Release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

09/01/1999

1999

SEATTLE, September 1, 1999--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), announced today the Harry Potter Magical Candy Contest, to celebrate Scholastic's U.S. release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on September 8, 1999. Amazon.com is inviting children ages 6 to 13 to invent a wizard candy "so wonderful, so fabulously strange, with such magical powers that it would impress even Harry Potter." The grand prize includes $4,000 in books for the winner's school library, a gift certificate from Amazon.com for books, toys, music, or videos; and a Be a Wizard magic kit, complete with a wizard's cape, magic wand, and lightning-bolt temporary tattoos. The contest will run from September 1, 1999 to September 30, 1999. For the uninitiated, Harry Potter's charmed world at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is infused with sweet, supernatural delicacies such as Fizzing Whizbees (levitating sherbet balls) and Every Flavor Beans (jellybeans that taste like curry, grass, and sardines). "Harry Potter is a hero," said Amazon.com's Children's Books Editor Karin Snelson. "Entire classes of children write in to Amazon.com Kids to rave about him, telling us how desperate they are for the next book in the series. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone had 1,098 customer reviews posted on August 29, claiming everything from 'This is the best book ever written!' to 'It is fantabulous!!' to 'This is the only author better than Roald Dahl!' We measure our customers' enthusiasm in exclamation points," Snelson said. Contest entrants are required to draw a color picture of their candy creation on a white, unlined piece of paper, name it "something wild and goofy," describe its magical powers or unusual flavors in 100 words or fewer, and include name, age, and street address. Entries must be mailed by September 30 to: The Harry Potter Magical Candy Contest; Amazon.com; P. O. Box 81226; Seattle, WA 98108-1226. The winners' candy creations will be posted on the site after Halloween. The grand-prize winner will receive: A donation to the winner's school library that includes a $4,000 gift certificate from Amazon.com for books and a boxed set of Harry Potter books (signed by J.K. Rowling) A Be a Wizard Magic Kit (with lightning-bolt temporary tattoos, stuffed owl, wizard's cape, magic wand, and more) A 3-D model of the candy invention, designed by a Seattle artist A boxed set of three Harry Potter books signed by J.K. Rowling A $500 gift certificate from Amazon.com Prizes for 10 runners-up include a donation to the winner's school library of a $500 gift certificate from Amazon.com for books and a boxed set of Harry Potter books (signed by J.K. Rowling); lightning-bolt temporary tattoos; and a $100 gift certificate from Amazon.com. "Harry Potter is a true phenomenon," said Carl Gish, Amazon.com's general manager of books. "All three Harry Potter books have topped the Amazon.com 100 Hot for weeks-and at least two months before the release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. To get thousands of pre-orders that long before publication is not just unusual for a children's book-it's unusual for any book." Shortly after Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was first published in England in 1997 as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, it won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, and the Children's Book Award, and is now short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. Rowling has written two more Harry Potter books since then-with four more on the way-and readers, from age six to teens, are standing in line for them. You can find the Harry Potter Magical Candy Contest at www.amazon.com/candy-contest or go to www.amazon.com/kids, the Amazon.com children's bookstore. About Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>SEATTLE, September 1, 1999--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), announced today the Harry Potter Magical Candy Contest, to celebrate Scholastic's U.S. release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on September 8, 1999. Amazon.com is inviting children ages 6 to 13 to invent a wizard candy "so wonderful, so fabulously strange, with such magical powers that it would impress even Harry Potter."</p><p>The grand prize includes $4,000 in books for the winner's school library, a gift certificate from Amazon.com for books, toys, music, or videos; and a Be a Wizard magic kit, complete with a wizard's cape, magic wand, and lightning-bolt temporary tattoos. The contest will run from September 1, 1999 to September 30, 1999.</p><p>For the uninitiated, Harry Potter's charmed world at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is infused with sweet, supernatural delicacies such as Fizzing Whizbees (levitating sherbet balls) and Every Flavor Beans (jellybeans that taste like curry, grass, and sardines).</p><p>"Harry Potter is a hero," said Amazon.com's Children's Books Editor Karin Snelson. "Entire classes of children write in to Amazon.com Kids to rave about him, telling us how desperate they are for the next book in the series. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone had 1,098 customer reviews posted on August 29, claiming everything from 'This is the best book ever written!' to 'It is fantabulous!!' to 'This is the only author better than Roald Dahl!' We measure our customers' enthusiasm in exclamation points," Snelson said.</p><p>Contest entrants are required to draw a color picture of their candy creation on a white, unlined piece of paper, name it "something wild and goofy," describe its magical powers or unusual flavors in 100 words or fewer, and include name, age, and street address. Entries must be mailed by September 30 to: The Harry Potter Magical Candy Contest; Amazon.com; P. O. Box 81226; Seattle, WA 98108-1226. The winners' candy creations will be posted on the site after Halloween.</p><p>The grand-prize winner will receive:</p><ul><li>A donation to the winner's school library that includes a $4,000 gift certificate from Amazon.com for books and a boxed set of Harry Potter books (signed by J.K. Rowling)</li><li>A Be a Wizard Magic Kit (with lightning-bolt temporary tattoos, stuffed owl, wizard's cape, magic wand, and more)</li><li>A 3-D model of the candy invention, designed by a Seattle artist</li><li>A boxed set of three Harry Potter books signed by J.K. Rowling</li><li>A $500 gift certificate from Amazon.com</li></ul><p>Prizes for 10 runners-up include a donation to the winner's school library of a $500 gift certificate from Amazon.com for books and a boxed set of Harry Potter books (signed by J.K. Rowling); lightning-bolt temporary tattoos; and a $100 gift certificate from Amazon.com.</p><p>"Harry Potter is a true phenomenon," said Carl Gish, Amazon.com's general manager of books. "All three Harry Potter books have topped the Amazon.com 100 Hot for weeks-and at least two months before the release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. To get thousands of pre-orders that long before publication is not just unusual for a children's book-it's unusual for any book."</p><p>Shortly after Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was first published in England in 1997 as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, it won the National Book Award, the Smarties Prize, and the Children's Book Award, and is now short-listed for the Carnegie Medal, the U.K. version of the Newbery Medal. Rowling has written two more Harry Potter books since then-with four more on the way-and readers, from age six to teens, are standing in line for them.</p><p>You can find the Harry Potter Magical Candy Contest at www.amazon.com/candy-contest or go to www.amazon.com/kids, the Amazon.com children's bookstore.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.</p><p>Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites:</p><p>www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Auctions and Certified Collectibles Group Announce Alliance for Grading Services

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Auctions-and-Certified-Collectibles-Group-Announce-Alliance-for-Grading-Services/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Auctions-and-Certified-Collectibles-Group-Announce-Alliance-for-Grading-Services

09/01/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Auctions and Certified Collectibles Group Announce Alliance for Grading Services

09/01/1999

1999

Online auction sellers can now receive authentication services for coins, sportscards, and comic books SEATTLE and PARSIPPANY, N.J., September 1 -- Amazon.com Auctions and Certified Collectibles Group (CCG), the world's largest third-party certification company, announced an alliance to provide online auction sellers with authentication and grading services for coins, sportscards, and comic books. This service provides sellers with a product that has greater appeal to collectors, while giving buyers more confidence in their online auction transactions. Coin, sportscard, and comic-book sellers can access the services through Auctions Help and clicking on the Seller's Guide at www.amazon.com/auctions to receive a grade, authentication, and restoration check, as well as to host digital images of their collectibles. The services will be provided by a team of experts at CCG's companies: Numismatic Guaranty Corporation of America (NGC), Sportscard Guaranty LLC (SGC), and Comics Guaranty LLC (CGC). Amazon.com customers will receive a 10 percent discount on CCG's normal rates, which start as low as $15 for coins, $6 for sportscards, and $12.50 for comic books. Collectors can use the online form to list their items, calculate shipping and postage, and submit their items to CCG. Once received, the products are processed, graded, encapsulated, and then imaged in an onsite state-of-the-art imaging lab. The images are forwarded via e-mail to the submitter, and the items are then returned to their owner. Grading varies according to the type of item submitted; for example, the condition of a coin may be scored on a scale of 1 to 70, while sportscards are graded on a scale of 1 to 100, and comic books are typically ranked from "poor" to "mint" on a 1-to-10 scale. Depending on the level of service requested, authentication and grading services can be provided as quickly as 24 hours after NGC, CGC, or SGC receives the items. "As the popularity of online auctions continues to grow, buyers and sellers alike need an opportunity to verify product quality and authenticity," said Jeff Blackburn, director of business development, Amazon.com Auctions. "By working with certification companies such as CCG, we are giving our customers an even greater level of trust in online auctions while creating an exciting shopping experience filled with the highest-quality, authenticated collectibles." "The alliance between CCG and Amazon.com provides new possibilities for collectors that aren't commonly found on the Internet," said Mark Salzberg, CEO of the Certified Collectibles Group. "Our relationship with Amazon.com will greatly expand our ability to help individual collectors trade with more confidence and receive a fair value when buying or selling coins, sportscards, and comic books." About Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About Certified Collectibles Group Certified Collectibles Group is a group of companies focused on the impartial, independent, and expert certification and grading of collectibles. Numismatic Guaranty Corporation of America (NGC). NGC is the leading grading company in rare coins, currently certifying more than 50,000 coins per month. The company provides grading services, hobby educational products such as the digital imaging service PhotoProof, census information of coins graded, and numismatic educational information and images in the areas of counterfeits, variety coins, and educational curricula. NGC is also the Official Grading Service of the congressionally chartered leader of the coin hobby, the American Numismatic Association. NGC's dominance in coin certification has been paralleled by its development of important services for the collector, the most important being PhotoProof, a popular and unique digital imaging and historical presentation service. A submitter's coin is digitally imaged, paired with detailed historical text describing the coin's background, and personalized to describe the unique characteristics of the individual item. Sportscard Guaranty LLC (SGC). SGC has seen remarkable growth and popularity in its first year of operation, growing to its current certification of more than 30,000 cards per month. The cornerstone of SGC's success has been laid through a commitment to accurate, expert and impartial grading, backed by the industry's only comprehensive Grading Guarantee. Other unique advantages enjoyed by SGC include faster turnaround times, responsive and expert customer service, a varied and affordable range of grading options, and a more accurate 1-to-100 grading scale. The steady growth in submissions proves the value the market sees in SGC's unique grading guarantee, and also shows the growing preference of collectors for SGC certification. Comics Guaranty LLC (CGC). Scheduled for introduction in September 1999, CGC is the first and only certification and grading service for comic books. Designed to fill the need for impartial, expert opinions for the entire comic-book industry, CGC will provide grading opinions, restoration detection, and pedigree attribution. Submitters also have the security of a high-impact, tamper-evident holder that revolutionizes the protection of comic books while featuring the CGC grade and identification information. The initial focus of CGC certification will be on the U.S. market for comic books, covering books listed in the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.

<p>Online auction sellers can now receive authentication services for coins, sportscards, and comic books</p><p>SEATTLE and PARSIPPANY, N.J., September 1 -- Amazon.com Auctions and Certified Collectibles Group (CCG), the world's largest third-party certification company, announced an alliance to provide online auction sellers with authentication and grading services for coins, sportscards, and comic books. This service provides sellers with a product that has greater appeal to collectors, while giving buyers more confidence in their online auction transactions.</p><p>Coin, sportscard, and comic-book sellers can access the services through Auctions Help and clicking on the Seller's Guide at www.amazon.com/auctions to receive a grade, authentication, and restoration check, as well as to host digital images of their collectibles. The services will be provided by a team of experts at CCG's companies: Numismatic Guaranty Corporation of America (NGC), Sportscard Guaranty LLC (SGC), and Comics Guaranty LLC (CGC). Amazon.com customers will receive a 10 percent discount on CCG's normal rates, which start as low as $15 for coins, $6 for sportscards, and $12.50 for comic books.</p><p>Collectors can use the online form to list their items, calculate shipping and postage, and submit their items to CCG. Once received, the products are processed, graded, encapsulated, and then imaged in an onsite state-of-the-art imaging lab. The images are forwarded via e-mail to the submitter, and the items are then returned to their owner. Grading varies according to the type of item submitted; for example, the condition of a coin may be scored on a scale of 1 to 70, while sportscards are graded on a scale of 1 to 100, and comic books are typically ranked from "poor" to "mint" on a 1-to-10 scale. Depending on the level of service requested, authentication and grading services can be provided as quickly as 24 hours after NGC, CGC, or SGC receives the items.</p><p>"As the popularity of online auctions continues to grow, buyers and sellers alike need an opportunity to verify product quality and authenticity," said Jeff Blackburn, director of business development, Amazon.com Auctions. "By working with certification companies such as CCG, we are giving our customers an even greater level of trust in online auctions while creating an exciting shopping experience filled with the highest-quality, authenticated collectibles."</p><p>"The alliance between CCG and Amazon.com provides new possibilities for collectors that aren't commonly found on the Internet," said Mark Salzberg, CEO of the Certified Collectibles Group. "Our relationship with Amazon.com will greatly expand our ability to help individual collectors trade with more confidence and receive a fair value when buying or selling coins, sportscards, and comic books."</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.</p><p>Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About Certified Collectibles Group</p><p>Certified Collectibles Group is a group of companies focused on the impartial, independent, and expert certification and grading of collectibles.</p><p>Numismatic Guaranty Corporation of America (NGC). NGC is the leading grading company in rare coins, currently certifying more than 50,000 coins per month. The company provides grading services, hobby educational products such as the digital imaging service PhotoProof, census information of coins graded, and numismatic educational information and images in the areas of counterfeits, variety coins, and educational curricula. NGC is also the Official Grading Service of the congressionally chartered leader of the coin hobby, the American Numismatic Association.</p><p>NGC's dominance in coin certification has been paralleled by its development of important services for the collector, the most important being PhotoProof, a popular and unique digital imaging and historical presentation service. A submitter's coin is digitally imaged, paired with detailed historical text describing the coin's background, and personalized to describe the unique characteristics of the individual item.</p><p>Sportscard Guaranty LLC (SGC). SGC has seen remarkable growth and popularity in its first year of operation, growing to its current certification of more than 30,000 cards per month. The cornerstone of SGC's success has been laid through a commitment to accurate, expert and impartial grading, backed by the industry's only comprehensive Grading Guarantee. Other unique advantages enjoyed by SGC include faster turnaround times, responsive and expert customer service, a varied and affordable range of grading options, and a more accurate 1-to-100 grading scale. The steady growth in submissions proves the value the market sees in SGC's unique grading guarantee, and also shows the growing preference of collectors for SGC certification.</p><p>Comics Guaranty LLC (CGC). Scheduled for introduction in September 1999, CGC is the first and only certification and grading service for comic books. Designed to fill the need for impartial, expert opinions for the entire comic-book industry, CGC will provide grading opinions, restoration detection, and pedigree attribution. Submitters also have the security of a high-impact, tamper-evident holder that revolutionizes the protection of comic books while featuring the CGC grade and identification information. The initial focus of CGC certification will be on the U.S. market for comic books, covering books listed in the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.</p>

Amazon.com Launches Christian Store

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Launches-Christian-Store/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Launches-Christian-Store

08/31/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Launches Christian Store

08/31/1999

1999

Leading online retailer creates new area designed exclusively for Christian products SEATTLE, August 31-Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today launched a new Christian Store dedicated exclusively to selling Christian books, Bibles, music, videos, electronic cards, and toys and games. The Store will help shoppers find and discover tens of thousands of Christian products, all in a searchable and easy-to-navigate dedicated Christian environment. The Christian Store is directly accessible through www.amazon.com/christian as well as through the Amazon.com Book Store. Amazon.com created this new store in response to customers' overwhelming feedback about how they prefer to shop for Christian merchandise. These customers wanted a unique and dedicated environment in which to enjoy Christian merchandise, while still having access to Amazon.com's selection, convenience, and everyday low pricing. "Amazon.com is totally focused on helping people find, discover, and buy anything they want online, and our Christian customers communicated how we could best help them do that," said Carl Gish, general manager of Amazon.com's Book Store. "We truly appreciate their feedback-we are very excited about the Christian Store and will continue to develop it to provide the best possible Christian online shopping experience." The Christian Store will contain all of the thousands of Christian books, Bibles, music, videos, e-cards, and toys and games currently available at Amazon.com, to offer customers the largest selection of Christian merchandise available in one place. The store will also include a number of special features designed to enhance the Christian shopping experience. Among these is a BibleFinder, which will help customers locate the Bible that best meets their study or worship needs through an easy-to-use comparison chart that details each version's distinctive features. Additionally, customers can enjoy daily devotionals, exclusive essays by and interviews with prominent Christian authors and artists, candid customer and editor reviews, hundreds of bestseller lists, and highly regarded award lists from Christianity Today, Gold Medallion, and the Dove Music Awards. To welcome customers to the new Christian Store, Amazon.com is offering a 40 percent discount on all books from the Left Behind series by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. As with all of Amazon.com's stores, Christian Store customers will enjoy everyday low pricing on tens of thousands of Christian products, including: Music The newest releases from Steven Curtis Chapman Kirk Franklin Rebecca St. James Jaci Valasquez Avalon Point of Grace Newsboys -Jennifer Knapp ... classics from such artists as Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Jars of Clay, dc Talk, and the Winans, among others Videos VeggieTales series (David and the Giant Pickle; Where's God When I'm S-Scared?) The Beginner's Bible series Mysteries of the Bible series Classics (for example, The Greatest Story Ever Told; The Ten Commandments) Toys What Would Jesus Do? The Game VeggieTales Flip 'N' Find Card Games VeggieTales 40-Piece Floor Puzzle Noah's Ark Wooden Puzzle Portable Bible Trivia Bible Baffle About Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Leading online retailer creates new area designed exclusively for Christian products</p><p>SEATTLE, August 31-Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today launched a new Christian Store dedicated exclusively to selling Christian books, Bibles, music, videos, electronic cards, and toys and games. The Store will help shoppers find and discover tens of thousands of Christian products, all in a searchable and easy-to-navigate dedicated Christian environment.</p><p>The Christian Store is directly accessible through www.amazon.com/christian as well as through the Amazon.com Book Store.</p><p>Amazon.com created this new store in response to customers' overwhelming feedback about how they prefer to shop for Christian merchandise. These customers wanted a unique and dedicated environment in which to enjoy Christian merchandise, while still having access to Amazon.com's selection, convenience, and everyday low pricing.</p><p>"Amazon.com is totally focused on helping people find, discover, and buy anything they want online, and our Christian customers communicated how we could best help them do that," said Carl Gish, general manager of Amazon.com's Book Store. "We truly appreciate their feedback-we are very excited about the Christian Store and will continue to develop it to provide the best possible Christian online shopping experience."</p><p>The Christian Store will contain all of the thousands of Christian books, Bibles, music, videos, e-cards, and toys and games currently available at Amazon.com, to offer customers the largest selection of Christian merchandise available in one place. The store will also include a number of special features designed to enhance the Christian shopping experience. Among these is a BibleFinder, which will help customers locate the Bible that best meets their study or worship needs through an easy-to-use comparison chart that details each version's distinctive features.</p><p>Additionally, customers can enjoy daily devotionals, exclusive essays by and interviews with prominent Christian authors and artists, candid customer and editor reviews, hundreds of bestseller lists, and highly regarded award lists from Christianity Today, Gold Medallion, and the Dove Music Awards.</p><p>To welcome customers to the new Christian Store, Amazon.com is offering a 40 percent discount on all books from the Left Behind series by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye. As with all of Amazon.com's stores, Christian Store customers will enjoy everyday low pricing on tens of thousands of Christian products, including:</p><p>Music</p><p>The newest releases from</p><ul><li>Steven Curtis Chapman</li><li>Kirk Franklin</li><li>Rebecca St. James</li><li>Jaci Valasquez</li><li>Avalon</li><li>Point of Grace</li><li>Newsboys</li>-Jennifer Knapp<li>... classics from such artists as Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Jars of Clay, dc Talk, and the Winans, among others</li></ul><p>Videos</p><ul><li>VeggieTales series (David and the Giant Pickle; Where's God When I'm S-Scared?)</li><li>The Beginner's Bible series</li><li>Mysteries of the Bible series</li><li>Classics (for example, The Greatest Story Ever Told; The Ten Commandments)</li></ul><p>Toys</p><ul><li>What Would Jesus Do? The Game</li><li>VeggieTales Flip 'N' Find Card Games</li><li>VeggieTales 40-Piece Floor Puzzle</li><li>Noah's Ark Wooden Puzzle</li><li>Portable Bible Trivia</li><li>Bible Baffle</li></ul><p>About Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Modifies 'Purchase Circles(TM)' Feature

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Modifies-Purchase-CirclesTM-Feature/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Modifies-Purchase-CirclesTM-Feature

08/26/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Modifies 'Purchase Circles(TM)' Feature

08/26/1999

1999

Customers Can Now Choose To Exclude Their Anonymous Purchase Data from Unique Best Seller Listings SEATTLE, Aug. 26, 1999/PRNewswire/ -- Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), announced today that it is modifying its new Purchase CirclesTM feature. For individual customers, Amazon.com will now allow their anonymous book, video and CD selections to be excluded from the Purchase Circles to which they belong. In addition, Amazon.com will remove a company-specific Purchase Circle at the company's request. Both changes will be implemented as soon as possible. It is important to note that Amazon.com does not create Purchase Circles with fewer than 200 customers as a way to ensure individual confidentiality. "Privacy is of utmost importance to our customers and to us," said Warren Adams, director, product development. "While the vast majority of feedback from our customers indicates that Purchase Circles have been well received and are extremely valuable in making informed purchase decisions, some customers have expressed concerns, so we're letting people decide individually." "Amazon.com must continue to be an innovative pioneer, and pioneers inevitably create some controversy, as we did four years ago when we first let customers post negative reviews of books and as we did one year ago when we started publishing storewide sales rankings," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "The one thing that we'd like everyone to know is that even as we explore the unknown, we'll always be trying to do the right thing, and we'll always be listening to our customers." About Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20% to 90% off retail, at www.gear.com . This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Customers Can Now Choose To Exclude Their Anonymous Purchase Data from Unique Best Seller Listings</p><p>SEATTLE, Aug. 26, 1999/PRNewswire/ -- Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), announced today that it is modifying its new Purchase CirclesTM feature.</p><p>For individual customers, Amazon.com will now allow their anonymous book, video and CD selections to be excluded from the Purchase Circles to which they belong. In addition, Amazon.com will remove a company-specific Purchase Circle at the company's request. Both changes will be implemented as soon as possible.</p><p>It is important to note that Amazon.com does not create Purchase Circles with fewer than 200 customers as a way to ensure individual confidentiality.</p><p>"Privacy is of utmost importance to our customers and to us," said Warren Adams, director, product development. "While the vast majority of feedback from our customers indicates that Purchase Circles have been well received and are extremely valuable in making informed purchase decisions, some customers have expressed concerns, so we're letting people decide individually."</p><p>"Amazon.com must continue to be an innovative pioneer, and pioneers inevitably create some controversy, as we did four years ago when we first let customers post negative reviews of books and as we did one year ago when we started publishing storewide sales rankings," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "The one thing that we'd like everyone to know is that even as we explore the unknown, we'll always be trying to do the right thing, and we'll always be listening to our customers."</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.</p><p>Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20% to 90% off retail, at www.gear.com .</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com, Warner Music Group, RealNetworks, and Liquid Audio to Offer Exclusive Series of Free Downloads From 10 Top-Name Artists

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Warner-Music-Group-RealNetworks-and-Liquid-Audio-to-Offer-Exclusive-Series-of-Free-Downloads-From-10-Top-Name-Artists/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Warner-Music-Group-RealNetworks-and-Liquid-Audio-to-Offer-Exclusive-Series-of-Free-Downloads-From-10-Top-Name-Artists

08/26/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com, Warner Music Group, RealNetworks, and Liquid Audio to Offer Exclusive Series of Free Downloads From 10 Top-Name Artists

08/26/1999

1999

Amazon.com customers will enjoy exclusive downloads from artists including Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt, Stereolab, Old 97's, Buena Vista Social Club, and Genesis SEATTLE, August 26, 1999-/PRNewswire/-Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music retailer, today announced plans to add songs from 10 Warner Music Group artists to its Free Downloads area over the next month. Spanning a broad range of musical styles, the participating artists include Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, Stereolab, Old 97's, Buena Vista Social Club, Phil Collins's Big Band, Philip Glass and the Kronos Quartet, Ibrahim Ferrer, Kris Kristofferson, Natalie Cole, and Genesis with Peter Gabriel. During this promotion, the songs will be available for secure free download exclusively at Amazon.com in Liquid Audio, and can be played using the new version of RealNetworks' RealJukebox and the LiquidTM Player, both of which are available for free at Amazon.com. The collaboration between Amazon.com, the Warner Music Group, RealNetworks, and Liquid Audio marks the first time these industry leaders have joined to promote a significant, secure free-download campaign. Beginning today, visitors to Amazon.com's Free Downloads area can download and listen to the songs "Sweet Spot" and "For a Dancer" from the album Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions, by Elektra Records artists Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Amazon.com will then continue to add free promotional downloads from recently released and soon-to-be-released Warner Music Group albums every Thursday during the month of September. This exclusive series will culminate in free promotional downloads of unreleased songs from acclaimed Atlantic/Nonesuch/World Circuit Records artists Ibrahim Ferrer and Buena Vista Social Club, plus a version of the classic Genesis song "Carpet Crawlers, " featuring Peter Gabriel on vocals in his first reunion with the group in more than 20 years. The schedule of artists is as follows: DATE ARTIST August 26 Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt September 2 Stereolab September 9 Old 97'sNatalie Cole September 16 Phil Collins' Big BandPhilip Glass and the Kronos QuartetKris Kristofferson September 23 Ibrahim FerrerBuena Vista Social ClubGenesis featuring Peter Gabriel "This series of free downloads from Warner Music Group artists offers Amazon.com customers an exclusive selection of great music from top names in rock, pop, alternative, country, classical, international, and jazz," said Jennifer Cast, general manager of Amazon.com's music store. "These additions reinforce Amazon.com's Free Downloads area as the best place for music fans to download songs from major artists in all genres." "We are extremely excited about the innovative opportunities this relationship with Amazon.com will create," said Sylvia Rhone, chairperson and CEO of Elektra. "This exclusive promotion reflects Elektra's continued commitment to utilizing digital technology to create a more direct connection between our artists and their fans." "Musical diversity is one of our primary goals at Atlantic, and we are constantly seeking out fresh avenues to promote artists working in a spectrum of musical styles," said Val Azzoli, Atlantic Group cochairman/coCEO. "Amazon.com does an excellent job in calling the consumer's attention to a wide range of releases, both in and out of the mainstream, and our new download partnership will be a terrific vehicle to expose a rich diversity of our artists and their new music." Visitors to Amazon.com's Free Downloads area will be able to download tracks from Warner Music Group artists in the Liquid Audio format. Customers can play the songs using both the new RealJukebox from RealNetworks, which allows consumers easily to build, organize, and play their digital music collections, and the Liquid Player. "Eight million users of RealJukebox will have one-click access to great music from the Warner Music Group," said Maria Cantwell, senior vice president of RealNetworks. "The fact that every week there will be new content from top artists available through RealJukebox demonstrates the growing interest in quality music distribution on the Web." "Liquid Audio's software and distribution services enable Warner Music Group and its artists to publish and syndicate their music as secure downloads on Amazon.com," said Charly Prevost, vice president of retail marketing & promotions at Liquid Audio Inc. "Using Liquid Player software, fans can enjoy this music with premier sound quality and visual presentation. Liquid Player makes it easy to sample music, check out lyrics and liner notes, and purchase, download, and organize music. Consumers can also use the Liquid Plug-ins for RealNetworks to access Liquid Tracks right from their RealPlayer G2 or RealJukebox." With the additions today of the two tracks from Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, Amazon.com's Free Downloads area now offers music fans more than 50 free, full-length downloads from more than 35 established recording artists-the largest selection of free downloadable music of any major online music retailer. The upcoming additions of songs from the other Warner Music Groups artists will further augment this leading selection of free downloads. These secure downloads conform to the objectives of the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI), the multi-industry body seeking to set specifications for the secure sale of digital music over the Internet. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About Warner Music GroupWarner Music Group, one of the world's leading music-entertainment companies, includes Atlantic Recording Corporation, Elektra Entertainment Inc., Sire Records Group Inc., Rhino Entertainment Company, Warner Bros. Records Inc., and Warner Music International, as well as WEA Inc. and Warner/Chappell Music Inc. Warner Music Group is a division of Time Warner Inc. About RealNetworksRealNetworks Inc., based in Seattle, is the recognized leader in media delivery for the Internet. It develops and markets software products and services designed to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronics to send and receive audio, video, and other multimedia services using the Web. In May, RealNetworks introduced RealJukebox, the first complete digital music product that gives consumers everything they need to acquire, play, and manage their personal music collections. RealJukebox is the first digital music product to support full integration with multiple portable devices and the broadest range of formats, and by June had already become the most popular digital music system, according to Media Metrix. RealNetworks can be found on the World Wide Web at www.real.com. About Liquid AudioLiquid Audio Inc. is a leading provider of software and services for the digital delivery of music over the Internet. The Liquid Audio solution gives musicians, record labels, Web sites, and music retailers the ability to publish, syndicate, and securely sell recorded music online with copy protection and copyright management. Using the LiquidTM Player software, available for free download at www.liquidaudio.com, music fans can preview and purchase downloadable music from the more than 200 affiliate Web sites in the LiquidTM Music Network. Traded on NASDAQ under the symbol LQID, Liquid Audio is located in Redwood City, California.

<p>Amazon.com customers will enjoy exclusive downloads from artists including Emmylou Harris &amp; Linda Ronstadt, Stereolab, Old 97's, Buena Vista Social Club, and Genesis</p><p>SEATTLE, August 26, 1999-/PRNewswire/-Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music retailer, today announced plans to add songs from 10 Warner Music Group artists to its Free Downloads area over the next month. Spanning a broad range of musical styles, the participating artists include Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, Stereolab, Old 97's, Buena Vista Social Club, Phil Collins's Big Band, Philip Glass and the Kronos Quartet, Ibrahim Ferrer, Kris Kristofferson, Natalie Cole, and Genesis with Peter Gabriel. During this promotion, the songs will be available for secure free download exclusively at Amazon.com in Liquid Audio, and can be played using the new version of RealNetworks' RealJukebox and the Liquid^TM Player, both of which are available for free at Amazon.com.</p><p>The collaboration between Amazon.com, the Warner Music Group, RealNetworks, and Liquid Audio marks the first time these industry leaders have joined to promote a significant, secure free-download campaign. Beginning today, visitors to Amazon.com's Free Downloads area can download and listen to the songs "Sweet Spot" and "For a Dancer" from the album <em>Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions</em>, by Elektra Records artists Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Amazon.com will then continue to add free promotional downloads from recently released and soon-to-be-released Warner Music Group albums every Thursday during the month of September. This exclusive series will culminate in free promotional downloads of unreleased songs from acclaimed Atlantic/Nonesuch/World Circuit Records artists Ibrahim Ferrer and Buena Vista Social Club, plus a version of the classic Genesis song "Carpet Crawlers, " featuring Peter Gabriel on vocals in his first reunion with the group in more than 20 years. The schedule of artists is as follows:</p><table><tbody><tr><td>DATE</td><td>ARTIST</td></tr><tr><td>August 26</td><td>Emmylou Harris &amp; Linda Ronstadt</td></tr><tr><td>September 2</td><td>Stereolab</td></tr><tr><td>September 9</td><td>Old 97'sNatalie Cole</td></tr><tr><td>September 16</td><td>Phil Collins' Big BandPhilip Glass and the Kronos QuartetKris Kristofferson</td></tr><tr><td>September 23</td><td>Ibrahim FerrerBuena Vista Social ClubGenesis featuring Peter Gabriel</td></tr></tbody></table><p>"This series of free downloads from Warner Music Group artists offers Amazon.com customers an exclusive selection of great music from top names in rock, pop, alternative, country, classical, international, and jazz," said Jennifer Cast, general manager of Amazon.com's music store. "These additions reinforce Amazon.com's Free Downloads area as the best place for music fans to download songs from major artists in all genres."</p><p>"We are extremely excited about the innovative opportunities this relationship with Amazon.com will create," said Sylvia Rhone, chairperson and CEO of Elektra. "This exclusive promotion reflects Elektra's continued commitment to utilizing digital technology to create a more direct connection between our artists and their fans."</p><p>"Musical diversity is one of our primary goals at Atlantic, and we are constantly seeking out fresh avenues to promote artists working in a spectrum of musical styles," said Val Azzoli, Atlantic Group cochairman/coCEO. "Amazon.com does an excellent job in calling the consumer's attention to a wide range of releases, both in and out of the mainstream, and our new download partnership will be a terrific vehicle to expose a rich diversity of our artists and their new music."</p><p>Visitors to Amazon.com's Free Downloads area will be able to download tracks from Warner Music Group artists in the Liquid Audio format. Customers can play the songs using both the new RealJukebox from RealNetworks, which allows consumers easily to build, organize, and play their digital music collections, and the Liquid Player.</p><p>"Eight million users of RealJukebox will have one-click access to great music from the Warner Music Group," said Maria Cantwell, senior vice president of RealNetworks. "The fact that every week there will be new content from top artists available through RealJukebox demonstrates the growing interest in quality music distribution on the Web."</p><p>"Liquid Audio's software and distribution services enable Warner Music Group and its artists to publish and syndicate their music as secure downloads on Amazon.com," said Charly Prevost, vice president of retail marketing &amp; promotions at Liquid Audio Inc. "Using Liquid Player software, fans can enjoy this music with premier sound quality and visual presentation. Liquid Player makes it easy to sample music, check out lyrics and liner notes, and purchase, download, and organize music. Consumers can also use the Liquid Plug-ins for RealNetworks to access Liquid Tracks right from their RealPlayer G2 or RealJukebox."</p><p>With the additions today of the two tracks from Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, Amazon.com's Free Downloads area now offers music fans more than 50 free, full-length downloads from more than 35 established recording artists-the largest selection of free downloadable music of any major online music retailer. The upcoming additions of songs from the other Warner Music Groups artists will further augment this leading selection of free downloads.</p><p>These secure downloads conform to the objectives of the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI), the multi-industry body seeking to set specifications for the secure sale of digital music over the Internet.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About Warner Music GroupWarner Music Group, one of the world's leading music-entertainment companies, includes Atlantic Recording Corporation, Elektra Entertainment Inc., Sire Records Group Inc., Rhino Entertainment Company, Warner Bros. Records Inc., and Warner Music International, as well as WEA Inc. and Warner/Chappell Music Inc. Warner Music Group is a division of Time Warner Inc.</p><p>About RealNetworksRealNetworks Inc., based in Seattle, is the recognized leader in media delivery for the Internet. It develops and markets software products and services designed to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronics to send and receive audio, video, and other multimedia services using the Web.</p><p>In May, RealNetworks introduced RealJukebox, the first complete digital music product that gives consumers everything they need to acquire, play, and manage their personal music collections. RealJukebox is the first digital music product to support full integration with multiple portable devices and the broadest range of formats, and by June had already become the most popular digital music system, according to Media Metrix. RealNetworks can be found on the World Wide Web at www.real.com.</p><p>About Liquid AudioLiquid Audio Inc. is a leading provider of software and services for the digital delivery of music over the Internet. The Liquid Audio solution gives musicians, record labels, Web sites, and music retailers the ability to publish, syndicate, and securely sell recorded music online with copy protection and copyright management. Using the Liquid^TM Player software, available for free download at www.liquidaudio.com, music fans can preview and purchase downloadable music from the more than 200 affiliate Web sites in the Liquid^TM Music Network. Traded on NASDAQ under the symbol LQID, Liquid Audio is located in Redwood City, California.</p>

Amazon.com Introduces 'Purchase Circles(TM),' Featuring Thousands of Bestseller Lists for Hometowns, Workplaces, Universities, and More

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Introduces-Purchase-CirclesTM-Featuring-Thousands-of-Bestseller-Lists-for-Hometowns-Workplaces-Universities-and-More/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Introduces-Purchase-CirclesTM-Featuring-Thousands-of-Bestseller-Lists-for-Hometowns-Workplaces-Universities-and-More

08/20/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Introduces 'Purchase Circles(TM),' Featuring Thousands of Bestseller Lists for Hometowns, Workplaces, Universities, and More

08/20/1999

1999

New feature helps shoppers discover thousands of favorite products by customer communities Seattle-August 20, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, today introduced "Purchase CirclesTM" a new feature that leverages the power of the Internet and Amazon.com's customer base to create a new generation of fun and unique bestseller lists. Working with a customer base of 10.7 million, Amazon.com's Purchase Circles feature analyzes zip codes and domain names from book, music, and video purchases. Then, it aggregates this anonymous sales data and applies an algorithm that constructs bestseller lists of items that are more popular with each specific group than with the population at large. The result is thousands of Purchase Circles, listing the top 10 videos, music, and books bought online by groups organized as companies, education, geography, government, and organizations. "Only Amazon.com can offer a truly unique insight into what thousands of specialty interest groups are buying," said Warren Adams, director of product development. "We've wanted to build these kinds of community features for some time, but only now does Amazon.com's customer base of 10.7 million customers provide the volume of information to make something like Purchase Circles possible. We know our customers will have a lot of fun exploring and comparing lists to find items that they are most interested in purchasing." While many customers will likely zoom in on their hometown Purchase Circles, or check in on a list that applies to a friend or relative, others will enjoy comparing lists and discovering the uniquely top-selling books to gain insight into diverse and competitive Purchase Circle member groups. Examples include: - Army vs. Navy (The Patterns of War Since the Eighteenth Century vs. Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage) - Microsoft vs. Oracle (Business @ the Speed of Thought: Using a Digital Nervous System vs. The Difference Between God and Larry Ellison: Inside Oracle Corporation) - Princeton vs. Harvard (Core Web Programming: Core Series vs. Technology Integration: Making Critical Choices in a Dynamic World) - New York vs. Peoria (Turn of the Century vs. The Greatest Generation) Amazon.com's Purchase Circles feature is designed to be a convenient and informative resource for customers to learn about what other people are buying and to make more informed purchasing decisions. They are also a great resource for authors, musicians, and video producers to track the popularity of their works across groups of people in a way that has never before been available. Amazon.com Purchase Circles are a searchable and easy-to-use resource to help customers find what's popular, quickly and easily; to assist with personal buying decisions; and to help select gift items for others based on the Purchase Circles to which they belong. Customers can also create their own Purchase Circle Favorites lists to visit most often, as well as request a monthly e-mail to keep them apprised about what's new on their Favorites list. Customers can find the Purchase Circles feature on the Amazon.com Welcome Page or by typing www.amazon.com/PurchaseCircles into their Web browser. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM . Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>New feature helps shoppers discover thousands of favorite products by customer communities</p><p>Seattle-August 20, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, today introduced "Purchase Circles^TM" a new feature that leverages the power of the Internet and Amazon.com's customer base to create a new generation of fun and unique bestseller lists.</p><p>Working with a customer base of 10.7 million, Amazon.com's Purchase Circles feature analyzes zip codes and domain names from book, music, and video purchases. Then, it aggregates this anonymous sales data and applies an algorithm that constructs bestseller lists of items that are more popular with each specific group than with the population at large. The result is thousands of Purchase Circles, listing the top 10 videos, music, and books bought online by groups organized as companies, education, geography, government, and organizations.</p><p>"Only Amazon.com can offer a truly unique insight into what thousands of specialty interest groups are buying," said Warren Adams, director of product development. "We've wanted to build these kinds of community features for some time, but only now does Amazon.com's customer base of 10.7 million customers provide the volume of information to make something like Purchase Circles possible. We know our customers will have a lot of fun exploring and comparing lists to find items that they are most interested in purchasing."</p><p>While many customers will likely zoom in on their hometown Purchase Circles, or check in on a list that applies to a friend or relative, others will enjoy comparing lists and discovering the uniquely top-selling books to gain insight into diverse and competitive Purchase Circle member groups. Examples include:</p><p>- Army vs. Navy (<em>The Patterns of War Since the Eighteenth Century vs. Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage</em>) - Microsoft vs. Oracle (<em>Business @ the Speed of Thought: Using a Digital Nervous System vs. The Difference Between God and Larry Ellison: Inside Oracle Corporation</em>) - Princeton vs. Harvard (<em>Core Web Programming: Core Series vs. Technology Integration: Making Critical Choices in a Dynamic World</em>) - New York vs. Peoria (<em>Turn of the Century vs. The Greatest Generation</em>)</p><p>Amazon.com's Purchase Circles feature is designed to be a convenient and informative resource for customers to learn about what other people are buying and to make more informed purchasing decisions. They are also a great resource for authors, musicians, and video producers to track the popularity of their works across groups of people in a way that has never before been available.</p><p>Amazon.com Purchase Circles are a searchable and easy-to-use resource to help customers find what's popular, quickly and easily; to assist with personal buying decisions; and to help select gift items for others based on the Purchase Circles to which they belong.</p><p>Customers can also create their own Purchase Circle Favorites lists to visit most often, as well as request a monthly e-mail to keep them apprised about what's new on their Favorites list. Customers can find the Purchase Circles feature on the Amazon.com Welcome Page or by typing www.amazon.com/PurchaseCircles into their Web browser.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM</p><p>. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Takes Legal Action Against Cybersquatter

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Takes-Legal-Action-Against-Cybersquatter/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Takes-Legal-Action-Against-Cybersquatter

08/18/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Takes Legal Action Against Cybersquatter

08/18/1999

1999

Allegations Cite a Pattern of Racketeering Activity SEATTLE-August 18, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Leading online retailer Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) filed a lawsuit today against cybersquatter Greg Lloyd Smith and his affiliated companies alleging violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) statutes, trademark infringement, trademark dilution and copyright infringement, among other federal and state law claims. The suit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint alleges that Smith and his codefendants engaged in extortion, mail fraud, wire fraud, and criminal copyright violations that form a pattern of racketeering activity. Smith and his wife, Aikaterini Theochari, who live in Greece, are personally named in the suit, as are two of Smith's companies, CITI Services, Inc. (a holding corporation organized under the laws of Delaware in the United States) and CITI Services Limited, an English corporation. The lawsuit arises from what the complaint alleges was a "thinly veiled shakedown" attempt of Amazon.com, Smith's operation of a website copied from Amazon.com's innovative and internationally recognized e-commerce site, and Smith's use of the domain names "amazon.gr" and "amazon.com.gr." According to the complaint, the defendants are holding themselves out as "Amazon.gr, Greece's Biggest Bookstore" to trade upon the success that Amazon.com has achieved in establishing itself as the leading e-commerce company, which does business only on the Internet. "Amazon.com, as an innovator and leader in the world of e-commerce, unfortunately has become a target for those willing to engage in unscrupulous business practices," said Bill Curry, spokesman for Amazon.com. "What makes e-commerce work for our more than 10.7 million customers around the globe is that it truly is a World Wide Web. We're open around the clock and around the globe, offering millions of books and other products at great prices. We take it seriously when someone engages in unfair business practices and tries to pass himself off as connected to Amazon.com, because consumers around the globe have come to trust our name and the service we provide." Curry added, "With this lawsuit, we're putting other Amazon.com copycats and cybersquatters on notice: You can run, but you can't hide." In its 11-count complaint, Amazon.com is seeking treble damages and an injunction preventing Smith and his affiliates from using the infringing domain names and Website. Among the allegations in the complaint: The defendants contacted Amazon.com on May 3, 1999, and informed the company they were using the name Amazon Greece and offered to sell a controlling interest in CITI to Amazon.com for $1,632,000. The complaint alleges that "after Amazon.com refused to comply with this thinly veiled shakedown, Amazon.com learned the defendants were using the term Amazon.gr as part of a Web site to encourage consumers to purchase books and other products from CITI," at the expense of Amazon.com. The defendants "expressly instructed their Web site developer to base their Web site...on Amazon.com's" internationally recognized site, and used the Internet to "cut and paste portions of Amazon.com's Web site" into their own, according to the complaint. "Defendants have been and continue to engage in a scheme or artifice to defraud and to obtain money by means of false pretenses and representations," the complaint says. "In furtherance of [this] scheme to connect its products and services to Amazon.com, to damage Amazon.com's goodwill, and to defraud Amazon.com's customers, defendants have committed multiple violations of the mail and wire fraud statutes." "Fraudulent acts of mail and wire fraud, extortion and criminal copyright infringement constitute a pattern of racketeering," the complaint says, "and pose a threat to society." Amazon.com earlier filed a lawsuit against Smith and his affiliates in Greece, where he operates the offending website. A hearing has been scheduled in that matter for September 16. On a worldwide level, a June study of all global brands by Interbrand Newell and Sorrell ranked Amazon.com as the 57th most valuable brand worldwide, just above Hilton, Guinness, and Marriott, and just below Pampers. Also in June, PC World Magazine named Amazon.com the Best Shopping Web Site. "E-commerce as it should be," said the magazine. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20% to 90% off retail, at www.gear.com . This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Allegations Cite a Pattern of Racketeering Activity</p><p>SEATTLE-August 18, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Leading online retailer Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) filed a lawsuit today against cybersquatter Greg Lloyd Smith and his affiliated companies alleging violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) statutes, trademark infringement, trademark dilution and copyright infringement, among other federal and state law claims. The suit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint alleges that Smith and his codefendants engaged in extortion, mail fraud, wire fraud, and criminal copyright violations that form a pattern of racketeering activity.</p><p>Smith and his wife, Aikaterini Theochari, who live in Greece, are personally named in the suit, as are two of Smith's companies, CITI Services, Inc. (a holding corporation organized under the laws of Delaware in the United States) and CITI Services Limited, an English corporation.</p><p>The lawsuit arises from what the complaint alleges was a "thinly veiled shakedown" attempt of Amazon.com, Smith's operation of a website copied from Amazon.com's innovative and internationally recognized e-commerce site, and Smith's use of the domain names "amazon.gr" and "amazon.com.gr." According to the complaint, the defendants are holding themselves out as "Amazon.gr, Greece's Biggest Bookstore" to trade upon the success that Amazon.com has achieved in establishing itself as the leading e-commerce company, which does business only on the Internet.</p><p>"Amazon.com, as an innovator and leader in the world of e-commerce, unfortunately has become a target for those willing to engage in unscrupulous business practices," said Bill Curry, spokesman for Amazon.com. "What makes e-commerce work for our more than 10.7 million customers around the globe is that it truly is a World Wide Web. We're open around the clock and around the globe, offering millions of books and other products at great prices. We take it seriously when someone engages in unfair business practices and tries to pass himself off as connected to Amazon.com, because consumers around the globe have come to trust our name and the service we provide."</p><p>Curry added, "With this lawsuit, we're putting other Amazon.com copycats and cybersquatters on notice: You can run, but you can't hide."</p><p>In its 11-count complaint, Amazon.com is seeking treble damages and an injunction preventing Smith and his affiliates from using the infringing domain names and Website. Among the allegations in the complaint:</p><ul><li>The defendants contacted Amazon.com on May 3, 1999, and informed the company they were using the name Amazon Greece and offered to sell a controlling interest in CITI to Amazon.com for $1,632,000. The complaint alleges that "after Amazon.com refused to comply with this thinly veiled shakedown, Amazon.com learned the defendants were using the term Amazon.gr as part of a Web site to encourage consumers to purchase books and other products from CITI," at the expense of Amazon.com.</li><li>The defendants "expressly instructed their Web site developer to base their Web site...on Amazon.com's" internationally recognized site, and used the Internet to "cut and paste portions of Amazon.com's Web site" into their own, according to the complaint.</li><li>"Defendants have been and continue to engage in a scheme or artifice to defraud and to obtain money by means of false pretenses and representations," the complaint says. "In furtherance of [this] scheme to connect its products and services to Amazon.com, to damage Amazon.com's goodwill, and to defraud Amazon.com's customers, defendants have committed multiple violations of the mail and wire fraud statutes."</li><li>"Fraudulent acts of mail and wire fraud, extortion and criminal copyright infringement constitute a pattern of racketeering," the complaint says, "and pose a threat to society."</li></ul><p>Amazon.com earlier filed a lawsuit against Smith and his affiliates in Greece, where he operates the offending website. A hearing has been scheduled in that matter for September 16.</p><p>On a worldwide level, a June study of all global brands by Interbrand Newell and Sorrell ranked Amazon.com as the 57th most valuable brand worldwide, just above Hilton, Guinness, and Marriott, and just below Pampers. Also in June, <em>PC World Magazine</em> named Amazon.com the Best Shopping Web Site. "E-commerce as it should be," said the magazine.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20% to 90% off retail, at www.gear.com .</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Auctions Helps Online Sellers Become Effective Marketers

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Auctions-Helps-Online-Sellers-Become-Effective-Marketers/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Auctions-Helps-Online-Sellers-Become-Effective-Marketers

08/18/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Auctions Helps Online Sellers Become Effective Marketers

08/18/1999

1999

Company brings power of discounting and targeted marketing to sellers with two new features-CrossLinks and First Bidder Discount Seattle-August 18,1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com Auctions has added two new ways to connect buyers and sellers in its rapidly growing online auction business. CrossLinks( and First Bidder Discount( allow any auction seller to become a more effective marketer by sparking bidding activity among all auction users and extending the reach of their auction listings to more than 10.7 million Amazon.com retail customers. With Amazon.com CrossLinks, sellers can highlight their auctions next to related product listings throughout Amazon.com's book, music and video stores. This tool allows auction sellers to cross-promote their items in the largest online retail marketplace. For example, an individual selling a vintage fishing rod can present his or her auction listing to Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) customers looking at books or videos about fly fishing. This cross-merchandising significantly increases exposure for sellers' items and makes it easier for customers to discover items of interest. For the first time in the auction industry, First Bidder Discount enables online auction sellers to provide a promotional incentive that will help garner bids. Available only on Amazon.com Auctions, First Bidder Discount gives the seller the option of rewarding the first person who bids on his or her auction by taking 10 percent off the final bid price, provided the first bidder ultimately wins the auction. The company developed First Bidder Discount in response to auction-industry research, which indicated that one of the most significant barriers to a successful auction is attracting the first bid. This new tool allows sellers to entice initial bids and reward those who stay in the race to win. For sellers electing to use First Bidder Discount, Amazon.com automatically tracks and applies the discount on auctions displaying the First Bidder Discount icon, eliminating seller hassles. Preliminary internal data have shown that auctions using Amazon.com CrossLinks were 22 percent more successful and received a 39 percent increase in the number of bids. Auctions using First Bidder Discount were 26 percent more successful, received a 28 percent increase in the number of bids, and garnered their first bids, on average, nearly 10 hours earlier than those without the discount. "People often don't think of stamps when searching for items related to their favorite celebrity or hobby," said Greg Caron of coolstamps.com, a Vacaville, California-based seller of topical postage stamps. "Amazon.com CrossLinks allow me to place my stamps on relevant book, music and video listings, reaching millions of potential customers. I now sell exclusively on Amazon.com Auctions because of the success I've had with this powerful marketing tool." Said Joel Spiegel, vice president and general manager of Amazon.com Auctions, "These are tactics used by retailers everywhere, but until now they haven't been available to online auction sellers. As a leading online merchandising expert, we're pleased to provide the tools that will help our customers succeed at selling and finding auction items." About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Company brings power of discounting and targeted marketing to sellers with two new features-CrossLinks and First Bidder Discount</p><p>Seattle-August 18,1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com Auctions has added two new ways to connect buyers and sellers in its rapidly growing online auction business. CrossLinks( and First Bidder Discount( allow any auction seller to become a more effective marketer by sparking bidding activity among all auction users and extending the reach of their auction listings to more than 10.7 million Amazon.com retail customers.</p><p>With Amazon.com CrossLinks, sellers can highlight their auctions next to related product listings throughout Amazon.com's book, music and video stores. This tool allows auction sellers to cross-promote their items in the largest online retail marketplace. For example, an individual selling a vintage fishing rod can present his or her auction listing to Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) customers looking at books or videos about fly fishing. This cross-merchandising significantly increases exposure for sellers' items and makes it easier for customers to discover items of interest.</p><p>For the first time in the auction industry, First Bidder Discount enables online auction sellers to provide a promotional incentive that will help garner bids. Available only on Amazon.com Auctions, First Bidder Discount gives the seller the option of rewarding the first person who bids on his or her auction by taking 10 percent off the final bid price, provided the first bidder ultimately wins the auction.</p><p>The company developed First Bidder Discount in response to auction-industry research, which indicated that one of the most significant barriers to a successful auction is attracting the first bid. This new tool allows sellers to entice initial bids and reward those who stay in the race to win. For sellers electing to use First Bidder Discount, Amazon.com automatically tracks and applies the discount on auctions displaying the First Bidder Discount icon, eliminating seller hassles.</p><p>Preliminary internal data have shown that auctions using Amazon.com CrossLinks were 22 percent more successful and received a 39 percent increase in the number of bids. Auctions using First Bidder Discount were 26 percent more successful, received a 28 percent increase in the number of bids, and garnered their first bids, on average, nearly 10 hours earlier than those without the discount.</p><p>"People often don't think of stamps when searching for items related to their favorite celebrity or hobby," said Greg Caron of coolstamps.com, a Vacaville, California-based seller of topical postage stamps. "Amazon.com CrossLinks allow me to place my stamps on relevant book, music and video listings, reaching millions of potential customers. I now sell exclusively on Amazon.com Auctions because of the success I've had with this powerful marketing tool."</p><p>Said Joel Spiegel, vice president and general manager of Amazon.com Auctions, "These are tactics used by retailers everywhere, but until now they haven't been available to online auction sellers. As a leading online merchandising expert, we're pleased to provide the tools that will help our customers succeed at selling and finding auction items."</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Gomez Advisors Rates Amazon.com Best Video Store and Best Music Store Online

/news/news-details/1999/Gomez-Advisors-Rates-Amazon.com-Best-Video-Store-and-Best-Music-Store-Online/default.aspx

Gomez-Advisors-Rates-Amazon.com-Best-Video-Store-and-Best-Music-Store-Online

08/17/1999 00:00:00

Gomez Advisors Rates Amazon.com Best Video Store and Best Music Store Online

08/17/1999

1999

MSNBC Survey Names Amazon.com Best Online Toy Store SEATTLE, August 17 --/PRNewswire/-- Gomez Advisors Inc., a leading provider of online research and analysis, today announced that Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), is leading the online video retail and online music retail marketplaces - awarding Amazon.com's video and music stores the No. 1 rankings in the most recent Gomez Advisors Internet Video and Music scorecards. Amazon.com's bookstore is also ranked as the No. 1 Internet Bookseller by Gomez Advisors. Amazon.com's sweep of the Gomez Advisors Internet Scorecards comes just two days after MSNBC recognized Amazon.com as the best online toy store. Barely one month after launching its Toys & Games store, leading online retailer Amazon.com was named Best Online Toy store in an MSNBC review - beating out longer established players. The Gomez Advisors Internet scorecards rank the performance and quality of online service offerings based on a variety of criteria including interface, customer service, convenience, and content. In the first of a series of MSNBC surveys of online retailers, the August 15 MSNBC article looked at which e-tailers offer the best service for toys, "from the customer's point of view." Columnist Jane Weaver ranked three of the major players in the online toy category based upon first hand experience: calling customer support lines, comparing prices, and ordering toys. "This recognition of Amazon.com Toys owes itself to the same customer-obsessed DNA that drives our book, music, and video stores," said David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president of product development. "We're thrilled and honored that MSNBC and Gomez Advisors have chosen our new toy store, along with our book, music, and video stores, as the best places for customers to shop." For more information about the Gomez Advisors Internet scorecards, visit: http://www.businesswire.com/webbox/bw.081799/192290215.htm About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20% to 90% off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>MSNBC Survey Names Amazon.com Best Online Toy Store</p><p>SEATTLE, August 17 --/PRNewswire/-- Gomez Advisors Inc., a leading provider of online research and analysis, today announced that Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), is leading the online video retail and online music retail marketplaces - awarding Amazon.com's video and music stores the No. 1 rankings in the most recent Gomez Advisors Internet Video and Music scorecards. Amazon.com's bookstore is also ranked as the No. 1 Internet Bookseller by Gomez Advisors.</p><p>Amazon.com's sweep of the Gomez Advisors Internet Scorecards comes just two days after MSNBC recognized Amazon.com as the best online toy store. Barely one month after launching its Toys &amp; Games store, leading online retailer Amazon.com was named Best Online Toy store in an MSNBC review - beating out longer established players.</p><p>The Gomez Advisors Internet scorecards rank the performance and quality of online service offerings based on a variety of criteria including interface, customer service, convenience, and content.</p><p>In the first of a series of MSNBC surveys of online retailers, the August 15 MSNBC article looked at which e-tailers offer the best service for toys, "from the customer's point of view." Columnist Jane Weaver ranked three of the major players in the online toy category based upon first hand experience: calling customer support lines, comparing prices, and ordering toys.</p><p>"This recognition of Amazon.com Toys owes itself to the same customer-obsessed DNA that drives our book, music, and video stores," said David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president of product development. "We're thrilled and honored that MSNBC and Gomez Advisors have chosen our new toy store, along with our book, music, and video stores, as the best places for customers to shop."</p><p>For more information about the Gomez Advisors Internet scorecards, visit: http://www.businesswire.com/webbox/bw.081799/192290215.htm</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20% to 90% off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Catapults Independent Author Into The Big Leagues

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Catapults-Independent-Author-Into-The-Big-Leagues/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Catapults-Independent-Author-Into-The-Big-Leagues

08/17/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Catapults Independent Author Into The Big Leagues

08/17/1999

1999

Author M.J. Rose makes publishing history by becoming the first author to be discovered through the Internet SEATTLE, August 17, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com and author M.J. Rose make publishing history today as her book Lip Service hits the street to become the first self-published novel discovered online. Rose, an independent author, was selling her book through Amazon.com and, as a result, has won a major publishing contract with Pocket Books. Rose was a participant in Amazon.com Advantage, a free program that solves two of independent authors' biggest problems: visibility and widespread distribution. Two years ago, when Rose was turned downed by traditional publishers, she decided to establish her own imprint, Lady Chatterley's Library, and publish her novel herself. Through Amazon.com Advantage (www.amazon.com/advantage), Rose was able to market and distribute her book directly to Amazon.com customers so successfully that the Doubleday Book Club selected it as a featured alternate. After enrolling in the Advantage program, Lip Service generated such a buzz from the large volume of positive reader reviews that the publishing industry was forced to take notice. As a result, Lip Service became the Literary Guild's first selection drawn directly from online sources, and it is the first self-published novel the book club has ever acquired. Subsequently, Pocket Books bought the North American rights to republish Lip Service, and the sale of film rights are now in discussion. "My dreams of driving cross-country selling books from the trunk of my car became a nightmare when every independent bookstore I approached refused to stock a self-published book," said Rose. "Through Amazon.com and the Advantage program, my dreams became a reality. Amazon.com Advantage gave Lip Service the same prominence, immediate availability, and level of exposure as a bestselling novel from a larger publisher." "Amazon.com Advantage is great for customers and authors," said Carl Gish, General Manager of Books at Amazon.com. "It provides small publishers and self-published authors exposure to our more than 10 million customers and gives our customers a vast selection of books that truly can't be found anywhere else." In the publishing industry, a book must reach a certain critical mass before it makes it into retail channels. With Amazon.com's unlimited virtual shelf space, Amazon.com Advantage enables independent publishers and authors to place a limited quantity of books in Amazon.com's distribution centers for immediate sale and delivery to customers all over the world. Amazon.com helps Advantage members sell books by enhancing their online presence with cover art and space for synopsis and review. At no cost to the publisher, Amazon.com will scan the book cover and help publishers add valuable title information, such as descriptions, excerpts, tables of contents, and author comments to the page. Participating titles will be assigned subject classifications to help surface the book through Amazon.com's rich subject-browsing features. Faster book availability, improved subject-browsing classification, and richer content will make it easier for customers to discover and buy books from independent publishers. Since its launch in February 1998, Amazon.com Advantage has grown in popularity and is also offered to record labels, musicians, filmmakers, and video producers. As a result, independent musicians, filmmakers, publishers, and authors have the chance to attract a worldwide audience, while customers have the opportunity to discover titles that may never appear on the limited shelf space of physical retail stores. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20% to 90% off retail, at www.gear.com . This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Author M.J. Rose makes publishing history by becoming the first author to be discovered through the Internet</p><p>SEATTLE, August 17, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com and author M.J. Rose make publishing history today as her book <em>Lip Service</em> hits the street to become the first self-published novel discovered online. Rose, an independent author, was selling her book through Amazon.com and, as a result, has won a major publishing contract with Pocket Books.</p><p>Rose was a participant in Amazon.com Advantage, a free program that solves two of independent authors' biggest problems: visibility and widespread distribution.</p><p>Two years ago, when Rose was turned downed by traditional publishers, she decided to establish her own imprint, Lady Chatterley's Library, and publish her novel herself. Through Amazon.com Advantage (www.amazon.com/advantage), Rose was able to market and distribute her book directly to Amazon.com customers so successfully that the Doubleday Book Club selected it as a featured alternate. After enrolling in the Advantage program, <em>Lip Service</em> generated such a buzz from the large volume of positive reader reviews that the publishing industry was forced to take notice. As a result, <em>Lip Service</em> became the Literary Guild's first selection drawn directly from online sources, and it is the first self-published novel the book club has ever acquired. Subsequently, Pocket Books bought the North American rights to republish <em>Lip Service</em>, and the sale of film rights are now in discussion.</p><p>"My dreams of driving cross-country selling books from the trunk of my car became a nightmare when every independent bookstore I approached refused to stock a self-published book," said Rose. "Through Amazon.com and the Advantage program, my dreams became a reality. Amazon.com Advantage gave <em>Lip Service</em> the same prominence, immediate availability, and level of exposure as a bestselling novel from a larger publisher."</p><p>"Amazon.com Advantage is great for customers and authors," said Carl Gish, General Manager of Books at Amazon.com. "It provides small publishers and self-published authors exposure to our more than 10 million customers and gives our customers a vast selection of books that truly can't be found anywhere else."</p><p>In the publishing industry, a book must reach a certain critical mass before it makes it into retail channels. With Amazon.com's unlimited virtual shelf space, Amazon.com Advantage enables independent publishers and authors to place a limited quantity of books in Amazon.com's distribution centers for immediate sale and delivery to customers all over the world.</p><p>Amazon.com helps Advantage members sell books by enhancing their online presence with cover art and space for synopsis and review. At no cost to the publisher, Amazon.com will scan the book cover and help publishers add valuable title information, such as descriptions, excerpts, tables of contents, and author comments to the page. Participating titles will be assigned subject classifications to help surface the book through Amazon.com's rich subject-browsing features. Faster book availability, improved subject-browsing classification, and richer content will make it easier for customers to discover and buy books from independent publishers.</p><p>Since its launch in February 1998, Amazon.com Advantage has grown in popularity and is also offered to record labels, musicians, filmmakers, and video producers. As a result, independent musicians, filmmakers, publishers, and authors have the chance to attract a worldwide audience, while customers have the opportunity to discover titles that may never appear on the limited shelf space of physical retail stores.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20% to 90% off retail, at www.gear.com .</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999 and June 30, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Bidding Begins For Discovery Channel Online Fossils at Amazon.com

/news/news-details/1999/Bidding-Begins-For-Discovery-Channel-Online-Fossils-at-Amazon.com/default.aspx

Bidding-Begins-For-Discovery-Channel-Online-Fossils-at-Amazon.com

08/09/1999 00:00:00

Bidding Begins For Discovery Channel Online Fossils at Amazon.com

08/09/1999

1999

Discovery.com and Amazon.com Auctions Bring Specimens to Fossil Collectors and Nature Enthusiasts SEATTLE-August 9, 1999 -- After a week-long preview, fossils from Discovery Channel Online (the web site of the popular Discovery Channel network) are open for bidding today exclusively on Amazon.com Auctions (NASDAQ: AMZN). Fossil enthusiasts and collectors can visit www.amazon.com/auctions to participate in this unique online fossil auction. This first week of bidding kicks off three consecutive seven-day auctions that will take place over the next three weeks. Each auction will feature a new selection of fossils, more than 100 in total. Curious bidders can preview photos and descriptions of upcoming auction pieces at www.amazon.com/auctions for the week prior to the bidding start dates of August 16 and 23. Discovery.com's collection of fossils includes many special pieces, ranging from beautiful amber specimens with ancient insects perfectly preserved inside to a giant eight-foot tall cave- bear skeleton dating back to the Ice Age, 165,000 years ago. Some of the less expensive pieces are valued at under $50; others cost as much as tens -of -thousands of dollars. "Discovery Channel's mission is to inspire curiosity and help our audiences find new ways to explore the world around them," noted Andrew Sharpless, senior vice president of discovery.com, a unit of Discovery Communications Inc. "With our online fossil auction we're pushing the envelope, using the most up-to-date internet technology to link people to the past. By offering these ancient objects via Amazon.com Auctions we are able to expand the opportunities for consumers to hold history in their hands and become virtual explorers." The first week of bidding - from August 9 to 16 -- offers an impressive range of items primarily focusing on ancient marine life. Fossil fans can find an exceptional and beautifully preserved fossil sea reptile - the 170 -million -year -old Ichthyosaurus and a 25-million -year -old mud crab with its giant claws extended, which roamed the land that is now part of Argentina. Collectors will also find a fossilized sea scorpion, an aggressive predator that roamed the early seas 430 million years ago, and fossil fish specimens from around the world. This week's signature piece is the Ice Age cave-bear skeleton found in Russia's Ural Mountains, unique for its commanding height- measuring over eight feet tall, two feet higher than most in its species. This amazing piece is also notable for its completeness; the skeleton recovered almost completely intact. Also available to online audiences is a preview of items that will open for bidding during the week of August 16. Internationally accredited paleontologist and geologist Dr. Stefano Piccini has worked with discovery.com to create this collection from pieces he has unearthed throughout his 15-year career. Dr. Piccini is the world's first paleontologist to have established a global network for fossil preservation and is dedicated to making paleontological information available to colleagues, fossil collectors, and others interested in our scientific history. "It's truly fantastic that discovery.com and Amazon.com are dedicating an entire month to auctioning these fascinating remnants of our earth's heritage online," said Dr. Piccini. "Part of my passion for locating and studying fossils is sharing with others what we learn about the earth's paleontological history. This event is a tremendous opportunity to showcase these treasures and the captivating stories they represent." "The discovery.com fossil collection we are auctioning is spectacular," said Joel Spiegel, vice president and general manager of Amazon.com Auctions. "Amazon.com Auctions is about finding and discovering anything you might want to buy online. Fossil collectors and fans can now have the chance to own a special piece of our earth's history without having to be Indiana Joneses traveling to the far corners of the world." Discovery.com will also feature extensive information about fossils and fossil collecting; in addition, audiences can join a fossil-collecting expedition currently underway in the Alaskan wilderness. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About Discovery Channel OnlineThe award-winning Discovery Channel Online (DCOL) (discovery.com) satisfies visitors' curiosity by providing dynamic ways to explore and interact with the real world. Featuring original content for the web, DCOL is the comprehensive resource for up-to-the-minute science news headlines, real-time expeditions around the world, and original in-depth feature editorials covering science, technology, nature, history and exploration. Discovery also operates Discovery Online Store located at discoverystore.com, which further connects users to the Discovery brand by making unique and quality items available to a large audience. Discovery Channel Online and Discovery Online Store are services of Discovery Enterprises Worldwide, a unit of Discovery Communications, Inc., a privately held, diversified media company headquartered in Bethesda, Md.

<p>Discovery.com and Amazon.com Auctions Bring Specimens to Fossil Collectors and Nature Enthusiasts</p><p>SEATTLE-August 9, 1999 -- After a week-long preview, fossils from Discovery Channel Online (the web site of the popular Discovery Channel network) are open for bidding today exclusively on Amazon.com Auctions (NASDAQ: AMZN). Fossil enthusiasts and collectors can visit www.amazon.com/auctions to participate in this unique online fossil auction.</p><p>This first week of bidding kicks off three consecutive seven-day auctions that will take place over the next three weeks. Each auction will feature a new selection of fossils, more than 100 in total. Curious bidders can preview photos and descriptions of upcoming auction pieces at www.amazon.com/auctions for the week prior to the bidding start dates of August 16 and 23. Discovery.com's collection of fossils includes many special pieces, ranging from beautiful amber specimens with ancient insects perfectly preserved inside to a giant eight-foot tall cave- bear skeleton dating back to the Ice Age, 165,000 years ago. Some of the less expensive pieces are valued at under $50; others cost as much as tens -of -thousands of dollars.</p><p>"Discovery Channel's mission is to inspire curiosity and help our audiences find new ways to explore the world around them," noted Andrew Sharpless, senior vice president of discovery.com, a unit of Discovery Communications Inc. "With our online fossil auction we're pushing the envelope, using the most up-to-date internet technology to link people to the past. By offering these ancient objects via Amazon.com Auctions we are able to expand the opportunities for consumers to hold history in their hands and become virtual explorers."</p><p>The first week of bidding - from August 9 to 16 -- offers an impressive range of items primarily focusing on ancient marine life. Fossil fans can find an exceptional and beautifully preserved fossil sea reptile - the 170 -million -year -old Ichthyosaurus and a 25-million -year -old mud crab with its giant claws extended, which roamed the land that is now part of Argentina. Collectors will also find a fossilized sea scorpion, an aggressive predator that roamed the early seas 430 million years ago, and fossil fish specimens from around the world. This week's signature piece is the Ice Age cave-bear skeleton found in Russia's Ural Mountains, unique for its commanding height- measuring over eight feet tall, two feet higher than most in its species. This amazing piece is also notable for its completeness; the skeleton recovered almost completely intact. Also available to online audiences is a preview of items that will open for bidding during the week of August 16.</p><p>Internationally accredited paleontologist and geologist Dr. Stefano Piccini has worked with discovery.com to create this collection from pieces he has unearthed throughout his 15-year career. Dr. Piccini is the world's first paleontologist to have established a global network for fossil preservation and is dedicated to making paleontological information available to colleagues, fossil collectors, and others interested in our scientific history.</p><p>"It's truly fantastic that discovery.com and Amazon.com are dedicating an entire month to auctioning these fascinating remnants of our earth's heritage online," said Dr. Piccini. "Part of my passion for locating and studying fossils is sharing with others what we learn about the earth's paleontological history. This event is a tremendous opportunity to showcase these treasures and the captivating stories they represent."</p><p>"The discovery.com fossil collection we are auctioning is spectacular," said Joel Spiegel, vice president and general manager of Amazon.com Auctions. "Amazon.com Auctions is about finding and discovering anything you might want to buy online. Fossil collectors and fans can now have the chance to own a special piece of our earth's history without having to be Indiana Joneses traveling to the far corners of the world."</p><p>Discovery.com will also feature extensive information about fossils and fossil collecting; in addition, audiences can join a fossil-collecting expedition currently underway in the Alaskan wilderness.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About Discovery Channel OnlineThe award-winning Discovery Channel Online (DCOL) (discovery.com) satisfies visitors' curiosity by providing dynamic ways to explore and interact with the real world. Featuring original content for the web, DCOL is the comprehensive resource for up-to-the-minute science news headlines, real-time expeditions around the world, and original in-depth feature editorials covering science, technology, nature, history and exploration. Discovery also operates Discovery Online Store located at discoverystore.com, which further connects users to the Discovery brand by making unique and quality items available to a large audience. Discovery Channel Online and Discovery Online Store are services of Discovery Enterprises Worldwide, a unit of Discovery Communications, Inc., a privately held, diversified media company headquartered in Bethesda, Md.</p>

Amazon.com to Add Los Lobos, Richar Thompson, Merle Haggard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Brad Mehldau to Free Downloads Area

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-to-Add-Los-Lobos-Richar-Thompson-Merle-Haggard-Lynyrd-Skynyrd-and-Brad-Mehldau-to-Free-Downloads-Area/default.aspx

Amazon.com-to-Add-Los-Lobos-Richar-Thompson-Merle-Haggard-Lynyrd-Skynyrd-and-Brad-Mehldau-to-Free-Downloads-Area

08/09/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com to Add Los Lobos, Richar Thompson, Merle Haggard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Brad Mehldau to Free Downloads Area

08/09/1999

1999

Amazon.com offers customers more free downloads from established artists than any major online retailer SEATTLE, August 5, 1999 -- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music retailer, today announced plans to add five major recording artists to its Free Downloads area over the next two weeks. Free downloads from Los Lobos, Richard Thompson, Merle Haggard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Brad Mehldau will join recent additions from Alison Krauss, Styx, Speech (the former lead singer of Arrested Development), Franke Potente from the Run Lola Run soundtrack, and Venice. "Not only is our Free Downloads area the best place for music fans to download songs from well-known artists-it is also extremely successful at driving sales of the CDs featured in this area. For example, Amazon.com's share of total U.S. sales of Robert Cray's album Take Your Shoes Off is nearly 9 percent, and our share for Lyle Lovett Live in Texas is more than 6 percent. This is extremely high when you consider that last year, Internet music sales from all online retailers represented only 1 percent of total U.S. music sales," said Jennifer Cast, general manager of Amazon.com's music store. "These figures demonstrate that free downloads are great for customers, and they're a great way for labels to promote their artists and CDs." Starting today, music fans who visit Amazon.com's Free Downloads area can download a song from Merle Haggard's newly released album, Live at Billy Bob's, plus two songs from Richard Thompson-one from his upcoming album Mock Tudor plus a previously unreleased track available exclusively at Amazon.com. On August 12, Amazon.com will make available tracks from Los Lobos, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Brad Mehldau. With these additions, Amazon.com will offer music fans 49 free full-length downloadable tracks from 30 established recording artists-the largest selection of free downloadable music of any major online music retailer. The complete roster of artists and songs now available in Amazon.com's Free Digital Downloads area is as follows (recent additions are marked by asterisks): *Merle Haggard "Motorcycle Cowboy/Blue Model #13" *Alison Krauss "Forget About It" *Franke Potente/Run Lola Run "Believe" *Styx "Everything Is Cool" & "While There's Still Time" *Speech "Clocks in Sync with Mine" *Richard Thompson "Crawl Back" & "Fully Qualified to Be Your Man" *Venice "The Man You Think I Am" Perla Batalla "Camino a Santiago" & "Morning Star" David Byrne "Fear" Cheap Trick "Oh Caroline" & "Surrender (Remix)" Cowboy Junkies "I Saw Your Shoes" & "River Waltz" Robert Cray "All the Way" & "Let Me Know" Sheryl Crow & Emmylou Harris "Juanita" Kristin Hersh "Echo" & "Pretty Polly" Indigenous "Holdin' Out" & "Things We Do" Jazz Is Dead "Row Jimmy" & "Ship of Fools" The Mavericks "Hot Burrito #1" Randy Newman "I'm Dead" & "I Miss You" Pavement "Spit on a Stranger" Elliott Smith "The Enemy in You" & "Waltz No. 2" The Stone Coyotes "Church of the Falling Rain" & "My Little Runaway" Rufus Wainwright "April Fools" & "Foolish Love" Cheryl Wheeler "Sylvia Hotel" & "Beyond the Lights" Barry White "Staying Power" Widespread Panic "Bear's Gone Fishin'" & "Red Hot Mama" Kelly Willis "Talk Like That" & "Time Has Told Me" The following artists and song titles will be added on August 12: Los Lobos "This Time" Brad Mehldau "Elegy for William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg" & "London Fog" Lynyrd Skynyrd "Edge of Forever" & "Workin'" About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Amazon.com offers customers more free downloads from established artists than any major online retailer</p><p>SEATTLE, August 5, 1999 -- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music retailer, today announced plans to add five major recording artists to its Free Downloads area over the next two weeks. Free downloads from Los Lobos, Richard Thompson, Merle Haggard, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Brad Mehldau will join recent additions from Alison Krauss, Styx, Speech (the former lead singer of Arrested Development), Franke Potente from the <em>Run Lola Run</em> soundtrack, and Venice.</p><p>"Not only is our Free Downloads area the best place for music fans to download songs from well-known artists-it is also extremely successful at driving sales of the CDs featured in this area. For example, Amazon.com's share of total U.S. sales of Robert Cray's album <em>Take Your Shoes Off</em> is nearly 9 percent, and our share for <em>Lyle Lovett Live in Texas</em> is more than 6 percent. This is extremely high when you consider that last year, Internet music sales from <em>all</em> online retailers represented only 1 percent of total U.S. music sales," said Jennifer Cast, general manager of Amazon.com's music store. "These figures demonstrate that free downloads are great for customers, and they're a great way for labels to promote their artists and CDs."</p><p>Starting today, music fans who visit Amazon.com's Free Downloads area can download a song from Merle Haggard's newly released album, <em>Live at Billy Bob's</em>, plus two songs from Richard Thompson-one from his upcoming album <em>Mock Tudor</em> plus a previously unreleased track available exclusively at Amazon.com. On August 12, Amazon.com will make available tracks from Los Lobos, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Brad Mehldau.</p><p>With these additions, Amazon.com will offer music fans 49 free full-length downloadable tracks from 30 established recording artists-the largest selection of free downloadable music of any major online music retailer. The complete roster of artists and songs now available in Amazon.com's Free Digital Downloads area is as follows (recent additions are marked by asterisks):</p><pre>*Merle Haggard "Motorcycle Cowboy/Blue Model #13"*Alison Krauss "Forget About It"*Franke Potente/<em>Run Lola Run</em> "Believe"*Styx "Everything Is Cool" &amp; "While There's Still Time"*Speech "Clocks in Sync with Mine"*Richard Thompson "Crawl Back" &amp; "Fully Qualified to Be Your Man"*Venice "The Man You Think I Am"Perla Batalla "Camino a Santiago" &amp; "Morning Star"David Byrne "Fear"Cheap Trick "Oh Caroline" &amp; "Surrender (Remix)"Cowboy Junkies "I Saw Your Shoes" &amp; "River Waltz"Robert Cray "All the Way" &amp; "Let Me Know"Sheryl Crow &amp; Emmylou Harris "Juanita"Kristin Hersh "Echo" &amp; "Pretty Polly"Indigenous "Holdin' Out" &amp; "Things We Do"Jazz Is Dead "Row Jimmy" &amp; "Ship of Fools"The Mavericks "Hot Burrito #1"Randy Newman "I'm Dead" &amp; "I Miss You"Pavement "Spit on a Stranger"Elliott Smith "The Enemy in You" &amp; "Waltz No. 2"The Stone Coyotes "Church of the Falling Rain" &amp; "My Little Runaway"Rufus Wainwright "April Fools" &amp; "Foolish Love" Cheryl Wheeler "Sylvia Hotel" &amp; "Beyond the Lights"Barry White "Staying Power"Widespread Panic "Bear's Gone Fishin'" &amp; "Red Hot Mama"Kelly Willis "Talk Like That" &amp; "Time Has Told Me"The following artists and song titles will be added on August 12:Los Lobos "This Time"Brad Mehldau "Elegy for William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg" &amp; "London Fog"Lynyrd Skynyrd "Edge of Forever" &amp; "Workin'"</pre><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Auctions and Discovery Channel Online Host Exclusive Rare Fossil Auction

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Auctions-and-Discovery-Channel-Online-Host-Exclusive-Rare-Fossil-Auction/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Auctions-and-Discovery-Channel-Online-Host-Exclusive-Rare-Fossil-Auction

08/02/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Auctions and Discovery Channel Online Host Exclusive Rare Fossil Auction

08/02/1999

1999

Discovery's First-Ever Online Auction to Bring Extraordinary Fossils to Both Enthusiasts and Serious Collectors SEATTLE-August 2, 1999 --Magnificent and rare fossils from Discovery Channel Online (discovery.com) will soon be auctioned exclusively on Amazon.com Auctions (NASDAQ: AMZN). Beginning today, fossil fans and collectors can visit www.amazon.com/auctions to preview photos and descriptions of the unique specimens that will be available for bid as of August 9. More items will be previewed and opened for bidding throughout the month of August. The auction will feature more than 100 valuable fossils, some dating back to the Cambrian era, 500 million years ago. Pieces being auctioned come from the far corners of the world and include the skeleton of a 165-thousand-year-old, eight-foot-tall Ice Age cave bear found in the Russian Ural Mountains; the remains of a 90-million-year-old ammonite, an extinct mollusk unearthed in Canada; and a fossilized Ichthyosaurus, a Jurassic sea reptile that roamed through Germany approximately 170 million years ago. Each of the fossils, large and small, represents a unique and critical chapter of life on earth. For a variety of prices, amateur collectors and serious fossil connoisseurs alike can purchase these one-of-a-kind testimonies to the earth's past on the Amazon.com Auctions site. "We're excited to be working with discovery.com to give customers a chance to own a unique piece of our earth's history," said Joel Spiegel, vice president and general manager of Amazon.com Auctions. "Paleontologists, fossil collectors, and dealers usually have to travel worldwide to purchase rare or hard-to-find pieces. With Amazon.com Auctions, we can bring discovery.com's amazing fossil collection right into people's homes, making them available to a much broader audience." "We are delighted to be working with Amazon.com Auctions to present this unique online auction," said Andrew Sharpless, senior vice president, discovery.com. "This auction is representative of discovery.com's commitment to breaking new ground to bring online audiences innovative ways to explore and connect with the world around them." Discovery.com and Amazon.com Auctions will officially announce the auction and host a sneak preview tonight at the Discovery Channel Destination Store: Washington, D.C., where eager fossil aficionados can get a live look at some of the unusual specimens discovery.com will be selling in its first-ever online auction. These fossils will be available for purchase only through Amazon.com Auctions. Tonight's Discovery Store preview, held from 5 to 7 p.m., is open to the press and public. The event will feature the formidable Ice Age cave bear and other precious fossils, as well as a special presentation by internationally accredited paleontologist and geologist Dr. Stefano Piccini. Piccini has been working with fossils for more than 15 years and is recognized for both his extensive expertise and passion for educating people about the paleontological information and principals that unlock the secrets to our history on this planet. For more information about fossils and fossil collecting, visitors can head directly to discovery.com, where online audiences can join a fossil collecting expedition currently underway in the Alaskan wilderness. The site will feature information on how to get involved in local digs and updates on all the latest dinosaur finds. Press interested in attending the preview event should call Eileen Ratnofsky, Discovery Communications, (301) 771-4449. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; and HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click, are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About Discovery Channel OnlineThe award-winning Discovery Channel Online (DCOL) (discovery.com) satisfies visitors' curiosity by providing dynamic ways to explore and interact with the real world. Featuring original content for the web, DCOL is the comprehensive resource for up-to-the-minute science news headlines, real-time expeditions around the world, and original in-depth feature editorials covering science, technology, nature, history and exploration. Discovery also operates Discovery Online Store located at discoverystore.com, which further connects users to the Discovery brand by making unique and quality items available to a large audience. Discovery Channel Online and Discovery Online Store are services of Discovery Enterprises Worldwide, a unit of Discovery Communications, Inc., a privately held, diversified media company headquartered in Bethesda, Md.

<p>Discovery's First-Ever Online Auction to Bring Extraordinary Fossils to Both Enthusiasts and Serious Collectors</p><p>SEATTLE-August 2, 1999 --Magnificent and rare fossils from Discovery Channel Online (discovery.com) will soon be auctioned exclusively on Amazon.com Auctions (NASDAQ: AMZN). Beginning today, fossil fans and collectors can visit www.amazon.com/auctions to preview photos and descriptions of the unique specimens that will be available for bid as of August 9. More items will be previewed and opened for bidding throughout the month of August.</p><p>The auction will feature more than 100 valuable fossils, some dating back to the Cambrian era, 500 million years ago. Pieces being auctioned come from the far corners of the world and include the skeleton of a 165-thousand-year-old, eight-foot-tall Ice Age cave bear found in the Russian Ural Mountains; the remains of a 90-million-year-old ammonite, an extinct mollusk unearthed in Canada; and a fossilized Ichthyosaurus, a Jurassic sea reptile that roamed through Germany approximately 170 million years ago. Each of the fossils, large and small, represents a unique and critical chapter of life on earth. For a variety of prices, amateur collectors and serious fossil connoisseurs alike can purchase these one-of-a-kind testimonies to the earth's past on the Amazon.com Auctions site.</p><p>"We're excited to be working with discovery.com to give customers a chance to own a unique piece of our earth's history," said Joel Spiegel, vice president and general manager of Amazon.com Auctions. "Paleontologists, fossil collectors, and dealers usually have to travel worldwide to purchase rare or hard-to-find pieces. With Amazon.com Auctions, we can bring discovery.com's amazing fossil collection right into people's homes, making them available to a much broader audience."</p><p>"We are delighted to be working with Amazon.com Auctions to present this unique online auction," said Andrew Sharpless, senior vice president, discovery.com. "This auction is representative of discovery.com's commitment to breaking new ground to bring online audiences innovative ways to explore and connect with the world around them."</p><p>Discovery.com and Amazon.com Auctions will officially announce the auction and host a sneak preview tonight at the Discovery Channel Destination Store: Washington, D.C., where eager fossil aficionados can get a live look at some of the unusual specimens discovery.com will be selling in its first-ever online auction. These fossils will be available for purchase only through Amazon.com Auctions.</p><p>Tonight's Discovery Store preview, held from 5 to 7 p.m., is open to the press and public. The event will feature the formidable Ice Age cave bear and other precious fossils, as well as a special presentation by internationally accredited paleontologist and geologist Dr. Stefano Piccini. Piccini has been working with fossils for more than 15 years and is recognized for both his extensive expertise and passion for educating people about the paleontological information and principals that unlock the secrets to our history on this planet.</p><p>For more information about fossils and fossil collecting, visitors can head directly to discovery.com, where online audiences can join a fossil collecting expedition currently underway in the Alaskan wilderness. The site will feature information on how to get involved in local digs and updates on all the latest dinosaur finds.</p><p>Press interested in attending the preview event should call Eileen Ratnofsky, Discovery Communications, (301) 771-4449.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; and HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click, are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About Discovery Channel OnlineThe award-winning Discovery Channel Online (DCOL) (discovery.com) satisfies visitors' curiosity by providing dynamic ways to explore and interact with the real world. Featuring original content for the web, DCOL is the comprehensive resource for up-to-the-minute science news headlines, real-time expeditions around the world, and original in-depth feature editorials covering science, technology, nature, history and exploration. Discovery also operates Discovery Online Store located at discoverystore.com, which further connects users to the Discovery brand by making unique and quality items available to a large audience. Discovery Channel Online and Discovery Online Store are services of Discovery Enterprises Worldwide, a unit of Discovery Communications, Inc., a privately held, diversified media company headquartered in Bethesda, Md.</p>

Blair Witch Mania Arrives at Amazon.com

/news/news-details/1999/Blair-Witch-Mania-Arrives-at-Amazon.com/default.aspx

Blair-Witch-Mania-Arrives-at-Amazon.com

07/27/1999 00:00:00

Blair Witch Mania Arrives at Amazon.com

07/27/1999

1999

Amazon.com Cards Launches First Movie Content Promotion, Bringing Customers Exclusive e-Cards from the Country's Hottest Film SEATTLE, July 27, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today that it has an exclusive arrangement with Artisan Entertainment to provide a series of free electronic greeting cards based on the movie The Blair Witch Project, which is getting critical acclaim and breaking box-office records. Starting today, fans can select and send e-cards from the Amazon.com Cards site to celebrate the independent movie thriller that has the country craving anything related to Blair Witch. What started as the object of buzz at the Sundance Film Festival is now a raging phenomenon at theaters and on the Internet, since its July 16 release in select cities. The movie's success has driven increased interest in the book The Blair Witch Project and the CD Josh's Blair Witch Mix, which are both nearing the Amazon.com 100 Hot lists for book and music sales. Amazon.com Auctions also lists dozens of Blair Witch items, from posters and promotional flyers to pins and T-shirts. The movie rolls out across the country on July 30th. "The Amazon.com Card site is becoming increasingly entertaining, with a selection of more than 1,000 e-cards to choose from," said Eric Broussard, general manager, Amazon.com Cards. "Adding movie cards, such as Blair Witch, offers our customers an even greater selection. As the movie expands nationally, we know more and more people will want to reach out to friends and family by sending an Amazon.com Blair Witch e-card." Amazon.com Cards will feature a variety of props and movie stills, such as the famed "missing poster" and close-ups of movie characters. The e-cards can be found at www.amazon.com/cards. Amazon.com Cards are designed to be quick, easy, and convenient. Blair Witch Project e-cards, like all other cards, can be sent with personalized messages. The service is 100-percent free and does not require registration. The Most Popular cards are sorted by category, providing a great shortcut when there is no time to browse. About Artisan EntertainmentArtisan's eagerly awaited distribution slate for the coming months includes the 1999 Sundance Film Festival hit The Blair Witch Project; Felicia's Journey, directed by Academy Award nominee Atom Egoyan, which will open the 24th Toronto International Film Festival; and Steven Soderbergh's The Limey. Later this year, Artisan will bring writer/director David Koepp's (Jurassic Park, Snake Eyes) latest directorial outing, Stir of Echoes, and Roman Polanski's The Ninth Gate, starring Johnny Depp, to filmgoing audiences. Artisan Entertainment Inc. is a diversified entertainment company that specializes in the development, production, acquisition, marketing, and worldwide distribution of quality feature-length motion pictures. The company has secured a major pay-TV deal with ShowtimeNetworks; an output deal with Hallmark Entertainment, which covers all Hallmark, Crayola, and Cabin Fever product; a distribution deal with The Shooting Gallery for its film product in all media; the purchase of an equity stake in Summit Entertainment; and an output deal with Alliance in Canada. Artisan is composed of four key groups: Artisan Pictures Inc., Artisan Home Entertainment Inc., Artisan Television, and Artisan International. Artisan Entertainment Inc. controls a library of more than 6,300 titles, which include Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Reservoir Dogs, Dirty Dancing, Total Recall, The Piano, and the successful Rambo series of films, as well as a library of widely recognized children's programming under its Family Home Entertainment brand. The company maintains offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Dallas. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Amazon.com Cards Launches First Movie Content Promotion, Bringing Customers Exclusive e-Cards from the Country's Hottest Film</p><p>SEATTLE, July 27, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today that it has an exclusive arrangement with Artisan Entertainment to provide a series of free electronic greeting cards based on the movie <em>The Blair Witch Project</em>, which is getting critical acclaim and breaking box-office records. Starting today, fans can select and send e-cards from the Amazon.com Cards site to celebrate the independent movie thriller that has the country craving anything related to Blair Witch.</p><p>What started as the object of buzz at the Sundance Film Festival is now a raging phenomenon at theaters and on the Internet, since its July 16 release in select cities. The movie's success has driven increased interest in the book <em>The Blair Witch Project</em> and the CD <em>Josh's Blair Witch Mix</em>, which are both nearing the Amazon.com 100 Hot lists for book and music sales. Amazon.com Auctions also lists dozens of <em>Blair Witch</em> items, from posters and promotional flyers to pins and T-shirts. The movie rolls out across the country on July 30^th.</p><p>"The Amazon.com Card site is becoming increasingly entertaining, with a selection of more than 1,000 e-cards to choose from," said Eric Broussard, general manager, Amazon.com Cards. "Adding movie cards, such as <em>Blair Witch</em>, offers our customers an even greater selection. As the movie expands nationally, we know more and more people will want to reach out to friends and family by sending an Amazon.com <em>Blair Witch</em> e-card."</p><p>Amazon.com Cards will feature a variety of props and movie stills, such as the famed "missing poster" and close-ups of movie characters. The e-cards can be found at www.amazon.com/cards.</p><p>Amazon.com Cards are designed to be quick, easy, and convenient. <em>Blair Witch Project</em> e-cards, like all other cards, can be sent with personalized messages. The service is 100-percent free and does not require registration. The Most Popular cards are sorted by category, providing a great shortcut when there is no time to browse.</p><p>About Artisan EntertainmentArtisan's eagerly awaited distribution slate for the coming months includes the 1999 Sundance Film Festival hit <em>The Blair Witch Project</em>; <em>Felicia's Journey</em>, directed by Academy Award nominee Atom Egoyan, which will open the 24^th Toronto International Film Festival; and Steven Soderbergh's ^{The Limey}. Later this year, Artisan will bring writer/director David Koepp's (<em>Jurassic Park</em>, <em>Snake Eyes</em>) latest directorial outing, Stir of Echoes, and Roman Polanski's <em>The Ninth Gate</em>, starring Johnny Depp, to filmgoing audiences.</p><p>Artisan Entertainment Inc. is a diversified entertainment company that specializes in the development, production, acquisition, marketing, and worldwide distribution of quality feature-length motion pictures. The company has secured a major pay-TV deal with ShowtimeNetworks; an output deal with Hallmark Entertainment, which covers all Hallmark, Crayola, and Cabin Fever product; a distribution deal with The Shooting Gallery for its film product in all media; the purchase of an equity stake in Summit Entertainment; and an output deal with Alliance in Canada. Artisan is composed of four key groups: Artisan Pictures Inc., Artisan Home Entertainment Inc., Artisan Television, and Artisan International. Artisan Entertainment Inc. controls a library of more than 6,300 titles, which include <em>Terminator 2: Judgment Day</em>, <em>Reservoir Dogs</em>, <em>Dirty Dancing</em>, <em>Total Recall</em>, <em>The Piano</em>, and the successful Rambo series of films, as well as a library of widely recognized children's programming under its Family Home Entertainment brand. The company maintains offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Dallas.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Announces 2-For-1 Stock Split

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Announces-2-For-1-Stock-Split/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Announces-2-For-1-Stock-Split

07/21/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Announces 2-For-1 Stock Split

07/21/1999

1999

SEATTLE, July 21, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today that its Board of Directors approved a 2-for-1 split of its common stock. Stockholders will receive one additional share for every share held on the record date of August 12, 1999. Additional shares will be mailed or delivered on or about September 1, 1999, by the company's transfer agent, ChaseMellon Shareholder Services. The common stock will begin trading at a post-split price on September 2, 1999. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>SEATTLE, July 21, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today that its Board of Directors approved a 2-for-1 split of its common stock. Stockholders will receive one additional share for every share held on the record date of August 12, 1999. Additional shares will be mailed or delivered on or about September 1, 1999, by the company's transfer agent, ChaseMellon Shareholder Services. The common stock will begin trading at a post-split price on September 2, 1999.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Joseph Galli Elected To Amazon.com Board of Directors

/news/news-details/1999/Joseph-Galli-Elected-To-Amazon.com-Board-of-Directors/default.aspx

Joseph-Galli-Elected-To-Amazon.com-Board-of-Directors

07/21/1999 00:00:00

Joseph Galli Elected To Amazon.com Board of Directors

07/21/1999

1999

SEATTLE, July 21, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today that Joseph Galli, its president and chief operating officer, has been elected to its Board of Directors. Galli came to Amazon.com after a highly successful 19-year career with Black & Decker as president of Black & Decker Worldwide Power Tools and Accessories. He is credited with creating Black & Decker's global product-development system and a world-class global manufacturing and purchasing structure. In addition, he re-established market leadership for the Black & Decker brand, introducing new products and significantly improving customer service. Galli joined Amazon.com in June. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>SEATTLE, July 21, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today that Joseph Galli, its president and chief operating officer, has been elected to its Board of Directors.</p><p>Galli came to Amazon.com after a highly successful 19-year career with Black &amp; Decker as president of Black &amp; Decker Worldwide Power Tools and Accessories. He is credited with creating Black &amp; Decker's global product-development system and a world-class global manufacturing and purchasing structure. In addition, he re-established market leadership for the Black &amp; Decker brand, introducing new products and significantly improving customer service. Galli joined Amazon.com in June.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Announces Financial Results For Second Quarter 1999

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Announces-Financial-Results-For-Second-Quarter-1999/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Announces-Financial-Results-For-Second-Quarter-1999

07/21/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Announces Financial Results For Second Quarter 1999

07/21/1999

1999

Amazon.com's Community of Online Shoppers Grows to 10.7 Million SEATTLE, Washington-July 21, 1999-Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), today announced financial results for the second quarter of 1999. Net sales for the second quarter were $314.4 million, an increase of 171 percent over net sales of $116.0 million for the second quarter of 1998. Amazon.com reported a second-quarter pro forma operating loss of $67.3 million, or 21 percent of net sales, compared to a pro forma operating loss of $12.8 million, or 11 percent of net sales, in the second quarter of 1998. Second-quarter pro forma net loss of $82.8 million, or $0.51 per share, compared with a pro forma net loss of $17.0 million, or $0.12 per share, in the second quarter of 1998. On a GAAP basis, reported second-quarter net loss was $138.0 million, or $0.86 per share, and included $55.2 million of merger, acquisition, investment related costs and stock-based compensation charges. Amazon.com announced that cumulative customer accounts, including Auctions bidders and sellers, increased by 2.3 million during the second quarter to 10.7 million at June 30, 1999, an increase of more than 220 percent from the 3.3 million customer accounts at June 30, 1998. Repeat customer orders represented more than 70 percent of orders during the quarter ended June 30, 1999. "We did a lot this quarter," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "We're especially pleased that Amazon.com Auctions is our fastest-growing business. And looking at the first few days of sales in our new Toys and Electronics stores, we're shocked and grateful. In fact, we believe we're already the No. 1 seller of children's products online." Regarding Amazon.com's ongoing expansion, Bezos added, "We continue to make great progress building out world-class distribution that will give customers greater availability, faster shipping times, and even better service. We have and will continue to invest in systems, people, and product expansion, each of which helps us better serve customers. For the rest of 1999, we expect to invest more heavily than we have in the past. Our goal remains to build the world's most customer-centric company." Recent Highlights 10 Million Customers; Extending Global Brand and Reach Less than four years after opening on the Internet, Amazon.com announced in June that it had become the first e-commerce store to serve its 10 millionth customer. In October 1997, Amazon.com became the first Internet retailer to serve 1 million customers, and its cumulative customer base has grown tenfold in 21 months and is now equivalent to the population of Greece. These 10 million customers represent an e-commerce watershed reflecting the appeal of online shopping to a broad range of customers. Amazon.com's brand and reach continued to grow during the second quarter. Heads-down focus on customers helped make Amazon.com both the No. 1 online shopping site and the No. 8 Web property overall in the United States during June, according to Media Metrix June 1999 data. An April study by Opinion Research Corporation International of Princeton, New Jersey, estimated that 52 percent of the 196 million U.S. adults recognized Amazon.com, making it the leading e-commerce brand in the country in terms of awareness. And on a worldwide level, a June study of all global brands by Interbrand Newell and Sorrell ranked Amazon.com as the 57th most valuable brand worldwide, just above Hilton, Guinness, and Marriott, and just below Pampers. Amazon.com Launches Toys and Electronics Last week, Amazon.com launched two completely new stores: Amazon.com Electronics and Amazon.com Toys. Together, these two stores turn what consumers say are among the most difficult shopping experiences into hassle-free ones. In a nationwide poll of people who have bought toys and electronics in stores, more than half said they would prefer to buy toys and electronics online. Amazon.com Electronics features a full range of popular electronics products and brands: everything from the latest digital camcorders to computer peripherals to televisions. Amazon.com Toys offers a broad selection ranging from hot new toys usually found at superstores to specialty toys from hundreds of small toymakers. Both new stores offer broad selection, great convenience, low prices, and comprehensive information to help customers buy the right products. In addition, both stores feature a no-risk returns policy and are supported by Amazon.com's world-class customer service department so that customers can buy electronics, toys, and games online with complete confidence. Amazon.com Auctions and Sotheby's In June, Amazon.com announced its partnership with Sotheby's to launch a joint online auction site. This 10-year alliance between the world's leading e-commerce company and the international art auction house will create a new standard in online buying and selling of authenticated and guaranteed auction property. Sellers on this joint auction site will have the opportunity to market to Amazon.com's more than 10.7 million customers with the benefit of Sotheby's 255-year art and auction expertise. The joint site will be devoted to the general antiques collector and to the world of collectibles, featuring coins, stamps, sports, and Hollywood memorabilia, fashion, animation art, toys, dolls, and other collectibles, as well as general art and antiques, books, and jewelry. Customer Experience In May, Amazon.com began its everyday 50% discount on The New York Times Best Seller list. The Amazon.com 50% discount, which is not a sale or short-term promotion but everyday low pricing, applies to hardcover and paperback titles in the best seller list's three generic categories: fiction, nonfiction, and miscellaneous--at least 68 titles each week at 50% off. In addition, Amazon.com continues to offer up to 40% off on hundreds of thousands of other titles. In June, Amazon.com launched a new area of its music store, offering free digital downloads of entire songs, a great way for music fans to discover new music-and a superb way to promote artists and their CDs. The new area contains full-length Liquid Audio and MP3 downloads from established artists, including Lyle Lovett, Randy Newman, Cowboy Junkies, Pavement, Robert Cray, Elliott Smith, Cheap Trick, Widespread Panic, Kelly Willis, Rufus Wainwright, Cheryl Wheeler, Sarah McLachlan, Public Enemy, and Amazon.com Advantage band the Stone Coyotes (the trio that served as the model for the band in Elmore Leonard's new novel, Be Cool). The introduction of the Amazon.com digital-download area followed free digital downloads of songs by Sarah McLachlan in April and Public Enemy in May. Also in June, PC World Magazine named Amazon.com the Best Shopping Web Site. "E-commerce as it should be," said the magazine. In addition, PC World named the Internet Movie Database, an Amazon.com site, as the Best Recreational Web Site and said www.imdb.com is "authoritative, addictive." Distribution Center Expansion Continuing its expansion, during the quarter Amazon.com announced plans for two new distribution facilities in Kentucky and one in Georgia, which will enable faster delivery to Amazon.com customers across the Midwest and Southeast United States. The result is that by the busy 1999 holiday shopping season, Amazon.com customers will benefit from nearly 4 million square feet of space at seven distribution centers nationwide-more than 10 times the distribution center floor space the company had in 1998. In May, Amazon.co.uk, the U.K.'s leading online bookstore, announced two new distribution units in Marston Gate, Bedfordshire, to further enhance service to its customers. The units, which are 228,000 square feet and 500,000 square feet in size, will provide Amazon.co.uk with a major distribution center to allow the company to increase its stocking and shipping capacities to more than 12 times the current level, thus reducing total shipping time to customers. Management Team Expansion In late June, Amazon.com named Joseph Galli as its president and chief operating officer. Until April, Galli, 41, was the president of Black & Decker's Worldwide Power Tools and Accessories unit, a $3.1 billion business representing nearly 70 percent of the company's sales. Galli joins Amazon.com after a highly successful 19-year career with Black & Decker, where he was noted for making DeWalt the No. 1 brand in power tools worldwide, and spent the last four years rolling out that business in over 80 countries. Galli reports to Amazon.com's founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, and has been elected to the Amazon.com Board of Directors. Other recent additions to the management team include: Bill Price, VP Customer Service, who joined Amazon.com in May from MCI's Enhanced Voice Services (EVS) and, later, Call Center Services (CCS) business units. Price built CCS into a global customer-care outsourcing, automation, and consulting operation and comes to Amazon.com with more than 20 years of experience in customer care and services management. Daryl David, VP Human Resources and Strategic Growth, who joined Amazon.com in July after serving as the executive vice president, chief administrative officer, and acting chief financial officer for Sanga International, a leading developer of packaged application software for e-business enterprise solutions. He has more than 20 years of experience in business and human resources management. Kelyn Brannon, VP Finance and Chief Accounting Officer, who was formerly Amazon.com's director of financial planning and analysis. Prior to joining Amazon.com, she worked for Sun Microsystems, where she headed the company's worldwide field organization. Brannon joined Amazon.com in 1998 with more than 10 years of experience in finance. Video Advantage In June, Amazon.com introduced Amazon.com Advantage for Video to help its 10.7 million customers find, discover, and buy videos by independent and special-interest filmmakers. Following the success of Advantage for Books and Music, the addition of video into Amazon.com Advantage means customers now have access to a broad selection of hard-to-find books, CDs, and videos. The selection comes from authors, publishers, record labels, artists, filmmakers, and video producers, whose works were previously unavailable to most people. The Advantage program is now open to any genre of film or video, including everything from film noir, spoofs, and fitness to documentaries and instructional videos. For more information about Amazon.com Advantage for video, or to join, visit: http://www.amazon.com/advantage HomeGrocer.com, Gear.com Investments In May, Amazon.com announced a minority investment in HomeGrocer.com. HomeGrocer.com (www.homegrocer.com) offers customers over 11,000 key grocery items to meet their weekly shopping needs, including fresh produce, dairy, meat, seafood, name-brand packaged goods, and specialty foods such as ethnic, natural, and organic. Last week, Amazon.com announced that it held a significant minority stake in Gear.com (www.gear.com), which offers brand-name sporting goods to Internet shoppers at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail. Staffed by knowledgeable sports enthusiasts, Gear.com is the only Internet store to offer 100-percent closeout merchandise in all sports categories. Sporting-goods closeouts result from overproduction, a change of style, color, or function, and the cancellation of preseason orders placed by retailers. Merchandise is new and comes in mint condition and original packaging. Stock Split; Bond Repurchase Separately, Amazon.com today announced that its Board of Directors approved a 2-for-1 split of its common stock. Stockholders will receive one additional share for every share held on the record date of August 12, 1999. The split will take effect on September 1, 1999, and additional shares will be mailed or delivered on or about September 1, 1999, by the company's transfer agent, ChaseMellon Shareholder Services. During the quarter, Amazon.com repurchased $94.6 million in accreted value of its senior discount notes, bringing the total accreted value purchased to date to $178.4 million, representing approximately 50 percent of the original face amount of the issue. About Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Note on Financial Presentation Financial results are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. All of the charges associated with Amazon.com's merger, acquisition, and investment activities have been included in "merger, acquisition, and investment related costs" in the accompanying financial statements in order to enhance their informational value and to present the most comparable classifications in the other line items. Among items included in merger, acquisition, and investment related costs are amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles, equity in loss of investees, and certain nonrecurring merger, acquisition, and investment related costs. Pro forma financial results exclude these merger, acquisition, and investment related costs and stock-based compensation. AMAZON.COM, INC.Consolidated Statements of Operations(in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Quarter Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 1999 1998 1999 1998 Net sales $314,377 $115,982 $608,019 $203,343 Cost of sales 246,846 89,794 475,696 157,857 Gross profit 67,531 26,188 132,323 45,486 Operating expenses: Marketing and sales 85,949 26,968 146,667 46,873 Product development 34,288 8,745 57,690 15,942 General and administrative 14,546 3,273 25,790 5,268 Merger, acquisition and investment-related costs, including amortization of intangibles and equity in earnings of affiliates 50,553 5,410 75,773 5,411 Stock-based compensation 4,669 192 4,782 377 Total operating expenses 190,005 44,588 310,702 73,871 Loss from operations (122,474) (18,400) (178,379) (28,385) Interest income 12,901 3,390 23,827 5,035 Interest expense (28,435) (7,569) (45,123) (9,598) Net interest expense (15,534) (4,179) (21,296) (4,563) Net loss $(138,008) $(22,579) $(199,675) $(32,948) Basic and diluted loss per share $(0.86) $(0.15) $(1.26) $(0.23) Shares used in computation of basic and diluted loss per share 161,170 146,277 159,053 143,802 Pro Forma Results Excluding Merger and Acquisition, Investment and Stock-Based Compensation Costs (see Note 2 below) Pro forma loss from operations, excluding merger and acquisition, investment and stock-based compensation costs $(67,252) $(12,798) $(97,824) $(22,597) Pro forma net loss, excluding merger and acquisition, investment and stock-based compensation costs $(82,786) $(16,977) $(119,120) $(27,160) Pro forma basic and diluted loss per share, excluding merger and acquisition, investment and stock-based compensation costs $(0.51) $(0.12) $(0.75) $(0.19) Shares used in computation of pro forma basic and diluted loss per share 161,170 146,277 159,053 143,802 Note 1: On January 4, 1999, the Company effected a three-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend to stockholders of record on December 18, 1998. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations have been restated to reflect the split. Note 2: Pro forma results for the quarter and 6-month periods ended June 30, 1999 and 1998 are presented for informational purposes only and are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. These results present the operating results of Amazon.com, excluding charges of $55.2 million and $80.6 million, and $5.6 million and $5.8 million, for the 3-month and 6-month periods ended June 30, 1999 and 1998, respectively, related to stock-based compensation and arising from Amazon.com's merger, acquisition and investment activities. Among items included in merger and acquisition related costs are amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles, equity in loss of investees, and certain non-recurring merger and acquisition related costs. AMAZON.COM, INC.Consolidated Balance Sheets(in thousands, except per share data) June 30, December 31, 1999 1998 (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash $42,539 $25,561 Marketable securities 1,101,698 347,884 Inventories 59,387 29,501 Prepaid expenses and other 53,334 21,308 Total current assets 1,256,958 424,254 Fixed assets, net 156,333 29,791 Other investments 106,020 7,740 Intangibles and other, net 741,865 179,263 Deferred charges 37,038 7,412 Total assets $2,298,214 $648,460 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $165,983 $113,273 Accrued advertising 22,364 13,071 Interest payable 23,960 10 Other liabilities and accrued expenses 55,764 34,413 Current portion of long-term debt and other 9,873 808 Total current liabilities 277,944 161,575 Long-term debt and other 1,449,224 348,140 Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares -- 150,000 Issued and outstanding shares -- none - - Common stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares -- 1,500,000 Issued and outstanding shares -- 168,153 and 159,267 shares at June 30, 1999 and December 31, 1998, respectively 1,682 1,593 Additional paid-in capital 979,424 300,130 Note receivable from officer for common stock (1,171) (1,099) Stock-based compensation (37,743) (1,625) Accumulated other comprehensive income (9,411) 1,806 Accumulated deficit (361,735) (162,060) Total stockholders' equity 571,046 138,745 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $2,298,214 $648,460 Note 1: On January 4, 1999, the Company effected a three-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend to stockholders of record on December 18, 1998. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations have been restated to reflect the split.

<p>Amazon.com's Community of Online Shoppers Grows to 10.7 Million</p><p>SEATTLE, Washington-July 21, 1999-Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), today announced financial results for the second quarter of 1999. Net sales for the second quarter were $314.4 million, an increase of 171 percent over net sales of $116.0 million for the second quarter of 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com reported a second-quarter pro forma operating loss of $67.3 million, or 21 percent of net sales, compared to a pro forma operating loss of $12.8 million, or 11 percent of net sales, in the second quarter of 1998. Second-quarter pro forma net loss of $82.8 million, or $0.51 per share, compared with a pro forma net loss of $17.0 million, or $0.12 per share, in the second quarter of 1998. On a GAAP basis, reported second-quarter net loss was $138.0 million, or $0.86 per share, and included $55.2 million of merger, acquisition, investment related costs and stock-based compensation charges.</p><p>Amazon.com announced that cumulative customer accounts, including Auctions bidders and sellers, increased by 2.3 million during the second quarter to 10.7 million at June 30, 1999, an increase of more than 220 percent from the 3.3 million customer accounts at June 30, 1998. Repeat customer orders represented more than 70 percent of orders during the quarter ended June 30, 1999.</p><p>"We did a lot this quarter," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "We're especially pleased that Amazon.com Auctions is our fastest-growing business. And looking at the first few days of sales in our new Toys and Electronics stores, we're shocked and grateful. In fact, we believe we're already the No. 1 seller of children's products online."</p><p>Regarding Amazon.com's ongoing expansion, Bezos added, "We continue to make great progress building out world-class distribution that will give customers greater availability, faster shipping times, and even better service. We have and will continue to invest in systems, people, and product expansion, each of which helps us better serve customers. For the rest of 1999, we expect to invest more heavily than we have in the past. Our goal remains to build the world's most customer-centric company."</p><p>Recent Highlights</p><p>10 Million Customers; Extending Global Brand and Reach</p><p>Less than four years after opening on the Internet, Amazon.com announced in June that it had become the first e-commerce store to serve its 10 millionth customer. In October 1997, Amazon.com became the first Internet retailer to serve 1 million customers, and its cumulative customer base has grown tenfold in 21 months and is now equivalent to the population of Greece. These 10 million customers represent an e-commerce watershed reflecting the appeal of online shopping to a broad range of customers.</p><p>Amazon.com's brand and reach continued to grow during the second quarter. Heads-down focus on customers helped make Amazon.com both the No. 1 online shopping site and the No. 8 Web property overall in the United States during June, according to Media Metrix June 1999 data. An April study by Opinion Research Corporation International of Princeton, New Jersey, estimated that 52 percent of the 196 million U.S. adults recognized Amazon.com, making it the leading e-commerce brand in the country in terms of awareness. And on a worldwide level, a June study of all global brands by Interbrand Newell and Sorrell ranked Amazon.com as the 57th most valuable brand worldwide, just above Hilton, Guinness, and Marriott, and just below Pampers.</p><p>Amazon.com Launches Toys and Electronics</p><p>Last week, Amazon.com launched two completely new stores: Amazon.com Electronics and Amazon.com Toys. Together, these two stores turn what consumers say are among the most difficult shopping experiences into hassle-free ones. In a nationwide poll of people who have bought toys and electronics in stores, more than half said they would prefer to buy toys and electronics online.</p><p>Amazon.com Electronics features a full range of popular electronics products and brands: everything from the latest digital camcorders to computer peripherals to televisions. Amazon.com Toys offers a broad selection ranging from hot new toys usually found at superstores to specialty toys from hundreds of small toymakers. Both new stores offer broad selection, great convenience, low prices, and comprehensive information to help customers buy the right products. In addition, both stores feature a no-risk returns policy and are supported by Amazon.com's world-class customer service department so that customers can buy electronics, toys, and games online with complete confidence.</p><p>Amazon.com Auctions and Sotheby's</p><p>In June, Amazon.com announced its partnership with Sotheby's to launch a joint online auction site. This 10-year alliance between the world's leading e-commerce company and the international art auction house will create a new standard in online buying and selling of authenticated and guaranteed auction property. Sellers on this joint auction site will have the opportunity to market to Amazon.com's more than 10.7 million customers with the benefit of Sotheby's 255-year art and auction expertise. The joint site will be devoted to the general antiques collector and to the world of collectibles, featuring coins, stamps, sports, and Hollywood memorabilia, fashion, animation art, toys, dolls, and other collectibles, as well as general art and antiques, books, and jewelry.</p><p>Customer Experience</p><p>In May, Amazon.com began its everyday 50% discount on The New York Times Best Seller list. The Amazon.com 50% discount, which is not a sale or short-term promotion but everyday low pricing, applies to hardcover and paperback titles in the best seller list's three generic categories: fiction, nonfiction, and miscellaneous--at least 68 titles each week at 50% off. In addition, Amazon.com continues to offer up to 40% off on hundreds of thousands of other titles.</p><p>In June, Amazon.com launched a new area of its music store, offering free digital downloads of entire songs, a great way for music fans to discover new music-and a superb way to promote artists and their CDs. The new area contains full-length Liquid Audio and MP3 downloads from established artists, including Lyle Lovett, Randy Newman, Cowboy Junkies, Pavement, Robert Cray, Elliott Smith, Cheap Trick, Widespread Panic, Kelly Willis, Rufus Wainwright, Cheryl Wheeler, Sarah McLachlan, Public Enemy, and Amazon.com Advantage band the Stone Coyotes (the trio that served as the model for the band in Elmore Leonard's new novel, Be Cool). The introduction of the Amazon.com digital-download area followed free digital downloads of songs by Sarah McLachlan in April and Public Enemy in May.</p><p>Also in June, PC World Magazine named Amazon.com the Best Shopping Web Site. "E-commerce as it should be," said the magazine. In addition, PC World named the Internet Movie Database, an Amazon.com site, as the Best Recreational Web Site and said www.imdb.com is "authoritative, addictive."</p><p>Distribution Center Expansion</p><p>Continuing its expansion, during the quarter Amazon.com announced plans for two new distribution facilities in Kentucky and one in Georgia, which will enable faster delivery to Amazon.com customers across the Midwest and Southeast United States. The result is that by the busy 1999 holiday shopping season, Amazon.com customers will benefit from nearly 4 million square feet of space at seven distribution centers nationwide-more than 10 times the distribution center floor space the company had in 1998.</p><p>In May, Amazon.co.uk, the U.K.'s leading online bookstore, announced two new distribution units in Marston Gate, Bedfordshire, to further enhance service to its customers. The units, which are 228,000 square feet and 500,000 square feet in size, will provide Amazon.co.uk with a major distribution center to allow the company to increase its stocking and shipping capacities to more than 12 times the current level, thus reducing total shipping time to customers.</p><p>Management Team Expansion</p><p>In late June, Amazon.com named Joseph Galli as its president and chief operating officer. Until April, Galli, 41, was the president of Black &amp; Decker's Worldwide Power Tools and Accessories unit, a $3.1 billion business representing nearly 70 percent of the company's sales. Galli joins Amazon.com after a highly successful 19-year career with Black &amp; Decker, where he was noted for making DeWalt the No. 1 brand in power tools worldwide, and spent the last four years rolling out that business in over 80 countries. Galli reports to Amazon.com's founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, and has been elected to the Amazon.com Board of Directors.</p><p>Other recent additions to the management team include:</p><ul><li>Bill Price, VP Customer Service, who joined Amazon.com in May from MCI's Enhanced Voice Services (EVS) and, later, Call Center Services (CCS) business units. Price built CCS into a global customer-care outsourcing, automation, and consulting operation and comes to Amazon.com with more than 20 years of experience in customer care and services management.</li><li>Daryl David, VP Human Resources and Strategic Growth, who joined Amazon.com in July after serving as the executive vice president, chief administrative officer, and acting chief financial officer for Sanga International, a leading developer of packaged application software for e-business enterprise solutions. He has more than 20 years of experience in business and human resources management.</li><li>Kelyn Brannon, VP Finance and Chief Accounting Officer, who was formerly Amazon.com's director of financial planning and analysis. Prior to joining Amazon.com, she worked for Sun Microsystems, where she headed the company's worldwide field organization. Brannon joined Amazon.com in 1998 with more than 10 years of experience in finance.</li></ul><p>Video Advantage</p><p>In June, Amazon.com introduced Amazon.com Advantage for Video to help its 10.7 million customers find, discover, and buy videos by independent and special-interest filmmakers. Following the success of Advantage for Books and Music, the addition of video into Amazon.com Advantage means customers now have access to a broad selection of hard-to-find books, CDs, and videos. The selection comes from authors, publishers, record labels, artists, filmmakers, and video producers, whose works were previously unavailable to most people. The Advantage program is now open to any genre of film or video, including everything from film noir, spoofs, and fitness to documentaries and instructional videos. For more information about Amazon.com Advantage for video, or to join, visit: http://www.amazon.com/advantage</p><p>HomeGrocer.com, Gear.com Investments</p><p>In May, Amazon.com announced a minority investment in HomeGrocer.com. HomeGrocer.com (www.homegrocer.com) offers customers over 11,000 key grocery items to meet their weekly shopping needs, including fresh produce, dairy, meat, seafood, name-brand packaged goods, and specialty foods such as ethnic, natural, and organic.</p><p>Last week, Amazon.com announced that it held a significant minority stake in Gear.com (www.gear.com), which offers brand-name sporting goods to Internet shoppers at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail. Staffed by knowledgeable sports enthusiasts, Gear.com is the only Internet store to offer 100-percent closeout merchandise in all sports categories. Sporting-goods closeouts result from overproduction, a change of style, color, or function, and the cancellation of preseason orders placed by retailers. Merchandise is new and comes in mint condition and original packaging.</p><p>Stock Split; Bond Repurchase</p><p>Separately, Amazon.com today announced that its Board of Directors approved a 2-for-1 split of its common stock. Stockholders will receive one additional share for every share held on the record date of August 12, 1999. The split will take effect on September 1, 1999, and additional shares will be mailed or delivered on or about September 1, 1999, by the company's transfer agent, ChaseMellon Shareholder Services.</p><p>During the quarter, Amazon.com repurchased $94.6 million in accreted value of its senior discount notes, bringing the total accreted value purchased to date to $178.4 million, representing approximately 50 percent of the original face amount of the issue.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.</p><p>Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com; and Gear.com, which offers brand name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>Note on Financial Presentation</p><p>Financial results are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. All of the charges associated with Amazon.com's merger, acquisition, and investment activities have been included in "merger, acquisition, and investment related costs" in the accompanying financial statements in order to enhance their informational value and to present the most comparable classifications in the other line items. Among items included in merger, acquisition, and investment related costs are amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles, equity in loss of investees, and certain nonrecurring merger, acquisition, and investment related costs. Pro forma financial results exclude these merger, acquisition, and investment related costs and stock-based compensation.</p><center>AMAZON.COM, INC.Consolidated Statements of Operations(in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited)</center><pre> Quarter Ended Six Months Ended June 30, June 30, 1999 1998 1999 1998 Net sales $314,377 $115,982 $608,019 $203,343Cost of sales 246,846 89,794 475,696 157,857Gross profit 67,531 26,188 132,323 45,486 Operating expenses: Marketing and sales 85,949 26,968 146,667 46,873 Product development 34,288 8,745 57,690 15,942 General and administrative 14,546 3,273 25,790 5,268 Merger, acquisition and investment-related costs, including amortization of intangibles and equity in earnings of affiliates 50,553 5,410 75,773 5,411 Stock-based compensation 4,669 192 4,782 377 Total operating expenses 190,005 44,588 310,702 73,871 Loss from operations (122,474) (18,400) (178,379) (28,385)Interest income 12,901 3,390 23,827 5,035Interest expense (28,435) (7,569) (45,123) (9,598) Net interest expense (15,534) (4,179) (21,296) (4,563)Net loss $(138,008) $(22,579) $(199,675) $(32,948)Basic and diluted loss per share $(0.86) $(0.15) $(1.26) $(0.23) Shares used in computation of basic and diluted loss per share 161,170 146,277 159,053 143,802 Pro Forma Results Excluding Merger and Acquisition, Investment and Stock-Based Compensation Costs (see Note 2 below) Pro forma loss from operations, excluding merger and acquisition, investment and stock-based compensation costs $(67,252) $(12,798) $(97,824) $(22,597)Pro forma net loss, excluding merger and acquisition, investment and stock-based compensation costs $(82,786) $(16,977) $(119,120) $(27,160)Pro forma basic and diluted loss per share, excluding merger and acquisition, investment and stock-based compensation costs $(0.51) $(0.12) $(0.75) $(0.19)Shares used in computation of pro forma basic and diluted loss per share 161,170 146,277 159,053 143,802 Note 1: On January 4, 1999, the Company effected a three-for-one stocksplit in the form of a stock dividend to stockholders of record onDecember 18, 1998. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated balancesheets and statements of operations have been restated to reflect thesplit.Note 2: Pro forma results for the quarter and 6-month periods endedJune 30, 1999 and 1998 are presented for informational purposes onlyand are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accountingprinciples. These results present the operating results of Amazon.com,excluding charges of $55.2 million and $80.6 million, and $5.6 millionand $5.8 million, for the 3-month and 6-month periods ended June 30,1999 and 1998, respectively, related to stock-based compensation andarising from Amazon.com's merger, acquisition and investment activities.Among items included in merger and acquisition related costs are amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles, equity inloss of investees, and certain non-recurring merger and acquisitionrelated costs.</pre><center>AMAZON.COM, INC.Consolidated Balance Sheets(in thousands, except per share data)</center><pre> June 30, December 31, 1999 1998 (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash $42,539 $25,561 Marketable securities 1,101,698 347,884 Inventories 59,387 29,501 Prepaid expenses and other 53,334 21,308 Total current assets 1,256,958 424,254 Fixed assets, net 156,333 29,791Other investments 106,020 7,740Intangibles and other, net 741,865 179,263Deferred charges 37,038 7,412 Total assets $2,298,214 $648,460 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $165,983 $113,273 Accrued advertising 22,364 13,071 Interest payable 23,960 10 Other liabilities and accrued expenses 55,764 34,413 Current portion of long-term debt and other 9,873 808 Total current liabilities 277,944 161,575 Long-term debt and other 1,449,224 348,140 Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares -- 150,000 Issued and outstanding shares -- none - - Common stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares -- 1,500,000 Issued and outstanding shares -- 168,153 and 159,267 shares at June 30, 1999 and December 31, 1998, respectively 1,682 1,593 Additional paid-in capital 979,424 300,130 Note receivable from officer for common stock (1,171) (1,099) Stock-based compensation (37,743) (1,625) Accumulated other comprehensive income (9,411) 1,806 Accumulated deficit (361,735) (162,060) Total stockholders' equity 571,046 138,745 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $2,298,214 $648,460Note 1: On January 4, 1999, the Company effected a three-for-one stocksplit in the form of a stock dividend to stockholders of record onDecember 18, 1998. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated balancesheets and statements of operations have been restated to reflect thesplit.</pre>

Amazon.com Announces Strategic Alliance With and Minority Investment In Gear.com

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Announces-Strategic-Alliance-With-and-Minority-Investment-In-Gear.com/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Announces-Strategic-Alliance-With-and-Minority-Investment-In-Gear.com

07/14/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Announces Strategic Alliance With and Minority Investment In Gear.com

07/14/1999

1999

SEATTLE, July 14, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, announced today that it holds a significant minority stake in Gear.com (www.gear.com), which offers brand-name sporting goods to Internet shoppers at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail. Staffed by knowledgeable sports enthusiasts, Gear.com is the only Internet store to offer 100-percent closeout merchandise in all sports categories. Sporting-goods closeouts result from overproduction, a change of style, color, or function, and the cancellation of preseason orders placed by retailers. Merchandise is new and comes in mint condition and original packaging. Amazon.com, the Internet's No. 1 book, No. 1 video, and No. 1 music retailer, will help introduce customers to the new shopping experience at Gear.com as part of a strategic alliance. "We invest only in companies that share our passion for customers," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "The Gear.com management team is dedicated to providing a great customer experience, including a 100-percent customer-satisfaction policy. From backpacking to wakeboarding, Gear.com finds the best closeouts, so customers get new, fully functional gear at closeout prices." "This investment and alliance clearly makes us the online category leader, and enables Gear.com to provide more great sports gear to our customers," said Ken Blue, president of Gear.com. "Gear.com is inventing a whole new way for customers to fulfill their sporting-goods needs at great prices and with a tremendous customer experience. At Gear.com, you don't have to choose between price and service." Amazon.com has an investment of approximately 49 percent of Gear.com's outstanding shares as of July 1, 1999, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. About Gear.comGear.com is the first company to bring together closeout sports merchandise in a single, convenient location. Gear.com searches the warehouses of sporting-goods manufacturers to find the best deals on earth, then passes the values on to online shoppers. Over 150 top manufacturers-Cleveland Golf, Helly Hansen, Cannondale, Marmot, Dunlop, Kelty, Woolrich, and many more-have authorized Gear.com to sell their closeout products at the best prices anywhere. Gear.com has the highest consumer rating in its category from independent auditor BizRate.com, and offers shoppers detailed product photographs, information and advice, secure online purchasing, a 30-day, 100-percent-satisfaction guarantee, and 25-cent shipping per item-24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Gear.com's GearNews subscription e-mail service will notify shoppers about hot new deals. Gear.com's sport experts are available to answer customer questions Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; and HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>SEATTLE, July 14, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, announced today that it holds a significant minority stake in Gear.com (www.gear.com), which offers brand-name sporting goods to Internet shoppers at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail.</p><p>Staffed by knowledgeable sports enthusiasts, Gear.com is the only Internet store to offer 100-percent closeout merchandise in all sports categories. Sporting-goods closeouts result from overproduction, a change of style, color, or function, and the cancellation of preseason orders placed by retailers. Merchandise is new and comes in mint condition and original packaging.</p><p>Amazon.com, the Internet's No. 1 book, No. 1 video, and No. 1 music retailer, will help introduce customers to the new shopping experience at Gear.com as part of a strategic alliance.</p><p>"We invest only in companies that share our passion for customers," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "The Gear.com management team is dedicated to providing a great customer experience, including a 100-percent customer-satisfaction policy. From backpacking to wakeboarding, Gear.com finds the best closeouts, so customers get new, fully functional gear at closeout prices."</p><p>"This investment and alliance clearly makes us the online category leader, and enables Gear.com to provide more great sports gear to our customers," said Ken Blue, president of Gear.com. "Gear.com is inventing a whole new way for customers to fulfill their sporting-goods needs at great prices and with a tremendous customer experience. At Gear.com, you don't have to choose between price and service."</p><p>Amazon.com has an investment of approximately 49 percent of Gear.com's outstanding shares as of July 1, 1999, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.</p><p>About Gear.comGear.com is the first company to bring together closeout sports merchandise in a single, convenient location. Gear.com searches the warehouses of sporting-goods manufacturers to find the best deals on earth, then passes the values on to online shoppers. Over 150 top manufacturers-Cleveland Golf, Helly Hansen, Cannondale, Marmot, Dunlop, Kelty, Woolrich, and many more-have authorized Gear.com to sell their closeout products at the best prices anywhere. Gear.com has the highest consumer rating in its category from independent auditor BizRate.com, and offers shoppers detailed product photographs, information and advice, secure online purchasing, a 30-day, 100-percent-satisfaction guarantee, and 25-cent shipping per item-24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Gear.com's GearNews subscription e-mail service will notify shoppers about hot new deals. Gear.com's sport experts are available to answer customer questions Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys, electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; and HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Electronics and Amazon.com Toys & Games Launch Today

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Electronics-and-Amazon.com-Toys--Games-Launch-Today/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Electronics-and-Amazon.com-Toys--Games-Launch-Today

07/13/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Electronics and Amazon.com Toys & Games Launch Today

07/13/1999

1999

Leading online retailer provides broad selection, hassle-free shopping and reliable information so customers can shop with confidence SEATTLE, July 13 -- Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today launched two completely new stores: Amazon.com Electronics and Amazon.com Toys & Games. Together, these two stores turn what consumers say are among the most difficult shopping experiences into hassle-free ones. Indeed, in a nationwide poll of people who have bought toys and electronics in stores, more than half said they would prefer to buy toys and electronics online (see survey data below). "With this launch, our goal is to give customers the Amazon.com experience -- everything from 1-ClickTM shopping and helpful information to the high level of customer service we traditionally provide -- in the two important categories of toys and electronics," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. Amazon.com Electronics features a full range of popular electronics products and brands: everything from the latest digital camcorders to computer peripherals to televisions. To help customers choose from this large selection, Amazon.com Electronics provides detailed buying guides and expert product reviews. These, combined with candid comments and ratings from people who have bought and used the products, make it easy for shoppers to choose the right products for their needs. Amazon.com Toys & Games offers a broad selection, ranging from hot new toys usually found at superstores to specialty toys from hundreds of small toymakers. The store also offers a Toys for Grownups section, a perfect place to find office toys, retro classics, and party games. Amazon.com Toys & Games is designed to be the most convenient and informative place anywhere -- online or off -- to shop for toys and games. With numerous ways to browse -- by age, by price, by well-known brands, by specialty brands, by favorite characters -- as well as unique search technology that sorts search results according to customer buying criteria, shoppers can find the toys they're after more easily than anywhere else. Amazon.com Toys & Games also provides in-depth reviews from its own staff of toy experts, as well as reviews and ratings of toys from customers, so shoppers can have complete confidence in the appropriateness of the toys they are selecting. Both new stores offer broad selection, great convenience, low prices, and comprehensive information to help customers buy the right products. In addition, both stores feature a no-risk return policy and are supported by Amazon.com's world-class customer service department so customers can buy electronics, toys, and games online with complete confidence. Consumers are ready to start buying toys and consumer electronics from Amazon.com. Both categories have sold well in the Amazon.com Gifts store, and a recent Amazon.com poll found that 55 percent of shoppers would prefer to buy these products online. In addition: 80 percent said they postponed or delayed the purchase of an electronics product because of the difficulties of shopping in stores 36 percent said they found it difficult to choose the right brands or models and 34 percent said they had difficulty understanding product features 71 percent said they had encountered salespeople who did not know the products, while 65 percent said it was hard even to find salespeople in an electronics store Respondents said the three most painful shopping experiences were purchasing consumer electronics (50 percent), casual clothing (25 percent), and toys or games (16 percent) The poll was conducted for Amazon.com by Los Angeles-based Impulse Research Corp. between June 25 and 29. The 2,597 respondents were recruited online and screened to be representative of the U.S. population. The sampling error is plus or minus 2 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with online auctions, toys and games, consumer electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; and HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Leading online retailer provides broad selection, hassle-free shopping and reliable information so customers can shop with confidence</p><p>SEATTLE, July 13 -- Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today launched two completely new stores: Amazon.com Electronics and Amazon.com Toys &amp; Games.</p><p>Together, these two stores turn what consumers say are among the most difficult shopping experiences into hassle-free ones. Indeed, in a nationwide poll of people who have bought toys and electronics in stores, more than half said they would prefer to buy toys and electronics online (see survey data below).</p><p>"With this launch, our goal is to give customers the Amazon.com experience -- everything from 1-Click^TM shopping and helpful information to the high level of customer service we traditionally provide -- in the two important categories of toys and electronics," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO.</p><p>Amazon.com Electronics features a full range of popular electronics products and brands: everything from the latest digital camcorders to computer peripherals to televisions. To help customers choose from this large selection, Amazon.com Electronics provides detailed buying guides and expert product reviews. These, combined with candid comments and ratings from people who have bought and used the products, make it easy for shoppers to choose the right products for their needs.</p><p>Amazon.com Toys &amp; Games offers a broad selection, ranging from hot new toys usually found at superstores to specialty toys from hundreds of small toymakers. The store also offers a Toys for Grownups section, a perfect place to find office toys, retro classics, and party games. Amazon.com Toys &amp; Games is designed to be the most convenient and informative place anywhere -- online or off -- to shop for toys and games. With numerous ways to browse -- by age, by price, by well-known brands, by specialty brands, by favorite characters -- as well as unique search technology that sorts search results according to customer buying criteria, shoppers can find the toys they're after more easily than anywhere else. Amazon.com Toys &amp; Games also provides in-depth reviews from its own staff of toy experts, as well as reviews and ratings of toys from customers, so shoppers can have complete confidence in the appropriateness of the toys they are selecting.</p><p>Both new stores offer broad selection, great convenience, low prices, and comprehensive information to help customers buy the right products.</p><p>In addition, both stores feature a no-risk return policy and are supported by Amazon.com's world-class customer service department so customers can buy electronics, toys, and games online with complete confidence.</p><p>Consumers are ready to start buying toys and consumer electronics from Amazon.com. Both categories have sold well in the Amazon.com Gifts store, and a recent Amazon.com poll found that 55 percent of shoppers would prefer to buy these products online. In addition:</p><ul><li>80 percent said they postponed or delayed the purchase of an electronics product because of the difficulties of shopping in stores</li><li>36 percent said they found it difficult to choose the right brands or models and 34 percent said they had difficulty understanding product features</li><li>71 percent said they had encountered salespeople who did not know the products, while 65 percent said it was hard even to find salespeople in an electronics store</li><li>Respondents said the three most painful shopping experiences were purchasing consumer electronics (50 percent), casual clothing (25 percent), and toys or games (16 percent)</li></ul><p>The poll was conducted for Amazon.com by Los Angeles-based Impulse Research Corp. between June 25 and 29. The 2,597 respondents were recruited online and screened to be representative of the U.S. population. The sampling error is plus or minus 2 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with online auctions, toys and games, consumer electronics, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; and HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Launch of Amazon.com Advantage For Video Revolutionizes Independent and Special-Interest Video Market

/news/news-details/1999/Launch-of-Amazon.com-Advantage-For-Video-Revolutionizes-Independent-and-Special-Interest-Video-Market/default.aspx

Launch-of-Amazon.com-Advantage-For-Video-Revolutionizes-Independent-and-Special-Interest-Video-Market

07/08/1999 00:00:00

Launch of Amazon.com Advantage For Video Revolutionizes Independent and Special-Interest Video Market

07/08/1999

1999

Independent Filmmakers Now Have Immediate and Unprecedented Access to Millions of Customers Worldwide SEATTLE, July 8, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the No. 1 online video retailer, today introduced Amazon.com Advantage for Video to help its 10 million customers find, discover, and buy videos by independent and special-interest filmmakers. Following the success of Advantage for Books and Music, the addition of video into Amazon.com Advantage means customers now have access to a broad selection of hard-to-find books, CDs, and videos. The selection comes from authors, publishers, record labels, artists, filmmakers, and video producers, whose works were previously unavailable to most people. The Advantage program is now open to any genre of film or video, including everything from film noir, spoofs, and fitness to documentaries and instructional videos. "Amazon.com Advantage for Video solves the biggest problem faced by independent filmmakers-distribution," said Diane Zoi, Amazon.com Advantage program director. "With Amazon.com's unlimited shelf space and search capabilities, we offer a winning program for independent and special-interest filmmakers, as well as customers who are searching for great videos that cannot be found anywhere else." "The Advantage Program is an exciting development for independent filmmakers in their quest to achieve what Amazon.com already does so well-connect independent visions and stories with audiences that are hungry for them," said Bill Condon, Oscar-winning director of Gods and Monsters. Amazon.com Advantage For Video and USCTo launch the Advantage program for video, Amazon.com is offering an exclusive film collection from the top up-and-coming student filmmakers from the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinema-Television. From "art house" films to dramas and comedy, the films are included on one compilation tape, available exclusively through Amazon.com. Called Cameras on Campus, the 62-minute video is available for $14.95. "For a budding young filmmaker, Amazon.com Advantage introduces a new business opportunity that instantly provides access to a worldwide audience," said Larry Auerbach, executive director of Student/Industry Relations of USC School of Cinema-Television. "We are thrilled to be included in such a wonderful program that offers our student filmmakers a great chance of exposure." About Amazon.com AdvantageAmazon.com Advantage is user-friendly--and it's free. Once enrolled, independent and special-interest filmmakers simply place a limited quantity of films in Amazon.com's distribution centers for immediate sale and delivery to Amazon.com's customers all over the world. Amazon.com helps Advantage members sell films by enhancing their virtual shelf presence with cover art and space for synopses and reviews, and by including them in customers' video search results. Advantage members save time and money with hassle-free fulfillment, easy restocking, and automatic sales reports and payment. The Amazon.com Advantage program can provide authors, publishers, record labels, artists, filmmakers, and video producers access to 10 million Amazon.com customers. Advantage for Video titles enjoy the same exposure on the Amazon.com site as films from major producers and distributors. The program offers participants the chance to attract a worldwide audience, while video fans have the opportunity to find, discover, and buy great videos that may never appear on the limited shelf space of physical retail stores. For more information about Amazon.com Advantage for video, or to join, visit: http://www.amazon.com/advantage. About Amazon.com's Video StoreWith virtually unlimited online shelf space, Amazon.com's video store has a selection nearly seven times larger than that of the typical physical-world video retailer, with a catalog of titles that continues to grow. The Amazon.com video store stocks the Web's largest selection of titles available for shipping within 24 hours. Online shoppers will find browsing as simple as the click of a mouse, with 12 genres and literally hundreds of subcategories to choose from, including Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Classics, Comedy, Drama, Horror & Suspense, Music & Musicals, and Science Fiction & Fantasy. In addition, Amazon.com offers a broad selection of special-interest, television, and documentary videos, as well as a DVD "store within a store." Amazon.com provides a variety of resources to assist shoppers with their buying decisions, including up-to-date reviews from Leonard Maltin and from Amazon.com editors, whose previous experience includes writing for The Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly, and The New York Times. Shoppers also find customer reviews, personalized recommendations, and gift ideas. Movie quotes and trivia from the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the premiere online resource for movie lovers, are incorporated into the Amazon.com site. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Independent Filmmakers Now Have Immediate and Unprecedented Access to Millions of Customers Worldwide</p><p>SEATTLE, July 8, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the No. 1 online video retailer, today introduced Amazon.com Advantage for Video to help its 10 million customers find, discover, and buy videos by independent and special-interest filmmakers.</p><p>Following the success of Advantage for Books and Music, the addition of video into Amazon.com Advantage means customers now have access to a broad selection of hard-to-find books, CDs, and videos. The selection comes from authors, publishers, record labels, artists, filmmakers, and video producers, whose works were previously unavailable to most people. The Advantage program is now open to any genre of film or video, including everything from <em>film noir</em>, spoofs, and fitness to documentaries and instructional videos.</p><p>"Amazon.com Advantage for Video solves the biggest problem faced by independent filmmakers-distribution," said Diane Zoi, Amazon.com Advantage program director. "With Amazon.com's unlimited shelf space and search capabilities, we offer a winning program for independent and special-interest filmmakers, as well as customers who are searching for great videos that cannot be found anywhere else." "The Advantage Program is an exciting development for independent filmmakers in their quest to achieve what Amazon.com already does so well-connect independent visions and stories with audiences that are hungry for them," said Bill Condon, Oscar-winning director of <em>Gods and Monsters</em>.</p><p>Amazon.com Advantage For Video and USCTo launch the Advantage program for video, Amazon.com is offering an exclusive film collection from the top up-and-coming student filmmakers from the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinema-Television. From "art house" films to dramas and comedy, the films are included on one compilation tape, available exclusively through Amazon.com. Called <em>Cameras on Campus</em>, the 62-minute video is available for $14.95.</p><p>"For a budding young filmmaker, Amazon.com Advantage introduces a new business opportunity that instantly provides access to a worldwide audience," said Larry Auerbach, executive director of Student/Industry Relations of USC School of Cinema-Television. "We are thrilled to be included in such a wonderful program that offers our student filmmakers a great chance of exposure."</p><p>About Amazon.com AdvantageAmazon.com Advantage is user-friendly--and it's free. Once enrolled, independent and special-interest filmmakers simply place a limited quantity of films in Amazon.com's distribution centers for immediate sale and delivery to Amazon.com's customers all over the world. Amazon.com helps Advantage members sell films by enhancing their virtual shelf presence with cover art and space for synopses and reviews, and by including them in customers' video search results. Advantage members save time and money with hassle-free fulfillment, easy restocking, and automatic sales reports and payment.</p><p>The Amazon.com Advantage program can provide authors, publishers, record labels, artists, filmmakers, and video producers access to 10 million Amazon.com customers. Advantage for Video titles enjoy the same exposure on the Amazon.com site as films from major producers and distributors. The program offers participants the chance to attract a worldwide audience, while video fans have the opportunity to find, discover, and buy great videos that may never appear on the limited shelf space of physical retail stores.</p><p>For more information about Amazon.com Advantage for video, or to join, visit: http://www.amazon.com/advantage.</p><p>About Amazon.com's Video StoreWith virtually unlimited online shelf space, Amazon.com's video store has a selection nearly seven times larger than that of the typical physical-world video retailer, with a catalog of titles that continues to grow. The Amazon.com video store stocks the Web's largest selection of titles available for shipping within 24 hours. Online shoppers will find browsing as simple as the click of a mouse, with 12 genres and literally hundreds of subcategories to choose from, including Action &amp; Adventure, Art House &amp; International, Classics, Comedy, Drama, Horror &amp; Suspense, Music &amp; Musicals, and Science Fiction &amp; Fantasy. In addition, Amazon.com offers a broad selection of special-interest, television, and documentary videos, as well as a DVD "store within a store."</p><p>Amazon.com provides a variety of resources to assist shoppers with their buying decisions, including up-to-date reviews from Leonard Maltin and from Amazon.com editors, whose previous experience includes writing for <em>The Los Angeles Times</em>, <em>Entertainment Weekly</em>, and <em>The New York Times</em>. Shoppers also find customer reviews, personalized recommendations, and gift ideas. Movie quotes and trivia from the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the premiere online resource for movie lovers, are incorporated into the Amazon.com site.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>NOTE: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com To Add Sheryl Crow, David Byrne, Barry White, and Five Other Artists To Free Digital Downloads Area

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-To-Add-Sheryl-Crow-David-Byrne-Barry-White-and-Five-Other-Artists-To-Free-Digital-Downloads-Area/default.aspx

Amazon.com-To-Add-Sheryl-Crow-David-Byrne-Barry-White-and-Five-Other-Artists-To-Free-Digital-Downloads-Area

07/06/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com To Add Sheryl Crow, David Byrne, Barry White, and Five Other Artists To Free Digital Downloads Area

07/06/1999

1999

Free Digital Downloads Area, Where Customers Have Performed over 300,000 Downloads, Is a New Center for Free Downloads on the Internet SEATTLE, July 6, 1999-/PRNewswire/-Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music retailer, today announced plans to add 12 new songs from seven artists to its Free Digital Downloads area over the next two weeks, starting with an exclusive download from David Byrne's new album, In Spite of Wishing & Wanting. Less than a month ago, Amazon.com became the only major online music retailer to dedicate part of its store to free, full-length song downloads from established artists and major-label performers. The day the Free Digital Downloads area was launched, four of the five top-selling albums on the site were from artists with songs featured in that area. Amazon.com customers are seizing the opportunity to try before they buy, and as of today have performed over 300,000 song downloads. Following the success of the launch, Amazon.com is adding to its current roster of artists, including Lyle Lovett, Widespread Panic, Public Enemy, Randy Newman, and others, to bring the total tally of songs available for free download to 38 and the total number of participating artists to 22. From now until August 15, music fans can download "Fear" from David Byrne's new album, In Spite of Wishing and Wanting, which was released today and is available exclusively at Amazon.com. Within the next two weeks, visitors to Amazon.com will also be able to download 11 new songs from seven new artists. Included in the upcoming releases are two tracks from Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons--"Juanita," a collaboration between Sheryl Crow and Emmylou Harris, and "Hot Burrito #1," from country rock stars the Mavericks. Additional tracks from Barry White, Kristin Hersh, Indigenous, Jazz Is Dead, and Amazon.com Advantage artist Perla Batalla will also be available for download. "Our Free Digital Downloads area continues to be the best place for music fans to download music from well-known artists," said Jennifer Cast, general manager of Amazon.com's music store. "The success of this area proves that free downloads are a great way for listeners to discover new music-and a superb way for labels to promote their artists and their CDs. We encourage music lovers to visit our store often so that they can get the latest free music downloads from major artists." The complete roster of artists and songs in the Amazon.com free downloads area is as follows (upcoming additions are denoted by an asterisk): Artist Title Cheap Trick Oh Caroline Cowboy Junkies Surrender (Remix)I Saw Your ShoesRiver Waltz Robert Cray All The WayLet Me Know Lyle Lovett If I Had A BoatYou Can't Resist It Randy Newman I'm DeadI Miss You Pavement Spit On A Stranger Public Enemy Do You Wanna Go Our Way?? Elliott Smith The Enemy In YouWaltz No. 2 The Stone Coyotes Church of the Falling RainMy Little Runaway Rufus Wainwright April FoolsFoolish Love Cheryl Wheeler Beyond The LightsSylvia Hotel Widespread Panic Bear's Gone Fishin'Red Hot Mama Kelly Willis Talk Like ThatTime Has Told Me *Perla Batalla Camino a SantiagoMorning Star *David Byrne Fear *Sheryl Crow & Emmylou Harris Juanita *Kristin Hersh EchoPretty *Indigenous Holdin' OutThings We Do *Jazz Is Dead Row JimmyShip of Fools *The Mavericks Hot Burrito #1 *Barry White Staying Power About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, a complete online provider of health, beauty, wellness, and prescription-drug products, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Free Digital Downloads Area, Where Customers Have Performed over 300,000 Downloads, Is a New Center for Free Downloads on the Internet</p><p>SEATTLE, July 6, 1999-/PRNewswire/-Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music retailer, today announced plans to add 12 new songs from seven artists to its Free Digital Downloads area over the next two weeks, starting with an exclusive download from David Byrne's new album, <em>In Spite of Wishing &amp; Wanting</em>.</p><p>Less than a month ago, Amazon.com became the only major online music retailer to dedicate part of its store to free, full-length song downloads from established artists and major-label performers. The day the Free Digital Downloads area was launched, four of the five top-selling albums on the site were from artists with songs featured in that area. Amazon.com customers are seizing the opportunity to try before they buy, and as of today have performed over 300,000 song downloads. Following the success of the launch, Amazon.com is adding to its current roster of artists, including Lyle Lovett, Widespread Panic, Public Enemy, Randy Newman, and others, to bring the total tally of songs available for free download to 38 and the total number of participating artists to 22.</p><p>From now until August 15, music fans can download "Fear" from David Byrne's new album, <em>In Spite of Wishing and Wanting</em>, which was released today and is available exclusively at Amazon.com. Within the next two weeks, visitors to Amazon.com will also be able to download 11 new songs from seven new artists. Included in the upcoming releases are two tracks from <em>Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons--</em>"Juanita," a collaboration between Sheryl Crow and Emmylou Harris, and "Hot Burrito #1," from country rock stars the Mavericks. Additional tracks from Barry White, Kristin Hersh, Indigenous, Jazz Is Dead, and Amazon.com Advantage artist Perla Batalla will also be available for download.</p><p>"Our Free Digital Downloads area continues to be the best place for music fans to download music from well-known artists," said Jennifer Cast, general manager of Amazon.com's music store. "The success of this area proves that free downloads are a great way for listeners to discover new music-and a superb way for labels to promote their artists and their CDs. We encourage music lovers to visit our store often so that they can get the latest free music downloads from major artists."</p><p>The complete roster of artists and songs in the Amazon.com free downloads area is as follows (upcoming additions are denoted by an asterisk):</p><table><tbody><tr><td>Artist</td><td>Title</td></tr><tr><td>Cheap Trick</td><td>Oh Caroline</td></tr><tr><td>Cowboy Junkies</td><td>Surrender (Remix)I Saw Your ShoesRiver Waltz</td></tr><tr><td>Robert Cray</td><td>All The WayLet Me Know</td></tr><tr><td>Lyle Lovett</td><td>If I Had A BoatYou Can't Resist It</td></tr><tr><td>Randy Newman</td><td>I'm DeadI Miss You</td></tr><tr><td>Pavement</td><td>Spit On A Stranger</td></tr><tr><td>Public Enemy</td><td>Do You Wanna Go Our Way??</td></tr><tr><td>Elliott Smith</td><td>The Enemy In YouWaltz No. 2</td></tr><tr><td>The Stone Coyotes</td><td>Church of the Falling RainMy Little Runaway</td></tr><tr><td>Rufus Wainwright</td><td>April FoolsFoolish Love</td></tr><tr><td>Cheryl Wheeler</td><td>Beyond The LightsSylvia Hotel</td></tr><tr><td>Widespread Panic</td><td>Bear's Gone Fishin'Red Hot Mama</td></tr><tr><td>Kelly Willis</td><td>Talk Like ThatTime Has Told Me</td></tr><tr><td>*Perla Batalla</td><td>Camino a SantiagoMorning Star</td></tr><tr><td>*David Byrne</td><td>Fear</td></tr><tr><td>*Sheryl Crow &amp; Emmylou Harris</td><td>Juanita</td></tr><tr><td>*Kristin Hersh</td><td>EchoPretty</td></tr><tr><td>*Indigenous</td><td>Holdin' OutThings We Do</td></tr><tr><td>*Jazz Is Dead</td><td>Row JimmyShip of Fools</td></tr><tr><td>*The Mavericks</td><td>Hot Burrito #1</td></tr><tr><td>*Barry White</td><td>Staying Power</td></tr></tbody></table><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, a complete online provider of health, beauty, wellness, and prescription-drug products, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Names Joseph Galli President and Chief Operating Officer

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Names-Joseph-Galli-President-and-Chief-Operating-Officer/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Names-Joseph-Galli-President-and-Chief-Operating-Officer

06/24/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Names Joseph Galli President and Chief Operating Officer

06/24/1999

1999

SEATTLE, June 24, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), today named Joseph Galli as its president and chief operating officer. Until April, Galli, 41, was the president of Black & Decker's Worldwide Power Tools and Accessories unit, a $3.1 billion business representing nearly 70% of the company's sales. Galli will report to Amazon.com's founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos. Galli joins Amazon.com after a highly successful 19-year career with Black & Decker where he led a resurgence in the power tools business. His exceptional performance re-established market leadership for the Black & Decker brand as he introduced new products and significantly improved customer service. "We are thrilled to have Joe at Amazon.com," said Jeff Bezos. "Joe is a star with great customer instincts and true operational excellence. We look forward to having his passion, leadership and motivational skills at the company. Joe cares about customers as much as we do, and his commitment to delivering great customer experience will be a valuable asset." "Amazon.com is the premier e-commerce company with outstanding potential for continued success," said Joe Galli. "I'm glad to be part of such a terrific team and can't wait to join them in making history." Known as an enthusiastic and growth-oriented leader, Galli created Black & Decker's global product development system and a world-class global manufacturing and purchasing structure. His responsibilities included marketing, sales, manufacturing, engineering, finance, MIS, purchasing, product service and logistics for the Black & Decker, DeWalt and Elu brands. Galli received a BS in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina and an MBA from Loyola College. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>SEATTLE, June 24, 1999 --/PRNewswire/-- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), today named Joseph Galli as its president and chief operating officer. Until April, Galli, 41, was the president of Black &amp; Decker's Worldwide Power Tools and Accessories unit, a $3.1 billion business representing nearly 70% of the company's sales. Galli will report to Amazon.com's founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos.</p><p>Galli joins Amazon.com after a highly successful 19-year career with Black &amp; Decker where he led a resurgence in the power tools business. His exceptional performance re-established market leadership for the Black &amp; Decker brand as he introduced new products and significantly improved customer service.</p><p>"We are thrilled to have Joe at Amazon.com," said Jeff Bezos. "Joe is a star with great customer instincts and true operational excellence. We look forward to having his passion, leadership and motivational skills at the company. Joe cares about customers as much as we do, and his commitment to delivering great customer experience will be a valuable asset."</p><p>"Amazon.com is the premier e-commerce company with outstanding potential for continued success," said Joe Galli. "I'm glad to be part of such a terrific team and can't wait to join them in making history."</p><p>Known as an enthusiastic and growth-oriented leader, Galli created Black &amp; Decker's global product development system and a world-class global manufacturing and purchasing structure. His responsibilities included marketing, sales, manufacturing, engineering, finance, MIS, purchasing, product service and logistics for the Black &amp; Decker, DeWalt and Elu brands.</p><p>Galli received a BS in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina and an MBA from Loyola College.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Celebrates Hitchcock's Centennial Birthday

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Celebrates-Hitchcocks-Centennial-Birthday/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Celebrates-Hitchcocks-Centennial-Birthday

06/22/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Celebrates Hitchcock's Centennial Birthday

06/22/1999

1999

Ultimate Selection of Classic Hitchcock Films, Free Information and Trivia Now Available at the Amazon.com Video Store--Chance to Win a Video Library of Hitchcock's Work SEATTLE, June 22, 1999--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the No.1 online video retailer, today introduced the Amazon.com Alfred Hitchcock Tribute, the ultimate destination for dedicated film buffs and new admirers alike to learn everything there is to know about Hitchcock and his work. The June 22 launch date comes 53 days prior to Hitchcock's centennial birthday on August 13, in celebration of the 53 full-length feature films he created. The Amazon.com Alfred Hitchcock Tribute offers a comprehensive selection of Hitchcock films, from Psycho to Easy Virtue, as well as free expert editorial content, and fun trivia. The tribute area is a searchable and easy-to-use resource to help visitors find their favorite Hitchcock films, books and music and discover almost anything about his life and art (www.amazon.com/hitchcock). "Diehard Hitchcock fans, film buffs, and movie lovers alike now have the opportunity to learn everything there is to know about Hitchcock--and create their own collection of favorite films--all in one convenient place," said Anne Hurley, editor in chief of the Amazon.com Video Store. "Amazon.com has compiled a comprehensive selection of Hitchcock films, books and music with free, exclusive editorial features that cannot be found anywhere else." Beginning June 25, visitors to the site will have the chance to win a complete library of Hitchcock's 49 films currently available on video. Visitors can register to win by entering their name and e-mail address, and on August 13, in celebration of Hitchcock's centennial birthday, the grand-prize winner will be selected from all registered entrants. (See Amazon.com's Web site for official rules & regulations). Col Needham, an expert on Hitchcock and creator of the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), joined the Amazon.com editorial staff to help create the Hitchcock site, utilizing his wealth of knowledge about Hitchcock, in addition to information from IMDb. Part of the Amazon.com family, and linked to the site, IMDb (www.imdb.com) is a valuable research tool for movie tips, trivia, and facts and figures about Hitchcock as well as countless other filmmakers and their work. Exclusive editorial features in the Amazon.com Hitchcock Store include: "Hitchcock 101"--Specific Hitchcock films highlighted with in-depth commentaries from Amazon.com contributors and guest writers (including Peter Rainer of New York magazine). "Exploring Hitchcock"--Amazon.com writers introduce various lists that highlight particular characteristics of Hitchcock's films, such as "The Meaning of Suspense," "Hitchcock's Women," and "Hitchcock's Dark Humor." "Customer Picks"--Hitchcock fans post their own reviews of their favorite Hitchcock films. "Trivia"--Film buffs test their true knowledge of Hitchcock and his works with daily trivia questions. "Top Ten"--Find Hitchcock's top-10-selling movies with this regularly updated list. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, LiveBid.com, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Ultimate Selection of Classic Hitchcock Films, Free Information and Trivia Now Available at the Amazon.com Video Store--Chance to Win a Video Library of Hitchcock's Work</p><p>SEATTLE, June 22, 1999--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the No.1 online video retailer, today introduced the Amazon.com Alfred Hitchcock Tribute, the ultimate destination for dedicated film buffs and new admirers alike to learn everything there is to know about Hitchcock and his work.</p><p>The June 22 launch date comes 53 days prior to Hitchcock's centennial birthday on August 13, in celebration of the 53 full-length feature films he created. The Amazon.com Alfred Hitchcock Tribute offers a comprehensive selection of Hitchcock films, from <em>Psycho</em> to <em>Easy Virtue</em>, as well as free expert editorial content, and fun trivia. The tribute area is a searchable and easy-to-use resource to help visitors find their favorite Hitchcock films, books and music and discover almost anything about his life and art (www.amazon.com/hitchcock).</p><p>"Diehard Hitchcock fans, film buffs, and movie lovers alike now have the opportunity to learn everything there is to know about Hitchcock--and create their own collection of favorite films--all in one convenient place," said Anne Hurley, editor in chief of the Amazon.com Video Store. "Amazon.com has compiled a comprehensive selection of Hitchcock films, books and music with free, exclusive editorial features that cannot be found anywhere else."</p><p>Beginning June 25, visitors to the site will have the chance to win a complete library of Hitchcock's 49 films currently available on video. Visitors can register to win by entering their name and e-mail address, and on August 13, in celebration of Hitchcock's centennial birthday, the grand-prize winner will be selected from all registered entrants. (See Amazon.com's Web site for official rules &amp; regulations).</p><p>Col Needham, an expert on Hitchcock and creator of the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), joined the Amazon.com editorial staff to help create the Hitchcock site, utilizing his wealth of knowledge about Hitchcock, in addition to information from IMDb. Part of the Amazon.com family, and linked to the site, IMDb (www.imdb.com) is a valuable research tool for movie tips, trivia, and facts and figures about Hitchcock as well as countless other filmmakers and their work.</p><p>Exclusive editorial features in the Amazon.com Hitchcock Store include:</p><ul><li>"Hitchcock 101"--Specific Hitchcock films highlighted with in-depth commentaries from Amazon.com contributors and guest writers (including Peter Rainer of <em>New York</em> magazine).</li><li>"Exploring Hitchcock"--Amazon.com writers introduce various lists that highlight particular characteristics of Hitchcock's films, such as "The Meaning of Suspense," "Hitchcock's Women," and "Hitchcock's Dark Humor."</li><li>"Customer Picks"--Hitchcock fans post their own reviews of their favorite Hitchcock films.</li><li>"Trivia"--Film buffs test their true knowledge of Hitchcock and his works with daily trivia questions.</li><li>"Top Ten"--Find Hitchcock's top-10-selling movies with this regularly updated list.</li></ul><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, LiveBid.com, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Profiles In History and Amazon.com's Livebid Go To Tinseltown For A Walk Down Hollywood's Memory Lane

/news/news-details/1999/Profiles-In-History-and-Amazon.coms-Livebid-Go-To-Tinseltown-For-A-Walk-Down-Hollywoods-Memory-Lane/default.aspx

Profiles-In-History-and-Amazon.coms-Livebid-Go-To-Tinseltown-For-A-Walk-Down-Hollywoods-Memory-Lane

06/21/1999 00:00:00

Profiles In History and Amazon.com's Livebid Go To Tinseltown For A Walk Down Hollywood's Memory Lane

06/21/1999

1999

June 26 auction to feature vintage and collectible Hollywood memorabilia WEST HOLLYWOOD, Ca, June 21--/PRN Newswire/ -- Profiles in History, the nation's leading dealer in guaranteed-authentic original historical letters, documents, vintage-signed photographs and manuscripts, has teamed with Amazon.com's Auctions for an auction of unique Hollywood memorabilia available live on the Internet to bidders worldwide. The auction, scheduled to begin at noon June 26, includes Christopher Reeve's complete "Superman: The Movie" costume, the prop ten commandments tablets from Cecile DeMille's epic film, "The Ten Commandments," and Marilyn Monroe's black cocktail dress from "The Misfits." Those three items are expected to bring an expected $30,00 to $60,000 per item. With some of the most prestigious pieces of Hollywood memorabilia ever offered for sale, the collection includes more than 400 items such as costumes, props, vintage movie posters, artist's sketches, original signed photographs, autographed documents and letters from film, television and music. Bidders at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood will bid against collectors from around the world in a live real-time Internet auction via Amazon.com's LiveBid technology. "This auction is, without question, our most exciting to date. We are thrilled to make it available to a worldwide audience through Amazon.com Auctions," said Joseph Maddalena, president of Profiles in History. Interested bidders who want to participate in the auction can easily register by logging on to the LiveBid site through http://amazon.livebid.com/Profiles or visit Hollywood link. On auction day, Internet bidders will compete against the bidders physically attending the event. Deadline for registering is June 25. Spectators can watch the auction starting at noon PDT on June 26. A complete catalogue of auction items is available at Amazon.com Auctions. "This auction has worldwide appeal because of the large number of recognizable items," said Matt Williams, director of live auctions at Amazon.com Auctions. "Amazon.com's LiveBid technology gives bidders all over the world a chance to own a piece of Hollywood without leaving their home or office." Among the other highlighted items available for sale is "Thurston Howell's cash-stashing Teddy Bear" from the family of Bob Denver, the former star of "Gilligan's Island." The Denver family will use proceeds from the sale to purchase a star for their father on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame." Also available on the auction block is the sword used by Mel Gibson in "Braveheart," a book signed by the cast and crew of "Gone With the Wind," Bonanza costumes of "Hoss," "Little Joe," and "Ben Cartwright," and a collection of 23 concept art sketches from "Alice in Wonderland." Proceeds from nine auction items will go to the Red Cross Kosovo Relief Fund including a "Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace" poster autographed by director George Lucas, and a "Grateful Dead" collectors set of CD's autographed by Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart. About Profiles in HistoryFounded in 1986, Profiles in History is the nation's leading dealer in guaranteed-authentic original historical letters, documents, vintage-signed photographs and manuscripts. In addition to offering the finest autographs to be found anywhere, Profiles in History proudly stands behind every item offered for sale with the most detailed background information available and a lifetime guarantee of authenticity. For more information go to http://www.profilesinhistory.com. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient:drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>June 26 auction to feature vintage and collectible Hollywood memorabilia</p><p>WEST HOLLYWOOD, Ca, June 21--/PRN Newswire/ -- Profiles in History, the nation's leading dealer in guaranteed-authentic original historical letters, documents, vintage-signed photographs and manuscripts, has teamed with Amazon.com's Auctions for an auction of unique Hollywood memorabilia available live on the Internet to bidders worldwide.</p><p>The auction, scheduled to begin at noon June 26, includes Christopher Reeve's complete "Superman: The Movie" costume, the prop ten commandments tablets from Cecile DeMille's epic film, "The Ten Commandments," and Marilyn Monroe's black cocktail dress from "The Misfits."</p><p>Those three items are expected to bring an expected $30,00 to $60,000 per item. With some of the most prestigious pieces of Hollywood memorabilia ever offered for sale, the collection includes more than 400 items such as costumes, props, vintage movie posters, artist's sketches, original signed photographs, autographed documents and letters from film, television and music. Bidders at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood will bid against collectors from around the world in a live real-time Internet auction via Amazon.com's LiveBid technology. "This auction is, without question, our most exciting to date. We are thrilled to make it available to a worldwide audience through Amazon.com Auctions," said Joseph Maddalena, president of Profiles in History.</p><p>Interested bidders who want to participate in the auction can easily register by logging on to the LiveBid site through http://amazon.livebid.com/Profiles or visit Hollywood link. On auction day, Internet bidders will compete against the bidders physically attending the event. Deadline for registering is June 25. Spectators can watch the auction starting at noon PDT on June 26. A complete catalogue of auction items is available at Amazon.com Auctions.</p><p>"This auction has worldwide appeal because of the large number of recognizable items," said Matt Williams, director of live auctions at Amazon.com Auctions. "Amazon.com's LiveBid technology gives bidders all over the world a chance to own a piece of Hollywood without leaving their home or office."</p><p>Among the other highlighted items available for sale is "Thurston Howell's cash-stashing Teddy Bear" from the family of Bob Denver, the former star of "Gilligan's Island." The Denver family will use proceeds from the sale to purchase a star for their father on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame."</p><p>Also available on the auction block is the sword used by Mel Gibson in "Braveheart," a book signed by the cast and crew of "Gone With the Wind," Bonanza costumes of "Hoss," "Little Joe," and "Ben Cartwright," and a collection of 23 concept art sketches from "Alice in Wonderland."</p><p>Proceeds from nine auction items will go to the Red Cross Kosovo Relief Fund including a "Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace" poster autographed by director George Lucas, and a "Grateful Dead" collectors set of CD's autographed by Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Mickey Hart.</p><p>About Profiles in HistoryFounded in 1986, Profiles in History is the nation's leading dealer in guaranteed-authentic original historical letters, documents, vintage-signed photographs and manuscripts. In addition to offering the finest autographs to be found anywhere, Profiles in History proudly stands behind every item offered for sale with the most detailed background information available and a lifetime guarantee of authenticity. For more information go to http://www.profilesinhistory.com.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient:drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Sotheby's and Amazon.com Connect in Strategic Auction Alliance

/news/news-details/1999/Sothebys-and-Amazon.com-Connect-in-Strategic-Auction-Alliance/default.aspx

Sothebys-and-Amazon.com-Connect-in-Strategic-Auction-Alliance

06/16/1999 00:00:00

Sotheby's and Amazon.com Connect in Strategic Auction Alliance

06/16/1999

1999

Joint Online Auction Site To Offer Guarantee of Authenticity and Condition NEW YORK, June 16 - - Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BID) and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that they will launch a joint online auction site, sothebys.amazon.com. This ten-year alliance between the world's leading e-commerce company and the international art auction house, each founded --251 years apart-- as book sellers, will create a new standard in online buying and selling of authenticated and guaranteed auction property. The joint site will provide an opportunity for thousands of dealers in collectibles and general art and antiques to participate in an Internet marketplace of unparalleled reach and quality. Sellers on this joint auction site will have the opportunity to market to Amazon.com's more than 10 million customers with the benefit of Sotheby's 255-year art and auction expertise. The joint site is devoted to the general antiques collector and to the world of collectibles. It will feature coins, stamps, sports and Hollywood memorabilia, fashion, animation art, toys, dolls and other collectibles, as well as general art and antiques, books and jewelry. All auction property will be offered by Sotheby's and a select network of dealers and other art world professionals. The authenticity and condition of all auctioned property will be guaranteed by the sellers. Hosted on www.amazon.com/auctions, the new site is expected to launch later this year with an auction of items from the Halper Collection of baseball memorabilia, a portion of which will be sold in a live auction at Sotheby's newly renovated New York galleries in September. "With Sotheby's reputation and expertise in sourcing and authenticating art and valuable objects, and both companies' relentless focus on the customer, we plan to make this the most trusted and popular online auction site," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO, Amazon.com. "In the world of valuable objects, a big problem with online auctions has been authenticity. Who better to help solve that problem than Sotheby's?" "Amazon.com brings us the best online technology, the most superb customer service and the largest number of e-commerce customers in the world," said Diana D. Brooks, President and CEO of Sotheby's. "We could not ask for more in an internet partner." In addition to the joint site, Sotheby's will continue its www.sothebys.com site, which will begin offering traditional fine and decorative art, jewelry and books online this fall, and Amazon.com will continue its popular auctions site, Amazon.com Auctions. More than 2,800 of the finest dealers from around the world have already signed up for www.sothebys.com. They will now also be able to participate in the new joint auction site. Combined, these three sites create the most comprehensive and powerful Internet marketplace for art, antiques and collectibles. Auction enthusiasts and collectors will be able to access all three sites by clicking through www.amazon.com/auctions, or through www.sothebys.com. The two companies also announced that Amazon.com has agreed to purchase (subject to customary closing conditions) one million shares of Sotheby's Holdings Class "A" Common Stock at $35.44 per share, the June 14, l999 closing price. Amazon.com has also agreed to purchase, for a total price of $10 million, three-year warrants to purchase an additional one million shares at $100 per share. Amazon.com's total investment in Sotheby's is approximately $45 million. Sellers can receive further information by visiting www.amazon.com/auctions or www.sothebys.com or: in the U.S. by calling Sotheby's at 212-606-7979 or by e-mail at sa.us@sothebys.com; and in Europe by calling 44 171 293 6080 or by e-mail at sa.europe@sothebys.com. A press briefing will be held today at 10:00 a.m. at Sotheby's New York headquarters at 1334 York Avenue (corner of 72nd Street) in the main salesroom. Journalists who plan to attend should call 212 -606-7176. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and easy auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About Sotheby'sSotheby's began as a book auction house in London in 1744. Today the company has 107 offices located in 41 countries, with principal salesrooms in New York and London. Sotheby's conducts auctions in 18 other salerooms and sells nearly 200,000 lots a year in more than 80 collecting categories. In January of 1999 Sotheby's announced the launch of sothebys.com, a new Internet auction business for art, antiques, jewelry and collectibles. The company's headquarters in New York is currently being expanded to become a ten-floor, state of the art auction and cultural destination. The top six floors will be complete this September and the re-designed building will give New York a major new arts venue when it is completed next year. Sotheby's London is the main European facility and the company has recently expanded operations in Paris, Amsterdam and Zurich. Memorable auctions in Sotheby's 255-year-history include the sale of the library of Napoleon (1811); the sale of van Gogh's Irises for $53 million, Renoir's Au Moulin de la Galette for $78 million; the auction of the Grand Ducal Collections of the Margrave of Baden Baden and the Princely Collections of the Thurn und Taxis Family. More recently, the company has auctioned the Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1996, the Collection of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in 1997, the $60.5 million sale of Cézanne's magnificent still life from the estate of Mr. and Mrs. John Hay Whitney which brought more than $170 million and the contents of Château de Groussay this month in France, which brought $26 million. Besides the traditional live auction business, Sotheby's Financial Services provides art-related financing secured by works of art, Sotheby's Ventures arranges private sales of art work. Sotheby's International Realty provides brokerage, marketing and consulting services for luxury properties and through Sotheby's Insurance Brokerage Services clients can obtain a fine and decorative arts policy which can be extended to cover homes purchased through Sotheby's Realty. Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains certain "forward-looking statements" (as such term is defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) relating to future events. Such statements are only predictions and involve risks and uncertainties, resulting in the possibility that the actual events or performance will differ materially from such predictions. Major factors which the Company believes could cause the actual results to differ materially from the predicted results in the "forward-looking statements" include competition in the internet auction business, consumer trends and risks of systems interruption.

<p>Joint Online Auction Site To Offer Guarantee of Authenticity and Condition</p><p>NEW YORK, June 16 - - Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BID) and Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that they will launch a joint online auction site, sothebys.amazon.com. This ten-year alliance between the world's leading e-commerce company and the international art auction house, each founded --251 years apart-- as book sellers, will create a new standard in online buying and selling of authenticated and guaranteed auction property.</p><p>The joint site will provide an opportunity for thousands of dealers in collectibles and general art and antiques to participate in an Internet marketplace of unparalleled reach and quality. Sellers on this joint auction site will have the opportunity to market to Amazon.com's more than 10 million customers with the benefit of Sotheby's 255-year art and auction expertise.</p><p>The joint site is devoted to the general antiques collector and to the world of collectibles. It will feature coins, stamps, sports and Hollywood memorabilia, fashion, animation art, toys, dolls and other collectibles, as well as general art and antiques, books and jewelry. All auction property will be offered by Sotheby's and a select network of dealers and other art world professionals. The authenticity and condition of all auctioned property will be guaranteed by the sellers. Hosted on www.amazon.com/auctions, the new site is expected to launch later this year with an auction of items from the Halper Collection of baseball memorabilia, a portion of which will be sold in a live auction at Sotheby's newly renovated New York galleries in September.</p><p>"With Sotheby's reputation and expertise in sourcing and authenticating art and valuable objects, and both companies' relentless focus on the customer, we plan to make this the most trusted and popular online auction site," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO, Amazon.com. "In the world of valuable objects, a big problem with online auctions has been authenticity. Who better to help solve that problem than Sotheby's?"</p><p>"Amazon.com brings us the best online technology, the most superb customer service and the largest number of e-commerce customers in the world," said Diana D. Brooks, President and CEO of Sotheby's. "We could not ask for more in an internet partner."</p><p>In addition to the joint site, Sotheby's will continue its www.sothebys.com site, which will begin offering traditional fine and decorative art, jewelry and books online this fall, and Amazon.com will continue its popular auctions site, Amazon.com Auctions. More than 2,800 of the finest dealers from around the world have already signed up for www.sothebys.com. They will now also be able to participate in the new joint auction site. Combined, these three sites create the most comprehensive and powerful Internet marketplace for art, antiques and collectibles. Auction enthusiasts and collectors will be able to access all three sites by clicking through www.amazon.com/auctions, or through www.sothebys.com.</p><p>The two companies also announced that Amazon.com has agreed to purchase (subject to customary closing conditions) one million shares of Sotheby's Holdings Class "A" Common Stock at $35.44 per share, the June 14, l999 closing price. Amazon.com has also agreed to purchase, for a total price of $10 million, three-year warrants to purchase an additional one million shares at $100 per share. Amazon.com's total investment in Sotheby's is approximately $45 million.</p><p>Sellers can receive further information by visiting www.amazon.com/auctions or www.sothebys.com or: in the U.S. by calling Sotheby's at 212-606-7979 or by e-mail at sa.us@sothebys.com; and in Europe by calling 44 171 293 6080 or by e-mail at sa.europe@sothebys.com.</p><p>A press briefing will be held today at 10:00 a.m. at Sotheby's New York headquarters at 1334 York Avenue (corner of 72nd Street) in the main salesroom. Journalists who plan to attend should call 212 -606-7176.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and easy auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About Sotheby'sSotheby's began as a book auction house in London in 1744. Today the company has 107 offices located in 41 countries, with principal salesrooms in New York and London. Sotheby's conducts auctions in 18 other salerooms and sells nearly 200,000 lots a year in more than 80 collecting categories.</p><p>In January of 1999 Sotheby's announced the launch of sothebys.com, a new Internet auction business for art, antiques, jewelry and collectibles. The company's headquarters in New York is currently being expanded to become a ten-floor, state of the art auction and cultural destination. The top six floors will be complete this September and the re-designed building will give New York a major new arts venue when it is completed next year. Sotheby's London is the main European facility and the company has recently expanded operations in Paris, Amsterdam and Zurich.</p><p>Memorable auctions in Sotheby's 255-year-history include the sale of the library of Napoleon (1811); the sale of van Gogh's <em>Irises</em> for $53 million, Renoir's <em>Au Moulin de la Galette</em> for $78 million; the auction of the Grand Ducal Collections of the Margrave of Baden Baden and the Princely Collections of the Thurn und Taxis Family. More recently, the company has auctioned the Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1996, the Collection of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor in 1997, the $60.5 million sale of Cézanne's magnificent still life from the estate of Mr. and Mrs. John Hay Whitney which brought more than $170 million and the contents of Château de Groussay this month in France, which brought $26 million.</p><p>Besides the traditional live auction business, Sotheby's Financial Services provides art-related financing secured by works of art, Sotheby's Ventures arranges private sales of art work. Sotheby's International Realty provides brokerage, marketing and consulting services for luxury properties and through Sotheby's Insurance Brokerage Services clients can obtain a fine and decorative arts policy which can be extended to cover homes purchased through Sotheby's Realty.</p><p>Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains certain "forward-looking statements" (as such term is defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) relating to future events. Such statements are only predictions and involve risks and uncertainties, resulting in the possibility that the actual events or performance will differ materially from such predictions. Major factors which the Company believes could cause the actual results to differ materially from the predicted results in the "forward-looking statements" include competition in the internet auction business, consumer trends and risks of systems interruption.</p>

Pets.com Raises $50 Million From Amazon.com, Bowman Capital, and Hummer Winblad Venture Partners

/news/news-details/1999/Pets.com-Raises-50-Million-From-Amazon.com-Bowman-Capital-and-Hummer-Winblad-Venture-Partners/default.aspx

Pets.com-Raises-50-Million-From-Amazon.com-Bowman-Capital-and-Hummer-Winblad-Venture-Partners

06/14/1999 00:00:00

Pets.com Raises $50 Million From Amazon.com, Bowman Capital, and Hummer Winblad Venture Partners

06/14/1999

1999

Second round of financing will allow online pets category leader to best serve customers SEATTLE, June 14 --/PRNewswire/-- Pets.com (www.pets.com), the leading online provider of pet products, information and services, today announced it raised $50 million from leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), Bowman Capital, and Hummer Winblad Venture Partners. Pets.com will use the second round of financing to continue to build its infrastructure and to best serve the customer growth that the company has experienced since its first round of funding less than 10 weeks ago. "We are running hard and fast to make Pets.com the best possible customer experience, from product selection to customer service," said Julie Wainwright, CEO of Pets.com. "This significant investment allows us to support our plans to build an enduring customer-focused company." "Whether you're shopping for your dog, or cat, or chinchilla, or just looking for a ferret hammock, Pets.com makes it easy to do something nice for your pet," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. Upon completion of its investment, Amazon.com will own approximately 54% of outstanding shares. The financing is expected to be completed later this month and is subject to execution of definitive documents and customary closing conditions. In less than two and one-half months, Pets.com has taken significant strides to provide the ultimate online shopping experience for pet owners. To ensure the best consumer experience, Pets.com has brought the entire shopping process in house, from order fulfillment to customer service. The company recently opened its first distribution center in San Francisco, Calif., to accommodate a growing selection of products and to provide the fastest possible shipping. In addition, Pets.com has developed a full customer service staff and added a toll-free customer service phone number. Consumers can now call Pets.com directly at 1-888-321-PETS to place orders or gain additional information about the Web site. About Pets.comPets.com is the online category leader for pet products, information and services. Offering the broadest product selection and expert advice from a staff of pet-industry experts and veterinarians, Pets.com gives pet owners the information they need to provide their pets with the best possible care. Pets.com is a privately held company funded by Bowman Capital, leading online retailer Amazon.com and Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, a premier venture capital firm focused exclusively on software and Internet investing. Pets.com's management team has extensive experience in technology, e-commerce, consumer-driven companies and the pet industry. Pets.com was founded in October 1998 and is based in San Francisco, CA. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About Bowman CapitalBowman Capital Management, LLC is a premier institutional investor specializing in both public and private technology growth companies with over $2 billion under management. On the private equity side, Bowman Capital focuses on expanion stage companies related to the new Internet economy. Bowman Capital's private equity portfolio includes companies such as Arrowpoint, Chemdex, Mpath, Netcentives, PlanetRx, RemarQ, Six Degrees, Sycamore Networks and The Street.com. For more information on Bowman Capital Management, visit their Web site at www.bowmancapital.com. About Hummer WinbladHummer Winblad Venture Partners is a premiere venture capital fund exclusively focused on software and Internet investing with over $200 million under management. Previous investments include PowerSoft Corporation and Arbor Software, as well as Internet companies Net Perceptions, AdForce, HomeGrocer, and Employease. For further information, please visit http://www.humwin.com.

<p>Second round of financing will allow online pets category leader to best serve customers</p><p>SEATTLE, June 14 --/PRNewswire/-- Pets.com (www.pets.com), the leading online provider of pet products, information and services, today announced it raised $50 million from leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), Bowman Capital, and Hummer Winblad Venture Partners. Pets.com will use the second round of financing to continue to build its infrastructure and to best serve the customer growth that the company has experienced since its first round of funding less than 10 weeks ago.</p><p>"We are running hard and fast to make Pets.com the best possible customer experience, from product selection to customer service," said Julie Wainwright, CEO of Pets.com. "This significant investment allows us to support our plans to build an enduring customer-focused company."</p><p>"Whether you're shopping for your dog, or cat, or chinchilla, or just looking for a ferret hammock, Pets.com makes it easy to do something nice for your pet," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com.</p><p>Upon completion of its investment, Amazon.com will own approximately 54% of outstanding shares. The financing is expected to be completed later this month and is subject to execution of definitive documents and customary closing conditions.</p><p>In less than two and one-half months, Pets.com has taken significant strides to provide the ultimate online shopping experience for pet owners. To ensure the best consumer experience, Pets.com has brought the entire shopping process in house, from order fulfillment to customer service. The company recently opened its first distribution center in San Francisco, Calif., to accommodate a growing selection of products and to provide the fastest possible shipping. In addition, Pets.com has developed a full customer service staff and added a toll-free customer service phone number. Consumers can now call Pets.com directly at 1-888-321-PETS to place orders or gain additional information about the Web site.</p><p>About Pets.comPets.com is the online category leader for pet products, information and services. Offering the broadest product selection and expert advice from a staff of pet-industry experts and veterinarians, Pets.com gives pet owners the information they need to provide their pets with the best possible care. Pets.com is a privately held company funded by Bowman Capital, leading online retailer Amazon.com and Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, a premier venture capital firm focused exclusively on software and Internet investing. Pets.com's management team has extensive experience in technology, e-commerce, consumer-driven companies and the pet industry. Pets.com was founded in October 1998 and is based in San Francisco, CA.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About Bowman CapitalBowman Capital Management, LLC is a premier institutional investor specializing in both public and private technology growth companies with over $2 billion under management. On the private equity side, Bowman Capital focuses on expanion stage companies related to the new Internet economy. Bowman Capital's private equity portfolio includes companies such as Arrowpoint, Chemdex, Mpath, Netcentives, PlanetRx, RemarQ, Six Degrees, Sycamore Networks and The Street.com. For more information on Bowman Capital Management, visit their Web site at www.bowmancapital.com.</p><p>About Hummer WinbladHummer Winblad Venture Partners is a premiere venture capital fund exclusively focused on software and Internet investing with over $200 million under management. Previous investments include PowerSoft Corporation and Arbor Software, as well as Internet companies Net Perceptions, AdForce, HomeGrocer, and Employease. For further information, please visit http://www.humwin.com.</p>

Amazon.com To Open Georgia Distribution Center To Meet Rapid Growth

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-To-Open-Georgia-Distribution-Center-To-Meet-Rapid-Growth/default.aspx

Amazon.com-To-Open-Georgia-Distribution-Center-To-Meet-Rapid-Growth

06/08/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com To Open Georgia Distribution Center To Meet Rapid Growth

06/08/1999

1999

Customers to benefit from faster shipping times, greater availability SEATTLE, June 8, 1999--/PRNewswire/-- As part of its efforts to continually enhance service to customers, leading online retailer Amazon.com has obtained a highly mechanized distribution facility in McDonough, Georgia, that will allow the company to reduce standard shipping times to customers in key markets in the Southeastern United States. The Georgia facility is the fifth new Amazon.com distribution center to be announced this year and means that by the busy 1999 holiday shopping season, Amazon.com will have more than 3.5 million square feet of space at seven distribution centers nationwide-more than 10 times the distribution center floor space the company had in 1998. Amazon.com's Georgia distribution center will play an integral role in the company's overall global logistics strategy and is part of the company's effort to develop a significant distribution infrastructure to meet long-term growth and provide Amazon.com customers nationwide and around the world with fast, reliable shipping that comes directly from the company. The 800,000-square-foot Georgia facility will be the largest Amazon.com distribution facility to date and will allow Amazon.com, the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No. 1 book retailer, to increase significantly the number of books, CDs, videos, and other products kept on hand for immediate shipment to customers. The result of Amazon.com's leasing of the McDonough facility is that customers in such places as Nashville, Birmingham, Atlanta, and New Orleans will receive their orders much faster, thanks to greater availability, quicker processing, and shorter delivery times. "With the addition of the Georgia distribution center to our supply chain network, we continue to deepen our inventory for fast, reliable shipments by a team of dedicated Amazon.com professionals," said Jimmy Wright, Amazon.com Inc.'s chief logistics officer. "At Amazon.com, our distribution center associates are the last people to touch orders before they reach our customers -- that's why we do our own shipping. When it comes to our customers, we don't take any chances." The McDonough facility gives Amazon.com distribution capability that will help the company better serve its customers. Located in Georgia, approximately 20 miles south of the Atlanta airport, Amazon.com will be the facility's first tenant. The facility will be leased by Amazon.com and is expected to begin operations by the end of the third quarter of 1999. Terms of the lease were not disclosed. Amazon.com expects its McDonough facility will employ more than 500 people within a few months of operation. McDonough Open HouseAmazon.com will have recruiters at the Windy Hill Recreation Center in McDonough for an open house on Friday, June 11, Saturday, June 12, and Sunday, June 13, to receive applications. The hours of the open house are as follows: Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. The company is accepting résumés for a variety of positions, including distribution center associates, operations managers, human resources manager, facilities manager, and area managers. In addition, the company has established a toll-free job line at (877) 975-4273 and will take applications by e-mail at gajobs@amazon.com and respond to questions via e-mail at gaquestions@amazon.com. In May 1999, Amazon.com announced that it had leased a 570,000-square-foot distribution center in Campbellsville, Kentucky and a 600,000-square-foot distribution center in Lexington, Kentucky. The Campbellsville facility will be expanded to approximately 770,000 square feet this year. In April 1999, the company announced that it had leased a facility that will be expanded to more than 750,000 square feet in Coffeyville, Kansas. In January 1999, the company announced that it had obtained a 322,560-square-foot facility in Fernley, Nevada, outside Reno. In November 1997, the company opened a 202,000-square-foot center in New Castle, Delaware, outside Philadelphia. The company's Seattle distribution center has 93,000 square feet of space. The McDonough distribution center will be operated by Amazon.com.gadc, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN). About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc., the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the most customer-oriented company, where people can find and discover almost anything they may want to buy on the Internet. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com's subsidiaries operate two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com's subsidiaries also operate PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service, and the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. An Amazon.com subsidiary also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient. They are: drugstore.com, a complete online provider of health, beauty, wellness, and prescription drug products, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery shopping and home delivery service with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Customers to benefit from faster shipping times, greater availability</p><p>SEATTLE, June 8, 1999--/PRNewswire/-- As part of its efforts to continually enhance service to customers, leading online retailer Amazon.com has obtained a highly mechanized distribution facility in McDonough, Georgia, that will allow the company to reduce standard shipping times to customers in key markets in the Southeastern United States.</p><p>The Georgia facility is the fifth new Amazon.com distribution center to be announced this year and means that by the busy 1999 holiday shopping season, Amazon.com will have more than 3.5 million square feet of space at seven distribution centers nationwide-more than 10 times the distribution center floor space the company had in 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com's Georgia distribution center will play an integral role in the company's overall global logistics strategy and is part of the company's effort to develop a significant distribution infrastructure to meet long-term growth and provide Amazon.com customers nationwide and around the world with fast, reliable shipping that comes directly from the company.</p><p>The 800,000-square-foot Georgia facility will be the largest Amazon.com distribution facility to date and will allow Amazon.com, the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No. 1 book retailer, to increase significantly the number of books, CDs, videos, and other products kept on hand for immediate shipment to customers.</p><p>The result of Amazon.com's leasing of the McDonough facility is that customers in such places as Nashville, Birmingham, Atlanta, and New Orleans will receive their orders much faster, thanks to greater availability, quicker processing, and shorter delivery times.</p><p>"With the addition of the Georgia distribution center to our supply chain network, we continue to deepen our inventory for fast, reliable shipments by a team of dedicated Amazon.com professionals," said Jimmy Wright, Amazon.com Inc.'s chief logistics officer. "At Amazon.com, our distribution center associates are the last people to touch orders before they reach our customers -- that's why we do our own shipping. When it comes to our customers, we don't take any chances."</p><p>The McDonough facility gives Amazon.com distribution capability that will help the company better serve its customers. Located in Georgia, approximately 20 miles south of the Atlanta airport, Amazon.com will be the facility's first tenant. The facility will be leased by Amazon.com and is expected to begin operations by the end of the third quarter of 1999. Terms of the lease were not disclosed.</p><p>Amazon.com expects its McDonough facility will employ more than 500 people within a few months of operation.</p><p>McDonough Open HouseAmazon.com will have recruiters at the Windy Hill Recreation Center in McDonough for an open house on Friday, June 11, Saturday, June 12, and Sunday, June 13, to receive applications. The hours of the open house are as follows: Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. The company is accepting résumés for a variety of positions, including distribution center associates, operations managers, human resources manager, facilities manager, and area managers. In addition, the company has established a toll-free job line at (877) 975-4273 and will take applications by e-mail at gajobs@amazon.com and respond to questions via e-mail at gaquestions@amazon.com.</p><p>In May 1999, Amazon.com announced that it had leased a 570,000-square-foot distribution center in Campbellsville, Kentucky and a 600,000-square-foot distribution center in Lexington, Kentucky. The Campbellsville facility will be expanded to approximately 770,000 square feet this year. In April 1999, the company announced that it had leased a facility that will be expanded to more than 750,000 square feet in Coffeyville, Kansas. In January 1999, the company announced that it had obtained a 322,560-square-foot facility in Fernley, Nevada, outside Reno. In November 1997, the company opened a 202,000-square-foot center in New Castle, Delaware, outside Philadelphia. The company's Seattle distribution center has 93,000 square feet of space.</p><p>The McDonough distribution center will be operated by Amazon.com.gadc, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN).</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc., the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the most customer-oriented company, where people can find and discover almost anything they may want to buy on the Internet. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com's subsidiaries operate two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com's subsidiaries also operate PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service, and the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. An Amazon.com subsidiary also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient. They are: drugstore.com, a complete online provider of health, beauty, wellness, and prescription drug products, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery shopping and home delivery service with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Launches New Music Area Offering Fans Free Digital Downloads of Entire Songs

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Launches-New-Music-Area-Offering-Fans-Free-Digital-Downloads-of-Entire-Songs/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Launches-New-Music-Area-Offering-Fans-Free-Digital-Downloads-of-Entire-Songs

06/08/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Launches New Music Area Offering Fans Free Digital Downloads of Entire Songs

06/08/1999

1999

New Area Offers Music Fans Full-Length Liquid Audio and MP3 Downloads from Established Artists, Including Lyle Lovett, Randy Newman, Cowboy Junkies, and Pavement SEATTLE, June 8, 1999--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music retailer, today introduced a better way for customers to discover music, with the launch of a free digital-download area. It makes Amazon.com the only major online music retailer to dedicate part of its store to free, full-length song downloads from established artists and major-label performers. Music fans can access all but one of these digital downloads using the LiquidTM Player software from Liquid Audio, Inc., and a select number may also be downloaded in MP3. Starting today, music fans can download and listen free to more than 20 full-length songs--many of them previously unreleased--by such popular artists as Lyle Lovett, Randy Newman, Cowboy Junkies, Pavement, Robert Cray, Elliott Smith, Cheap Trick, Widespread Panic, Kelly Willis, Rufus Wainwright, Cheryl Wheeler, Sarah McLachlan, Public Enemy, and Amazon.com Advantage band the Stone Coyotes (the trio that served as the model for the band in Elmore Leonard's new novel, Be Cool). "With the launch of our digital-download area, Amazon.com visitors will be able to download free songs from great new CDs by a broad roster of major artists," said Jennifer Cast, general manager of Amazon.com's music store. "Free downloads are a great way for listeners to discover new music-and a superb way to promote artists and their CDs. Our Free Downloads area will evolve over time, so music fans will want to check back regularly to get the latest tracks from our ever-expanding roster of artists." Digital-download selections-accessible from www.amazon.com/music-downloads-include songs that are available for the first time anywhere, such as live versions of "If I Had a Boat" and "You Can't Resist It" from Lyle Lovett's new CD, Lyle Lovett Live in Texas, due out June 29; plus "Bear's Gone Fishin'" from Widespread Panic's new CD, 'Til the Medicine Takes, due out in August. Along with free song downloads, Amazon.com's digital-download area will offer music fans exclusive features, such as interviews and articles written by artists. At launch, the bands and songs available are: Lyle Lovett "If I Had A Boat (Live)" & "You Can't Resist It (Live)" Randy Newman "I'm Dead" & "I Miss You" Cowboy Junkies "I Saw Your Shoes" Pavement "Spit on a Stranger" Robert Cray "All the Way" & "Let Me Know" Elliott Smith "The Enemy Is You" " & "Waltz No. 2" Cheap Trick "Oh Caroline" & "Surrender (Remix)" Widespread Panic "Bear's Gone Fishin'" & "Red Hot Mama" Kelly Willis "Talk Like That" & "Time Has Told Me" Rufus Wainwright "April Fools" & "Foolish Love" Cheryl Wheeler "Sylvia Hotel" & "Beyond the Lights" The Stone Coyotes "Church of the Falling Rain" & "My Little Runaway" Public Enemy "Do You Wanna Go Our Way???" Sarah McLachlan "I Will Remember You (Live)" & "Building a Mystery (Live)" The introduction of the Amazon.com digital-download area follows free digital downloads of songs by Sarah McLachlan in April and Public Enemy in May. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, a complete online provider of health, beauty, wellness, and prescription-drug products, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. About Liquid AudioLiquid Audio is leading the convergence of music and technology to establish the Internet as a new medium for music distribution. Liquid Audio's services and software enable musicians, record labels, and music retailers to deliver professional-quality music digitally via the Internet in many leading formats to many leading music players. Available for free download at www.liquidaudio.com, the LiquidTM Player software allows consumers to preview and purchase CD-quality music over the Internet from hundreds of music Web sites while protecting artists' copyrights and tracking royalties. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>New Area Offers Music Fans Full-Length Liquid Audio and MP3 Downloads from Established Artists, Including Lyle Lovett, Randy Newman, Cowboy Junkies, and Pavement</p><p>SEATTLE, June 8, 1999--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music retailer, today introduced a better way for customers to discover music, with the launch of a free digital-download area. It makes Amazon.com the only major online music retailer to dedicate part of its store to free, full-length song downloads from established artists and major-label performers. Music fans can access all but one of these digital downloads using the Liquid^TM Player software from Liquid Audio, Inc., and a select number may also be downloaded in MP3.</p><p>Starting today, music fans can download and listen free to more than 20 full-length songs--many of them previously unreleased--by such popular artists as Lyle Lovett, Randy Newman, Cowboy Junkies, Pavement, Robert Cray, Elliott Smith, Cheap Trick, Widespread Panic, Kelly Willis, Rufus Wainwright, Cheryl Wheeler, Sarah McLachlan, Public Enemy, and Amazon.com Advantage band the Stone Coyotes (the trio that served as the model for the band in Elmore Leonard's new novel, <em>Be Cool</em>).</p><p>"With the launch of our digital-download area, Amazon.com visitors will be able to download free songs from great new CDs by a broad roster of major artists," said Jennifer Cast, general manager of Amazon.com's music store. "Free downloads are a great way for listeners to discover new music-and a superb way to promote artists and their CDs. Our Free Downloads area will evolve over time, so music fans will want to check back regularly to get the latest tracks from our ever-expanding roster of artists."</p><p>Digital-download selections-accessible from www.amazon.com/music-downloads-include songs that are available for the first time anywhere, such as live versions of "If I Had a Boat" and "You Can't Resist It" from Lyle Lovett's new CD, <em>Lyle Lovett Live in Texas</em>, due out June 29; plus "Bear's Gone Fishin'" from Widespread Panic's new CD, <em>'Til the Medicine Takes</em>, due out in August. Along with free song downloads, Amazon.com's digital-download area will offer music fans exclusive features, such as interviews and articles written by artists.</p><p>At launch, the bands and songs available are:</p><pre>Lyle Lovett "If I Had A Boat (Live)" &amp; "You Can't Resist It (Live)"Randy Newman "I'm Dead" &amp; "I Miss You"Cowboy Junkies "I Saw Your Shoes"Pavement "Spit on a Stranger"Robert Cray "All the Way" &amp; "Let Me Know"Elliott Smith "The Enemy Is You" " &amp; "Waltz No. 2"Cheap Trick "Oh Caroline" &amp; "Surrender (Remix)"Widespread Panic "Bear's Gone Fishin'" &amp; "Red Hot Mama"Kelly Willis "Talk Like That" &amp; "Time Has Told Me"Rufus Wainwright "April Fools" &amp; "Foolish Love" Cheryl Wheeler "Sylvia Hotel" &amp; "Beyond the Lights"The Stone Coyotes "Church of the Falling Rain" &amp; "My Little Runaway"Public Enemy "Do You Wanna Go Our Way???"Sarah McLachlan "I Will Remember You (Live)" &amp; "Building a Mystery (Live)"</pre><p>The introduction of the Amazon.com digital-download area follows free digital downloads of songs by Sarah McLachlan in April and Public Enemy in May.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, a complete online provider of health, beauty, wellness, and prescription-drug products, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com.</p><p>About Liquid AudioLiquid Audio is leading the convergence of music and technology to establish the Internet as a new medium for music distribution. Liquid Audio's services and software enable musicians, record labels, and music retailers to deliver professional-quality music digitally via the Internet in many leading formats to many leading music players. Available for free download at www.liquidaudio.com, the Liquid^TM Player software allows consumers to preview and purchase CD-quality music over the Internet from hundreds of music Web sites while protecting artists' copyrights and tracking royalties.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

From Zero To 10 Million In Less Than Four Years: Amazon.com To Pass E-Commerce Milestone Today

/news/news-details/1999/From-Zero-To-10-Million-In-Less-Than-Four-Years-Amazon.com-To-Pass-E-Commerce-Milestone-Today/default.aspx

From-Zero-To-10-Million-In-Less-Than-Four-Years-Amazon.com-To-Pass-E-Commerce-Milestone-Today

06/07/1999 00:00:00

From Zero To 10 Million In Less Than Four Years: Amazon.com To Pass E-Commerce Milestone Today

06/07/1999

1999

Amazon.com set to serve its 10 millionth "Amazonian"; customer base has grown 10 times in 21 months SEATTLE, June 7 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Less than four years after opening on the Internet, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today will become the first e-commerce store to serve its 10 millionth customer. In October 1997, Amazon.com became the first Internet retailer to serve 1 million customers, and its cumulative customer base has grown tenfold in 21 months and is now equivalent to the population of Greece. The 10 million number represents an e-commerce watershed reflecting the appeal of online shopping beyond original techno-savvy buyers to mainstream consumers. "If anyone had predicted in 1995 that we'd have 10 million Amazonians by now, they'd have been locked up as dangerous," said Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. "We certainly didn't expect it, and we're extremely grateful. We're celebrating--but quickly--and taking this opportunity to re-commit ourselves to our customers." Bezos added, "We're especially pleased that one of the significant components of recent customer growth has been auction participants." In honor of all Amazon.com customers, Bezos will personally deliver the goods bought today by an honorary 10 millionth Amazonian. The personalized delivery reflects Amazon.com's roots in 1995 when Bezos would take each day's orders to the post office for delivery to customers. Amazon.com started selling books online in July 1995. In June 1998, when it had about 3 million customers, the company added its music CD store, and five months later, a video store. Amazon.com finished 1998 with 6.2 million customers and since then has launched Amazon.com Auctions and a free electronic greeting card service. Amazon.com Auctions is a business-to-consumer and person-to-person auction site featuring tens of thousands of offerings. The Amazon.com cumulative customer base of 10 million unique customers includes those who have either purchased merchandise from Amazon.com or participated as registered users of Amazon.com Auctions. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, a complete online provider of health, beauty, wellness, and prescription-drug products, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Amazon.com set to serve its 10 millionth "Amazonian"; customer base has grown 10 times in 21 months</p><p>SEATTLE, June 7 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Less than four years after opening on the Internet, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today will become the first e-commerce store to serve its 10 millionth customer.</p><p>In October 1997, Amazon.com became the first Internet retailer to serve 1 million customers, and its cumulative customer base has grown tenfold in 21 months and is now equivalent to the population of Greece.</p><p>The 10 million number represents an e-commerce watershed reflecting the appeal of online shopping beyond original techno-savvy buyers to mainstream consumers.</p><p>"If anyone had predicted in 1995 that we'd have 10 million Amazonians by now, they'd have been locked up as dangerous," said Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. "We certainly didn't expect it, and we're extremely grateful. We're celebrating--but quickly--and taking this opportunity to re-commit ourselves to our customers."</p><p>Bezos added, "We're especially pleased that one of the significant components of recent customer growth has been auction participants."</p><p>In honor of all Amazon.com customers, Bezos will personally deliver the goods bought today by an honorary 10 millionth Amazonian. The personalized delivery reflects Amazon.com's roots in 1995 when Bezos would take each day's orders to the post office for delivery to customers.</p><p>Amazon.com started selling books online in July 1995. In June 1998, when it had about 3 million customers, the company added its music CD store, and five months later, a video store. Amazon.com finished 1998 with 6.2 million customers and since then has launched Amazon.com Auctions and a free electronic greeting card service. Amazon.com Auctions is a business-to-consumer and person-to-person auction site featuring tens of thousands of offerings.</p><p>The Amazon.com cumulative customer base of 10 million unique customers includes those who have either purchased merchandise from Amazon.com or participated as registered users of Amazon.com Auctions.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, a complete online provider of health, beauty, wellness, and prescription-drug products, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Seeks To Protect Its Everyday 50% Discount On New York Times Best Sellers

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Seeks-To-Protect-Its-Everyday-50-Discount-On-New-York-Times-Best-Sellers/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Seeks-To-Protect-Its-Everyday-50-Discount-On-New-York-Times-Best-Sellers

06/04/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Seeks To Protect Its Everyday 50% Discount On New York Times Best Sellers

06/04/1999

1999

SEATTLE, June 4--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), facing threats of legal action from The New York Times, has asked the U.S. District Court in Seattle to allow Amazon.com to continue advertising and selling New York Times Best Sellers at 50% off list price. Amazon.com announced its 50%-off pricing on May 17, and on May 28,The New York Times alleged in a letter to Amazon.com that it was infringing on the newspaper's copyright and trademark by using the list. The New York Times demanded that Amazon.com cease using the list and stop promoting the fact that Amazon.com sells each week's New York Times Best Sellers at an everyday low price of 50% off. (The New York Times is in a book-selling business arrangement with Barnes & Noble.) The New York Times Best Seller list is widely used in the book-selling industry as an indicator of the most popular books being bought nationwide. Book buyers, therefore, can easily use the list to make price comparisons on the bestselling books: If a book is on the list, it is guaranteed to be 50% off at Amazon.com. In its court filing late Thursday, Amazon.com asked for declaratory relief that would allow the company to continue to reference The New York Times' Best Seller lists to promote lower prices for customers. The Amazon.com 50% discount, which is not a sale or short-term promotion but everyday low pricing, applies to hardcover and paperback titles in the Best Seller list's three generic categories: fiction, nonfiction, and miscellaneous--at least 68 titles each week at 50% off. As a result, a hardcover bestseller such as The Century, by Peter Jennings, which lists for $60, sells for just $30.00; Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace, by Terry Brooks, which lists for $25.00, is just $12.50; Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling, regularly lists for $16.95 but is now $8.48; We'll Meet Again, by Mary Higgins Clark, goes from $25.00 to $12.50; Business @ the Speed of Thought: Using a Digital Nervous System, by Bill Gates, from $30.00 to $15.00; and Suzanne Somers' Eat Great, Lose Weight, by Suzanne Somers, from $15.00 to $7.50. Amazon.com customers continue to receive savings of up to 40% on millions of other bestselling and harder-to-find books. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, a complete online provider of health, beauty, wellness, and prescription-drug products, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>SEATTLE, June 4--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), facing threats of legal action from <em>The New York Times</em>, has asked the U.S. District Court in Seattle to allow Amazon.com to continue advertising and selling <em>New York Times</em> Best Sellers at 50% off list price.</p><p>Amazon.com announced its 50%-off pricing on May 17, and on May 28,<em>The New York Times</em> alleged in a letter to Amazon.com that it was infringing on the newspaper's copyright and trademark by using the list. <em>The New York Times</em> demanded that Amazon.com cease using the list and stop promoting the fact that Amazon.com sells each week's <em>New York Times</em> Best Sellers at an everyday low price of 50% off. (<em>The New York Times</em> is in a book-selling business arrangement with Barnes &amp; Noble.)</p><p><em>The New York Times</em> Best Seller list is widely used in the book-selling industry as an indicator of the most popular books being bought nationwide. Book buyers, therefore, can easily use the list to make price comparisons on the bestselling books: If a book is on the list, it is guaranteed to be 50% off at Amazon.com.</p><p>In its court filing late Thursday, Amazon.com asked for declaratory relief that would allow the company to continue to reference <em>The New York Times'</em> Best Seller lists to promote lower prices for customers.</p><p>The Amazon.com 50% discount, which is not a sale or short-term promotion but everyday low pricing, applies to hardcover and paperback titles in the Best Seller list's three generic categories: fiction, nonfiction, and miscellaneous--at least 68 titles each week at 50% off.</p><p>As a result, a hardcover bestseller such as <em>The Century</em>, by Peter Jennings, which lists for $60, sells for just $30.00; <em>Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace</em>, by Terry Brooks, which lists for $25.00, is just $12.50;<em> Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Ston</em>e, by J.K. Rowling, regularly lists for $16.95 but is now $8.48; <em>We'll Meet Again</em>, by Mary Higgins Clark, goes from $25.00 to $12.50; <em>Business @ the Speed of Thought: Using a Digital Nervous System</em>, by Bill Gates, from $30.00 to $15.00; and <em>Suzanne Somers' Eat Great, Lose Weight</em>, by Suzanne Somers, from $15.00 to $7.50.</p><p>Amazon.com customers continue to receive savings of up to 40% on millions of other bestselling and harder-to-find books.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, a complete online provider of health, beauty, wellness, and prescription-drug products, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Hosting Celebrity Charity Auction To Benefit Fight Against Breast Cancer

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Hosting-Celebrity-Charity-Auction-To-Benefit-Fight-Against-Breast-Cancer/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Hosting-Celebrity-Charity-Auction-To-Benefit-Fight-Against-Breast-Cancer

06/04/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Hosting Celebrity Charity Auction To Benefit Fight Against Breast Cancer

06/04/1999

1999

Amazon.com Auctions Joins Harley-Davidson and the American Cancer Society in a Major Celebrity Auction and Rock Concert Fundraiser SEATTLE, June 4--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com Auctions is hosting an online auction of celebrity-signed items as part of the "Rock and Roar for a Cure" fundraiser being held by Harley-Davidson and the American Cancer Society. Rock and Roar for a Cure includes a celebrity auction and rock concert to raise funds for the American Cancer Society to aid in the fight against breast cancer. At Amazon.com Auctions, now through June 14, 1999, collectors and auction enthusiasts can place bids on many items autographed by popular television, soap-opera, and sports celebrities. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. A partial list of items includes: The ultimate Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a 1999 FLSTF Fat Boy Softail, signed by all the celebrities, sports figures, and stars who participate in the event Motorcycle helmet, autographed by Jay Leno Final episode of Mad About You script, signed by various cast members Days of Our Lives script, signed by the entire cast Black-and-white, autographed photo of Leonardo DiCaprio with a calendar Autographed copy of John Grisham's The Testament Autographed photo of Mariah Carey Autographed photo of Denzel Washington Autographed cast photo from Fraiser, signed by the entire cast Autographed photo of Heather Locklear Autographed X-Files movie poster signed by Gillian Anderson Autographed copy of Crystal Waters and Dennis Rodman's recording "Just a Freak" "This is a great opportunity for fans to own items signed by their favorite celebrities and to support a great cause in the process," said Joel Spiegel, vice president and general manager, Amazon.com Auctions. "But get ready to bid, because I have my eye on the Harley." Rock and Roar for a Cure is being held on June 5 in New York City. The evening begins with a celebrity and VIP cocktail party and preauction preview onboard the leisure yacht Diplomat, docked pier-side at the Chelsea Piers. The party will be followed by a celebrity auction event in the Chelsea Pier Park area from 7 to 9 p.m., and will conclude with a summertime Pier concert by Meat Loaf from 9:30 to 11 p.m. Tickets to the auction and concert are available from Ticketmaster for $40, with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. Those who cannot attend the event can go to www.amazon.com/auctions to bid on their favorite celebrity items. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest SelectionTM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, a complete online provider of health, beauty, wellness, and prescription-drug products, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Amazon.com Auctions Joins Harley-Davidson and the American Cancer Society in a Major Celebrity Auction and Rock Concert Fundraiser</p><p>SEATTLE, June 4--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com Auctions is hosting an online auction of celebrity-signed items as part of the "Rock and Roar for a Cure" fundraiser being held by Harley-Davidson and the American Cancer Society. Rock and Roar for a Cure includes a celebrity auction and rock concert to raise funds for the American Cancer Society to aid in the fight against breast cancer.</p><p>At Amazon.com Auctions, now through June 14, 1999, collectors and auction enthusiasts can place bids on many items autographed by popular television, soap-opera, and sports celebrities. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. A partial list of items includes:</p><ul><li>The ultimate Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a 1999 FLSTF Fat Boy Softail, signed by all the celebrities, sports figures, and stars who participate in the event</li><li>Motorcycle helmet, autographed by Jay Leno</li><li>Final episode of <em>Mad About You</em> script, signed by various cast members</li><li><em>Days of Our Lives</em> script, signed by the entire cast</li><li>Black-and-white, autographed photo of Leonardo DiCaprio with a calendar</li><li>Autographed copy of John Grisham's <em>The Testament</em></li><li>Autographed photo of Mariah Carey</li><li>Autographed photo of Denzel Washington</li><li>Autographed cast photo from <em>Fraiser</em>, signed by the entire cast</li><li>Autographed photo of Heather Locklear</li><li>Autographed <em>X-Files</em> movie poster signed by Gillian Anderson</li><li>Autographed copy of Crystal Waters and Dennis Rodman's recording "Just a Freak"</li></ul><p>"This is a great opportunity for fans to own items signed by their favorite celebrities and to support a great cause in the process," said Joel Spiegel, vice president and general manager, Amazon.com Auctions. "But get ready to bid, because I have my eye on the Harley."</p><p>Rock and Roar for a Cure is being held on June 5 in New York City. The evening begins with a celebrity and VIP cocktail party and preauction preview onboard the leisure yacht Diplomat, docked pier-side at the Chelsea Piers. The party will be followed by a celebrity auction event in the Chelsea Pier Park area from 7 to 9 p.m., and will conclude with a summertime Pier concert by Meat Loaf from 9:30 to 11 p.m. Tickets to the auction and concert are available from Ticketmaster for $40, with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. Those who cannot attend the event can go to www.amazon.com/auctions to bid on their favorite celebrity items.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection^TM with free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, and computer-game titles. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where people can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. As part of its efforts to provide the best shopping experience for customers, Amazon.com provides secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. Amazon.com also operates LiveBid.com (www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet.</p><p>In addition, Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: drugstore.com, a complete online provider of health, beauty, wellness, and prescription-drug products, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the largest pet-supply company on the Internet and a valuable source of free information for pet owners, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service, with operations in Seattle and Portland, Oregon, at www.homegrocer.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Selection, Bid-Click and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Gift Store Salutes Dads and Grads

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Gift-Store-Salutes-Dads-and-Grads/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Gift-Store-Salutes-Dads-and-Grads

05/26/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Gift Store Salutes Dads and Grads

05/26/1999

1999

Expanded Gift Store Helps Shoppers Find the Perfect Gifts for All Occasions SEATTLE, May 26, 1999--/PRNewswire/--After pleasing moms around the world, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, continues to expand its Gift Store to provide creative new gift ideas with a unique selection for dads and grads. With one-stop gift shopping, the Amazon.com Gift Store (www.amazon.com/gifts) brings together the best of the best for all occasions. Besides Amazon.com's vast selection of book, video, and music-CD titles, the Gift Store now offers great ideas for dads and grads. Open today, the Dads and Grads Store carries a limited selection of very special gift items that are expected to sell quickly. These items include an autographed Babe Ruth baseball, an autographed Mark McGwire baseball bat, and a pair of boxing gloves signed by Muhammad Ali. Leatherman tools, binoculars, the Palm V, and other outdoor gadgets and business accessories will also be hits this season with both dads and grads. Additional gift ideas from FragranceNet.com, Garden.com, GourmetMarket.com (OTC: BB: WINE), and Proflowers.com are also available at the Amazon.com Gift Store, providing a wide variety of enchanting gifts for all types of Father's Day and graduation celebrations. "The Amazon.com Gift Store is the perfect one-stop shopping solution for all gift-giving occasions," said David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president, product development. "We'll help you find a highly unique and individualized gift that will make it look like you went to all kinds of trouble to find. I wouldn't be at all disappointed to receive a signed Joe DiMaggio Yankees baseball jacket, carefully presented in choice wrapping paper, complete with a personalized note-it's a home run in my book." The Amazon.com Gift Store has doubled in size since its launch in November 1998 and remains focused on helping shoppers find, discover, and buy specially selected gifts for any occasion. Shop by a specific product, interest, age, or occasion, or use the Custom GiftMatcher to find the ideal gift for the person who has it all. Everyday gift ideas are added daily at the Gift Store and include everything from a list of most-wanted gifts to small treasures to videos and puzzles. Amazon.com will gift-wrap purchases and send them directly to recipients. Amazon.com also offers e-mail and traditional paper gift certificates. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Earth's Biggest Selection on the Internet, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Earth's Biggest Selection, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Expanded Gift Store Helps Shoppers Find the Perfect Gifts for All Occasions</p><p>SEATTLE, May 26, 1999--/PRNewswire/--After pleasing moms around the world, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, continues to expand its Gift Store to provide creative new gift ideas with a unique selection for dads and grads.</p><p>With one-stop gift shopping, the Amazon.com Gift Store (www.amazon.com/gifts) brings together the best of the best for all occasions. Besides Amazon.com's vast selection of book, video, and music-CD titles, the Gift Store now offers great ideas for dads and grads.</p><p>Open today, the Dads and Grads Store carries a limited selection of very special gift items that are expected to sell quickly. These items include an autographed Babe Ruth baseball, an autographed Mark McGwire baseball bat, and a pair of boxing gloves signed by Muhammad Ali. Leatherman tools, binoculars, the Palm V, and other outdoor gadgets and business accessories will also be hits this season with both dads and grads. Additional gift ideas from FragranceNet.com, Garden.com, GourmetMarket.com (OTC: BB: WINE), and Proflowers.com are also available at the Amazon.com Gift Store, providing a wide variety of enchanting gifts for all types of Father's Day and graduation celebrations.</p><p>"The Amazon.com Gift Store is the perfect one-stop shopping solution for all gift-giving occasions," said David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president, product development. "We'll help you find a highly unique and individualized gift that will make it look like you went to all kinds of trouble to find. I wouldn't be at all disappointed to receive a signed Joe DiMaggio Yankees baseball jacket, carefully presented in choice wrapping paper, complete with a personalized note-it's a home run in my book."</p><p>The Amazon.com Gift Store has doubled in size since its launch in November 1998 and remains focused on helping shoppers find, discover, and buy specially selected gifts for any occasion. Shop by a specific product, interest, age, or occasion, or use the Custom GiftMatcher to find the ideal gift for the person who has it all. Everyday gift ideas are added daily at the Gift Store and include everything from a list of most-wanted gifts to small treasures to videos and puzzles. Amazon.com will gift-wrap purchases and send them directly to recipients. Amazon.com also offers e-mail and traditional paper gift certificates.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Earth's Biggest Selection on the Internet, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Earth's Biggest Selection, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Melrose Place Series Finale Items Up for Auction Only at Amazon.com

/news/news-details/1999/Melrose-Place-Series-Finale-Items-Up-for-Auction-Only-at-Amazon.com/default.aspx

Melrose-Place-Series-Finale-Items-Up-for-Auction-Only-at-Amazon.com

05/25/1999 00:00:00

Melrose Place Series Finale Items Up for Auction Only at Amazon.com

05/25/1999

1999

Fans Can Now Bid on and Own Items from the Last Episode of Melrose Place; Auction Benefits Two Great Charities, Courtesy of Spelling Television, ARTISTdirect, and Amazon.com Auctions SEATTLE, May 25--/PRNewswire/--Last night, one of TV's hottest series of the 1990s came to an end, and today, fans can bid on items from the unforgettable and historic last Melrose Place episode at Amazon.com Auctions (NASDAQ: AMZN), the exclusive site for this unique online charity auction of memorabilia from a major television series. An unveiling of the finale items took place last night at the Beverly Hills Planet Hollywood during a special viewing party with fans and Melrose Place cast members, Thomas Calabro (Michael Mancini), Kelly Rutherford (Megan Lewis), Jamie Luner (Lexi Sterling), and Rena Sofer (Eve Cleary). Immediately after the airing of the last episode on FOX at 9 p.m. PDT, the following items opened for bidding at www.amazon.com/auctions: Amanda and Peter's ashes; Amanda's heart-shaped locket given to her by Kyle; a black Bible used by the preacher marrying Lexi and Michael; a picture of an ultrasound of Jane and Michael's baby; the baby mobile Kyle hung in the nursery; Lexi's license plate from her Jaguar used by Eve to run over Peter and Amanda; Peter and Eve's dissolution-of-marriage paperwork, signed by Jack Wagner; Amanda and Kyle's judgment of divorce, signed by Heather Locklear; and a set of scripts from every Melrose Place episode, including the finale. Special items, most signed by the cast, have also been added to the auction. These items include the first script when Amanda Woodward joined Melrose Place, signed by Locklear; Megan's dress from her wedding to Ryan; Jake and Alison's marriage certificate; Amanda and Peter's marriage certificate, signed by Jack Wagner; a signed script by the cast from the final season; cast photos signed by Aaron Spelling; as well as other signed scripts and legal documents. Bidding for all Melrose Place items closes on May 27, 1999. "We're delighted to give our fans a chance to have something from our most exhilarating episode ever," said Aaron Spelling, executive producer of Melrose Place. "We worked very hard to make the Melrose Place good-bye one that our fans would never forget." "We're excited be offering these wonderful pieces of TV history while welcoming Melrose Place fans into the Amazon.com Auctions community," said Joel Spiegel, vice president and general manager, Amazon.com Auctions. "We expect that these very historic and special Melrose Place auction items will be cherished by the winning bidders." Visitors to the Melrose Place auction site can also click to www.melroseplace.com to register to win the original Melrose Place apartment complex sign and other exciting prizes. The auction is a collaboration among Amazon.com Auctions; Spelling Television and its merchandising division, Hamilton Projects; and ARTISTdirect. More than 200 original wardrobe items, props, and furnishings from Melrose Place opened for bidding on Amazon.com Auctions the evening of May 17. Net proceeds of the 10-day online charity auction will benefit the American Cancer Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About Melrose Place and Spelling TelevisionMelrose Place is produced by Spelling Television, Inc. Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, Charles Pratt Jr., and Carol Mendelsohn are the executive producers. James Kahn is the coexecutive producer. Peter Dunne is the supervising producer and Heather Locklear is the coproducer. Spelling Television is a division of Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc. (NYSE, PE: SP), a leading producer and distributor of television and film entertainment. In addition to Spelling Television, the company comprises Big Ticket Television, Worldvision Enterprises, and Hamilton Projects. The company has 11 series in production for the 1998/99 season and, through its combined libraries, controls approximately 10,000 hours of programming for worldwide distribution. Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIAb) owns approximately 80 percent of Spelling's common stock. About ARTISTdirectARTISTdirect (www.artistdirect.com) has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with superstar artists, including the Beastie Boys (www.beastieboysdirect.com), Beck (www.beckdirect.com), Korn (www.korndirect.com), the Rolling Stones (www.stonesdirect.com), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (www.tompettydirect.com), and many others. ARTISTdirect Entertainment Division has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with DreamWorks, MGM Studios USA, Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc., and others. The ARTISTdirect network, the ultimate music destination on the Web, comprises UBL.com (the Ultimate Band List), the only music-specific search engine; iMusic, the premier music-community site on the Web; and ARTISTdirect Superstores, retail centers for leading brands and entertainment properties. About Planet HollywoodPlanet Hollywood is a creator and worldwide developer of consumer brands that capitalize on the universal appeal of movies, sports, music, and other leisure-time activities. The Company's worldwide operations offer products and services in the retail, leisure, entertainment, and lodging sectors. Planet Hollywood International, Inc.'s Class A common stock is listed under the symbol "PHL" on the New York Stock Exchange.

<p>Fans Can Now Bid on and Own Items from the Last Episode of <em>Melrose Place</em>; Auction Benefits Two Great Charities, Courtesy of Spelling Television, ARTISTdirect, and Amazon.com Auctions</p><p>SEATTLE, May 25--/PRNewswire/--Last night, one of TV's hottest series of the 1990s came to an end, and today, fans can bid on items from the unforgettable and historic last <em>Melrose Place</em> episode at Amazon.com Auctions (NASDAQ: AMZN), the exclusive site for this unique online charity auction of memorabilia from a major television series.</p><p>An unveiling of the finale items took place last night at the Beverly Hills Planet Hollywood during a special viewing party with fans and <em>Melrose Place</em> cast members, Thomas Calabro (Michael Mancini), Kelly Rutherford (Megan Lewis), Jamie Luner (Lexi Sterling), and Rena Sofer (Eve Cleary). Immediately after the airing of the last episode on FOX at 9 p.m. PDT, the following items opened for bidding at www.amazon.com/auctions: Amanda and Peter's ashes; Amanda's heart-shaped locket given to her by Kyle; a black Bible used by the preacher marrying Lexi and Michael; a picture of an ultrasound of Jane and Michael's baby; the baby mobile Kyle hung in the nursery; Lexi's license plate from her Jaguar used by Eve to run over Peter and Amanda; Peter and Eve's dissolution-of-marriage paperwork, signed by Jack Wagner; Amanda and Kyle's judgment of divorce, signed by Heather Locklear; and a set of scripts from every <em>Melrose Place</em> episode, including the finale.</p><p>Special items, most signed by the cast, have also been added to the auction. These items include the first script when Amanda Woodward joined <em>Melrose Place</em>, signed by Locklear; Megan's dress from her wedding to Ryan; Jake and Alison's marriage certificate; Amanda and Peter's marriage certificate, signed by Jack Wagner; a signed script by the cast from the final season; cast photos signed by Aaron Spelling; as well as other signed scripts and legal documents. Bidding for all <em>Melrose Place</em> items closes on May 27, 1999.</p><p>"We're delighted to give our fans a chance to have something from our most exhilarating episode ever," said Aaron Spelling, executive producer of <em>Melrose Place</em>. "We worked very hard to make the <em>Melrose Place</em> good-bye one that our fans would never forget."</p><p>"We're excited be offering these wonderful pieces of TV history while welcoming <em>Melrose Place</em> fans into the Amazon.com Auctions community," said Joel Spiegel, vice president and general manager, Amazon.com Auctions. "We expect that these very historic and special <em>Melrose Place</em> auction items will be cherished by the winning bidders."</p><p>Visitors to the <em>Melrose Place</em> auction site can also click to www.melroseplace.com to register to win the original <em>Melrose Place</em> apartment complex sign and other exciting prizes.</p><p>The auction is a collaboration among Amazon.com Auctions; Spelling Television and its merchandising division, Hamilton Projects; and ARTISTdirect. More than 200 original wardrobe items, props, and furnishings from <em>Melrose Place</em> opened for bidding on Amazon.com Auctions the evening of May 17. Net proceeds of the 10-day online charity auction will benefit the American Cancer Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About <em>Melrose Place</em> and Spelling Television<em>Melrose Place</em> is produced by Spelling Television, Inc. Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, Charles Pratt Jr., and Carol Mendelsohn are the executive producers. James Kahn is the coexecutive producer. Peter Dunne is the supervising producer and Heather Locklear is the coproducer.</p><p>Spelling Television is a division of Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc. (NYSE, PE: SP), a leading producer and distributor of television and film entertainment. In addition to Spelling Television, the company comprises Big Ticket Television, Worldvision Enterprises, and Hamilton Projects. The company has 11 series in production for the 1998/99 season and, through its combined libraries, controls approximately 10,000 hours of programming for worldwide distribution. Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIAb) owns approximately 80 percent of Spelling's common stock.</p><p>About ARTISTdirectARTISTdirect (www.artistdirect.com) has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with superstar artists, including the Beastie Boys (www.beastieboysdirect.com), Beck (www.beckdirect.com), Korn (www.korndirect.com), the Rolling Stones (www.stonesdirect.com), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (www.tompettydirect.com), and many others. ARTISTdirect Entertainment Division has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with DreamWorks, MGM Studios USA, Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc., and others. The ARTISTdirect network, the ultimate music destination on the Web, comprises UBL.com (the Ultimate Band List), the only music-specific search engine; iMusic, the premier music-community site on the Web; and ARTISTdirect Superstores, retail centers for leading brands and entertainment properties.</p><p>About Planet HollywoodPlanet Hollywood is a creator and worldwide developer of consumer brands that capitalize on the universal appeal of movies, sports, music, and other leisure-time activities. The Company's worldwide operations offer products and services in the retail, leisure, entertainment, and lodging sectors. Planet Hollywood International, Inc.'s Class A common stock is listed under the symbol "PHL" on the New York Stock Exchange.</p>

Amazon.com to Open Two Kentucky Distribution Centers to Meet Rapid Growth

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-to-Open-Two-Kentucky-Distribution-Centers-to-Meet-Rapid-Growth/default.aspx

Amazon.com-to-Open-Two-Kentucky-Distribution-Centers-to-Meet-Rapid-Growth

05/25/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com to Open Two Kentucky Distribution Centers to Meet Rapid Growth

05/25/1999

1999

Customers to benefit from faster shipping times, greater availability thanks to new Campbellsville and Lexington distribution centers SEATTLE, May 25, 1999--PRNewswire--As part of its ongoing commitment to continually enhance service to customers, leading online retailer Amazon.com has obtained two distribution facilities located in Kentucky--one in Campbellsville and one in Lexington--that will allow the company to reduce standard shipping times to key markets in the Midwestern United States. Amazon.com's Kentucky distribution centers will play an integral role in the company's overall global logistics strategy and are part of the company's effort to develop a significant distribution infrastructure to provide Amazon.com customers nationwide and around the world with fast, reliable shipping that comes directly from the company. The Campbellsville and Lexington distribution centers will allow Amazon.com, the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No. 1 book retailer, to significantly increase the number of books, CDs, videos, and other products kept on hand for immediate shipment to customers. The existing 570,000-square-foot Campbellsville facility will be expanded to approximately 770,000 square feet this year. The Lexington facility has a capacity of 600,000 square feet. The result of Amazon.com's leasing of the Campbellsville and Lexington facilities is that customers in such places as Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis will receive their orders much faster, thanks to greater availability, quicker processing, and shorter delivery times. "With the addition of our Kentucky distribution centers to our supply chain network, Amazon.com continues to deepen our inventory for fast, reliable shipments by a team of dedicated Amazon.com professionals," said Jimmy Wright, Amazon.com Inc.'s chief logistics officer. "At Amazon.com, our distribution center associates are the last people to touch an order before it reaches our customers--that's why we do our own shipping. When it comes to our customers, we don't take any chances." Both Kentucky facilities give Amazon.com distribution capability that will help the company better serve its customers. The Campbellsville facility is located in central Kentucky, approximately 90 miles south of Louisville. The current tenant, Fruit of the Loom, is transitioning its business operations out of the building. The facility will be leased by Amazon.com and is expected to begin operations by the end of the third quarter of 1999. Terms of the lease were not disclosed. The Lexington facility is being vacated by the W.T. Young Storage Company. It will be leased by Amazon.com and is expected to begin operations by the end of the third quarter of 1999. Terms of the lease were not disclosed. Amazon.com expects its Campbellsville facility to employ 500 people within a few months of operation and as many as 1,000 within two years. The Lexington facility will employ more than 200 people within a few months of operation and as many as 500 within two years. Campbellsville Open HouseAmazon.com will have recruiters at the Campbellsville Department of Employment Services for an open house on Tuesday, June 1; Wednesday, June 2; and Thursday, June 3, to answer questions, accept résumés, and conduct prescheduled information sessions. The hours of the open house are as follows: Tuesday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The company is accepting résumés for a variety of positions, including distribution center associates, operations managers, human resources manager, facilities manager, and area managers. In addition, the company has established a toll-free job line at (877) 975-4273 and will take applications by e-mail at camjobs@amazon.com and respond to questions via e-mail at camquestions@amazon.com. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the Campbellsville Department of Employment Services from May 25 to June 1 to fill out an application, learn more about the open house, and be prescreened for a scheduled information session at the open house. Lexington Open HouseAmazon.com will have recruiters at its Lexington facility for an open house on Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6, to receive applications. The hours of the open house are as follows: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The company is accepting résumés for a variety of positions, including distribution center associates, operations managers, human resources manager, facilities manager, and area managers. In addition, the company has established a toll-free job line at (877) 975-4273 and will take applications by e-mail at lexjobs@amazon.com and respond to questions via e-mail at lexquestions@amazon.com. These are the fourth and fifth major, regionally targeted increases in Amazon.com's distribution capability. In April 1999 the company announced that it had leased a facility that will be expanded to more than 750,000 square feet in Coffeyville, Kansas. In January 1999 the company announced that it had obtained a 322,560-square-foot facility in Fernley, Nevada, outside Reno. In November 1997 the company opened a 202,000-square-foot center in New Castle, Delaware, outside Philadelphia. The company's Seattle distribution center has 93,000 square feet of space. The Campbellsville and Lexington distribution centers will be operated by MGB, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN). About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc., the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer with Earth's Biggest Selection, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Customers to benefit from faster shipping times, greater availability thanks to new Campbellsville and Lexington distribution centers</p><p>SEATTLE, May 25, 1999--PRNewswire--As part of its ongoing commitment to continually enhance service to customers, leading online retailer Amazon.com has obtained two distribution facilities located in Kentucky--one in Campbellsville and one in Lexington--that will allow the company to reduce standard shipping times to key markets in the Midwestern United States.</p><p>Amazon.com's Kentucky distribution centers will play an integral role in the company's overall global logistics strategy and are part of the company's effort to develop a significant distribution infrastructure to provide Amazon.com customers nationwide and around the world with fast, reliable shipping that comes directly from the company.</p><p>The Campbellsville and Lexington distribution centers will allow Amazon.com, the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No. 1 book retailer, to significantly increase the number of books, CDs, videos, and other products kept on hand for immediate shipment to customers. The existing 570,000-square-foot Campbellsville facility will be expanded to approximately 770,000 square feet this year. The Lexington facility has a capacity of 600,000 square feet.</p><p>The result of Amazon.com's leasing of the Campbellsville and Lexington facilities is that customers in such places as Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis will receive their orders much faster, thanks to greater availability, quicker processing, and shorter delivery times.</p><p>"With the addition of our Kentucky distribution centers to our supply chain network, Amazon.com continues to deepen our inventory for fast, reliable shipments by a team of dedicated Amazon.com professionals," said Jimmy Wright, Amazon.com Inc.'s chief logistics officer. "At Amazon.com, our distribution center associates are the last people to touch an order before it reaches our customers--that's why we do our own shipping. When it comes to our customers, we don't take any chances."</p><p>Both Kentucky facilities give Amazon.com distribution capability that will help the company better serve its customers. The Campbellsville facility is located in central Kentucky, approximately 90 miles south of Louisville. The current tenant, Fruit of the Loom, is transitioning its business operations out of the building. The facility will be leased by Amazon.com and is expected to begin operations by the end of the third quarter of 1999. Terms of the lease were not disclosed. The Lexington facility is being vacated by the W.T. Young Storage Company. It will be leased by Amazon.com and is expected to begin operations by the end of the third quarter of 1999. Terms of the lease were not disclosed.</p><p>Amazon.com expects its Campbellsville facility to employ 500 people within a few months of operation and as many as 1,000 within two years. The Lexington facility will employ more than 200 people within a few months of operation and as many as 500 within two years.</p><p>Campbellsville Open HouseAmazon.com will have recruiters at the Campbellsville Department of Employment Services for an open house on Tuesday, June 1; Wednesday, June 2; and Thursday, June 3, to answer questions, accept résumés, and conduct prescheduled information sessions. The hours of the open house are as follows: Tuesday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The company is accepting résumés for a variety of positions, including distribution center associates, operations managers, human resources manager, facilities manager, and area managers. In addition, the company has established a toll-free job line at (877) 975-4273 and will take applications by e-mail at camjobs@amazon.com and respond to questions via e-mail at camquestions@amazon.com.</p><p>Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the Campbellsville Department of Employment Services from May 25 to June 1 to fill out an application, learn more about the open house, and be prescreened for a scheduled information session at the open house.</p><p>Lexington Open HouseAmazon.com will have recruiters at its Lexington facility for an open house on Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6, to receive applications. The hours of the open house are as follows: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The company is accepting résumés for a variety of positions, including distribution center associates, operations managers, human resources manager, facilities manager, and area managers. In addition, the company has established a toll-free job line at (877) 975-4273 and will take applications by e-mail at lexjobs@amazon.com and respond to questions via e-mail at lexquestions@amazon.com.</p><p>These are the fourth and fifth major, regionally targeted increases in Amazon.com's distribution capability. In April 1999 the company announced that it had leased a facility that will be expanded to more than 750,000 square feet in Coffeyville, Kansas. In January 1999 the company announced that it had obtained a 322,560-square-foot facility in Fernley, Nevada, outside Reno. In November 1997 the company opened a 202,000-square-foot center in New Castle, Delaware, outside Philadelphia. The company's Seattle distribution center has 93,000 square feet of space.</p><p>The Campbellsville and Lexington distribution centers will be operated by MGB, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN).</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc., the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer with Earth's Biggest Selection, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Files Shelf Registration Statement

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Files-Shelf-Registration-Statement/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Files-Shelf-Registration-Statement

05/19/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Files Shelf Registration Statement

05/19/1999

1999

SEATTLE, May 18, 1999--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that it is has filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission which will permit the company, from time to time, to offer and sell various types of securities, up to a total value of $2 billion. The company filed the registration statement to gain additional flexibility in accessing the capital markets. Any offer of securities pursuant to the registration statement will be made only by means of a prospectus. Securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc., the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer with Earth's Biggest Selection, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>SEATTLE, May 18, 1999--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that it is has filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission which will permit the company, from time to time, to offer and sell various types of securities, up to a total value of $2 billion. The company filed the registration statement to gain additional flexibility in accessing the capital markets.</p><p>Any offer of securities pursuant to the registration statement will be made only by means of a prospectus. Securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc., the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer with Earth's Biggest Selection, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com S-3 Registration Statement

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-S-3-Registration-Statement/default.aspx

Amazon.com-S-3-Registration-Statement

05/18/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com S-3 Registration Statement

05/18/1999

1999

SEATTLE, May 18, 1999--/PRNewswire/--On May 18, 1999, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) announced that the Registration Statement on Form S-3, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register the 4 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes and the underlying common stock of Amazon.com into which the notes are convertible, was declared effective on May 18, 1999. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc., the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer with Earth's Biggest Selection, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>SEATTLE, May 18, 1999--/PRNewswire/--On May 18, 1999, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) announced that the Registration Statement on Form S-3, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register the 4 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes and the underlying common stock of Amazon.com into which the notes are convertible, was declared effective on May 18, 1999.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc., the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer with Earth's Biggest Selection, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Announces Minority Investment in HomeGrocer.com

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Announces-Minority-Investment-in-HomeGrocer.com/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Announces-Minority-Investment-in-HomeGrocer.com

05/18/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Announces Minority Investment in HomeGrocer.com

05/18/1999

1999

SEATTLE, May 18, 1999-/PRNewswire/-Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, has acquired a significant minority interest in HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery shopping and home delivery service, the companies announced today. "The HomeGrocer.com team is literally changing the lives of customers by taking the drudgery out of grocery shopping," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "They have a fanatical eye for the customer experience. Their shoppers pick out better produce than I could for myself. The delivery people refuse to be tipped. The company really has an unusual attention to detail." "HomeGrocer.com is passionate about customer service, and the involvement of Amazon.com underscores our high standards," said Terry Drayton, cofounder and CEO of HomeGrocer.com (www.homegrocer.com). "Amazon.com is the most respected and customer-focused e-commerce company and has set new standards for customer service, privacy, and the integrity of the shopping experience. We are excited to gain valuable knowledge and insight from them." As a result of the investment, David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president for product development, will serve on the HomeGrocer.com board of directors. Amazon.com's $42.5 million investment gives it a 35 percent stake in HomeGrocer.com and allows the online grocer, which serves customers in the Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, areas, to accelerate its national rollout. The 35 percent stake is based on shares issued and outstanding as of April 30, 1999, and is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Bellevue, Washington-based HomeGrocer.com was established in March 1998 and offers more than 11,000 grocery items to meet weekly shopping needs, including name brands, fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy products, and specialty foods, such as ethnic, natural, and organic. The company stocks its own private facilities and delivers directly to customers' homes with a fleet of temperature-controlled vehicles and friendly, professional drivers. HomeGrocer.com offers free deliveries for orders of more than $75 and a 100-percent-satisfaction guarantee. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc., the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer with Earth's Biggest Selection, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>SEATTLE, May 18, 1999-/PRNewswire/-Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, has acquired a significant minority interest in HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery shopping and home delivery service, the companies announced today.</p><p>"The HomeGrocer.com team is literally changing the lives of customers by taking the drudgery out of grocery shopping," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "They have a fanatical eye for the customer experience. Their shoppers pick out better produce than I could for myself. The delivery people refuse to be tipped. The company really has an unusual attention to detail."</p><p>"HomeGrocer.com is passionate about customer service, and the involvement of Amazon.com underscores our high standards," said Terry Drayton, cofounder and CEO of HomeGrocer.com (www.homegrocer.com). "Amazon.com is the most respected and customer-focused e-commerce company and has set new standards for customer service, privacy, and the integrity of the shopping experience. We are excited to gain valuable knowledge and insight from them."</p><p>As a result of the investment, David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president for product development, will serve on the HomeGrocer.com board of directors.</p><p>Amazon.com's $42.5 million investment gives it a 35 percent stake in HomeGrocer.com and allows the online grocer, which serves customers in the Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon, areas, to accelerate its national rollout. The 35 percent stake is based on shares issued and outstanding as of April 30, 1999, and is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.</p><p>Bellevue, Washington-based HomeGrocer.com was established in March 1998 and offers more than 11,000 grocery items to meet weekly shopping needs, including name brands, fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy products, and specialty foods, such as ethnic, natural, and organic. The company stocks its own private facilities and delivers directly to customers' homes with a fleet of temperature-controlled vehicles and friendly, professional drivers. HomeGrocer.com offers free deliveries for orders of more than $75 and a 100-percent-satisfaction guarantee.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc., the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer with Earth's Biggest Selection, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer free electronic greeting cards, online auctions, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology, and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Bidding Begins for Melrose Place Memorabilia on Amazon.com Auctions

/news/news-details/1999/Bidding-Begins-for-Melrose-Place-Memorabilia-on-Amazon.com-Auctions/default.aspx

Bidding-Begins-for-Melrose-Place-Memorabilia-on-Amazon.com-Auctions

05/18/1999 00:00:00

Bidding Begins for Melrose Place Memorabilia on Amazon.com Auctions

05/18/1999

1999

Fans Can Now Own Melrose Place Memories and Benefit Two Great Charities, Courtesy of Spelling Television, ARTISTdirect, and Amazon.com Auctions SEATTLE, May 18-With the series finale of Melrose Place less than one week away, wardrobe, props, and furnishings used in the hit FOX Broadcasting Corporation television show, produced by Spelling Television, are now open for bidding at Amazon.com Auctions (NASDAQ: AMZN), the exclusive auction site for this unique online charity auction of memorabilia from a major television series. The items up for bid include furniture and props from Amanda Woodward's bedroom and office, Lexi Sterling's lingerie, Billy Campbell's blue bomber jacket, the wedding dress Alison Parker wore when she skipped out on Billy, and many other original items from the set of Melrose Place. Fans can go to www.amazon.com/auctions to place bids on hundreds of items. Melrose Place completes its seventh and final season on FOX on May 24, 1999 (8:00 to 9:00 p.m. PDT/EDT). The auction is part of the series' farewell celebration that includes Melrose Place parties at regional Planet Hollywood restaurants nationwide. Net proceeds of the 10-day online charity auction will benefit the American Cancer Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. "We hope all of our fans get something, whether it's big or small, so they can keep a piece of Melrose Place," Aaron Spelling, executive producer, said. "And most of all, they will help the two charities that will benefit from this auction." "It's easy and fun for everyone to bid on and even win something they'll cherish forever," said Joel Spiegel, general manager, Amazon.com Auctions. "This is a unique opportunity for Melrose fans worldwide to come on line and bid to own a piece of television history." Visitors to the Melrose auction site can also click to www.melroseplace.com to register to win the original Melrose Place apartment complex sign and other exciting prizes. Bidding for most items will conclude on May 24 and 25. Immediately after the series finale comes to a surprise ending, a special auction, including items from the final episode, will become available for bidding (after 9:00 p.m. PDT/12:00 a.m. EDT) and will close on May 27, 1999. The auction is a collaboration among Amazon.com Auctions; Spelling Television and its merchandising division, Hamilton Projects; and ARTISTdirect. FOX and Planet Hollywood are celebrating the series finale with special parties at regional Planet Hollywood locations across the country. In addition, many Melrose Place auction items will be on display at each Planet Hollywood leading up to the series finale. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About Melrose Place and Spelling TelevisionMelrose Place is produced by Spelling Television, Inc. Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, Charles Pratt Jr., and Carol Mendelsohn are the executive producers. James Kahn is the coexecutive producer. Peter Dunne is the supervising producer and Heather Locklear is the coproducer. Spelling Television is a division of Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc. (NYSE, PE: SP), a leading producer and distributor of television and film entertainment. In addition to Spelling Television, the company comprises Big Ticket Television, Worldvision Enterprises, and Hamilton Projects. The company has 11 series in production for the 1998/99 season and, through its combined libraries, controls approximately 10,000 hours of programming for worldwide distribution. Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIAb) owns approximately 80 percent of Spelling's common stock. About ARTISTdirectARTISTdirect (www.artistdirect.com) has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with superstar artists, including the Beastie Boys (www.beastieboysdirect.com), Beck (www.beckdirect.com), Korn (www.korndirect.com), the Rolling Stones (www.stonesdirect.com), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (www.tompettydirect.com), and many others. ARTISTdirect Entertainment Division has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with DreamWorks, MGM Studios USA, Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc., and others. The ARTISTdirect network, the ultimate music destination on the Web, comprises UBL.com (the Ultimate Band List), the only music-specific search engine; iMusic, the premier music-community site on the Web; and ARTISTdirect Superstores, retail centers for leading brands and entertainment properties. About Planet HollywoodPlanet Hollywood is a creator and worldwide developer of consumer brands that capitalize on the universal appeal of movies, sports, music, and other leisure-time activities. The Company's worldwide operations offer products and services in the retail, leisure, entertainment, and lodging sectors. Planet Hollywood International, Inc.'s Class A common stock is listed under the symbol "PHL" on the New York Stock Exchange.

<p>Fans Can Now Own Melrose Place Memories and Benefit Two Great Charities, Courtesy of Spelling Television, ARTISTdirect, and Amazon.com Auctions</p><p>SEATTLE, May 18-With the series finale of Melrose Place less than one week away, wardrobe, props, and furnishings used in the hit FOX Broadcasting Corporation television show, produced by Spelling Television, are now open for bidding at Amazon.com Auctions (NASDAQ: AMZN), the exclusive auction site for this unique online charity auction of memorabilia from a major television series.</p><p>The items up for bid include furniture and props from Amanda Woodward's bedroom and office, Lexi Sterling's lingerie, Billy Campbell's blue bomber jacket, the wedding dress Alison Parker wore when she skipped out on Billy, and many other original items from the set of Melrose Place. Fans can go to www.amazon.com/auctions to place bids on hundreds of items.</p><p>Melrose Place completes its seventh and final season on FOX on May 24, 1999 (8:00 to 9:00 p.m. PDT/EDT). The auction is part of the series' farewell celebration that includes Melrose Place parties at regional Planet Hollywood restaurants nationwide. Net proceeds of the 10-day online charity auction will benefit the American Cancer Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.</p><p>"We hope all of our fans get something, whether it's big or small, so they can keep a piece of Melrose Place," Aaron Spelling, executive producer, said. "And most of all, they will help the two charities that will benefit from this auction."</p><p>"It's easy and fun for everyone to bid on and even win something they'll cherish forever," said Joel Spiegel, general manager, Amazon.com Auctions. "This is a unique opportunity for Melrose fans worldwide to come on line and bid to own a piece of television history."</p><p>Visitors to the Melrose auction site can also click to www.melroseplace.com to register to win the original Melrose Place apartment complex sign and other exciting prizes.</p><p>Bidding for most items will conclude on May 24 and 25. Immediately after the series finale comes to a surprise ending, a special auction, including items from the final episode, will become available for bidding (after 9:00 p.m. PDT/12:00 a.m. EDT) and will close on May 27, 1999.</p><p>The auction is a collaboration among Amazon.com Auctions; Spelling Television and its merchandising division, Hamilton Projects; and ARTISTdirect. FOX and Planet Hollywood are celebrating the series finale with special parties at regional Planet Hollywood locations across the country. In addition, many Melrose Place auction items will be on display at each Planet Hollywood leading up to the series finale.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About Melrose Place and Spelling TelevisionMelrose Place is produced by Spelling Television, Inc. Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, Charles Pratt Jr., and Carol Mendelsohn are the executive producers. James Kahn is the coexecutive producer. Peter Dunne is the supervising producer and Heather Locklear is the coproducer.</p><p>Spelling Television is a division of Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc. (NYSE, PE: SP), a leading producer and distributor of television and film entertainment. In addition to Spelling Television, the company comprises Big Ticket Television, Worldvision Enterprises, and Hamilton Projects. The company has 11 series in production for the 1998/99 season and, through its combined libraries, controls approximately 10,000 hours of programming for worldwide distribution. Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIAb) owns approximately 80 percent of Spelling's common stock.</p><p>About ARTISTdirectARTISTdirect (www.artistdirect.com) has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with superstar artists, including the Beastie Boys (www.beastieboysdirect.com), Beck (www.beckdirect.com), Korn (www.korndirect.com), the Rolling Stones (www.stonesdirect.com), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (www.tompettydirect.com), and many others. ARTISTdirect Entertainment Division has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with DreamWorks, MGM Studios USA, Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc., and others. The ARTISTdirect network, the ultimate music destination on the Web, comprises UBL.com (the Ultimate Band List), the only music-specific search engine; iMusic, the premier music-community site on the Web; and ARTISTdirect Superstores, retail centers for leading brands and entertainment properties.</p><p>About Planet HollywoodPlanet Hollywood is a creator and worldwide developer of consumer brands that capitalize on the universal appeal of movies, sports, music, and other leisure-time activities. The Company's worldwide operations offer products and services in the retail, leisure, entertainment, and lodging sectors. Planet Hollywood International, Inc.'s Class A common stock is listed under the symbol "PHL" on the New York Stock Exchange.</p>

Amazon.com Makes the New York Times Bestsellers Even Better with an Everyday 50% Discount

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Makes-the-New-York-Times-Bestsellers-Even-Better-with-an-Everyday-50-Discount/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Makes-the-New-York-Times-Bestsellers-Even-Better-with-an-Everyday-50-Discount

05/17/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Makes the New York Times Bestsellers Even Better with an Everyday 50% Discount

05/17/1999

1999

Customers to Save Even More on Bestselling Fiction, Nonfiction, and Advice/How-to Hardcover and Paperback Titles SEATTLE, May 17--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the No. 1 online retailer, today began an everyday 50% discount on every book on the New York Times bestseller list. The move means that Amazon.com customers will receive 50% off list prices for the most popular books in the country. Amazon.com will continue to offer savings up to 40% on millions of other bestselling and harder-to-find books. "This is not a sale, this is not a promotion-this is everyday low pricing," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "At Amazon.com we've never asked customers to choose between low prices and great service-we give them both." Each week, Amazon.com will update its pricing based on the latest New York Times bestseller list, a familiar measure of the books people are buying in stores nationwide. The 50% discount applies to hardcover and paperback titles in the list's three categories: fiction, nonfiction, and advice/how-to/miscellaneous-at least 68 titles each week at 50% off. Now a hardcover bestseller such as The Century, by Peter Jennings, which lists for $60, sells for just $30.00; East of the Mountains, by David Guterson, lists for $25, but Amazon.com sells it for $12.50; Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling, regularly lists for $16.95 but is now $8.48; We'll Meet Again, by Mary Higgins Clark, goes from $25.00 to $12.50; and Business @ the Speed of Thought: Using a Digital Nervous System, by Bill Gates, from $30.00 to $15.00. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Earth's Biggest Selection on the Internet, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Earth's Biggest Selection, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Customers to Save Even More on Bestselling Fiction, Nonfiction, and Advice/How-to Hardcover and Paperback Titles</p><p>SEATTLE, May 17--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the No. 1 online retailer, today began an everyday 50% discount on every book on the <em>New York Times</em> bestseller list.</p><p>The move means that Amazon.com customers will receive 50% off list prices for the most popular books in the country. Amazon.com will continue to offer savings up to 40% on millions of other bestselling and harder-to-find books.</p><p>"This is not a sale, this is not a promotion-this is everyday low pricing," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "At Amazon.com we've never asked customers to choose between low prices and great service-we give them both."</p><p>Each week, Amazon.com will update its pricing based on the latest <em>New York Times</em> bestseller list, a familiar measure of the books people are buying in stores nationwide. The 50% discount applies to hardcover and paperback titles in the list's three categories: fiction, nonfiction, and advice/how-to/miscellaneous-at least 68 titles each week at 50% off.</p><p>Now a hardcover bestseller such as <em>The Century</em>, by Peter Jennings, which lists for $60, sells for just $30.00; <em>East of the Mountains</em>, by David Guterson, lists for $25, but Amazon.com sells it for $12.50; <em>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</em>, by J.K. Rowling, regularly lists for $16.95 but is now $8.48; <em>We'll Meet Again</em>, by Mary Higgins Clark, goes from $25.00 to $12.50; and <em>Business @ the Speed of Thought: Using a Digital Nervous System</em>, by Bill Gates, from $30.00 to $15.00.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), Earth's Biggest Selection on the Internet, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Earth's Biggest Selection, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Auctions and Spelling Television Give Fans a Chance to Own a Piece of Melrose Place

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Auctions-and-Spelling-Television-Give-Fans-a-Chance-to-Own-a-Piece-of-Melrose-Place/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Auctions-and-Spelling-Television-Give-Fans-a-Chance-to-Own-a-Piece-of-Melrose-Place

05/12/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Auctions and Spelling Television Give Fans a Chance to Own a Piece of Melrose Place

05/12/1999

1999

One-of-a-Kind Items from the Hit Show Now on Display; Spelling Television, FOX, Planet Hollywood, ARTISTdirect, and Amazon.com Join Forces in Charity Auction SEATTLE, May 12--/PRNewswire/-- Setting the stage for the series finale of Melrose Place, wardrobe, props, and furnishings used in the hit FOX Broadcasting Company television show, produced by Spelling Television, are now on display at Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the exclusive auction site for this unique online charity auction of memorabilia from a major television series. The items now on view include former Melrose Place resident hunk Jake Hanson's black leather boots and the wedding dress that the doomed Sydney Andrews wore when she perished on what was to be her special day with Craig Field. Fans can go to www.amazon.com/auctions to get a sneak preview of items up for auction. Bidding on Melrose Place items begins on May 17 after 6:00 p.m./9:00 p.m. (PDT/EDT), a week before the show completes its seventh and final season on FOX on May 24, 1999 (8:00 to 9:00 p.m. PDT/EDT). The auction is part of the series' farewell celebration that includes Melrose Place parties at regional Planet Hollywood restaurants nationwide. Net proceeds of the 10-day online charity auction will benefit the American Cancer Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. "I'm delighted that we'll be able to thank our loyal fans for seven fantastic years by making it possible for them to take home a piece of Melrose Place," Aaron Spelling, executive producer, said. "The tremendous interest in the show and its final season is certain to raise significant proceeds for our two charities." "This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone to own something from a popular and memorable TV series while helping two great charities," said Allen Olivo, vice president of marketing at Amazon.com. "It illustrates how the Internet can bring millions of Melrose Place fans together, wherever they are, to bid on a favorite item at Amazon.com Auctions." Visitors to the Melrose auction site can also link to www.melroseplace.com to register to win the original Melrose Place apartment complex sign and other exciting prizes. Among the hundreds of items up for auction are furnishings and accessories from Melrose Place apartments, offices, and popular hangouts; numerous large props, including apartment doors from the Melrose apartment complex and a Shooters pool table; wardrobe and jewelry, including lingerie and wedding gowns; hand props such as engraved watches, license plates, hospital badges, and office signs; production items, including set blueprints and the original model of the courtyard; and publicity items such as autographed cast photos, posters, scripts, and more. Bidding for most items will conclude on May 24 and 25. Immediately after the series finale comes to a dramatic end, a special auction, including items from the final episode, will become available for bidding (after 9:00 p.m. PDT /12:00 a.m. EDT) and will close on May 27, 1999. The auction is a collaboration among Amazon.com; Spelling Television and its merchandising division, Hamilton Projects; and ARTISTdirect. FOX and Planet Hollywood are celebrating the series finale with special parties at regional Planet Hollywood locations across the country. In addition, many Melrose Place auction items will be on display at each Planet Hollywood leading up to the series finale. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About Spelling TelevisionSpelling Television is a division of Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc. (NYSE, PE: SP), a leading producer and distributor of television and film entertainment. In addition to Spelling Television, the company comprises Big Ticket Television, Worldvision Enterprises, and Hamilton Projects. The company has 11 series in production for the 1998/99 season and, through its combined libraries, controls approximately 10,000 hours of programming for worldwide distribution. Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA; NYSE: VIAb) owns approximately 80 percent of Spelling's common stock. About ARTISTdirectARTISTdirect (www.artistdirect.com) has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with superstar artists, including the Beastie Boys (www.beastieboysdirect.com), Beck (www.beckdirect.com), Korn (www.korndirect.com), the Rolling Stones (www.stonesdirect.com), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (www.tompettydirect.com), and many others. ARTISTdirect Entertainment Division has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with DreamWorks, MGM Studios USA, Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc., and others. The ARTISTdirect network, the ultimate music destination on the Web, comprises UBL.com (the Ultimate Band List), the only music-specific search engine; iMusic, the premier music-community site on the Web; and ARTISTdirect Superstores, retail centers for leading brands and entertainment properties. About Melrose PlaceMelrose Place is produced by Spelling Television, Inc. Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, Charles Pratt Jr., and Carol Mendelsohn are the executive producers. James Kahn is the co-executive producer. Peter Dunne is the supervising producer and Heather Locklear is the co-producer. About Planet HollywoodPlanet Hollywood is a creator and worldwide developer of consumer brands that capitalize on the universal appeal of movies, sports, music and other leisure-time activities. The Company's worldwide operations offer products and services in the retail, leisure, entertainment, and lodging sectors. Planet Hollywood International, Inc.'s Class A common stock is listed under the symbol "PHL" on the New York Stock Exchange.

<p>One-of-a-Kind Items from the Hit Show Now on Display; Spelling Television, FOX, Planet Hollywood, ARTISTdirect, and Amazon.com Join Forces in Charity Auction</p><p>SEATTLE, May 12--/PRNewswire/-- Setting the stage for the series finale of <em>Melrose Place</em>, wardrobe, props, and furnishings used in the hit FOX Broadcasting Company television show, produced by Spelling Television, are now on display at Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the exclusive auction site for this unique online charity auction of memorabilia from a major television series.</p><p>The items now on view include former <em>Melrose Place</em> resident hunk Jake Hanson's black leather boots and the wedding dress that the doomed Sydney Andrews wore when she perished on what was to be her special day with Craig Field. Fans can go to www.amazon.com/auctions to get a sneak preview of items up for auction.</p><p>Bidding on <em>Melrose Place</em> items begins on May 17 after 6:00 p.m./9:00 p.m. (PDT/EDT), a week before the show completes its seventh and final season on FOX on May 24, 1999 (8:00 to 9:00 p.m. PDT/EDT). The auction is part of the series' farewell celebration that includes <em>Melrose Place</em> parties at regional Planet Hollywood restaurants nationwide. Net proceeds of the 10-day online charity auction will benefit the American Cancer Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.</p><p>"I'm delighted that we'll be able to thank our loyal fans for seven fantastic years by making it possible for them to take home a piece of <em>Melrose Place</em>," Aaron Spelling, executive producer, said. "The tremendous interest in the show and its final season is certain to raise significant proceeds for our two charities."</p><p>"This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone to own something from a popular and memorable TV series while helping two great charities," said Allen Olivo, vice president of marketing at Amazon.com. "It illustrates how the Internet can bring millions of <em>Melrose Place</em> fans together, wherever they are, to bid on a favorite item at Amazon.com Auctions."</p><p>Visitors to the Melrose auction site can also link to www.melroseplace.com to register to win the original <em>Melrose Place</em> apartment complex sign and other exciting prizes.</p><p>Among the hundreds of items up for auction are furnishings and accessories from <em>Melrose Place</em> apartments, offices, and popular hangouts; numerous large props, including apartment doors from the Melrose apartment complex and a Shooters pool table; wardrobe and jewelry, including lingerie and wedding gowns; hand props such as engraved watches, license plates, hospital badges, and office signs; production items, including set blueprints and the original model of the courtyard; and publicity items such as autographed cast photos, posters, scripts, and more. Bidding for most items will conclude on May 24 and 25.</p><p>Immediately after the series finale comes to a dramatic end, a special auction, including items from the final episode, will become available for bidding (after 9:00 p.m. PDT /12:00 a.m. EDT) and will close on May 27, 1999.</p><p>The auction is a collaboration among Amazon.com; Spelling Television and its merchandising division, Hamilton Projects; and ARTISTdirect. FOX and Planet Hollywood are celebrating the series finale with special parties at regional Planet Hollywood locations across the country. In addition, many <em>Melrose Place</em> auction items will be on display at each Planet Hollywood leading up to the series finale.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About Spelling TelevisionSpelling Television is a division of Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc. (NYSE, PE: SP), a leading producer and distributor of television and film entertainment. In addition to Spelling Television, the company comprises Big Ticket Television, Worldvision Enterprises, and Hamilton Projects. The company has 11 series in production for the 1998/99 season and, through its combined libraries, controls approximately 10,000 hours of programming for worldwide distribution. Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA; NYSE: VIAb) owns approximately 80 percent of Spelling's common stock.</p><p>About ARTISTdirectARTISTdirect (www.artistdirect.com) has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with superstar artists, including the Beastie Boys (www.beastieboysdirect.com), Beck (www.beckdirect.com), Korn (www.korndirect.com), the Rolling Stones (www.stonesdirect.com), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (www.tompettydirect.com), and many others. ARTISTdirect Entertainment Division has pioneered the development of official online stores in partnership with DreamWorks, MGM Studios USA, Spelling Entertainment Group, Inc., and others. The ARTISTdirect network, the ultimate music destination on the Web, comprises UBL.com (the Ultimate Band List), the only music-specific search engine; iMusic, the premier music-community site on the Web; and ARTISTdirect Superstores, retail centers for leading brands and entertainment properties.</p><p>About <em>Melrose Place</em><em>Melrose Place</em> is produced by Spelling Television, Inc. Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, Charles Pratt Jr., and Carol Mendelsohn are the executive producers. James Kahn is the co-executive producer. Peter Dunne is the supervising producer and Heather Locklear is the co-producer.</p><p>About Planet HollywoodPlanet Hollywood is a creator and worldwide developer of consumer brands that capitalize on the universal appeal of movies, sports, music and other leisure-time activities. The Company's worldwide operations offer products and services in the retail, leisure, entertainment, and lodging sectors. Planet Hollywood International, Inc.'s Class A common stock is listed under the symbol "PHL" on the New York Stock Exchange.</p>

Amazon.com Adds New Items and Incentives for Final Days of American Red Cross Kosovo Charity Auction

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Adds-New-Items-and-Incentives-for-Final-Days-of-American-Red-Cross-Kosovo-Charity-Auction/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Adds-New-Items-and-Incentives-for-Final-Days-of-American-Red-Cross-Kosovo-Charity-Auction

05/11/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Adds New Items and Incentives for Final Days of American Red Cross Kosovo Charity Auction

05/11/1999

1999

Signed Books from Stephen King and George Stephanopoulos Added to Charity Auction List--UPS Donates Charity-Item Shipping Costs SEATTLE, May 11--/PRNewswire/--Nearing the finale of its online charity auction to raise funds for the American Red Cross's efforts for Kosovo, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today the addition of celebrity items and a donation from United Parcel Service of up to $10,000 in shipping costs. The Kosovo auction will conclude May 13, but not before auction fans and participants eager to contribute to the relief effort can bid on specially signed books and other affordable merchandise. The UPS shipping donation applies to these and all Kosovo-charity items with auctions closed since April 30. Amazon.com has donated hundreds of items to this auction and will contribute 100 percent of the proceeds to the Kosovo-relief effort. Since April 12, more than $25,000 has been raised by Amazon.com Auctions to support the cause that brought together five leading auction companies. The charity auctions are designed to assist the Red Cross in its effort to provide humanitarian needs to the estimated 300,000 Kosovar refugees. "We've been amazed and pleased by the generosity we've seen from our customers," said Joel Spiegel, general manager of Amazon.com Auctions. "Many of our charity items have been selling well beyond their retail prices as a result of our customers' desire to contribute to this worthwhile cause." Starting today, new items that will be listed for auction include a signed copy of Stephen King's Bag of Bones and George Stephanopoulos's All Too Human, as well as an inscribed copy of Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson, currently No. 3 on the Amazon.com 100 Hot Bookslist. Visitors can obtain information about ongoing auctions and the items currently up for bid, such as toys, games, watches, cameras, and Palm Pilots, at www.amazon.com/auctions. Visitors are encouraged to donate to the American Red Cross, whether they choose to bid on items. Instructions for doing so can be found at www.amazon.com/auctions. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Signed Books from Stephen King and George Stephanopoulos Added to Charity Auction List--UPS Donates Charity-Item Shipping Costs</p><p>SEATTLE, May 11--/PRNewswire/--Nearing the finale of its online charity auction to raise funds for the American Red Cross's efforts for Kosovo, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today the addition of celebrity items and a donation from United Parcel Service of up to $10,000 in shipping costs.</p><p>The Kosovo auction will conclude May 13, but not before auction fans and participants eager to contribute to the relief effort can bid on specially signed books and other affordable merchandise. The UPS shipping donation applies to these and all Kosovo-charity items with auctions closed since April 30.</p><p>Amazon.com has donated hundreds of items to this auction and will contribute 100 percent of the proceeds to the Kosovo-relief effort. Since April 12, more than $25,000 has been raised by Amazon.com Auctions to support the cause that brought together five leading auction companies. The charity auctions are designed to assist the Red Cross in its effort to provide humanitarian needs to the estimated 300,000 Kosovar refugees.</p><p>"We've been amazed and pleased by the generosity we've seen from our customers," said Joel Spiegel, general manager of Amazon.com Auctions. "Many of our charity items have been selling well beyond their retail prices as a result of our customers' desire to contribute to this worthwhile cause."</p><p>Starting today, new items that will be listed for auction include a signed copy of Stephen King's <em>Bag of Bones</em> and George Stephanopoulos's <em>All Too Human</em>, as well as an inscribed copy of <em>Cryptonomicon</em>, by Neal Stephenson, currently No. 3 on the Amazon.com 100 Hot Bookslist.</p><p>Visitors can obtain information about ongoing auctions and the items currently up for bid, such as toys, games, watches, cameras, and Palm Pilots, at www.amazon.com/auctions. Visitors are encouraged to donate to the American Red Cross, whether they choose to bid on items. Instructions for doing so can be found at www.amazon.com/auctions.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions, free electronic greeting cards, and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Launches its Ultimate Star Wars Store

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Launches-its-Ultimate-Star-Wars-Store/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Launches-its-Ultimate-Star-Wars-Store

05/03/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Launches its Ultimate Star Wars Store

05/03/1999

1999

New and Classic Star Wars Merchandise Now Available in One Place; Toys, Music, Videos, Books, and Memorabilia on Sale and at Auction SEATTLE, May 3, 1999--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, today introduced the Amazon.com Star Wars Store, the ultimate destination for both hardcore fans and those looking to introduce themselves to the Star Wars phenomenon. The Amazon.com Star Wars Store brings together a unique combination of items and editorial features in a searchable and easy-to-use resource to help customers find and discover almost anything Star Wars. "Never before have Star Wars fans had access to the entire Star Wars universe in one convenient store," said David Risher, senior vice president, product development. "Amazon.com has combined great new merchandise, one-of-a-kind collectibles for sale at auction, and exclusive editorial features to create an awesome store. No other retail environment can offer the breadth of product coupled with the depth of information that customers will find at the new Amazon.com Star Wars Store." The store includes the most exciting old and new Star Wars items, including the hottest new Phantom Menace toys; the original motion-picture soundtrack; and the bestselling novel by Terry Brooks--available in a collector's bundle of four different-cover versions. In addition to new merchandise, the store incorporates hundreds of memorabilia selections and one-of-a-kind items from collectors participating at Amazon.com Auctions. All of these items are now available at www.amazon.com/starwars. Exclusive editorial features will include: Daily character profiles from the upcoming movie to familiarize fans with The Phantom Menace. Today's feature is the Jedi Council, including photos of all 12 council members. Filmographies of the lead characters from old and new Star Wars films, with listings of all other movies in which they have appeared, via the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDb). The site provides fans a link back to Amazon.com Video for further exploration of movies related to cast members. The ability to navigate by historical timeline and identify items based on chronological events in the Star Wars universe. To launch the Amazon.com Star Wars Store, a Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition Hummer, a one-of-a-kind vehicle licensed by Lucasfilm during the re-release of the classic Star Wars Trilogy, is available for purchase at Amazon.com Auctions, in a special area devoted to Star Wars collectibles. The 1996 Hummer is loaded with special features, and includes an autographed sunvisor with signatures from Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Dave Prowse (Darth Vader), and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), to name a few. Other items available at the Amazon.com Star Wars Store include video games, electronic games, puzzles, vintage action figures, and audio books. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, 1-Click, and Bid-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>New and Classic <em>Star Wars</em> Merchandise Now Available in One Place; Toys, Music, Videos, Books, and Memorabilia on Sale and at Auction</p><p>SEATTLE, May 3, 1999--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, today introduced the Amazon.com <em>Star Wars</em> Store, the ultimate destination for both hardcore fans and those looking to introduce themselves to the <em>Star Wars</em> phenomenon. The Amazon.com <em>Star Wars</em> Store brings together a unique combination of items and editorial features in a searchable and easy-to-use resource to help customers find and discover almost anything <em>Star Wars</em>.</p><p>"Never before have <em>Star Wars</em> fans had access to the entire <em>Star Wars</em> universe in one convenient store," said David Risher, senior vice president, product development. "Amazon.com has combined great new merchandise, one-of-a-kind collectibles for sale at auction, and exclusive editorial features to create an awesome store. No other retail environment can offer the breadth of product coupled with the depth of information that customers will find at the new Amazon.com <em>Star Wars</em> Store."</p><p>The store includes the most exciting old and new <em>Star Wars</em> items, including the hottest new <em>Phantom Menace</em> toys; the original motion-picture soundtrack; and the bestselling novel by Terry Brooks--available in a collector's bundle of four different-cover versions. In addition to new merchandise, the store incorporates hundreds of memorabilia selections and one-of-a-kind items from collectors participating at Amazon.com Auctions. All of these items are now available at www.amazon.com/starwars.</p><p>Exclusive editorial features will include:</p><ul><li>Daily character profiles from the upcoming movie to familiarize fans with <em>The Phantom Menace</em>. Today's feature is the Jedi Council, including photos of all 12 council members.</li><li>Filmographies of the lead characters from old and new <em>Star Wars</em> films, with listings of all other movies in which they have appeared, via the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDb). The site provides fans a link back to Amazon.com Video for further exploration of movies related to cast members.</li><li>The ability to navigate by historical timeline and identify items based on chronological events in the <em>Star Wars</em> universe.</li></ul><p>To launch the Amazon.com <em>Star Wars</em> Store, a <em>Star Wars</em> Trilogy Special Edition Hummer, a one-of-a-kind vehicle licensed by Lucasfilm during the re-release of the classic <em>Star Wars</em> Trilogy, is available for purchase at Amazon.com Auctions, in a special area devoted to <em>Star Wars</em> collectibles. The 1996 Hummer is loaded with special features, and includes an autographed sunvisor with signatures from Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Dave Prowse (Darth Vader), and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), to name a few. Other items available at the Amazon.com <em>Star Wars</em> Store include video games, electronic games, puzzles, vintage action figures, and audio books.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-Click^SM.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, 1-Click, and Bid-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Announces Financial Results for First Quarter 1999

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Announces-Financial-Results-for-First-Quarter-1999/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Announces-Financial-Results-for-First-Quarter-1999

04/28/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Announces Financial Results for First Quarter 1999

04/28/1999

1999

SEATTLE, WA-(April 28, 1999)-Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced financial results for the first quarter of 1999. Net sales for the first quarter were $293.6 million, an increase of 236 percent over net sales of $87.4 million for the first quarter of 1998. Amazon.com reported a first-quarter pro forma operating loss of $30.6 million, or 10 percent of net sales, compared to an operating loss of $10.0 million, or 11 percent of net sales, in the first quarter of 1998. First-quarter pro forma net loss of $36.4 million, or $0.23 per share, compared with a net loss of $10.4 million, or $0.07 per share, in the first quarter of 1998. On a GAAP basis, reported first-quarter net loss was $61.7 million, or $0.39 per share, and included $25.3 million of merger- and acquisition-related costs. Amazon.com announced that cumulative customer accounts increased by more than 2.2 million during the first quarter to more than 8.4 million at March 31, 1999, an increase of more than 250 percent from the 2.3 million customer accounts at March 31, 1998. Repeat customer orders represented more than 66 percent of orders during the quarter ended March 31, 1999. "Everyone here is working hard to provide the best possible customer experience, and we're extremely grateful to our customers," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "We're particularly pleased with Amazon.com Auctions, which is off to a very fast start-we had more participants during our first month than even with music." The company's focus on customers enabled Amazon.com to extend its leadership position on a number of fronts: Amazon.com was ranked in the top 10 Web properties during March, as measured by Media Metrix, making it not only the leading online retail site but also one of the leading Web sites of any kind. In March, Amazon.com was the only company to win more than one Webby award-and it won three. The Webbies, considered by many to be the Oscars(r) of the Internet, are awarded by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. Amazon.com won awards for Web-site excellence as a commerce site, for technical achievement, and the company's Internet Movie Database for best film site. IMDb also received a People's Choice Award (voted for by Web users) in the film category. More than 1 million Amazon.com customers have now signed up for the company's innovative Delivers program, which provides periodic e-mail updates of new book, music, and video titles. More information on Delivers is available at www.amazon.com/delivers. More than 260,000 Web-site operators have now enrolled in the company's industry-leading Associates program, which allows Web-site operators to earn lucrative referral fees over a range of products. More information on Associates is available at www.amazon.com/associates. Regarding Amazon.com's announced 1999 expansion plans, Bezos added, "We have begun and will continue to build out a significant distribution infrastructure. This will give customers greater availability, faster shipping times, and even better service. We will also continue to invest in systems, people, and product expansion, each of which helps us better serve customers. For the rest of 1999, we expect to invest more heavily than we have in the past. Our goal remains to build the world's most customer-centric company." Recent Highlights Amazon.com AuctionsIn March, Amazon.com launched Amazon.com Auctions to help people find, discover, buy-and now sell-virtually anything online. With the launch of Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.com's more than 8.4 million customers have been preregistered to begin buying and selling immediately in more than 800 categories. The new service is easy to use, with innovative and time-saving features such as Bid-Click SM for hassle-free bidding. To enhance customer safety, the Amazon.com Auctions Guarantee covers purchases of up to $250 in the event that a buyer does not receive what a seller promised. Earlier this month, Amazon.com announced it had agreed to purchase LiveBid.com, the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. Adding LiveBid's technology and services to Amazon.com Auctions expands the breadth and types of items customers will find and gives local and regional auction houses full access to a vast Internet auction community. drugstore.com and Pets.comDuring the quarter, Amazon.com announced strategic investments in drugstore.com and Pets.com. drugstore.com (www.drugstore.com) is an online source for thousands of brand-name health, beauty, and wellness products. Pets.com (www.pets.com/) is the leading pet-oriented company on the Internet, specializing in popular and rare pet accessories, products, and food for all types of animals. These companies share Amazon.com's passion for bringing customers value through selection, service, convenience, and community. Amazon.com's Free Greeting Card ServiceOn April 27 the company launched Amazon.com Cards, a free electronic greeting-card service. Cards can be sent by visiting www.amazon.com and clicking on the e-cards tab. The new site offers diverse styles of electronic greeting cards and a unique selection, with hundreds of illustrations, pictures, animated cards, and messages to choose from. Card senders also have the ability to customize their messages. Distribution Center ExpansionContinuing its expansion, Amazon.com leased a distribution facility in Coffeyville, Kansas, which will enable faster delivery to Amazon.com customers across the Midwest and Southeast United States. Plans for the existing 460,000-square-foot facility include expansion to over 750,000 square feet and the addition of automation, allowing the company to significantly increase the number of products kept on hand for immediate shipment to customers. The result is that customers in such places as Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, and Minneapolis will receive their orders much faster, thanks to deeper inventory, faster processing, and shorter delivery times. The Coffeyville facility is expected to begin operations during the second half of 1999. Amazon.com also announced that its 323,000-square-foot facility in Fernley, Nevada began shipping on a limited basis, increasing availability and improving delivery times for customers in the Western U.S. In March, Amazon.de leased a new distribution center in Bad Hersfeld, Germany. The facility is expected to begin operations during the second half of 1999. Acquisition of Bibliofind.com and MusicFile.comEarlier this week, the company agreed to acquire Exchange.com, the premier online marketplace for hard-to-find, antiquarian, and used books at www.bibliofind.com and hard-to-find recordings and music memorabilia at www.musicfile.com. The acquisition will vastly enlarge and enrich Amazon.com's core book- and music-store offerings while providing Exchange.com's thousands of independent dealers and retailers the opportunity to sell and auction their hard-to-find books, recordings, and memorabilia to Amazon.com's growing base of 8.4 million experienced online shoppers. At the same time, the company also announced it had agreed to acquire two other e-commerce companies, Alexa.com and Accept.com. FinancingEarly in the quarter, Amazon.com completed a $1.25 billion 4.75% convertible debt offering, which substantially strengthened its cash position and increased its strategic flexibility. Also in the quarter, Amazon.com repurchased $84 million in accreted value of its senior discount notes. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, 1-Click, and Bid-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Note on Financial PresentationFinancial results are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. All of the charges associated with Amazon.com's merger, acquisition, and investment activities have been included in "merger- and acquisition-related costs" in the accompanying financial statements in order to enhance their informational value and to present the most comparable classifications in the other line items. Among items included in merger- and acquisition-related costs are amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles, equity in loss of investees, and certain non-recurring merger- and acquisition-related costs. Pro forma financial results exclude these merger- and acquisition-related costs. AMAZON.COM, INC.Consolidated Statements of Operations(in thousands, except per share amounts) Quarter Ended March 31, 1999 1998 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Net sales $293,643 $87,361 Cost of sales 228,852 68,063 Gross profit 64,791 19,298 Operating expenses: Marketing and sales 60,744 19,914 Product development 23,477 7,320 General and administrative 11,165 2,049 Merger and acquisition related costs, including amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles 25,309 - Total operating expenses 120,695 29,283 Loss from operations (55,904) (9,985) Interest income 10,925 1,645 Interest expense (16,688) (2,029) Net interest expense (5,763) (384) Net loss $(61,667) $(10,369) Basic and diluted loss per share $(0.39) $(0.07) Shares used in computation of basic and diluted loss per share 156,897 141,318 Pro Forma Results Excluding Merger and Acquisition Related Costs (see Note 2 below) Pro forma loss from operations, excluding merger and acquisition related costs $(30,595) $(9,985) Pro forma net loss, excluding merger and acquisition related costs $(36,358) $(10,369) Pro forma basic and diluted loss per share, excluding merger and acquisition related costs $(0.23) $(0.07) Shares used in computation of pro forma basic and diluted loss per 156,897 141,318 share Note 1: On January 4, 1999, the Company effected a three-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend to stockholders of record on December 18, 1998. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations have been restated to reflect the split. Note 2: Pro forma results for the quarter ended March 31, 1999 and 1998 are presented for informational purposes only and are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. These results present the operating results of Amazon.com, excluding charges of $25.3 million and $0 for the quarter ended March 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively, for merger and acquisition related costs arising from Amazon.com's April 1998 acquisitions of Bookpages, Telebook and Internet Movie Database, and the August 1998 acquisition of Junglee and the merger with PlanetAll. Among items included in merger and acquisition related costs are amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles, equity in loss of investees, and certain non-recurring merger and acquisition related costs. AMAZON.COM, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except per share data) March 31, December 31, 1999 1998 (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash $5,248 $25,561 Marketable securities 1,437,717 347,884 Inventories 45,236 29,501 Prepaid expenses and other 37,077 21,308 Total current assets 1,525,278 424,254 Fixed assets, net 60,600 29,791 Goodwill and other, net 187,194 187,003 Deferred charges 39,912 7,412 Total assets $1,812,984 $648,460 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $133,018 $113,273 Accrued advertising 16,187 13,071 Other liabilities and accrued expenses 45,194 34,423 Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligation 7,186 808 Total current liabilities 201,585 161,575 Long-term debt and capital lease obligation 1,533,862 348,140 Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares -- 10,000 Issued and outstanding shares -- none - - Common stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares -- 300,000 Issued and outstanding shares -- 161,371 and 159,267 shares at March 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998, respectively 1,614 1,593 Additional paid-in capital 306,414 300,130 Note receivable from officer for common stock (1,099) (1,099) Deferred compensation (1,275) (1,625) Accumulated other comprehensive income (4,390) 1,806 Accumulated deficit (223,727) (162,060) Total stockholders' equity 77,537 138,745 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $1,812,984 $648,460 Note 1: On January 4, 1999, the Company effected a three-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend to stockholders of record on December 18, 1998. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations have been restated to reflect the split.

<p>SEATTLE, WA-(April 28, 1999)-Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced financial results for the first quarter of 1999. Net sales for the first quarter were $293.6 million, an increase of 236 percent over net sales of $87.4 million for the first quarter of 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com reported a first-quarter pro forma operating loss of $30.6 million, or 10 percent of net sales, compared to an operating loss of $10.0 million, or 11 percent of net sales, in the first quarter of 1998. First-quarter pro forma net loss of $36.4 million, or $0.23 per share, compared with a net loss of $10.4 million, or $0.07 per share, in the first quarter of 1998. On a GAAP basis, reported first-quarter net loss was $61.7 million, or $0.39 per share, and included $25.3 million of merger- and acquisition-related costs.</p><p>Amazon.com announced that cumulative customer accounts increased by more than 2.2 million during the first quarter to more than 8.4 million at March 31, 1999, an increase of more than 250 percent from the 2.3 million customer accounts at March 31, 1998. Repeat customer orders represented more than 66 percent of orders during the quarter ended March 31, 1999.</p><p>"Everyone here is working hard to provide the best possible customer experience, and we're extremely grateful to our customers," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "We're particularly pleased with Amazon.com Auctions, which is off to a very fast start-we had more participants during our first month than even with music."</p><p>The company's focus on customers enabled Amazon.com to extend its leadership position on a number of fronts:</p><ul><li>Amazon.com was ranked in the top 10 Web properties during March, as measured by Media Metrix, making it not only the leading online retail site but also one of the leading Web sites of any kind.</li><li>In March, Amazon.com was the only company to win more than one Webby award-and it won three. The Webbies, considered by many to be the Oscars(r) of the Internet, are awarded by the International Academy of Digital Arts &amp; Sciences. Amazon.com won awards for Web-site excellence as a commerce site, for technical achievement, and the company's Internet Movie Database for best film site. IMDb also received a People's Choice Award (voted for by Web users) in the film category.</li><li>More than 1 million Amazon.com customers have now signed up for the company's innovative Delivers program, which provides periodic e-mail updates of new book, music, and video titles. More information on Delivers is available at www.amazon.com/delivers.</li><li>More than 260,000 Web-site operators have now enrolled in the company's industry-leading Associates program, which allows Web-site operators to earn lucrative referral fees over a range of products. More information on Associates is available at www.amazon.com/associates.</li></ul><p>Regarding Amazon.com's announced 1999 expansion plans, Bezos added, "We have begun and will continue to build out a significant distribution infrastructure. This will give customers greater availability, faster shipping times, and even better service. We will also continue to invest in systems, people, and product expansion, each of which helps us better serve customers. For the rest of 1999, we expect to invest more heavily than we have in the past. Our goal remains to build the world's most customer-centric company."</p><p>Recent Highlights</p><p>Amazon.com AuctionsIn March, Amazon.com launched Amazon.com Auctions to help people find, discover, buy-and now sell-virtually anything online. With the launch of Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.com's more than 8.4 million customers have been preregistered to begin buying and selling immediately in more than 800 categories. The new service is easy to use, with innovative and time-saving features such as Bid-Click ^SM for hassle-free bidding. To enhance customer safety, the Amazon.com Auctions Guarantee covers purchases of up to $250 in the event that a buyer does not receive what a seller promised.</p><p>Earlier this month, Amazon.com announced it had agreed to purchase LiveBid.com, the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet. Adding LiveBid's technology and services to Amazon.com Auctions expands the breadth and types of items customers will find and gives local and regional auction houses full access to a vast Internet auction community.</p><p>drugstore.com and Pets.comDuring the quarter, Amazon.com announced strategic investments in drugstore.com and Pets.com. drugstore.com (www.drugstore.com) is an online source for thousands of brand-name health, beauty, and wellness products. Pets.com (www.pets.com/) is the leading pet-oriented company on the Internet, specializing in popular and rare pet accessories, products, and food for all types of animals. These companies share Amazon.com's passion for bringing customers value through selection, service, convenience, and community.</p><p>Amazon.com's Free Greeting Card ServiceOn April 27 the company launched Amazon.com Cards, a free electronic greeting-card service. Cards can be sent by visiting www.amazon.com and clicking on the e-cards tab. The new site offers diverse styles of electronic greeting cards and a unique selection, with hundreds of illustrations, pictures, animated cards, and messages to choose from. Card senders also have the ability to customize their messages.</p><p>Distribution Center ExpansionContinuing its expansion, Amazon.com leased a distribution facility in Coffeyville, Kansas, which will enable faster delivery to Amazon.com customers across the Midwest and Southeast United States. Plans for the existing 460,000-square-foot facility include expansion to over 750,000 square feet and the addition of automation, allowing the company to significantly increase the number of products kept on hand for immediate shipment to customers. The result is that customers in such places as Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, and Minneapolis will receive their orders much faster, thanks to deeper inventory, faster processing, and shorter delivery times. The Coffeyville facility is expected to begin operations during the second half of 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com also announced that its 323,000-square-foot facility in Fernley, Nevada began shipping on a limited basis, increasing availability and improving delivery times for customers in the Western U.S.</p><p>In March, Amazon.de leased a new distribution center in Bad Hersfeld, Germany. The facility is expected to begin operations during the second half of 1999.</p><p>Acquisition of Bibliofind.com and MusicFile.comEarlier this week, the company agreed to acquire Exchange.com, the premier online marketplace for hard-to-find, antiquarian, and used books at www.bibliofind.com and hard-to-find recordings and music memorabilia at www.musicfile.com. The acquisition will vastly enlarge and enrich Amazon.com's core book- and music-store offerings while providing Exchange.com's thousands of independent dealers and retailers the opportunity to sell and auction their hard-to-find books, recordings, and memorabilia to Amazon.com's growing base of 8.4 million experienced online shoppers. At the same time, the company also announced it had agreed to acquire two other e-commerce companies, Alexa.com and Accept.com.</p><p>FinancingEarly in the quarter, Amazon.com completed a $1.25 billion 4.75% convertible debt offering, which substantially strengthened its cash position and increased its strategic flexibility. Also in the quarter, Amazon.com repurchased $84 million in accreted value of its senior discount notes.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology and hassle-free auction bidding with Bid-ClickSM. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, 1-Click, and Bid-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>Note on Financial PresentationFinancial results are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. All of the charges associated with Amazon.com's merger, acquisition, and investment activities have been included in "merger- and acquisition-related costs" in the accompanying financial statements in order to enhance their informational value and to present the most comparable classifications in the other line items. Among items included in merger- and acquisition-related costs are amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles, equity in loss of investees, and certain non-recurring merger- and acquisition-related costs. Pro forma financial results exclude these merger- and acquisition-related costs.</p><center>AMAZON.COM, INC.Consolidated Statements of Operations(in thousands, except per share amounts)</center><pre> Quarter Ended March 31, 1999 1998 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Net sales $293,643 $87,361 Cost of sales 228,852 68,063 Gross profit 64,791 19,298 Operating expenses: Marketing and sales 60,744 19,914 Product development 23,477 7,320 General and administrative 11,165 2,049 Merger and acquisition related costs, including amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles 25,309 - Total operating expenses 120,695 29,283 Loss from operations (55,904) (9,985)Interest income 10,925 1,645Interest expense (16,688) (2,029) Net interest expense (5,763) (384)Net loss $(61,667) $(10,369)Basic and diluted loss per share $(0.39) $(0.07) Shares used in computation of basic and diluted loss per share 156,897 141,318 Pro Forma Results Excluding Merger and Acquisition Related Costs (seeNote 2 below) Pro forma loss from operations, excluding merger and acquisition related costs $(30,595) $(9,985)Pro forma net loss, excluding merger and acquisition related costs $(36,358) $(10,369)Pro forma basic and diluted loss per share, excluding merger and acquisition related costs $(0.23) $(0.07)Shares used in computation of pro forma basic and diluted loss per 156,897 141,318 share Note 1: On January 4, 1999, the Company effected a three-for-one stocksplit in the form of a stock dividend to stockholders of record onDecember 18, 1998. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated balancesheets and statements of operations have been restated to reflect thesplit. Note 2: Pro forma results for the quarter ended March 31, 1999 and1998 are presented for informational purposes only and are notprepared in accordance with generally accepted accountingprinciples. These results present the operating results of Amazon.com,excluding charges of $25.3 million and $0 for the quarter ended March31, 1999 and 1998, respectively, for merger and acquisition relatedcosts arising from Amazon.com's April 1998 acquisitions of Bookpages,Telebook and Internet Movie Database, and the August 1998 acquisitionof Junglee and the merger with PlanetAll. Among items included inmerger and acquisition related costs are amortization of goodwill andother purchased intangibles, equity in loss of investees, and certainnon-recurring merger and acquisition related costs.AMAZON.COM, INC.Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except per share data) March 31, December 31, 1999 1998 (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash $5,248 $25,561 Marketable securities 1,437,717 347,884 Inventories 45,236 29,501 Prepaid expenses and other 37,077 21,308 Total current assets 1,525,278 424,254 Fixed assets, net 60,600 29,791 Goodwill and other, net 187,194 187,003 Deferred charges 39,912 7,412 Total assets $1,812,984 $648,460 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $133,018 $113,273 Accrued advertising 16,187 13,071 Other liabilities and accrued expenses 45,194 34,423 Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligation 7,186 808 Total current liabilities 201,585 161,575 Long-term debt and capital lease obligation 1,533,862 348,140 Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares -- 10,000 Issued and outstanding shares -- none - - Common stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares -- 300,000 Issued and outstanding shares -- 161,371 and 159,267 shares at March 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998, respectively 1,614 1,593 Additional paid-in capital 306,414 300,130 Note receivable from officer for common stock (1,099) (1,099) Deferred compensation (1,275) (1,625) Accumulated other comprehensive income (4,390) 1,806 Accumulated deficit (223,727) (162,060) Total stockholders' equity 77,537 138,745 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $1,812,984 $648,460Note 1: On January 4, 1999, the Company effected a three-for-one stocksplit in the form of a stock dividend to stockholders of record onDecember 18, 1998. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated balancesheets and statements of operations have been restated to reflect thesplit.</pre>

Amazon.com Launches Free Electronic Greeting-Card Service

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Launches-Free-Electronic-Greeting-Card-Service/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Launches-Free-Electronic-Greeting-Card-Service

04/27/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Launches Free Electronic Greeting-Card Service

04/27/1999

1999

Amazon.com Cards includes animated selections and a wide variety of customized "fast, fun, free" cards SEATTLE, April 27, 1999--/PR Newswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, today launched Amazon.com Cards, a free electronic greeting card service. Cards can be sent by visiting www.amazon.com and clicking on the e-cards tab. The new site offers diverse styles of electronic greeting cards and a unique selection, with hundreds of illustrations, pictures, animated cards, and messages to choose from. Card senders also have the ability to customize their messages. "Whether the occasion calls for a reproduction of Van Gogh's Sunflowers, a stunning landscape, an illustration of puppies, or off-the-wall humor, we'll have a card for you," said David Risher, Amazon.com senior vice president, product development. "There's something for everyone." For example, today's date, April 27, is the anniversary of Babe Ruth Day, celebrated since 1947 to honor the Sultan of Swat. From the Amazon.com Cards home page (cards.amazon.com), you can click on Photography, then Sports, and it's easy to share the spirit of the day with a selection of baseball-themed e-cards. One choice is "All American," a photo of an old-fashioned baseball, glove, and a hot dog-one of the Babe's favorite foods. Sports fans can customize a Babe Ruth Day message or any others they choose. Other upcoming days and Amazon.com Card pairings that are prime for an electronic greeting include: April 28--"Kiss Your Mate Day" (send "Kiss Enclosed" from the Love section); April 29--"Moment of Laughter Day" (send any selection from the Humor section); April 30--"Hairstylist Appreciation Day" (choose from many options in the Thanks section); and also April 30--"Arbor Day" (go to Photography, then Landscapes, and send "Among the Aspens"). "Amazon.com Cards offers an easy way to browse through hundreds of cards and pictures," said Risher. "We want our customers to benefit from a fun, fast, and free service that offers a great selection of online cards for a special holiday or just to say hi." Amazon.com Cards is designed to be quick, easy, and convenient. The service is 100 percent free and does not require registration. The site features more than 800 different cards in 45 categories and will be updated regularly with an expanding selection to serve customers best. A "New Card" section highlights recent offerings, and a "Most Popular" section displays cards being sent most frequently. The Most Popular cards are sorted by category, providing a great shortcut when there is no time to browse. Amazon.com identified a variety of top writers, illustrators and designers in the greeting card industry with distinct styles and backgrounds to create e-cards to celebrate every holiday or to just keep in touch. In addition, the company collaborated with well-known card and content publishers and providers of stock photography to further enhance the selection of high-quality greetings and unique images. Card and content publishers include: Andrews McMeel Publishing and Universal New Media; Art Resource, New York; Avanti ®; EthnoGraphics; First Impressions; Kaboom! Greeting Cards; United States Committee for UNICEF; and Thomas D. Mangelsen's Images of Nature. Providers of stock photography include: Photo Disc, the premiere provider of contemporary, commercial royalty-free digital stock photography; and Photos To Go, a leading provider of images for small business and personal use. Complete information about Amazon.com Cards is available at cards.amazon.com. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. It also operates Amazon.com Auctions, where sellers can offer items for sale to 8 million Amazon.com customers. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com/), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Note: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Amazon.com Cards includes animated selections and a wide variety of customized "fast, fun, free" cards</p><p>SEATTLE, April 27, 1999--/PR Newswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, today launched Amazon.com Cards, a free electronic greeting card service. Cards can be sent by visiting www.amazon.com and clicking on the e-cards tab.</p><p>The new site offers diverse styles of electronic greeting cards and a unique selection, with hundreds of illustrations, pictures, animated cards, and messages to choose from. Card senders also have the ability to customize their messages.</p><p>"Whether the occasion calls for a reproduction of Van Gogh's <em>Sunflowers</em>, a stunning landscape, an illustration of puppies, or off-the-wall humor, we'll have a card for you," said David Risher, Amazon.com senior vice president, product development. "There's something for everyone."</p><p>For example, today's date, April 27, is the anniversary of Babe Ruth Day, celebrated since 1947 to honor the Sultan of Swat. From the Amazon.com Cards home page (cards.amazon.com), you can click on Photography, then Sports, and it's easy to share the spirit of the day with a selection of baseball-themed e-cards. One choice is "All American," a photo of an old-fashioned baseball, glove, and a hot dog-one of the Babe's favorite foods. Sports fans can customize a Babe Ruth Day message or any others they choose.</p><p>Other upcoming days and Amazon.com Card pairings that are prime for an electronic greeting include: April 28--"Kiss Your Mate Day" (send "Kiss Enclosed" from the Love section); April 29--"Moment of Laughter Day" (send any selection from the Humor section); April 30--"Hairstylist Appreciation Day" (choose from many options in the Thanks section); and also April 30--"Arbor Day" (go to Photography, then Landscapes, and send "Among the Aspens").</p><p>"Amazon.com Cards offers an easy way to browse through hundreds of cards and pictures," said Risher. "We want our customers to benefit from a fun, fast, and free service that offers a great selection of online cards for a special holiday or just to say hi."</p><p>Amazon.com Cards is designed to be quick, easy, and convenient. The service is 100 percent free and does not require registration. The site features more than 800 different cards in 45 categories and will be updated regularly with an expanding selection to serve customers best. A "New Card" section highlights recent offerings, and a "Most Popular" section displays cards being sent most frequently. The Most Popular cards are sorted by category, providing a great shortcut when there is no time to browse.</p><p>Amazon.com identified a variety of top writers, illustrators and designers in the greeting card industry with distinct styles and backgrounds to create e-cards to celebrate every holiday or to just keep in touch. In addition, the company collaborated with well-known card and content publishers and providers of stock photography to further enhance the selection of high-quality greetings and unique images. Card and content publishers include: Andrews McMeel Publishing and Universal New Media; Art Resource, New York; Avanti ®; EthnoGraphics; First Impressions; Kaboom! Greeting Cards; United States Committee for UNICEF; and Thomas D. Mangelsen's Images of Nature. Providers of stock photography include: Photo Disc, the premiere provider of contemporary, commercial royalty-free digital stock photography; and Photos To Go, a leading provider of images for small business and personal use.</p><p>Complete information about Amazon.com Cards is available at cards.amazon.com.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology. It also operates Amazon.com Auctions, where sellers can offer items for sale to 8 million Amazon.com customers.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com/), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances.</p><p>More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Note: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Acquires Exchange.com, Adding More than 12 Million Book and Music Items for Sale and Auction

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Acquires-Exchange.com-Adding-More-than-12-Million-Book-and-Music-Items-for-Sale-and-Auction/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Acquires-Exchange.com-Adding-More-than-12-Million-Book-and-Music-Items-for-Sale-and-Auction

04/26/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Acquires Exchange.com, Adding More than 12 Million Book and Music Items for Sale and Auction

04/26/1999

1999

Operator of Bibliofind and MusicFile to Add Hard-to-Find Books and Music to Amazon.com; Two Additional Acquisitions Also Announced SEATTLE, April 26--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, today announced it has agreed to acquire Exchange.com, the premier online marketplace for hard-to-find, antiquarian, and used books at www.bibliofind.com and hard-to-find recordings and music memorabilia at www.musicfile.com. The acquisition will vastly enlarge and enrich Amazon.com's core book- and music-store offerings while providing Exchange.com's thousands of independent dealers and retailers the opportunity to sell and auction their hard-to-find books, recordings, and memorabilia to Amazon.com's growing base of 8 million experienced online shoppers. "This is a win for Amazon.com customers because it further increases our selection of rare and obscure items," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, "and it's a win for the thousands of independent dealers on Bibliofind.com and MusicFile.com who will now be able to reach our 8 million experienced online shoppers." Bibliofind.com's database of more than 9 million hard-to-find book listings makes searching for and ordering books fast, easy, and convenient. Bibliofind.com allows thousands of dealers of rare books to upload their inventories and manage their businesses online quickly and easily. The site offers several community-oriented features; members actively participate in nine forums on topics such as first editions and rare books. The site automatically matches want ads with newly available books and notifies potential buyers that sought-after books have been found. MusicFile.com is the Web's premier marketplace and community for collectors of hard-to-find music and memorabilia, with more than 3 million items for sale by retailers, dealers, and private collectors around the world. MusicFile.com also offers its members rich community features, including discussion forums and free home pages, fully commerce-enabled online storefronts, a want-ad posting and matching service, articles by knowledgeable members and respected experts, and a wealth of other resources for enthusiasts of every kind of music. Privately held Exchange.com (www.exchange.com) is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The acquisition was one of three separate substantially all-stock transactions totaling approximately $645 million disclosed by Amazon.com today. The three acquisitions are expected to close before June 30, 1999. In addition to the acquisition of Exchange.com, Amazon.com also announced agreements to acquire: Privately held Accept.com (www.accept.com), an e-commerce company currently developing longer-range solutions to simplify person-to-person and business-to-consumer transactions on the Internet. The company is based in Redwood City, California. Privately held Alexa Internet (www.alexa.com), which has developed a free advertising-supported Web navigation service that works with Internet browsers to provide useful information about the sites being viewed and suggest related sites. Alexa is based in San Francisco, California. Amazon.com is acquiring all of the outstanding shares and assuming all outstanding options of the three companies. The company expects to account for the transactions under the purchase method of accounting. The transactions are subject to customary closing conditions, including shareholder approval and expiration of the applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act of 1976. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Operator of Bibliofind and MusicFile to Add Hard-to-Find Books and Music to Amazon.com; Two Additional Acquisitions Also Announced</p><p>SEATTLE, April 26--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, today announced it has agreed to acquire Exchange.com, the premier online marketplace for hard-to-find, antiquarian, and used books at www.bibliofind.com and hard-to-find recordings and music memorabilia at www.musicfile.com.</p><p>The acquisition will vastly enlarge and enrich Amazon.com's core book- and music-store offerings while providing Exchange.com's thousands of independent dealers and retailers the opportunity to sell and auction their hard-to-find books, recordings, and memorabilia to Amazon.com's growing base of 8 million experienced online shoppers.</p><p>"This is a win for Amazon.com customers because it further increases our selection of rare and obscure items," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, "and it's a win for the thousands of independent dealers on Bibliofind.com and MusicFile.com who will now be able to reach our 8 million experienced online shoppers."</p><p>Bibliofind.com's database of more than 9 million hard-to-find book listings makes searching for and ordering books fast, easy, and convenient. Bibliofind.com allows thousands of dealers of rare books to upload their inventories and manage their businesses online quickly and easily. The site offers several community-oriented features; members actively participate in nine forums on topics such as first editions and rare books. The site automatically matches want ads with newly available books and notifies potential buyers that sought-after books have been found.</p><p>MusicFile.com is the Web's premier marketplace and community for collectors of hard-to-find music and memorabilia, with more than 3 million items for sale by retailers, dealers, and private collectors around the world. MusicFile.com also offers its members rich community features, including discussion forums and free home pages, fully commerce-enabled online storefronts, a want-ad posting and matching service, articles by knowledgeable members and respected experts, and a wealth of other resources for enthusiasts of every kind of music.</p><p>Privately held Exchange.com (www.exchange.com) is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The acquisition was one of three separate substantially all-stock transactions totaling approximately $645 million disclosed by Amazon.com today. The three acquisitions are expected to close before June 30, 1999. In addition to the acquisition of Exchange.com, Amazon.com also announced agreements to acquire:</p><ul><li>Privately held Accept.com (www.accept.com), an e-commerce company currently developing longer-range solutions to simplify person-to-person and business-to-consumer transactions on the Internet. The company is based in Redwood City, California.</li><li>Privately held Alexa Internet (www.alexa.com), which has developed a free advertising-supported Web navigation service that works with Internet browsers to provide useful information about the sites being viewed and suggest related sites. Alexa is based in San Francisco, California.</li></ul><p>Amazon.com is acquiring all of the outstanding shares and assuming all outstanding options of the three companies. The company expects to account for the transactions under the purchase method of accounting. The transactions are subject to customary closing conditions, including shareholder approval and expiration of the applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act of 1976.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, risks related to auction services, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Thinks Moms Deserve the Very Best

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Thinks-Moms-Deserve-the-Very-Best/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Thinks-Moms-Deserve-the-Very-Best

04/26/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Thinks Moms Deserve the Very Best

04/26/1999

1999

Expanded Gift Store Helps Shoppers Find the Perfect Gifts for Mother's Day SEATTLE, April 26, 1999--/PRNewswire/--To help provide moms with the very best this Mother's Day, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, has expanded its Gift store to provide creative new gift ideas and a unique selection for one-stop gift shopping. Mother's Day kicks off the spring gift-giving season. Whether it's Mother's Day, Father's Day, or graduation, the Amazon.com Gift store brings together the best of the best for all occasions. Besides Amazon.com's 4.7 million book, video, and music-CD titles, the Gift store now offers sparkling diamond heart earrings, Cross pens, leather checkbook clutches, tapestry book covers, sumptuous gift baskets, bouquets of fresh-cut flowers, delightful perfumes, relaxing products for the bath and body, and a vast array of garden tools. Together with FragranceNet.com, Garden.com, GourmetMarket.com (OTC: BB: WINE), and ProFlowers.com, the Amazon.com Gift store offers a wide variety of enchanting gifts for all types of Mother's Day celebrations. "The Amazon.com Gift store is the perfect one-stop shopping solution for moms, dads, and grads," said, David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president, product development. "The Amazon.com Gift store caters to all occasions and all types of shoppers. If you're struggling with someone who has everything, we'll offer solutions. If the recipient has specific interests, we'll offer suggestions. If you're a last-day shopper, we'll overnight it. If it's the last minute, we can send an e-mail gift certificate. We'll do whatever it takes to ensure the perfect shopping experience and the perfect gift." The Amazon.com Gift store has doubled in size since launching in November 1998 and remains focused on helping shoppers find, discover, and buy specially selected gifts for any occasion. Shop by a specific product, interest, age, or occasion, or use the Custom Gift Matcher to find the ideal gift for the person who has everything. Everyday gift ideas are added daily at the Gift store and include everything from a list of most-wanted gifts to small treasures to coffee-table books, videos, and puzzles. As always, Amazon.com will gift-wrap purchases and send them directly to recipients. Amazon.com also offers e-mail and traditional paper gift certificates. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Expanded Gift Store Helps Shoppers Find the Perfect Gifts for Mother's Day</p><p>SEATTLE, April 26, 1999--/PRNewswire/--To help provide moms with the very best this Mother's Day, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, has expanded its Gift store to provide creative new gift ideas and a unique selection for one-stop gift shopping.</p><p>Mother's Day kicks off the spring gift-giving season. Whether it's Mother's Day, Father's Day, or graduation, the Amazon.com Gift store brings together the best of the best for all occasions.</p><p>Besides Amazon.com's 4.7 million book, video, and music-CD titles, the Gift store now offers sparkling diamond heart earrings, Cross pens, leather checkbook clutches, tapestry book covers, sumptuous gift baskets, bouquets of fresh-cut flowers, delightful perfumes, relaxing products for the bath and body, and a vast array of garden tools. Together with FragranceNet.com, Garden.com, GourmetMarket.com (OTC: BB: WINE), and ProFlowers.com, the Amazon.com Gift store offers a wide variety of enchanting gifts for all types of Mother's Day celebrations.</p><p>"The Amazon.com Gift store is the perfect one-stop shopping solution for moms, dads, and grads," said, David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president, product development. "The Amazon.com Gift store caters to all occasions and all types of shoppers. If you're struggling with someone who has everything, we'll offer solutions. If the recipient has specific interests, we'll offer suggestions. If you're a last-day shopper, we'll overnight it. If it's the last minute, we can send an e-mail gift certificate. We'll do whatever it takes to ensure the perfect shopping experience and the perfect gift."</p><p>The Amazon.com Gift store has doubled in size since launching in November 1998 and remains focused on helping shoppers find, discover, and buy specially selected gifts for any occasion. Shop by a specific product, interest, age, or occasion, or use the Custom Gift Matcher to find the ideal gift for the person who has everything. Everyday gift ideas are added daily at the Gift store and include everything from a list of most-wanted gifts to small treasures to coffee-table books, videos, and puzzles. As always, Amazon.com will gift-wrap purchases and send them directly to recipients. Amazon.com also offers e-mail and traditional paper gift certificates.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click^SM technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com, Sarah McLachlan, and Liquid Audio Offer Music Fans Two Exclusive Digital Downloads from McLachlan's Upcoming New Album

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Sarah-McLachlan-and-Liquid-Audio-Offer-Music-Fans-Two-Exclusive-Digital-Downloads-from-McLachlans-Upcoming-New-Album/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Sarah-McLachlan-and-Liquid-Audio-Offer-Music-Fans-Two-Exclusive-Digital-Downloads-from-McLachlans-Upcoming-New-Album

04/20/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com, Sarah McLachlan, and Liquid Audio Offer Music Fans Two Exclusive Digital Downloads from McLachlan's Upcoming New Album

04/20/1999

1999

New live versions of "Building a Mystery" and "I Will Remember You" available for download exclusively at Amazon.com for nine weeks prior to the new album's release SEATTLE, April 20, 1999--Amazon.com, the No. 1 music retailer on the Internet, announced today an exclusive joint effort with multiplatinum recording artist Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk/Arista Records, and Liquid Audio, Inc. Amazon.com is the first Internet retailer to offer free digital downloads to promote an upcoming release by a major recording artist. The multifaceted promotion features free digital downloads of two new recordings from McLachlan's highly anticipated live album, Mirrorball, which is slated for a June 15 release. As of today, Amazon.com visitors can download for free new, live versions of "Building a Mystery" and "I Will Remember You," at Amazon.com's music store at www.amazon.com/sarah-exclusive. Music fans will be able to hear the two new McLachlan songs nine weeks in advance of the album's release date. Both songs can be downloaded exclusively at Amazon.com using Liquid Player software, which provides state-of-the-art sound and security technology to ensure copyright protection. In addition to the free downloads, music fans will enjoy a number of other Sarah McLachlan exclusives as part of this multifaceted promotion. Amazon.com visitors will be able to: Save 30% on pre-orders of Sarah McLachlan's Mirrorball CD, as well as the Lilith Fair, Vol. II and Lilith Fair, Vol. III CDs, a pair of upcoming releases culled from last year's Lilith Fair performances. Bid on 10 signed color lithographs of McLachlan's original artwork, available exclusively at Amazon.com Auctions. All proceeds will go to McLachlan's chosen charity, LIFEbeat, a non-profit AIDS resource and awareness organization. Save 20% on Plenty: A Collection of Sarah McLachlan's Favourite Recipes, a cookbook available in the U.S. exclusively at Amazon.com until July. Read and listen to an exclusive Amazon.com interview with McLachlan, as she waxes eloquently on everything from her new album to her future plans for motherhood to her affinity for Kermit the Frog. Read the latest news about Sarah and this summer's highly anticipated 3rd annual Lilith Fair tour (founded by McLachlan). "Customers want digital downloads from major artists like Sarah McLachlan, and we're thrilled to be working with her," said Jennifer Cast, general manager of Amazon.com's music store. "These exclusive, free digital downloads are a terrific way to promote Sarah's new album, and I know you'll see many more like these at Amazon.com in the near future. We are encouraging labels and artists who want to introduce their major new releases to millions of music buyers to join us in maximizing the promotional power of the digital download." "We are very excited about this promotion and the great opportunity it presents to build awareness for the album," said Jim Swindel, senior vice president of sales for Arista Records. "Sarah and I are very excited about the initiative with Amazon.com," said Terry McBride, president, Nettwerk Management and McLachlan's manager. "This is an incredible opportunity for us to promote Sarah's new album while providing her fans with a unique perspective on Sarah that they can't get anywhere else." "Liquid Audio's digital-music-distribution services and software enable the secure promotion and sale of digital music on the Internet in all leading formats to all leading digital music players," said Gerry Kearby, chief executive officer of Liquid Audio. "Because our distribution services are powered by Liquid System software, they provide the security, scalability, rights reporting, and user experience which Internet music sites, such as Amazon.com, require to promote and sell music safely." About the Amazon.com Music StoreAs the world leader in online music sales, the Amazon.com music store not only offers a superb selection of CDs across all music categories (25 times more CDs than the typical physical music store), but also provides the best shopping experience to consumers. Featuring everyday low prices (savings of up to 30%), unsurpassed customer service and safety, and the convenience of shopping from one's home 24 hours a day, the Amazon.com music store also offers a wealth of features to help customers discover music they'll love. From alternative to zydeco, hip-hop to bebop, Amazon.com's music store offers customers everything from the latest releases to hard-to-find gems in any music genre. The best place to discover and buy music, the Amazon.com music store features thousands of reviews by Amazon.com staff editors and nationally known critics, song samples, artist interviews, lists of essential albums by style, artist and year, helpful introductions to classical, jazz, and international music, thousands of bestseller lists, music in the news, customer reviews, and personalized music recommendations. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. It also operates Amazon.com Auctions, where sellers can offer items for sale to 8 million Amazon.com customers. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com/, the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, intense competition, risks associated with system interruption, management of potential growth, high leverage and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Note: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About Liquid AudioFormed by veterans of the music industry and professional recording engineers, Liquid Audio is leading the convergence of music and technology to establish the Internet as a new medium for music distribution. Liquid Audio is the leading provider of services and software that enable musicians, record labels, and music retailers to deliver professional-quality music digitally via the Internet. The company's software and services are based on an open architecture that supports music distribution in all leading digital-music formats to all leading music players. Available for free download at www.liquidaudio.com, the Liquid™ Player software allows consumers to preview and purchase CD-quality music over the Internet from hundreds of music Web sites while protecting artists' copyrights and tracking royalties. Liquid, Liquid Audio, Inc., Liquid Audio, the Liquid Audio logo, Liquifier, Liquid Music, and Liquid Operations Center are trademarks of Liquid Audio, Inc.

<p>New live versions of "Building a Mystery" and "I Will Remember You" available for download exclusively at Amazon.com for nine weeks prior to the new album's release</p><p>SEATTLE, April 20, 1999--Amazon.com, the No. 1 music retailer on the Internet, announced today an exclusive joint effort with multiplatinum recording artist Sarah McLachlan, Nettwerk/Arista Records, and Liquid Audio, Inc. Amazon.com is the first Internet retailer to offer free digital downloads to promote an upcoming release by a major recording artist. The multifaceted promotion features free digital downloads of two new recordings from McLachlan's highly anticipated live album, <em>Mirrorball</em>, which is slated for a June 15 release.</p><p>As of today, Amazon.com visitors can download for free new, live versions of "Building a Mystery" and "I Will Remember You," at Amazon.com's music store at www.amazon.com/sarah-exclusive. Music fans will be able to hear the two new McLachlan songs nine weeks in advance of the album's release date. Both songs can be downloaded exclusively at Amazon.com using Liquid Player software, which provides state-of-the-art sound and security technology to ensure copyright protection.</p><p>In addition to the free downloads, music fans will enjoy a number of other Sarah McLachlan exclusives as part of this multifaceted promotion. Amazon.com visitors will be able to:</p><ul><li>Save 30% on pre-orders of Sarah McLachlan's <em>Mirrorball</em> CD, as well as the <em>Lilith Fair, Vol. II</em> and <em>Lilith Fair, Vol. III</em> CDs, a pair of upcoming releases culled from last year's Lilith Fair performances.</li><li>Bid on 10 signed color lithographs of McLachlan's original artwork, available exclusively at Amazon.com Auctions. All proceeds will go to McLachlan's chosen charity, LIFEbeat, a non-profit AIDS resource and awareness organization.</li><li>Save 20% on <em>Plenty: A Collection of Sarah McLachlan's Favourite Recipes</em>, a cookbook available in the U.S. exclusively at Amazon.com until July.</li><li>Read and listen to an exclusive Amazon.com interview with McLachlan, as she waxes eloquently on everything from her new album to her future plans for motherhood to her affinity for Kermit the Frog.</li><li>Read the latest news about Sarah and this summer's highly anticipated 3rd annual Lilith Fair tour (founded by McLachlan).</li></ul><p>"Customers want digital downloads from major artists like Sarah McLachlan, and we're thrilled to be working with her," said Jennifer Cast, general manager of Amazon.com's music store. "These exclusive, free digital downloads are a terrific way to promote Sarah's new album, and I know you'll see many more like these at Amazon.com in the near future. We are encouraging labels and artists who want to introduce their major new releases to millions of music buyers to join us in maximizing the promotional power of the digital download."</p><p>"We are very excited about this promotion and the great opportunity it presents to build awareness for the album," said Jim Swindel, senior vice president of sales for Arista Records.</p><p>"Sarah and I are very excited about the initiative with Amazon.com," said Terry McBride, president, Nettwerk Management and McLachlan's manager. "This is an incredible opportunity for us to promote Sarah's new album while providing her fans with a unique perspective on Sarah that they can't get anywhere else."</p><p>"Liquid Audio's digital-music-distribution services and software enable the secure promotion and sale of digital music on the Internet in all leading formats to all leading digital music players," said Gerry Kearby, chief executive officer of Liquid Audio. "Because our distribution services are powered by Liquid System software, they provide the security, scalability, rights reporting, and user experience which Internet music sites, such as Amazon.com, require to promote and sell music safely."</p><p>About the Amazon.com Music StoreAs the world leader in online music sales, the Amazon.com music store not only offers a superb selection of CDs across all music categories (25 times more CDs than the typical physical music store), but also provides the best shopping experience to consumers. Featuring everyday low prices (savings of up to 30%), unsurpassed customer service and safety, and the convenience of shopping from one's home 24 hours a day, the Amazon.com music store also offers a wealth of features to help customers discover music they'll love. From alternative to zydeco, hip-hop to bebop, Amazon.com's music store offers customers everything from the latest releases to hard-to-find gems in any music genre. The best place to discover and buy music, the Amazon.com music store features thousands of reviews by Amazon.com staff editors and nationally known critics, song samples, artist interviews, lists of essential albums by style, artist and year, helpful introductions to classical, jazz, and international music, thousands of bestseller lists, music in the news, customer reviews, and personalized music recommendations.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. It also operates Amazon.com Auctions, where sellers can offer items for sale to 8 million Amazon.com customers.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com/, the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, intense competition, risks associated with system interruption, management of potential growth, high leverage and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances.</p><p>More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Note: Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About Liquid AudioFormed by veterans of the music industry and professional recording engineers, Liquid Audio is leading the convergence of music and technology to establish the Internet as a new medium for music distribution. Liquid Audio is the leading provider of services and software that enable musicians, record labels, and music retailers to deliver professional-quality music digitally via the Internet. The company's software and services are based on an open architecture that supports music distribution in all leading digital-music formats to all leading music players. Available for free download at www.liquidaudio.com, the Liquid™ Player software allows consumers to preview and purchase CD-quality music over the Internet from hundreds of music Web sites while protecting artists' copyrights and tracking royalties. Liquid, Liquid Audio, Inc., Liquid Audio, the Liquid Audio logo, Liquifier, Liquid Music, and Liquid Operations Center are trademarks of Liquid Audio, Inc.</p>

Amazon.com to Open Kansas Distribution Center to Meet Rapid Growth

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-to-Open-Kansas-Distribution-Center-to-Meet-Rapid-Growth/default.aspx

Amazon.com-to-Open-Kansas-Distribution-Center-to-Meet-Rapid-Growth

04/13/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com to Open Kansas Distribution Center to Meet Rapid Growth

04/13/1999

1999

Shoppers to benefit from faster shipping times, greater availability SEATTLE, April 13, 1999--As part of its ongoing commitment to continually enhance service to customers, leading online retailer Amazon.com has obtained a distribution facility in Coffeyville, Kansas, that will allow the company to reduce standard shipping times to key markets in the Midwest and Southeast United States. The existing 460,000-square-foot facility will be expanded to more than 750,000 square feet this year. This will be the largest Amazon.com distribution facility to date and will allow Amazon.com, the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No. 1 book retailer, to significantly increase the number of books, CDs, videos, and other products kept on hand for immediate shipment to customers. The result is that customers in such places as Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, and Minneapolis will receive their orders much faster, thanks to greater availability, quicker processing, and shorter delivery times. "Everything we do at Amazon.com is designed to continually enhance the customer experience, and reducing delivery times does exactly that," said Jimmy Wright, Amazon.com's chief logistics officer. "This facility is so large that we can stock an incredible number of titles ready to ship right away." The Coffeyville facility gives Amazon.com distribution capability that will help the company better serve its customers. Located in southeast Kansas between Wichita, Joplin, and Tulsa at the intersection of U.S. 166 and U.S. 169, the facility was formerly occupied by Golden Books. It will be leased by Amazon.com and is expected to begin operations during the second half of 1999. Terms of the lease were not disclosed. By year's end, Amazon.com expects its Coffeyville facility will employ more than 500 people. Amazon.com will have recruiters at the Coffeyville facility for an open house on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 16 to 18, to receive applications. The hours of the open house are: Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The company is accepting résumés for a variety of positions, including distribution center associates, operations managers, human resources manager, facilities manager, and area managers. In addition, the company has established a toll-free job line at (877) 975-4273 and will take applications by e-mail at ksjobs@amazon.com. This is the third major regionally targeted increase in Amazon.com's distribution capability. In January 1999, the company announced that it obtained a 322,560-square-foot facility in Fernley, Nevada, outside of Reno. In November 1997, the company opened a 202,000-square-foot center in New Castle, Delaware, outside Philadelphia. The company's Seattle distribution center has 93,000 square feet of space. The Coffeyville distribution center will be operated by Amazon.com.ksdc, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN). About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. It also operates Amazon.com Auctions, where sellers can offer items for sale to 8 million Amazon.com customers. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click, are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Shoppers to benefit from faster shipping times, greater availability</p><p>SEATTLE, April 13, 1999--As part of its ongoing commitment to continually enhance service to customers, leading online retailer Amazon.com has obtained a distribution facility in Coffeyville, Kansas, that will allow the company to reduce standard shipping times to key markets in the Midwest and Southeast United States.</p><p>The existing 460,000-square-foot facility will be expanded to more than 750,000 square feet this year. This will be the largest Amazon.com distribution facility to date and will allow Amazon.com, the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No. 1 book retailer, to significantly increase the number of books, CDs, videos, and other products kept on hand for immediate shipment to customers.</p><p>The result is that customers in such places as Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, and Minneapolis will receive their orders much faster, thanks to greater availability, quicker processing, and shorter delivery times.</p><p>"Everything we do at Amazon.com is designed to continually enhance the customer experience, and reducing delivery times does exactly that," said Jimmy Wright, Amazon.com's chief logistics officer. "This facility is so large that we can stock an incredible number of titles ready to ship right away."</p><p>The Coffeyville facility gives Amazon.com distribution capability that will help the company better serve its customers. Located in southeast Kansas between Wichita, Joplin, and Tulsa at the intersection of U.S. 166 and U.S. 169, the facility was formerly occupied by Golden Books. It will be leased by Amazon.com and is expected to begin operations during the second half of 1999. Terms of the lease were not disclosed.</p><p>By year's end, Amazon.com expects its Coffeyville facility will employ more than 500 people. Amazon.com will have recruiters at the Coffeyville facility for an open house on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 16 to 18, to receive applications. The hours of the open house are: Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The company is accepting résumés for a variety of positions, including distribution center associates, operations managers, human resources manager, facilities manager, and area managers. In addition, the company has established a toll-free job line at (877) 975-4273 and will take applications by e-mail at ksjobs@amazon.com.</p><p>This is the third major regionally targeted increase in Amazon.com's distribution capability. In January 1999, the company announced that it obtained a 322,560-square-foot facility in Fernley, Nevada, outside of Reno. In November 1997, the company opened a 202,000-square-foot center in New Castle, Delaware, outside Philadelphia. The company's Seattle distribution center has 93,000 square feet of space.</p><p>The Coffeyville distribution center will be operated by Amazon.com.ksdc, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN).</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer online auctions and more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. It also operates Amazon.com Auctions, where sellers can offer items for sale to 8 million Amazon.com customers.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click, are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Agrees to Purchase LiveBid.com, the Internet's Only Provider of Live Auctions

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Agrees-to-Purchase-LiveBid.com-the-Internets-Only-Provider-of-Live-Auctions/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Agrees-to-Purchase-LiveBid.com-the-Internets-Only-Provider-of-Live-Auctions

04/12/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Agrees to Purchase LiveBid.com, the Internet's Only Provider of Live Auctions

04/12/1999

1999

Acquisition to Give Traditional Auction Houses Full Access to the Power of Internet Commerce SEATTLE, April 12--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, has agreed to purchase LiveBid.com (http://www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet, to expand and enrich Amazon.com's recently launched Auctions service. The transaction will pair Amazon.com's 8 million customers with the LiveBid.com proprietary software to give local and regional auction houses full access to a vast Internet auction community. LiveBid.com is a Seattle-based company formed in 1996 that pioneered live, event-based auctions on the Internet. Utilizing LiveBid.com's patent-pending real-time software technology, auction houses are able to broadcast their auctions over the Internet. Online bidders can participate in live auctions in real time, competing directly with bidders present at the auction site. "The big winners here are the world's traditional auction houses," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/). "Appraisal and authentication are important, and no one can do it better than established and expert auctioneers. We're going to actively team up with them so they can expand their reach with LiveBid.com's technology and Amazon.com's 8 million customers." LiveBid.com's technology has been used successfully with a number of notable auctions at some of the nation's leading auction houses, including the 1999 O.J. Simpson estate auction; the auction of the only complete Titanic ticket in existence; the renowned Kruse International Scottsdale Classic Car Show, one of the world's largest collector-car auctions, where the original Batmobile featured in the movie Batman Returns was sold to an Internet bidder; and the auction of an actual 460-acre Victorian village in Moodus, Connecticut. "We're thrilled to continue our support of the auction industry in this agreement with Amazon.com," said Matt Williams, president of LiveBid.com. "This is the next logical step for the auction industry to grow by incorporating the technology and power of the Internet. "There will be no geographic barriers between auctioneers and bidders," Williams said. "We like to think of it as expanding the buyer base of an auction house by using a mouse as a paddle." Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The merger is expected to close within the quarter, subject to customary closing conditions. About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. It also operates Amazon.com Auctions, where sellers can offer items for sale to 8 million Amazon.com customers. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Acquisition to Give Traditional Auction Houses Full Access to the Power of Internet Commerce</p><p>SEATTLE, April 12--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, has agreed to purchase LiveBid.com (http://www.livebid.com), the sole provider of live-event auctions on the Internet, to expand and enrich Amazon.com's recently launched Auctions service.</p><p>The transaction will pair Amazon.com's 8 million customers with the LiveBid.com proprietary software to give local and regional auction houses full access to a vast Internet auction community.</p><p>LiveBid.com is a Seattle-based company formed in 1996 that pioneered live, event-based auctions on the Internet. Utilizing LiveBid.com's patent-pending real-time software technology, auction houses are able to broadcast their auctions over the Internet. Online bidders can participate in live auctions in real time, competing directly with bidders present at the auction site.</p><p>"The big winners here are the world's traditional auction houses," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/). "Appraisal and authentication are important, and no one can do it better than established and expert auctioneers. We're going to actively team up with them so they can expand their reach with LiveBid.com's technology and Amazon.com's 8 million customers."</p><p>LiveBid.com's technology has been used successfully with a number of notable auctions at some of the nation's leading auction houses, including the 1999 O.J. Simpson estate auction; the auction of the only complete <em>Titanic</em> ticket in existence; the renowned Kruse International Scottsdale Classic Car Show, one of the world's largest collector-car auctions, where the original Batmobile featured in the movie <em>Batman Returns</em> was sold to an Internet bidder; and the auction of an actual 460-acre Victorian village in Moodus, Connecticut.</p><p>"We're thrilled to continue our support of the auction industry in this agreement with Amazon.com," said Matt Williams, president of LiveBid.com. "This is the next logical step for the auction industry to grow by incorporating the technology and power of the Internet.</p><p>"There will be no geographic barriers between auctioneers and bidders," Williams said. "We like to think of it as expanding the buyer base of an auction house by using a mouse as a paddle."</p><p>Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The merger is expected to close within the quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-ClickSM technology. It also operates Amazon.com Auctions, where sellers can offer items for sale to 8 million Amazon.com customers.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.com Auctions, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, and Drugstore.com Reach Settlement Agreement

/news/news-details/1999/Wal-Mart-Amazon.com-and-Drugstore.com-Reach-Settlement-Agreement/default.aspx

Wal-Mart-Amazon.com-and-Drugstore.com-Reach-Settlement-Agreement

04/05/1999 00:00:00

Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, and Drugstore.com Reach Settlement Agreement

04/05/1999

1999

SEATTLE, April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), drugstore.com, Richard Dalzell, and Kleiner Perkins announced a settlement agreement in the lawsuit filed by Wal-Mart on January 4, 1999, in Seattle, Washington, and the counter suit brought by Amazon.com, drugstore.com and Dalzell against Wal-Mart on February 22, 1999, in Seattle, Washington. The settlement agreement includes all defendants in the suit and settles all claims and counter claims. Wal-Mart had originally filed the lawsuit in Chancery Court in Benton County, Arkansas, on October 16, 1998. The Arkansas action was dismissed in early 1999. Amazon.com and drugstore.com have agreed to reassign some former Wal-Mart Information Systems associates and vendors to tasks different than their assignments at Wal-Mart. The return of any Wal-Mart property still in the possession of any former associates or vendors is required. No damages will be paid by any party. "While we will not speak to the specifics of the settlement, the terms of the agreement provide us with the assurances of confidentiality we were seeking. We also make this agreement with the good faith knowledge that our computer systems and business processes are protected as all of our companies move forward," said Robert Rhoads, Wal-Mart Senior Vice President and General Counsel. "Amazon.com and drugstore.com are only interested in hiring the most qualified and talented individuals. This agreement allows us to continue to do so," said Bill Curry, Amazon.com's spokesperson. "Neither company has any interest or desire to obtain proprietary information or trade secrets from another company. We are glad to put this issue behind us so we can keep our focus where it belongs--on our customers." "The computer systems and business processes at Wal-Mart have been developed in-house by our associates over many years," Rhoads added. "We will continue to protect the proprietary systems and processes that provide Wal-Mart with a competitive advantage. We owe it to our Wal-Mart associates and shareholders to protect their interest, investment and trust as we continue to compete fairly in the global marketplace." drugstore.com (www.drugstore.com) is an online source for thousands of brand-name health, beauty and wellness products, combined with a wealth of decision-making information and resources to educate and inform consumers to take charge of their personal health and well-being. Based in Redmond, Washington, the company is headed by President and CEO Peter Neupert, a former senior Microsoft executive. drugstore.com is funded by Amazon.com, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Maveron LLC and Liberty Media. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. It also operates Amazon.com Auctions, where sellers can offer items for sale to 8 million Amazon.com customers. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, intense competition, risks associated with system interruption, management of potential growth, high leverage and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Note: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. which operates over 2,400 stores and over 450 SAM'S Clubs across the nation is also the nation's largest private employer with over 900,000 associates in the United States. Last year, Wal-Mart raised and contributed over $127 million to local non-profit organizations. Wal-Mart also has operations in Canada, Mexico, China, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Puerto Rico and Korea. Wal-Mart stock (WMT) is traded on both the New York and Pacific Stock Exchanges.

<p>SEATTLE, April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), drugstore.com, Richard Dalzell, and Kleiner Perkins announced a settlement agreement in the lawsuit filed by Wal-Mart on January 4, 1999, in Seattle, Washington, and the counter suit brought by Amazon.com, drugstore.com and Dalzell against Wal-Mart on February 22, 1999, in Seattle, Washington. The settlement agreement includes all defendants in the suit and settles all claims and counter claims.</p><p>Wal-Mart had originally filed the lawsuit in Chancery Court in Benton County, Arkansas, on October 16, 1998. The Arkansas action was dismissed in early 1999.</p><p>Amazon.com and drugstore.com have agreed to reassign some former Wal-Mart Information Systems associates and vendors to tasks different than their assignments at Wal-Mart. The return of any Wal-Mart property still in the possession of any former associates or vendors is required. No damages will be paid by any party.</p><p>"While we will not speak to the specifics of the settlement, the terms of the agreement provide us with the assurances of confidentiality we were seeking. We also make this agreement with the good faith knowledge that our computer systems and business processes are protected as all of our companies move forward," said Robert Rhoads, Wal-Mart Senior Vice President and General Counsel.</p><p>"Amazon.com and drugstore.com are only interested in hiring the most qualified and talented individuals. This agreement allows us to continue to do so," said Bill Curry, Amazon.com's spokesperson. "Neither company has any interest or desire to obtain proprietary information or trade secrets from another company. We are glad to put this issue behind us so we can keep our focus where it belongs--on our customers."</p><p>"The computer systems and business processes at Wal-Mart have been developed in-house by our associates over many years," Rhoads added. "We will continue to protect the proprietary systems and processes that provide Wal-Mart with a competitive advantage. We owe it to our Wal-Mart associates and shareholders to protect their interest, investment and trust as we continue to compete fairly in the global marketplace."</p><p>drugstore.com (www.drugstore.com) is an online source for thousands of brand-name health, beauty and wellness products, combined with a wealth of decision-making information and resources to educate and inform consumers to take charge of their personal health and well-being. Based in Redmond, Washington, the company is headed by President and CEO Peter Neupert, a former senior Microsoft executive. drugstore.com is funded by Amazon.com, Kleiner Perkins Caufield &amp; Byers, Maveron LLC and Liberty Media.</p><p>Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. It also operates Amazon.com Auctions, where sellers can offer items for sale to 8 million Amazon.com customers.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, intense competition, risks associated with system interruption, management of potential growth, high leverage and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances.</p><p>More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Note: Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. which operates over 2,400 stores and over 450 SAM'S Clubs across the nation is also the nation's largest private employer with over 900,000 associates in the United States. Last year, Wal-Mart raised and contributed over $127 million to local non-profit organizations. Wal-Mart also has operations in Canada, Mexico, China, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Puerto Rico and Korea. Wal-Mart stock (WMT) is traded on both the New York and Pacific Stock Exchanges.</p>

Amazon.com Launches Online Auction Site

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Launches-Online-Auction-Site/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Launches-Online-Auction-Site

03/30/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Launches Online Auction Site

03/30/1999

1999

Third-party sellers can now reach Amazon.com's community of 8 million pre-registered, experienced online buyers SEATTLE, March 30, 1999--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer (www.amazon.com), today opened Amazon.com Auctions to help people find, discover, buy--and now sell--virtually anything online. Amazon.com's 8 million customers are pre-registered to begin buying and selling immediately in more than 800 categories, such as Antique Scientific Instruments, Duck Stamps, Animation Art, Star Wars Trading Cards, Madame Alexander Dolls, Depression Glass, Vintage Clothing, Digital Cameras, and more. In the Amazon.com tradition, the new service is easy to use, with innovative and time-saving features such as Bid-Click(SM) for hassle-free bidding. Amazon.com is doing something bold with online auctions by guaranteeing buyers a safe auction experience. The Amazon.com Auctions Guarantee covers purchases of up to $250 in the event that a buyer does not receive what a seller promised. This is not insurance, there is no deductible, and there is no third party to deal with-it's a simple guarantee. Additional measures to ensure a safe online auction community include a community-wide rating and feedback system. "Our community of shoppers is the largest online," said Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. "Now, for the first time, anyone can introduce their products to that community. Whether you're a professional retailer or an individual with one item to sell, there's no other way to reach 8 million pre-registered, experienced online buyers." In an important innovation, sellers will automatically have their auctions cross-merchandized across Amazon.com's millions of book, CD, and video product pages. For example, an actual chair from Rick's Café in the movie Casablanca is now being auctioned at Amazon.com by the seller StarWares on Main. With Amazon.com's proprietary cross-merchandising software, the chair will be displayed on the Web site pages where the Casablanca soundtrack, books, DVDs, and videos are sold. Among the items currently placed on auction by sellers are one of the world's most sought-after toy trains, the 1950 Lionel Golden Anniversary Mighty Hudson Set (The Train Station); a rare red-vinyl pressing of the Beatles' "White Album" (Rockaway Records); a Frank Sinatra-autographed photograph (ArtRock); a very rare, self-published book of poetry by Jim Morrison, American Prayer (Rockaway Records); and tens of thousands of more items. To celebrate the opening of Amazon.com Auctions, all first-time winning bidders will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift certificate. Gift certificates will be issued through June 30, 1999, and are redeemable in Amazon.com's book, music, video, and gift stores. Also, to mark the opening, Amazon.com is hosting a charity auction to benefit World Wildlife Fund's efforts to preserve endangered animals in the Amazon River Basin. Starting today, rare and unique items, ranging in value from about $40 to more than $100,000, will be put on the online auction block--with bids starting at $1 and no minimum sales price. Included in the charity auction is one of the three original door-desks built by Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos in the garage where Amazon.com was started. "Maybe it'll bring somebody good luck," said Bezos, "or maybe it's just a used door-desk." Other charity auction items include: Rebel Without a Cause (James Dean), an original painting by Andy Warhol 1937 edition of Gone with the Wind (book), signed by Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, and 18 other members of the original film cast 1985 Fender Squier Stratocaster guitar signed by Eric Clapton Signed photo of Albert Einstein Ken Griffey Jr. autographed game-used jersey Limited edition A Farewell to Arms, signed by author Ernest Hemingway Ty Employee Beanie Baby No. 1 Giant-Size X-Men Comic Book, 1975 Limited-edition Winnie the Pooh signed by A.A. Milne and original illustrator Rare Greta Garbo signature, on a signed contract agreeing to shorten her name to just Garbo Jailhouse Rock photograph signed and inscribed by Elvis Presley Signed and inscribed John F. Kennedy photograph in presidential frame American Bandstand sheet music signed by Chubby Checker, Dick Clark, and others Most rare 1877 Indian-head penny, grade 63--nearly perfect Full-size Beach Boys surfboard from the L.A. (Light Album) Mutiny on the Bounty (book) signed by the original cast of the 1935 film (Clark Gable et al.) Signed Abraham Lincoln document, framed, with photo Complete set of first-edition James Bond novels by Ian Fleming Innocents Abroad signed by author both as Mark Twain and Samuel Clemens John F. Kennedy Life magazine memorial edition given by Jackie Kennedy to JFK's sister Check signed by Babe Ruth, framed with photo Dolly Parton 9 to 5 gold record for soundtrack title single given to song's producer Letter to Dean Martin terminating his MGM contract (also signed by Martin) Mixed collection of 100 Beanie Babies Stamp that traveled on an early Challenger shuttle mission Signed photograph from James Dean's assumed last trip home Brave and the Bold comic, No. 28, 1960, introduction of Justice League of America Limited edition of Brave New World signed by Aldous Huxley Document signed by Frank Sinatra giving photo permission of himself and Gene Kelly Complete set of U.S. peace dollars, 1921 to 1935 Contract signed by Elvis Presley for songs in Jailhouse Rock Early edition of The Fountainhead signed by the author, Ayn Rand First-edition copy of My Trip Abroad, signed by the author, Charlie Chaplin Photo of Apollo XI lunar module landing, signed by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins The Deep (book) signed by 1977 film cast members, including Nick Nolte, Lou Gosset Jr., and Jacqueline Bisset Original Frank Interlandi-signed cartoon inscribed to JFK's sister Pat Lawford Sammy Davis Jr.'s unsigned American Express platinum card Complete information about Amazon.com Auctions and the Auctions Guarantee is available at www.amazon.com. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, intense competition, risks associated with system interruption, management of potential growth, high leverage, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Third-party sellers can now reach Amazon.com's community of 8 million pre-registered, experienced online buyers</p><p>SEATTLE, March 30, 1999--/PRNewswire/--Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer (www.amazon.com), today opened Amazon.com Auctions to help people find, discover, buy--and now sell--virtually anything online.</p><p>Amazon.com's 8 million customers are pre-registered to begin buying and selling immediately in more than 800 categories, such as Antique Scientific Instruments, Duck Stamps, Animation Art, <em>Star Wars</em> Trading Cards, Madame Alexander Dolls, Depression Glass, Vintage Clothing, Digital Cameras, and more. In the Amazon.com tradition, the new service is easy to use, with innovative and time-saving features such as Bid-Click(SM) for hassle-free bidding.</p><p>Amazon.com is doing something bold with online auctions by guaranteeing buyers a safe auction experience. The Amazon.com Auctions Guarantee covers purchases of up to $250 in the event that a buyer does not receive what a seller promised. This is not insurance, there is no deductible, and there is no third party to deal with-it's a simple guarantee. Additional measures to ensure a safe online auction community include a community-wide rating and feedback system.</p><p>"Our community of shoppers is the largest online," said Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. "Now, for the first time, anyone can introduce their products to that community. Whether you're a professional retailer or an individual with one item to sell, there's no other way to reach 8 million pre-registered, experienced online buyers."</p><p>In an important innovation, sellers will automatically have their auctions cross-merchandized across Amazon.com's millions of book, CD, and video product pages. For example, an actual chair from Rick's Café in the movie <em>Casablanca</em> is now being auctioned at Amazon.com by the seller StarWares on Main. With Amazon.com's proprietary cross-merchandising software, the chair will be displayed on the Web site pages where the <em>Casablanca</em> soundtrack, books, DVDs, and videos are sold.</p><p>Among the items currently placed on auction by sellers are one of the world's most sought-after toy trains, the 1950 Lionel Golden Anniversary Mighty Hudson Set (The Train Station); a rare red-vinyl pressing of the Beatles' "White Album" (Rockaway Records); a Frank Sinatra-autographed photograph (ArtRock); a very rare, self-published book of poetry by Jim Morrison, <em>American Prayer</em> (Rockaway Records); and tens of thousands of more items.</p><p>To celebrate the opening of Amazon.com Auctions, all first-time winning bidders will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift certificate. Gift certificates will be issued through June 30, 1999, and are redeemable in Amazon.com's book, music, video, and gift stores.</p><p>Also, to mark the opening, Amazon.com is hosting a charity auction to benefit World Wildlife Fund's efforts to preserve endangered animals in the Amazon River Basin. Starting today, rare and unique items, ranging in value from about $40 to more than $100,000, will be put on the online auction block--with bids starting at $1 and no minimum sales price.</p><p>Included in the charity auction is one of the three original door-desks built by Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos in the garage where Amazon.com was started. "Maybe it'll bring somebody good luck," said Bezos, "or maybe it's just a used door-desk."</p><p>Other charity auction items include:</p><ul><li><em>Rebel Without a Cause</em> (James Dean), an original painting by Andy Warhol</li><li>1937 edition of <em>Gone with the Wind</em> (book), signed by Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, and 18 other members of the original film cast</li><li>1985 Fender Squier Stratocaster guitar signed by Eric Clapton</li><li>Signed photo of Albert Einstein</li><li>Ken Griffey Jr. autographed game-used jersey</li><li>Limited edition <em>A Farewell to Arms</em>, signed by author Ernest Hemingway</li><li>Ty Employee Beanie Baby</li><li>No. 1 Giant-Size <em>X-Men</em> Comic Book, 1975</li><li>Limited-edition <em>Winnie the Pooh</em> signed by A.A. Milne and original illustrator</li><li>Rare Greta Garbo signature, on a signed contract agreeing to shorten her name to just Garbo</li><li><em>Jailhouse Rock</em> photograph signed and inscribed by Elvis Presley</li><li>Signed and inscribed John F. Kennedy photograph in presidential frame</li><li><em>American Bandstand</em> sheet music signed by Chubby Checker, Dick Clark, and others</li><li>Most rare 1877 Indian-head penny, grade 63--nearly perfect</li><li>Full-size Beach Boys surfboard from the <em>L.A. (Light Album)</em></li><li><em>Mutiny on the Bounty</em> (book) signed by the original cast of the 1935 film (Clark Gable et al.)</li><li>Signed Abraham Lincoln document, framed, with photo</li><li>Complete set of first-edition James Bond novels by Ian Fleming</li><li><em>Innocents Abroad</em> signed by author both as Mark Twain and Samuel Clemens</li><li>John F. Kennedy <em>Life</em> magazine memorial edition given by Jackie Kennedy to JFK's sister</li><li>Check signed by Babe Ruth, framed with photo</li><li>Dolly Parton <em>9 to 5</em> gold record for soundtrack title single given to song's producer</li><li>Letter to Dean Martin terminating his MGM contract (also signed by Martin)</li><li>Mixed collection of 100 Beanie Babies</li><li>Stamp that traveled on an early <em>Challenger</em> shuttle mission</li><li>Signed photograph from James Dean's assumed last trip home</li><li><em>Brave and the Bold</em> comic, No. 28, 1960, introduction of Justice League of America</li><li>Limited edition of <em>Brave New World</em> signed by Aldous Huxley</li><li>Document signed by Frank Sinatra giving photo permission of himself and Gene Kelly</li><li>Complete set of U.S. peace dollars, 1921 to 1935</li><li>Contract signed by Elvis Presley for songs in <em>Jailhouse Rock</em></li><li>Early edition of <em>The Fountainhead</em> signed by the author, Ayn Rand</li><li>First-edition copy of <em>My Trip Abroad</em>, signed by the author, Charlie Chaplin</li><li>Photo of <em>Apollo XI</em> lunar module landing, signed by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins</li><li><em>The Deep</em> (book) signed by 1977 film cast members, including Nick Nolte, Lou Gosset Jr., and Jacqueline Bisset</li><li>Original Frank Interlandi-signed cartoon inscribed to JFK's sister Pat Lawford</li><li>Sammy Davis Jr.'s unsigned American Express platinum card</li></ul><p>Complete information about Amazon.com Auctions and the Auctions Guarantee is available at www.amazon.com.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 video, and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, intense competition, risks associated with system interruption, management of potential growth, high leverage, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Announces Investment in Pets.com

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Announces-Investment-in-Pets.com/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Announces-Investment-in-Pets.com

03/29/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Announces Investment in Pets.com

03/29/1999

1999

Leading Online Retailer and Hummer Winblad Venture Partners Help Finance the Internet's Largest Pet Supply Store SEATTLE, March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No.1 book retailer, today announced that it has agreed to obtain an ownership stake of approximately 50% in Pets.com (www.pets.com), the largest pet company on the Internet. Amazon.com joined with venture capital firm Hummer Winblad Venture Partners to fund Pets.com's first round of financing. The transaction is expected to be completed in early April and is subject to execution of definitive documents and customary closing conditions. In 1998, the pet category, comprised of products and services, was $23 billion in the United States, according to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. The financing will be used to fund Pets.com's growth, further develop the Pets.com brand, expand e-commerce and advertising revenue streams, and build distribution through partnerships and alliances. Upon completion of its investment, Amazon.com will own approximately 50% of outstanding shares. "We invest only in companies that share our passion for customers," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "Pets.com has a leading market position, and its proven management team is dedicated to a great customer experience, whether it's making a product like a ferret hammock easy to find, or help in locating a pet-friendly hotel." "This is a marriage made in heaven and clearly positions us as the online category leader," stated Julie Wainwright, CEO of Pets.com. "The successful investment track record represented by Amazon.com and Hummer Winblad really makes this a CEO's dream team." About Pets.comPets.com (http://www.pets.com) is the largest pet-oriented company on the Internet, specializing in popular and rare pet accessories, products, and food for all types of animals. It was founded by established Internet entrepreneurs Greg McLemore and Eva Woodsmall in 1998. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, intense competition, risks associated with system interruption, management of potential growth, high leverage and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About Hummer Winblad Venture PartnersHummer Winblad Venture Partners is a premiere venture capital fund exclusively focused on software and Internet investing with over $200 million under management. Previous investments include PowerSoft Corporation and Arbor Software, as well as Internet companies Net Perceptions, AdForce, HomeGrocer, and Employease. For further information, please visit http://www.humwin.com.

<p>Leading Online Retailer and Hummer Winblad Venture Partners Help Finance the Internet's Largest Pet Supply Store</p><p>SEATTLE, March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music, and No.1 book retailer, today announced that it has agreed to obtain an ownership stake of approximately 50% in Pets.com (www.pets.com), the largest pet company on the Internet. Amazon.com joined with venture capital firm Hummer Winblad Venture Partners to fund Pets.com's first round of financing. The transaction is expected to be completed in early April and is subject to execution of definitive documents and customary closing conditions.</p><p>In 1998, the pet category, comprised of products and services, was $23 billion in the United States, according to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. The financing will be used to fund Pets.com's growth, further develop the Pets.com brand, expand e-commerce and advertising revenue streams, and build distribution through partnerships and alliances. Upon completion of its investment, Amazon.com will own approximately 50% of outstanding shares.</p><p>"We invest only in companies that share our passion for customers," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "Pets.com has a leading market position, and its proven management team is dedicated to a great customer experience, whether it's making a product like a ferret hammock easy to find, or help in locating a pet-friendly hotel."</p><p>"This is a marriage made in heaven and clearly positions us as the online category leader," stated Julie Wainwright, CEO of Pets.com. "The successful investment track record represented by Amazon.com and Hummer Winblad really makes this a CEO's dream team."</p><p>About Pets.comPets.com (http://www.pets.com) is the largest pet-oriented company on the Internet, specializing in popular and rare pet accessories, products, and food for all types of animals. It was founded by established Internet entrepreneurs Greg McLemore and Eva Woodsmall in 1998.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, intense competition, risks associated with system interruption, management of potential growth, high leverage and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances.</p><p>More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About Hummer Winblad Venture PartnersHummer Winblad Venture Partners is a premiere venture capital fund exclusively focused on software and Internet investing with over $200 million under management. Previous investments include PowerSoft Corporation and Arbor Software, as well as Internet companies Net Perceptions, AdForce, HomeGrocer, and Employease. For further information, please visit http://www.humwin.com.</p>

Amazon.com Files Form S-3 with S.E.C.

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Files-Form-S-3-with-S.E.C/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Files-Form-S-3-with-S.E.C

03/16/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Files Form S-3 with S.E.C.

03/16/1999

1999

SEATTLE, March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 15, 1999, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 to register the 4 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes and the underlying common stock of Amazon.com into which the notes are convertible. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, intense competition, risks associated with system interruption, management of potential growth, high leverage and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>SEATTLE, March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 15, 1999, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 to register the 4 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes and the underlying common stock of Amazon.com into which the notes are convertible.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, intense competition, risks associated with system interruption, management of potential growth, high leverage and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Dell and Amazon.com Announce Online Agreement

/news/news-details/1999/Dell-and-Amazon.com-Announce-Online-Agreement/default.aspx

Dell-and-Amazon.com-Announce-Online-Agreement

03/10/1999 00:00:00

Dell and Amazon.com Announce Online Agreement

03/10/1999

1999

Strategic Marketing Agreement Links Web Sites and Can Provide Customized Content ROUND ROCK, Texas, and SEATTLE, March 10, 1999--Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN), the No. 1 online retailer of videos, music, and books, and Dell Computer Corporation (Nasdaq: DELL), the world's leading direct computer systems company, today announced a strategic agreement to offer linked Web sites and provide customized content for Amazon.com and Dell customers. Both companies today are launching links from the checkout sections of their respective sites that lead to new, co-branded Dell and Amazon.com home pages. The sites recognize and welcome customers to the full www.amazon.com and www.dell.com online experience. Amazon.com is the first company Dell has linked to from its www.dell.com site, and Dell is the first computer systems company Amazon.com has linked to. "Dell and Amazon.com have a shared vision of the future of online shopping," said Michael Dell, chairman and CEO. "That vision is to use the Web to deepen direct relationships with customers and deliver unique value and unparalleled service. Dell and Amazon.com will each offer our mutual customers customized services, competitive price, and easy navigation. "Amazon.com is obsessively focused on providing our customers the best possible online shopping experience, with the best selection, ease of use, and prices," said Jeffrey Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "Dell has a track record of providing excellent customer service, and it's natural for our companies to begin to work together to provide customers with enhanced benefits." Dell recently launched www.gigabuys.com, an online superstore for computer-related products, and today's announcement with Amazon.com is further evidence of the company's commitment to expand its Web offerings. The company currently sells more than $14 million in products each day over the Web, which accounts for 25 percent of its business. Dell intends to do 50 percent of its business online by the end of 2000. The company's Web site, www.dell.com, attracts more than 25 million visits per quarter and has unique Web pages for 44 countries in 21 languages. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. About Dell Computer CorporationRanked No. 125 among the Fortune 500 companies and No. 363 in the Fortune Global 500, Dell Computer Corporation is the world's leading direct computer systems company, based on revenues of $18.2 billion for the past four quarters. Dell designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer requirements and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained through its toll-free number 1-800-388-8542 or by accessing the Dell World Wide Web site at www.dell.com. Dell is a registered trademark and DellWare is a registered service mark of Dell Computer Corporation. Fortune 500 is a registered trademark of Time Inc. Gigabuys and Gigabuys.com are service marks of Dell Computer Corporation. Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, intense competition, risks associated with system interruption, management of potential growth, high leverage and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Strategic Marketing Agreement Links Web Sites and Can Provide Customized Content</p><p>ROUND ROCK, Texas, and SEATTLE, March 10, 1999--Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN), the No. 1 online retailer of videos, music, and books, and Dell Computer Corporation (Nasdaq: DELL), the world's leading direct computer systems company, today announced a strategic agreement to offer linked Web sites and provide customized content for Amazon.com and Dell customers.</p><p>Both companies today are launching links from the checkout sections of their respective sites that lead to new, co-branded Dell and Amazon.com home pages. The sites recognize and welcome customers to the full www.amazon.com and www.dell.com online experience. Amazon.com is the first company Dell has linked to from its www.dell.com site, and Dell is the first computer systems company Amazon.com has linked to.</p><p>"Dell and Amazon.com have a shared vision of the future of online shopping," said Michael Dell, chairman and CEO. "That vision is to use the Web to deepen direct relationships with customers and deliver unique value and unparalleled service. Dell and Amazon.com will each offer our mutual customers customized services, competitive price, and easy navigation.</p><p>"Amazon.com is obsessively focused on providing our customers the best possible online shopping experience, with the best selection, ease of use, and prices," said Jeffrey Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "Dell has a track record of providing excellent customer service, and it's natural for our companies to begin to work together to provide customers with enhanced benefits."</p><p>Dell recently launched www.gigabuys.com, an online superstore for computer-related products, and today's announcement with Amazon.com is further evidence of the company's commitment to expand its Web offerings. The company currently sells more than $14 million in products each day over the Web, which accounts for 25 percent of its business. Dell intends to do 50 percent of its business online by the end of 2000. The company's Web site, www.dell.com, attracts more than 25 million visits per quarter and has unique Web pages for 44 countries in 21 languages.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 video, No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>About Dell Computer CorporationRanked No. 125 among the Fortune 500 companies and No. 363 in the Fortune Global 500, Dell Computer Corporation is the world's leading direct computer systems company, based on revenues of $18.2 billion for the past four quarters. Dell designs, manufactures and customizes products and services to customer requirements and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained through its toll-free number 1-800-388-8542 or by accessing the Dell World Wide Web site at www.dell.com.</p><p>Dell is a registered trademark and DellWare is a registered service mark of Dell Computer Corporation. Fortune 500 is a registered trademark of Time Inc.</p><p>Gigabuys and Gigabuys.com are service marks of Dell Computer Corporation. Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, intense competition, risks associated with system interruption, management of potential growth, high leverage and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances.</p><p>More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Expands Recommendation Center to Introduce Customers to Music They'll Love

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Expands-Recommendation-Center-to-Introduce-Customers-to-Music-Theyll-Love/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Expands-Recommendation-Center-to-Introduce-Customers-to-Music-Theyll-Love

03/09/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Expands Recommendation Center to Introduce Customers to Music They'll Love

03/09/1999

1999

New Features Help Fans Learn About and Discover Music, in Styles from Classical and Jazz to International and Alternative SEATTLE, March 9, 1999 /PR Newswire/--Amazon.com, the No. 1 online music retailer, today introduced an expanded and improved recommendation center that offers music fans authoritative guides to the best CDs in more than 100 musical styles. Designed to help beginners and experts alike, the new features include introductions to classical, jazz, and international music, as well as comprehensive guides to essential CDs by style, artist, and year. "Music fans who have shopped at physical music stores know the challenges of getting knowledgeable suggestions and discovering great CDs, particularly classical, jazz, and international titles," said Jennifer Cast, Amazon.com music general manager. "Amazon.com's expanded recommendation center offers customers instant access to recommendations and reviews by our world-class staff of 17 full-time editors and more than 200 contributing writers," she said. The music recommendation center offers four new and one expanded feature to help music fans find the best recordings by the best artists, in musical styles that match their tastes: Get Started In: Designed to help beginning listeners of classical, jazz, and international music find CDs they'll love, this feature offers both written and audio introductions to great music. National Public Radio commentator Ted Libbey and Amazon.com Music Editor Kevin Cole discuss interesting and significant portions of each album, presented in Real Audio® samples. The first three albums featured include Carlos Kleiber conducting Beethoven's 5th and 7th Symphonies, Thelonious Monk's Underground, and Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto's Getz/Gilberto. "For the first time in a music store, shoppers can listen to respected commentators discuss a recommended CD and hear excerpts that illustrate their points. It's like having an expert with a stereo by your side while you're shopping," said Cast. 101 Delivers: Fans who want to learn more about classical and jazz music can subscribe to monthly mailings written by Amazon.com music editors that offer easy to understand introductions to key composers and performers, historical periods, forms, genres, and instruments. Essential Recordings by Artist: Amazon.com music editors recommend the best CDs by over 100 artists. For example, to Miles Davis fans, they are recommending Kind of Blue, A Tribute to Jack Johnson, and Highlights from the Plugged Nickel. Essential Recordings by Year: Music fans can discover the 25 significant albums from each of the last 44 years (1955 through 1998). For example, Amazon.com editors' 1965 recommendations include the Beatles' Rubber Soul, John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, Frank Sinatra's September of My Years, and 22 others. Essential Recordings by Style: This popular and now expanded feature helps customers discover the must-have CDs in more than 100 categories ranging from Alt Country to Acid Jazz to Chamber Music. Amazon.com music editors have expanded their hand-picked lists to include more than 3,500 essential CDs. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998, and September 30, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>New Features Help Fans Learn About and Discover Music, in Styles from Classical and Jazz to International and Alternative</p><p>SEATTLE, March 9, 1999 /PR Newswire/--Amazon.com, the No. 1 online music retailer, today introduced an expanded and improved recommendation center that offers music fans authoritative guides to the best CDs in more than 100 musical styles. Designed to help beginners and experts alike, the new features include introductions to classical, jazz, and international music, as well as comprehensive guides to essential CDs by style, artist, and year.</p><p>"Music fans who have shopped at physical music stores know the challenges of getting knowledgeable suggestions and discovering great CDs, particularly classical, jazz, and international titles," said Jennifer Cast, Amazon.com music general manager. "Amazon.com's expanded recommendation center offers customers instant access to recommendations and reviews by our world-class staff of 17 full-time editors and more than 200 contributing writers," she said.</p><p>The music recommendation center offers four new and one expanded feature to help music fans find the best recordings by the best artists, in musical styles that match their tastes:</p><ul><li>Get Started In: Designed to help beginning listeners of classical, jazz, and international music find CDs they'll love, this feature offers both written and audio introductions to great music. National Public Radio commentator Ted Libbey and Amazon.com Music Editor Kevin Cole discuss interesting and significant portions of each album, presented in Real Audio® samples. The first three albums featured include Carlos Kleiber conducting Beethoven's 5th and 7th Symphonies, Thelonious Monk's Underground, and Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto's Getz/Gilberto.<p>"For the first time in a music store, shoppers can listen to respected commentators discuss a recommended CD and hear excerpts that illustrate their points. It's like having an expert with a stereo by your side while you're shopping," said Cast.</p></li><li>101 Delivers: Fans who want to learn more about classical and jazz music can subscribe to monthly mailings written by Amazon.com music editors that offer easy to understand introductions to key composers and performers, historical periods, forms, genres, and instruments.</li><li>Essential Recordings by Artist: Amazon.com music editors recommend the best CDs by over 100 artists. For example, to Miles Davis fans, they are recommending Kind of Blue, A Tribute to Jack Johnson, and Highlights from the Plugged Nickel.</li><li>Essential Recordings by Year: Music fans can discover the 25 significant albums from each of the last 44 years (1955 through 1998). For example, Amazon.com editors' 1965 recommendations include the Beatles' Rubber Soul, John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, Frank Sinatra's September of My Years, and 22 others.</li><li>Essential Recordings by Style: This popular and now expanded feature helps customers discover the must-have CDs in more than 100 categories ranging from Alt Country to Acid Jazz to Chamber Music. Amazon.com music editors have expanded their hand-picked lists to include more than 3,500 essential CDs.</li></ul><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music-CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances.</p><p>More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998, and September 30, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Announces Minority Investment in and Strategic Alliance with Drugstore.com

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Announces-Minority-Investment-in-and-Strategic-Alliance-with-Drugstore.com/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Announces-Minority-Investment-in-and-Strategic-Alliance-with-Drugstore.com

02/24/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Announces Minority Investment in and Strategic Alliance with Drugstore.com

02/24/1999

1999

SEATTLE, Feb. 24, 1999 /PRNewswire/ -- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, today announced that it holds a significant minority stake in newly opened Drugstore.com (www.drugstore.com), which offers more than 15,000 brand-name personal healthcare products, extensive product information, and a licensed pharmacy. Amazon.com, the Internet's No.1 book and No.1 music retailer, will help introduce customers to the new shopping experience at Drugstore.com as part of a strategic alliance. Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos will serve on the Drugstore.com board of directors. "We're excited about Drugstore.com," said Bezos. "Drugstore.com shares our passion for empowering customers and giving them the best possible experience. Peter Neupert and the team he's assembled are going to shake up their industry by giving customers what they really want." "People who like Amazon.com will like shopping at Drugstore.com," says Neupert. "Amazon.com sets the standard for quality and excellent service and we at drugstore.com are committed to matching that standard." Amazon.com has an investment of approximately 46% of Drugstore.com's outstanding shares as of December 31, 1998, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operations, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998 and September 30, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. About drugstore.comDrugstore.com (www.drugstore.com) is an online source for thousands of brand-name health, beauty and wellness products, combined with a wealth of decision-making information and resources to educate and inform consumers to take charge of their personal health and well-being. Based in Redmond, Washington, the company is headed by President and CEO Peter Neupert, a former senior Microsoft executive. drugstore.com is funded by Amazon.com, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Maveron, L.L.C. and Liberty Media. Drugstore.com is a trademark of Drugstore.com, Inc.

<p>SEATTLE, Feb. 24, 1999 /PRNewswire/ -- Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN), the leading online retailer, today announced that it holds a significant minority stake in newly opened Drugstore.com (www.drugstore.com), which offers more than 15,000 brand-name personal healthcare products, extensive product information, and a licensed pharmacy.</p><p>Amazon.com, the Internet's No.1 book and No.1 music retailer, will help introduce customers to the new shopping experience at Drugstore.com as part of a strategic alliance. Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos will serve on the Drugstore.com board of directors.</p><p>"We're excited about Drugstore.com," said Bezos. "Drugstore.com shares our passion for empowering customers and giving them the best possible experience. Peter Neupert and the team he's assembled are going to shake up their industry by giving customers what they really want."</p><p>"People who like Amazon.com will like shopping at Drugstore.com," says Neupert. "Amazon.com sets the standard for quality and excellent service and we at drugstore.com are committed to matching that standard."</p><p>Amazon.com has an investment of approximately 46% of Drugstore.com's outstanding shares as of December 31, 1998, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operations, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998 and September 30, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><p>About drugstore.comDrugstore.com (www.drugstore.com) is an online source for thousands of brand-name health, beauty and wellness products, combined with a wealth of decision-making information and resources to educate and inform consumers to take charge of their personal health and well-being. Based in Redmond, Washington, the company is headed by President and CEO Peter Neupert, a former senior Microsoft executive. drugstore.com is funded by Amazon.com, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Maveron, L.L.C. and Liberty Media. Drugstore.com is a trademark of Drugstore.com, Inc.</p>

Amazon.com and Francis Ford Coppola Team Up to Celebrate Short-Story Writers

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-and-Francis-Ford-Coppola-Team-Up-to-Celebrate-Short-Story-Writers/default.aspx

Amazon.com-and-Francis-Ford-Coppola-Team-Up-to-Celebrate-Short-Story-Writers

02/18/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com and Francis Ford Coppola Team Up to Celebrate Short-Story Writers

02/18/1999

1999

Amazon.com Creates Exclusive Zoetrope: All-Story Feature SEATTLE, February 18 /PRNewswire/--Celebrating the art of short fiction with its customers, leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) has created an exclusive new area in its bookstore to feature filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola's literary magazine, Zoetrope: All-Story. The new Zoetrope feature will present a selection of works from some of today's best short-story writers. Coppola founded Zoetrope: All-Story as a quarterly publication in 1997. The magazine is dedicated to promoting excellence in short fiction. It features finely crafted short stories, one-act plays, and essays penned by both new and accomplished writers such as Amy Bloom, Edna O'Brien, Jim Harrison, Tom Paine, George Clark, Sara Powers, and Melissa Bank. Amazon.com will be the exclusive online bookseller to present highlights, excerpts, interviews, and a story from each issue. The Amazon.com Zoetrope feature offers a link to the Zoetrope: All-Story Web site, a table of contents and contributors, and information for authors detailing how to submit their work to the magazine. Customers will be able to find the feature easily, from placements on the Arts, Literature, and Fiction pages and other site promotions, or by going directly to www.amazon.com/zoetrope. "Zoetrope: All-Story is a vital publication that strives to find and feature the best short-story writers," said Coppola "We are delighted to be working with Amazon.com to support the art we love and bring it to millions of its visitors." "At Amazon.com we celebrate great literature, and we love helping our customers discover great works," said Rick Ayre, Amazon.com vice president and executive editor. "Zoetrope is a magazine driven by the same passion and brings a unique collection of exceptional writing to its readers. We are excited to offer content from the publication to our customers and to help expand the audience for the talented writers the magazine promotes." Amazon.com will also sell single issues of the magazine and provide a link to subscription information. In addition, visitors to the feature can subscribe to e-mail updates previewing the contents of coming issues. The February 1999 issue, available today, will mark the magazine's second anniversary with essays by David Mamet and T.C. Boyle on fiction and film and a letter from Pulitzer Prize winner William Kennedy. The issue will also include seven short stories, transporting the reader to a zoo in the Bronx, the famed Domino Park in Miami, a drug robbery at a remote country hospice in the north, and a lovers' beach in precommunist Cuba. Authors include Josh Pryor, Steven Almond, and Ana Menendez. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998, and September 30, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Amazon.com Creates Exclusive <em>Zoetrope: All-Story</em> Feature</p><p>SEATTLE, February 18 /PRNewswire/--Celebrating the art of short fiction with its customers, leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) has created an exclusive new area in its bookstore to feature filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola's literary magazine, <em>Zoetrope: All-Story</em>. The new <em>Zoetrope</em> feature will present a selection of works from some of today's best short-story writers.</p><p>Coppola founded <em>Zoetrope: All-Story</em> as a quarterly publication in 1997. The magazine is dedicated to promoting excellence in short fiction. It features finely crafted short stories, one-act plays, and essays penned by both new and accomplished writers such as Amy Bloom, Edna O'Brien, Jim Harrison, Tom Paine, George Clark, Sara Powers, and Melissa Bank.</p><p>Amazon.com will be the exclusive online bookseller to present highlights, excerpts, interviews, and a story from each issue. The Amazon.com <em>Zoetrope</em> feature offers a link to the <em>Zoetrope: All-Story</em> Web site, a table of contents and contributors, and information for authors detailing how to submit their work to the magazine.</p><p>Customers will be able to find the feature easily, from placements on the Arts, Literature, and Fiction pages and other site promotions, or by going directly to www.amazon.com/zoetrope.</p><p>"<em>Zoetrope: All-Story</em> is a vital publication that strives to find and feature the best short-story writers," said Coppola "We are delighted to be working with Amazon.com to support the art we love and bring it to millions of its visitors."</p><p>"At Amazon.com we celebrate great literature, and we love helping our customers discover great works," said Rick Ayre, Amazon.com vice president and executive editor. "<em>Zoetrope</em> is a magazine driven by the same passion and brings a unique collection of exceptional writing to its readers. We are excited to offer content from the publication to our customers and to help expand the audience for the talented writers the magazine promotes."</p><p>Amazon.com will also sell single issues of the magazine and provide a link to subscription information. In addition, visitors to the feature can subscribe to e-mail updates previewing the contents of coming issues.</p><p>The February 1999 issue, available today, will mark the magazine's second anniversary with essays by David Mamet and T.C. Boyle on fiction and film and a letter from Pulitzer Prize winner William Kennedy. The issue will also include seven short stories, transporting the reader to a zoo in the Bronx, the famed Domino Park in Miami, a drug robbery at a remote country hospice in the north, and a lovers' beach in precommunist Cuba. Authors include Josh Pryor, Steven Almond, and Ana Menendez.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998, and September 30, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Sets New Disclosure Standards and New Returns Policy

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Sets-New-Disclosure-Standards-and-New-Returns-Policy/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Sets-New-Disclosure-Standards-and-New-Returns-Policy

02/09/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Sets New Disclosure Standards and New Returns Policy

02/09/1999

1999

SEATTLE, February 9--/PRNewswire/--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that beginning March 1 it will list for customers which feature placements on its site are paid for and which are not. At the same time, effective immediately, the company is implementing a new book-return policy to underscore that it stands behind all of its recommendations. The company stressed that its recommendations are not and have never been for sale to anyone. Only books selected by Amazon.com editors qualify for publisher-supported placement. "We have the largest staff of book editors online or off, and for a book that doesn't meet our standards, there is no amount of money that would cause us to feature it," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. Bezos added that "as a Web-based store with a real community of book lovers, we're being held to a higher standard than physical stores. And you know what? That's the way it should be." So the company will now make it possible for shoppers to know which placements have been purchased by publishers and which have not. Beginning March 1st, Amazon.com will list every paid-for placement in its store, breaking with standard industry practice. "We believe we're the first retailer to list this information for customers, and we hope it will start a trend," Bezos added. The company is also widening its book-return policy to reinforce its belief in the quality of its editors' recommendations by allowing customers to return any book Amazon.com has recommended, even after it has been read. "It doesn't matter how dog-eared or worn it is," Bezos said. "Even if you ripped out the pages because you thought the book was so bad, you can still return the pieces to us for a full refund." Previously, the company's returns policy required books to be in unread and new condition. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the U.K. and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998, and September 30, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>SEATTLE, February 9--/PRNewswire/--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that beginning March 1 it will list for customers which feature placements on its site are paid for and which are not.</p><p>At the same time, effective immediately, the company is implementing a new book-return policy to underscore that it stands behind all of its recommendations.</p><p>The company stressed that its recommendations are not and have never been for sale to anyone. Only books selected by Amazon.com editors qualify for publisher-supported placement.</p><p>"We have the largest staff of book editors online or off, and for a book that doesn't meet our standards, there is no amount of money that would cause us to feature it," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. Bezos added that "as a Web-based store with a real community of book lovers, we're being held to a higher standard than physical stores. And you know what? That's the way it should be."</p><p>So the company will now make it possible for shoppers to know which placements have been purchased by publishers and which have not. Beginning March 1st, Amazon.com will list every paid-for placement in its store, breaking with standard industry practice. "We believe we're the first retailer to list this information for customers, and we hope it will start a trend," Bezos added.</p><p>The company is also widening its book-return policy to reinforce its belief in the quality of its editors' recommendations by allowing customers to return any book Amazon.com has recommended, even after it has been read. "It doesn't matter how dog-eared or worn it is," Bezos said. "Even if you ripped out the pages because you thought the book was so bad, you can still return the pieces to us for a full refund."</p><p>Previously, the company's returns policy required books to be in unread and new condition.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer-game, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the U.K. and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998, and September 30, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Celebrates Black History Month

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Celebrates-Black-History-Month/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Celebrates-Black-History-Month

02/02/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Celebrates Black History Month

02/02/1999

1999

Daily Features Help Discover Best Black Musical Artists SEATTLE, Feb. 2, 1999 /PRNewswire/ -- Can you name an all time favorite black opera star? How about your favorite country or classical performer who's African-American? Stumped? Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) can help. To honor Black History Month, the company is featuring influential, timeless artists, both in traditionally popular categories, like R&B, Rock, Jazz and Gospel, as well as in categories ripe for learning and exploration. "Black History Month is a time to learn more about black history and celebrate blacks' momentous contributions to American culture," said Keith Moerer, senior music editor at Amazon.com. "African-Americans have made a great impact in a broad range of musical genres, and our month-long music celebration helps music fans discover those accomplishments. It's also a great resource for teachers and students with Black History Month projects." The Black History Month celebration page can be found at www.amazon.com/black-history. It features 75 key recordings selected in six categories: R&B/Rock; Blues/Gospel; Jazz; Folk/Country; Classical Opera; and Hip Hop. Additionally, one artist will be highlighted on the Amazon.com music home page each day during the month of February. Amazon.com editors' recommendations for "must have" CDs will help customers start or round out an established music collection, or simply learn more about black music greats. Music fans who visit the site can also participate by reading reviews, listening to song samples or writing their own reviews for others to enjoy. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation risks, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998 and September 30, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Daily Features Help Discover Best Black Musical Artists</p><p>SEATTLE, Feb. 2, 1999 /PRNewswire/ -- Can you name an all time favorite black opera star? How about your favorite country or classical performer who's African-American? Stumped? Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) can help. To honor Black History Month, the company is featuring influential, timeless artists, both in traditionally popular categories, like R&amp;B, Rock, Jazz and Gospel, as well as in categories ripe for learning and exploration.</p><p>"Black History Month is a time to learn more about black history and celebrate blacks' momentous contributions to American culture," said Keith Moerer, senior music editor at Amazon.com. "African-Americans have made a great impact in a broad range of musical genres, and our month-long music celebration helps music fans discover those accomplishments. It's also a great resource for teachers and students with Black History Month projects."</p><p>The Black History Month celebration page can be found at www.amazon.com/black-history. It features 75 key recordings selected in six categories: R&amp;B/Rock; Blues/Gospel; Jazz; Folk/Country; Classical Opera; and Hip Hop. Additionally, one artist will be highlighted on the Amazon.com music home page each day during the month of February.</p><p>Amazon.com editors' recommendations for "must have" CDs will help customers start or round out an established music collection, or simply learn more about black music greats. Music fans who visit the site can also participate by reading reviews, listening to song samples or writing their own reviews for others to enjoy.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation risks, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998 and September 30, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Announces $500 Million Offering of Subordinated Convertible Debentures

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Announces-500-Million-Offering-of-Subordinated-Convertible-Debentures/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Announces-500-Million-Offering-of-Subordinated-Convertible-Debentures

01/28/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Announces $500 Million Offering of Subordinated Convertible Debentures

01/28/1999

1999

SEATTLE, January 28 /PRNewswire/ -Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that it is offering $500 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be convertible into the Company's common stock, at the option of the holder, at a conversion price to be determined. The Notes will be sold to qualified institutional buyers in a private placement under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Company will grant the initial purchasers an option to purchase additional notes to cover over-allotments, if any. The Notes being offered will not be, and have not been, registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. Amazon.com is headquartered at 1516 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.Internet address: http://www.amazon.com.Telephone: (206) 622-2335.

<p>SEATTLE, January 28 /PRNewswire/ -Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that it is offering $500 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the "Notes").</p><p>The Notes will be convertible into the Company's common stock, at the option of the holder, at a conversion price to be determined. The Notes will be sold to qualified institutional buyers in a private placement under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Company will grant the initial purchasers an option to purchase additional notes to cover over-allotments, if any.</p><p>The Notes being offered will not be, and have not been, registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.</p><p>Amazon.com is headquartered at 1516 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.Internet address: http://www.amazon.com.Telephone: (206) 622-2335.</p>

Amazon.com Announces Increase of Size of Offering of Subordinated Convertible Debentures

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Announces-Increase-of-Size-of-Offering-of-Subordinated-Convertible-Debentures/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Announces-Increase-of-Size-of-Offering-of-Subordinated-Convertible-Debentures

01/28/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Announces Increase of Size of Offering of Subordinated Convertible Debentures

01/28/1999

1999

SEATTLE, WA-(January 28, 1999)-Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that it has increased the size of its private offering of Convertible Subordinated Notes (the "Notes") from $500 million to approximately $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.75% Convertible Subordinated due 2009. The Notes will be convertible into the Company's common stock, at the option of the holder, at a conversion price of $156.05 per share, representing a conversion premium of 27% over today's closing price. The Company has granted the initial purchasers an option to purchase additional notes to cover over-allotments, if any. The Notes have been sold to qualified institutional buyers and to certain institutional accredited investors in a private placement under Rule 144A and Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes. This news release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act. Neither the Notes nor the common stock issuable upon conversion have been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. Amazon.com is headquartered at 1516 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.Internet address: http://www.amazon.comTelephone: (206) 622-2335.

<p>SEATTLE, WA-(January 28, 1999)-Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that it has increased the size of its private offering of Convertible Subordinated Notes (the "Notes") from $500 million to approximately $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 4.75% Convertible Subordinated due 2009. The Notes will be convertible into the Company's common stock, at the option of the holder, at a conversion price of $156.05 per share, representing a conversion premium of 27% over today's closing price. The Company has granted the initial purchasers an option to purchase additional notes to cover over-allotments, if any.</p><p>The Notes have been sold to qualified institutional buyers and to certain institutional accredited investors in a private placement under Rule 144A and Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes. This news release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act.</p><p>Neither the Notes nor the common stock issuable upon conversion have been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.</p><p>Amazon.com is headquartered at 1516 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.Internet address: http://www.amazon.comTelephone: (206) 622-2335.</p>

Amazon.com Announces Financial Results for Fourth Quarter 1998

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-Announces-Financial-Results-for-Fourth-Quarter-1998/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Announces-Financial-Results-for-Fourth-Quarter-1998

01/26/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com Announces Financial Results for Fourth Quarter 1998

01/26/1999

1999

Record Holiday Season Pushes Customer Total Past 6.2 Million;Leadership in Books and Music Extended to Video, U.K., Germany;Expansion Areas Grow to 25% of Sales SEATTLE, WA-(January 26, 1999)-Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter of 1998 and for the 1998 fiscal year. Net sales for the fourth quarter were $252.9 million, an increase of 283 percent over net sales of $66.0 million for the fourth quarter of 1997. Based on fourth quarter sales, Amazon.com has achieved a $1 billion annualized sales level three and one-half years after opening for business. Amazon.com reported a fourth quarter pro forma operating loss of $17.8 million, or 7 percent of net sales, compared to an operating loss of $11.3 million, or 17 percent of net sales, in the fourth quarter of 1997. Fourth quarter pro forma net loss of $22.2 million, or $0.14 per share, compared with a net loss of $10.8 million, or $0.08 per share, in the fourth quarter of 1997. On a GAAP basis, reported fourth quarter net loss was $46.4 million, or $0.30 per share, and included $24.2 million of merger and acquisition related costs. Net sales for fiscal 1998 were $610.0 million, a 313 percent increase over net sales of $147.8 million reported for fiscal 1997. Pro forma net loss for fiscal 1998 was $74.4 million, or $0.50 per share, compared with a net loss in fiscal 1997 of $31.0 million, or $0.24 per share. On a GAAP basis, reported net loss for fiscal 1998 was $124.5 million, or $0.84 per share, and included $50.2 million of merger and acquisition related costs. Amazon.com announced that cumulative customer accounts increased by more than 1.7 million during the fourth quarter to over 6.2 million at December 31, 1998, an increase of over 300 percent from 1.5 million customer accounts at December 31, 1997. Repeat customer orders represented more than 64 percent of orders placed on Amazon.com during the quarter ended December 31, 1998. During the fourth quarter of 1998, Amazon.com, the No. 1 online book retailer and No. 1 online music retailer, extended its leadership position to the video, U.K. and German markets. Expansion area highlights include: Music sales grew to $33.1 million, a 130 percent increase over sales of $14.4 million in the third quarter of 1998; Combined sales in the U.K. and Germany nearly quadrupled over the third quarter, establishing Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de as the No. 1 online booksellers in their markets; Video sales were strong following the store's opening on November 17. Combined, expansion areas accounted for 25 percent of consolidated fourth quarter sales. "We have one strategy at Amazon.com-provide the customer with the best shopping experience," said Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. "We're extremely grateful to our customers for an incredible holiday season and an exceptional year." Bezos noted that because customer response during the holidays was so strong, the company has committed to a major expansion plan. "In 1999, we intend to build out a significant distribution infrastructure. We must ensure that we can support all the sales that customers demand, with speedy access to a deep product inventory," Bezos added. "We will also continue to enhance the scope and quality of the products and services that we provide to our customers. Amazon.com is still a small and young company relative to many offline retailers, and we must ensure that we build the strongest customer relationships possible during this critical period. In 1999, we expect to invest even more aggressively than we have in the past. Our goal is nothing short of building the world's most customer-centric company." Recent Highlights Holiday Shopping Season Sets Records Shoppers seeking to save time and money, avoid holiday shopping hassles, and select ideal holiday gifts drove strong sales across all product lines and produced records on a number of key measures. Amazon.com began the holiday shopping season on November 17 and from then until December 31: More than 1 million new customers shopped with Amazon.com for the first time; Amazon.com shipped more than 7.5 million items-more than the company shipped during the entire year of 1997; The company experienced peak shipping of more than $6 million in one day; Holiday sales quadrupled from the 1997 holiday season. Even Greater Selection With the addition of music CDs, videos, and an ever-growing selection of book titles, Amazon.com reached a total of 4.7 million titles for sale during the fourth quarter of 1998. Amazon.com Extends Leadership in European Market Amazon.com extended its leadership in the European market in October with the launch of its stores in Germany and the U.K. For the first time on a local basis, the stores made available to Europeans a vast selection of titles, guaranteed safety of transactions, unparalleled convenience, and electronic gift certificates for worry-free gift giving. Customer response to the launches drove a near-quadrupling of combined sales from the sites over the preceding quarter, extending Amazon.com's position as the leading online bookseller in both the U.K. and Germany. Amazon.de is headquartered and has a distribution center in Regensburg, Germany, with editorial and marketing offices in Munich, Germany. The store initially features over 400,000 titles from German publishers, as well as fast and easy access to nearly 500,000 U.S. titles. Amazon.co.uk is headquartered and has a distribution center in Slough, England. The store carries a complete catalog of over 1.2 million titles from U.K. publishers, along with fast and easy access to over 200,000 U.S. titles. The stores are located at www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.uk. Opening of Video and Gift Stores Amazon.com launched its video store on November 17 with more than 60,000 VHS and more than 2,000 digital video disc titles. At the same time, it opened a holiday gift store that allowed shoppers to meet more of their gift-buying needs in one convenient online shopping experience. E-mail gift certificate sales were especially strong in the closing days of the holiday season, thanks to instant delivery to anywhere in the world. New Distribution Center to Open in Nevada As a next step in its expansion plan, Amazon.com obtained a highly mechanized distribution facility in Fernley, Nevada. The Nevada location will reduce standard shipping times to key markets in the western U.S. by a full day. Further, the 322,560 square-foot facility will allow the company to significantly increase the number of books, CDs, and videos kept on hand for immediate shipment to customers. The result is that customers in such places as Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, and Houston will receive their orders much faster, thanks to greater availability, faster processing, and shorter delivery times. The distribution center will be leased by Amazon.com and is expected to begin operations during the first half of 1999. Continued Expansion of Online Partnerships Amazon.com continued to expand its presence on the World Wide Web through its growing ties with other Web sites. The company's groundbreaking Associates program, in which Web site operators receive referral fees for sales generated by their sites, has now added over 200,000 Associates. With the addition of new products in 1998, Associates can now generate revenue by selling a broader array of merchandise than other online retailers offer through similar programs. In addition, the company secured its presence on several high-traffic sites, including marketing arrangements with Microsoft and CBS SportsLine. Amazon.com became CBS SportsLine's online retail partner for books, video, and music in a newly launched, co-branded store on the CBS SportsLine site. The company also signed an agreement making Amazon.com the Premier Music Merchant on Microsoft's MSN Shopping Channel, the MSN.COM portal page, and other selected properties in the MSN network of sites. Advantage Expands to Include Music Amazon.com broadened its popular Advantage program to include music, continuing to extend the benefits of online retailing for both consumers and artists. The Advantage program offers a compelling solution to the biggest problem faced by independent artists, bands, and labels: securing widespread distribution of their CDs. Amazon.com's Advantage program for music makes it easy for independent artists, bands, and labels to sell their CDs to Amazon.com's customers worldwide. Advantage for music, a free program, now allows them to sell their CDs at the Amazon.com music store and to enjoy the same level of exposure on the Amazon.com Web site as CDs from major artists and labels. 3-for-1 Stock Split and Addition to NASDAQ 100 On January 4, 1999, Amazon.com effected a 3-for-1 split of its common stock. The share and per share amounts included in this release are presented on a post-split basis. In addition, effective with the market open on December 21, 1998, Amazon.com was added to the Nasdaq-100 Index(r). About Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the U.K. and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation risks, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998, and September 30, 1998. Note on Financial Presentation Financial results are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. All of the charges associated with Amazon.com's merger and acquisition activities have been included in "merger and acquisition related costs" in the accompanying financial statements in order to enhance their informational value and to present the most comparable classifications in the other line items. Among items included in merger and acquisition related costs are one-time merger related costs and purchase price elements, including amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles. Pro forma financial results exclude these merger and acquisition related costs. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. AMAZON.COM, INC.Consolidated Statements of Operations(in thousands, except per share amounts) Quarter Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31, 1998 1997 1998 1997 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) Net sales $252,893 $66,040 $609,996 $147,787 Cost of sales 199,476 53,127 476,155 118,969 Gross profit 53,417 12,913 133,841 28,818 Operating expenses: Marketing and sales 48,501 16,890 133,023 40,486 Product development 17,281 5,266 46,807 13,916 General and administrative 5,457 2,081 15,799 7,011 Merger and acquisition related costs 24,247 - 50,172 - Total operating expenses 95,486 24,237 245,801 61,413 Loss from operations (42,069) (11,324) (111,960) (32,595) Interest income 4,264 783 14,053 1,901 Interest expense (8,622) (267) (26,639) (326) Net interest income (expense) (4,358) 516 (12,586) 1,575 Net loss $(46,427) $(10,808) $(124,546) $(31,020) Basic and diluted loss per share $(0.30) $(0.08) $(0.84) $(0.24) Shares used in computation of basic and diluted loss per share 154,389 139,413 148,172 130,341 Pro Forma Results Excluding Merger and Acquisition Related Costs Pro forma loss from operations, excluding merger and acquisition related costs $(17,822) $(11,324) $(61,788) $(32,595) Pro forma net loss, excluding merger and acquisition related costs $(22,180) $(10,808) $(74,374) $(31,020) Pro forma basic and diluted loss per share, excluding merger and acquisition related costs $(0.14) $(0.08) $(0.50) $(0.24) Shares used in computation of pro forma basic and diluted loss per share 154,389 139,413 148,172 130,341 Note: On January 4, 1999, the Company effected a three-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend to stockholders of record on December 18, 1998. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been restated to reflect the split. Note: Pro forma results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 1998 and 1997 are presented for informational purposes only and are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. These results present the operating results of Amazon.com, excluding charges of $24.2 million and $50.2 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 1998, respectively, for merger and acquisition related costs arising from Amazon.com's April 1998 acquisitions of Bookpages, Telebook and Internet Movie Database, and the August 1998 acquisitions of Junglee and PlanetAll. AMAZON.COM, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except share data) December 31, December 31, 1998 1997 (Unaudited) (Audited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash $25,561 $1,876 Marketable securities 347,884 123,499 Inventories 29,501 8,971 Prepaid expenses and other 21,308 3,363 Total current assets 424,254 137,709 Fixed assets, net 29,791 9,726 Deposits and other 626 169 Goodwill and other purchased intangibles, net 186,377 - Deferred charges 7,412 2,240 Total assets $648,460 $149,844 LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities: Accounts payable $113,273 $33,027 Accrued advertising 13,071 3,454 Other liabilities and accrued expenses 34,547 6,570 Current portion of long-term debt 684 1,500 Total current liabilities 161,575 44,551 Long-term debt 348,077 76,521 Long-term portion of capital lease obligation 63 181 Stockholders' Equity: Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares -- 10,000,000 Issued and outstanding shares -- none - - Common stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares -- 300,000,000 Issued and outstanding shares -- 159,267,288 and 144,908,874 shares, respectively 1,593 1,449 Additional paid-in capital 300,130 66,586 Note receivable from officer for common stock (1,099) - Deferred compensation (1,625) (1,930) Other gains (losses) 1,806 - Accumulated deficit (162,060) (37,514) Total stockholders' equity 138,745 28,591 Total liabilities & stockholders' equity $648,460 $149,844 Note: On January 4, 1999, the Company effected a three-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend to stockholders of record on December 18, 1998. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been restated to reflect the split.

<p>Record Holiday Season Pushes Customer Total Past 6.2 Million;Leadership in Books and Music Extended to Video, U.K., Germany;Expansion Areas Grow to 25% of Sales</p><p>SEATTLE, WA-(January 26, 1999)-Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter of 1998 and for the 1998 fiscal year. Net sales for the fourth quarter were $252.9 million, an increase of 283 percent over net sales of $66.0 million for the fourth quarter of 1997. Based on fourth quarter sales, Amazon.com has achieved a $1 billion annualized sales level three and one-half years after opening for business.</p><p>Amazon.com reported a fourth quarter pro forma operating loss of $17.8 million, or 7 percent of net sales, compared to an operating loss of $11.3 million, or 17 percent of net sales, in the fourth quarter of 1997. Fourth quarter pro forma net loss of $22.2 million, or $0.14 per share, compared with a net loss of $10.8 million, or $0.08 per share, in the fourth quarter of 1997. On a GAAP basis, reported fourth quarter net loss was $46.4 million, or $0.30 per share, and included $24.2 million of merger and acquisition related costs.</p><p>Net sales for fiscal 1998 were $610.0 million, a 313 percent increase over net sales of $147.8 million reported for fiscal 1997. Pro forma net loss for fiscal 1998 was $74.4 million, or $0.50 per share, compared with a net loss in fiscal 1997 of $31.0 million, or $0.24 per share. On a GAAP basis, reported net loss for fiscal 1998 was $124.5 million, or $0.84 per share, and included $50.2 million of merger and acquisition related costs.</p><p>Amazon.com announced that cumulative customer accounts increased by more than 1.7 million during the fourth quarter to over 6.2 million at December 31, 1998, an increase of over 300 percent from 1.5 million customer accounts at December 31, 1997. Repeat customer orders represented more than 64 percent of orders placed on Amazon.com during the quarter ended December 31, 1998.</p><p>During the fourth quarter of 1998, Amazon.com, the No. 1 online book retailer and No. 1 online music retailer, extended its leadership position to the video, U.K. and German markets. Expansion area highlights include:</p><ul><li>Music sales grew to $33.1 million, a 130 percent increase over sales of $14.4 million in the third quarter of 1998;</li><li>Combined sales in the U.K. and Germany nearly quadrupled over the third quarter, establishing Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de as the No. 1 online booksellers in their markets;</li><li>Video sales were strong following the store's opening on November 17.</li></ul><p>Combined, expansion areas accounted for 25 percent of consolidated fourth quarter sales.</p><p>"We have one strategy at Amazon.com-provide the customer with the best shopping experience," said Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. "We're extremely grateful to our customers for an incredible holiday season and an exceptional year."</p><p>Bezos noted that because customer response during the holidays was so strong, the company has committed to a major expansion plan. "In 1999, we intend to build out a significant distribution infrastructure. We must ensure that we can support all the sales that customers demand, with speedy access to a deep product inventory," Bezos added. "We will also continue to enhance the scope and quality of the products and services that we provide to our customers. Amazon.com is still a small and young company relative to many offline retailers, and we must ensure that we build the strongest customer relationships possible during this critical period. In 1999, we expect to invest even more aggressively than we have in the past. Our goal is nothing short of building the world's most customer-centric company."</p><p>Recent Highlights</p><p>Holiday Shopping Season Sets Records</p><p>Shoppers seeking to save time and money, avoid holiday shopping hassles, and select ideal holiday gifts drove strong sales across all product lines and produced records on a number of key measures. Amazon.com began the holiday shopping season on November 17 and from then until December 31:</p><ul><li>More than 1 million new customers shopped with Amazon.com for the first time;</li><li>Amazon.com shipped more than 7.5 million items-more than the company shipped during the entire year of 1997;</li><li>The company experienced peak shipping of more than $6 million in one day;</li><li>Holiday sales quadrupled from the 1997 holiday season.</li></ul><p>Even Greater Selection</p><p>With the addition of music CDs, videos, and an ever-growing selection of book titles, Amazon.com reached a total of 4.7 million titles for sale during the fourth quarter of 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com Extends Leadership in European Market</p><p>Amazon.com extended its leadership in the European market in October with the launch of its stores in Germany and the U.K. For the first time on a local basis, the stores made available to Europeans a vast selection of titles, guaranteed safety of transactions, unparalleled convenience, and electronic gift certificates for worry-free gift giving.</p><p>Customer response to the launches drove a near-quadrupling of combined sales from the sites over the preceding quarter, extending Amazon.com's position as the leading online bookseller in both the U.K. and Germany.</p><p>Amazon.de is headquartered and has a distribution center in Regensburg, Germany, with editorial and marketing offices in Munich, Germany. The store initially features over 400,000 titles from German publishers, as well as fast and easy access to nearly 500,000 U.S. titles. Amazon.co.uk is headquartered and has a distribution center in Slough, England. The store carries a complete catalog of over 1.2 million titles from U.K. publishers, along with fast and easy access to over 200,000 U.S. titles. The stores are located at www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.uk.</p><p>Opening of Video and Gift Stores</p><p>Amazon.com launched its video store on November 17 with more than 60,000 VHS and more than 2,000 digital video disc titles. At the same time, it opened a holiday gift store that allowed shoppers to meet more of their gift-buying needs in one convenient online shopping experience. E-mail gift certificate sales were especially strong in the closing days of the holiday season, thanks to instant delivery to anywhere in the world.</p><p>New Distribution Center to Open in Nevada</p><p>As a next step in its expansion plan, Amazon.com obtained a highly mechanized distribution facility in Fernley, Nevada. The Nevada location will reduce standard shipping times to key markets in the western U.S. by a full day. Further, the 322,560 square-foot facility will allow the company to significantly increase the number of books, CDs, and videos kept on hand for immediate shipment to customers. The result is that customers in such places as Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, and Houston will receive their orders much faster, thanks to greater availability, faster processing, and shorter delivery times. The distribution center will be leased by Amazon.com and is expected to begin operations during the first half of 1999.</p><p>Continued Expansion of Online Partnerships</p><p>Amazon.com continued to expand its presence on the World Wide Web through its growing ties with other Web sites. The company's groundbreaking Associates program, in which Web site operators receive referral fees for sales generated by their sites, has now added over 200,000 Associates. With the addition of new products in 1998, Associates can now generate revenue by selling a broader array of merchandise than other online retailers offer through similar programs.</p><p>In addition, the company secured its presence on several high-traffic sites, including marketing arrangements with Microsoft and CBS SportsLine. Amazon.com became CBS SportsLine's online retail partner for books, video, and music in a newly launched, co-branded store on the CBS SportsLine site. The company also signed an agreement making Amazon.com the Premier Music Merchant on Microsoft's MSN Shopping Channel, the MSN.COM portal page, and other selected properties in the MSN network of sites.</p><p>Advantage Expands to Include Music</p><p>Amazon.com broadened its popular Advantage program to include music, continuing to extend the benefits of online retailing for both consumers and artists. The Advantage program offers a compelling solution to the biggest problem faced by independent artists, bands, and labels: securing widespread distribution of their CDs. Amazon.com's Advantage program for music makes it easy for independent artists, bands, and labels to sell their CDs to Amazon.com's customers worldwide. Advantage for music, a free program, now allows them to sell their CDs at the Amazon.com music store and to enjoy the same level of exposure on the Amazon.com Web site as CDs from major artists and labels.</p><p>3-for-1 Stock Split and Addition to NASDAQ 100</p><p>On January 4, 1999, Amazon.com effected a 3-for-1 split of its common stock. The share and per share amounts included in this release are presented on a post-split basis. In addition, effective with the market open on December 21, 1998, Amazon.com was added to the Nasdaq-100 Index(r).</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.</p><p>Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the U.K. and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation risks, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998, and September 30, 1998.</p><p>Note on Financial Presentation</p><p>Financial results are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. All of the charges associated with Amazon.com's merger and acquisition activities have been included in "merger and acquisition related costs" in the accompanying financial statements in order to enhance their informational value and to present the most comparable classifications in the other line items. Among items included in merger and acquisition related costs are one-time merger related costs and purchase price elements, including amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles. Pro forma financial results exclude these merger and acquisition related costs.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p><center>AMAZON.COM, INC.Consolidated Statements of Operations(in thousands, except per share amounts)</center><pre> Quarter Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31, 1998 1997 1998 1997 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)Net sales $252,893 $66,040 $609,996 $147,787Cost of sales 199,476 53,127 476,155 118,969Gross profit 53,417 12,913 133,841 28,818Operating expenses: Marketing and sales 48,501 16,890 133,023 40,486 Product development 17,281 5,266 46,807 13,916 General and administrative 5,457 2,081 15,799 7,011 Merger and acquisition related costs 24,247 - 50,172 - Total operating expenses 95,486 24,237 245,801 61,413Loss from operations (42,069) (11,324) (111,960) (32,595)Interest income 4,264 783 14,053 1,901Interest expense (8,622) (267) (26,639) (326) Net interest income (expense) (4,358) 516 (12,586) 1,575 Net loss $(46,427) $(10,808) $(124,546) $(31,020)Basic and diluted loss per share $(0.30) $(0.08) $(0.84) $(0.24)Shares used in computation of basic and diluted loss per share 154,389 139,413 148,172 130,341Pro Forma Results Excluding Merger and Acquisition Related CostsPro forma loss from operations, excluding merger and acquisition related costs $(17,822) $(11,324) $(61,788) $(32,595)Pro forma net loss, excluding merger and acquisition related costs $(22,180) $(10,808) $(74,374) $(31,020)Pro forma basic and diluted loss per share, excluding merger and acquisition related costs $(0.14) $(0.08) $(0.50) $(0.24)Shares used in computation of pro forma basic and diluted loss per share 154,389 139,413 148,172 130,341</pre><p>Note: On January 4, 1999, the Company effected a three-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend to stockholders of record on December 18, 1998. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been restated to reflect the split.</p><p>Note: Pro forma results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 1998 and 1997 are presented for informational purposes only and are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. These results present the operating results of Amazon.com, excluding charges of $24.2 million and $50.2 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 1998, respectively, for merger and acquisition related costs arising from Amazon.com's April 1998 acquisitions of Bookpages, Telebook and Internet Movie Database, and the August 1998 acquisitions of Junglee and PlanetAll.</p><pre> AMAZON.COM, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except share data) December 31, December 31, 1998 1997 (Unaudited) (Audited)ASSETSCurrent assets: Cash $25,561 $1,876 Marketable securities 347,884 123,499 Inventories 29,501 8,971 Prepaid expenses and other 21,308 3,363 Total current assets 424,254 137,709 Fixed assets, net 29,791 9,726 Deposits and other 626 169 Goodwill and other purchased intangibles, net 186,377 -Deferred charges 7,412 2,240 Total assets $648,460 $149,844 LIABILITIES &amp; STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITYCurrent Liabilities: Accounts payable $113,273 $33,027 Accrued advertising 13,071 3,454 Other liabilities and accrued expenses 34,547 6,570 Current portion of long-term debt 684 1,500 Total current liabilities 161,575 44,551 Long-term debt 348,077 76,521 Long-term portion of capital lease obligation 63 181 Stockholders' Equity: Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares -- 10,000,000 Issued and outstanding shares -- none - - Common stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares -- 300,000,000 Issued and outstanding shares -- 159,267,288 and 144,908,874 shares, respectively 1,593 1,449 Additional paid-in capital 300,130 66,586 Note receivable from officer for common stock (1,099) - Deferred compensation (1,625) (1,930) Other gains (losses) 1,806 - Accumulated deficit (162,060) (37,514) Total stockholders' equity 138,745 28,591 Total liabilities &amp; stockholders' equity $648,460 $149,844 </pre><p>Note: On January 4, 1999, the Company effected a three-for-one stock split in the form of a stock dividend to stockholders of record on December 18, 1998. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been restated to reflect the split.</p>

Amazon.com to Open Nevada Distribution Center to Meet Rapid Growth

/news/news-details/1999/Amazon.com-to-Open-Nevada-Distribution-Center-to-Meet-Rapid-Growth/default.aspx

Amazon.com-to-Open-Nevada-Distribution-Center-to-Meet-Rapid-Growth

01/07/1999 00:00:00

Amazon.com to Open Nevada Distribution Center to Meet Rapid Growth

01/07/1999

1999

Shoppers to Benefit from Faster Shipping Times, Greater Availability SEATTLE, January 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Moving to enhance its service to customers, leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) has obtained a highly mechanized distribution facility in Fernley, Nevada that will reduce standard shipping times to key markets in the western United States by a full day. The 322,560-square-foot facility (more than seven acres) will also allow Amazon.com, the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, to significantly increase the number of books, CDs, and videos kept on hand for immediate shipment to customers. The result is that customers in such places as Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, and Houston will receive their orders much faster, thanks to greater availability, faster processing, and shorter delivery times. "Everything we do at Amazon.com is designed to continually enhance the shopping experience, and reducing delivery time does exactly that," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "And this place is so huge, we can stock far more titles ready to ship right away." The Fernley facility gives the company much-needed capacity and distribution capability. Located in the Nevada Pacific Industrial Park 30 miles east of Reno along Interstate Highway 80, the facility formerly belonged to Stanley Tools and was recently acquired by Panattoni Development of San Francisco. It will be leased by Amazon.com and is expected to begin operations during the first half of 1999. Terms of the leasing arrangement were not disclosed. The Fernley center will employ by year's end more than 300 people, although some of them are expected to be current Amazon.com associates, who will be offered an opportunity to work at the facility. Amazon.com will have recruiters at the Fernley center for an open house on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to receive applications. In addition, the company has established a toll-free jobline at 1-877-975-4273 and will also take applications by e-mail at dc-jobs@amazon.com. This is the second major regionally targeted increase in Amazon.com's shipping service. In November 1997, the company opened a 202,000-square-foot center in New Castle, Delaware, outside Philadelphia. The company's Seattle distribution center has 93,000 square feet of space and is at capacity. Amazon.com is currently evaluating how to place all current and future product lines to best utilize its distribution centers. Amazon.com reported earlier this week that sales in the fourth quarter of 1998 were approximately $250 million-three and one-half times the 1997 fourth-quarter level of $66 million. During the holiday season, Amazon.com acquired more than 1 million first-time customers and shipped 7.5 million items, more than the company shipped in the entire year of 1997. Holiday shipments peaked at $6 million in one day. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 book and No. 1 music retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million music CD, video, DVD, computer-game, book, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, the unpredictability of its future revenues, and risks associated with capacity constraints, management of growth, and new business opportunities. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, and the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>Shoppers to Benefit from Faster Shipping Times, Greater Availability</p><p>SEATTLE, January 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Moving to enhance its service to customers, leading online retailer Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) has obtained a highly mechanized distribution facility in Fernley, Nevada that will reduce standard shipping times to key markets in the western United States by a full day.</p><p>The 322,560-square-foot facility (more than seven acres) will also allow Amazon.com, the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, to significantly increase the number of books, CDs, and videos kept on hand for immediate shipment to customers.</p><p>The result is that customers in such places as Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, and Houston will receive their orders much faster, thanks to greater availability, faster processing, and shorter delivery times.</p><p>"Everything we do at Amazon.com is designed to continually enhance the shopping experience, and reducing delivery time does exactly that," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "And this place is so huge, we can stock far more titles ready to ship right away."</p><p>The Fernley facility gives the company much-needed capacity and distribution capability. Located in the Nevada Pacific Industrial Park 30 miles east of Reno along Interstate Highway 80, the facility formerly belonged to Stanley Tools and was recently acquired by Panattoni Development of San Francisco. It will be leased by Amazon.com and is expected to begin operations during the first half of 1999. Terms of the leasing arrangement were not disclosed.</p><p>The Fernley center will employ by year's end more than 300 people, although some of them are expected to be current Amazon.com associates, who will be offered an opportunity to work at the facility. Amazon.com will have recruiters at the Fernley center for an open house on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to receive applications. In addition, the company has established a toll-free jobline at 1-877-975-4273 and will also take applications by e-mail at dc-jobs@amazon.com.</p><p>This is the second major regionally targeted increase in Amazon.com's shipping service. In November 1997, the company opened a 202,000-square-foot center in New Castle, Delaware, outside Philadelphia.</p><p>The company's Seattle distribution center has 93,000 square feet of space and is at capacity. Amazon.com is currently evaluating how to place all current and future product lines to best utilize its distribution centers.</p><p>Amazon.com reported earlier this week that sales in the fourth quarter of 1998 were approximately $250 million-three and one-half times the 1997 fourth-quarter level of $66 million. During the holiday season, Amazon.com acquired more than 1 million first-time customers and shipped 7.5 million items, more than the company shipped in the entire year of 1997. Holiday shipments peaked at $6 million in one day.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 book and No. 1 music retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million music CD, video, DVD, computer-game, book, and other titles, plus secure credit-card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, the unpredictability of its future revenues, and risks associated with capacity constraints, management of growth, and new business opportunities.</p><p>More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, and the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Internet Shoppers Choose Amazon.com in Record Numbers for Holiday Shopping

/news/news-details/1999/Internet-Shoppers-Choose-Amazon.com-in-Record-Numbers-for-Holiday-Shopping/default.aspx

Internet-Shoppers-Choose-Amazon.com-in-Record-Numbers-for-Holiday-Shopping

01/05/1999 00:00:00

Internet Shoppers Choose Amazon.com in Record Numbers for Holiday Shopping

01/05/1999

1999

More than 1 Million New Customers in Holiday Season Amazon.com Achieves $1 Billion Sales Run-Rate SEATTLE, January 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Powered by a strong holiday season, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today that its fourth quarter sales were approximately $250 million, more than three and one-half times 1997's fourth quarter sales of $66 million. Based on fourth quarter sales, Amazon.com has achieved a $1 billion annualized sales level three and one-half years after opening for business. Shoppers seeking to save time and money, avoid holiday shopping hassles, and select the ideal gift produced strong sales across all Amazon.com product lines. The company's new stores in the United Kingdom (www.amazon.co.uk) and Germany (www.amazon.de) also saw substantial sales increases during the holiday season. Amazon.com began the holiday shopping season on Nov. 17, with the launch of its video and gift stores. From then until Dec. 31: More than 1 million new customers shopped with Amazon.com for the first time. Amazon.com shipped more than 7.5 million items -- more than the company shipped during the entire year of 1997. The company experienced peak shipping of more than $6 million in one day. Customers purchased enough videos, DVDs, CDs, and books to fill a shelf 101 miles long. Holiday sales quadrupled from the 1997 holiday season. "We worked hard to create the best possible shopping experience," said Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. "We're extremely grateful to our customers for what has been an incredible holiday season and an incredible three years. We had more business than our most optimistic projections, and I'm extremely proud of the people at Amazon.com who sacrificed to make things work for our customers. I've rarely seen such commitment and pulling together." "We had help from every department at Amazon.com - finance, marketing, human resources, editorial, everyone," said Mackenzie Smith, a swing shift manager at the Seattle Distribution Center, referring to the Amazon.com workers from other departments who helped ship packages. "It didn't matter what time of day it was or how simple or difficult the task, there was always an enthusiastic group from some department to tackle it. We counted on their help every day, and they made a tangible difference for our customers." The company cautioned that these higher seasonal sales will not translate into correspondingly lower net losses in the fourth quarter. "Significant sales of video and music lowered gross margins, as did aggressive product pricing," said Joy Covey, Amazon.com chief financial officer. "In addition, the strong growth combined with an all-out push to service customers resulted in higher fulfillment expenses." Amazon.com expects to release complete quarter and fiscal year financial results in late January. About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation risks, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998 and September 30, 1998. Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

<p>More than 1 Million New Customers in Holiday Season</p><p>Amazon.com Achieves $1 Billion Sales Run-Rate</p><p>SEATTLE, January 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Powered by a strong holiday season, Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced today that its fourth quarter sales were approximately $250 million, more than three and one-half times 1997's fourth quarter sales of $66 million. Based on fourth quarter sales, Amazon.com has achieved a $1 billion annualized sales level three and one-half years after opening for business.</p><p>Shoppers seeking to save time and money, avoid holiday shopping hassles, and select the ideal gift produced strong sales across all Amazon.com product lines. The company's new stores in the United Kingdom (www.amazon.co.uk) and Germany (www.amazon.de) also saw substantial sales increases during the holiday season.</p><p>Amazon.com began the holiday shopping season on Nov. 17, with the launch of its video and gift stores. From then until Dec. 31:</p><ul><li>More than 1 million new customers shopped with Amazon.com for the first time.</li><li>Amazon.com shipped more than 7.5 million items -- more than the company shipped during the entire year of 1997.</li><li>The company experienced peak shipping of more than $6 million in one day.</li><li>Customers purchased enough videos, DVDs, CDs, and books to fill a shelf 101 miles long.</li><li>Holiday sales quadrupled from the 1997 holiday season.</li></ul><p>"We worked hard to create the best possible shopping experience," said Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. "We're extremely grateful to our customers for what has been an incredible holiday season and an incredible three years. We had more business than our most optimistic projections, and I'm extremely proud of the people at Amazon.com who sacrificed to make things work for our customers. I've rarely seen such commitment and pulling together."</p><p>"We had help from every department at Amazon.com - finance, marketing, human resources, editorial, everyone," said Mackenzie Smith, a swing shift manager at the Seattle Distribution Center, referring to the Amazon.com workers from other departments who helped ship packages. "It didn't matter what time of day it was or how simple or difficult the task, there was always an enthusiastic group from some department to tackle it. We counted on their help every day, and they made a tangible difference for our customers."</p><p>The company cautioned that these higher seasonal sales will not translate into correspondingly lower net losses in the fourth quarter. "Significant sales of video and music lowered gross margins, as did aggressive product pricing," said Joy Covey, Amazon.com chief financial officer. "In addition, the strong growth combined with an all-out push to service customers resulted in higher fulfillment expenses." Amazon.com expects to release complete quarter and fiscal year financial results in late January.</p><p>About Amazon.com, Inc.Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), the Internet's No. 1 music and No. 1 book retailer, opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995. Today, the Amazon.com store has expanded to offer more than 4.7 million book, music CD, video, DVD, computer game, and other titles, plus secure credit card payment, personalized recommendations, and streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom and www.amazon.de in Germany. Amazon.com also operates PlanetAll (www.planetall.com), a Web-based address book, calendar, and reminder service. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 150,000 movies and entertainment programs and 500,000 cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1892 to the present.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, competition, risks associated with system development and operation risks, management of potential growth, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, as amended by the Form 8-K filed September 11, 1998, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998 and September 30, 1998.</p><p>Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Internet Movie Database, PlanetAll, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. All other names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.</p>

Amazon.com Wraps Up Holiday Season With More Than 99% of Shipments in Time for the Holidays and More Than 31 Million Units Ordered

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Wraps-Up-Holiday-Season-With-More-Than-99-of-Shipments-in-Time-for-the-Holidays-and-More-Than-31-Million-Units-Ordered/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Wraps-Up-Holiday-Season-With-More-Than-99-of-Shipments-in-Time-for-the-Holidays-and-More-Than-31-Million-Units-Ordered

12/27/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Wraps Up Holiday Season With More Than 99% of Shipments in Time for the Holidays and More Than 31 Million Units Ordered

12/27/2000

2000

SEATTLE--December 27, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com)(Nasdaq:AMZN) today announced that its Delight-O-Meter, which tracked units ordered on its site, surpassed 31 million units as of midnight PST December 23, 2000. Amazon.com shipped well in excess of 99 percent of items to arrive in time for the holidays, even better than last year. The last of thousands of orders on December 23, for the board game Chutes and Ladders, was placed at 11:59 p.m. PST, just under the wire, to arrive in Missouri on Christmas Day. The final orders requesting delivery by December 25 were placed between 11:22 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. PST on the 23rd and were shipped to all parts of the United States, from California to South Carolina to Ohio, in time to meet the holiday deadline. Those orders included the book Bellow: A Biography, the video game Frogger, a 21-inch stuffed Christmas dog, DVDs including the movie Left Behind, the No Angel CD by Dido, and a 19-inch color TV. "Our job is to be there for our customers, even at midnight on December 23, and to make sure that children and adults across the United States and around the world have the joy of opening their presents in time for the holidays," said David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president and general manager of U.S. stores. "We want to thank the millions of customers who trusted us with their gifts this holiday season." Deliveries on Christmas Eve day and Christmas Day were made possible through a special agreement between Amazon.com and the United States Postal Service. Some of the hottest products across Amazon.com's Web site included the Polaroid i-zone camera and i-zone film, the Gladiator DVD, the Chicken Run video, the Beatles 1 CD, the Beatles Anthology book, the Tekno Robotic Puppy, DVD players, digital cameras, the George Foreman Champ Grill, and the Nokia 8260 mobile phone. Amazon.com's Wish List, an online gift registry introduced last holiday season, has become one of Amazon.com's most quickly adopted site features, with more than 2.4 million Wish Lists today. This holiday season more than 7 million items were added to customers' Wish Lists between November 2 and December 23. About the Delight-O-Meter The Delight-O-Meter tracked the number of items ordered from Amazon.com's sites worldwide (www.amazon.com, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp) from November 2 through December 23, 2000, at midnight PST, including items ordered from its co-branded site with Toysrus.com. This feature excluded gift certificates purchased; items ordered from other members of the Amazon Commerce Network; and orders from Amazon.com's zShops, Auctions or Marketplace. Note: The Delight-O-Meter should not be viewed or used as a predictor or indicator of revenue or other financial information relating to Amazon.com. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, and wireless products. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--December 27, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com)(Nasdaq:AMZN) today announced that its Delight-O-Meter, which tracked units ordered on its site, surpassed 31 million units as of midnight PST December 23, 2000.</p><p>Amazon.com shipped well in excess of 99 percent of items to arrive in time for the holidays, even better than last year.</p><p>The last of thousands of orders on December 23, for the board game Chutes and Ladders, was placed at 11:59 p.m. PST, just under the wire, to arrive in Missouri on Christmas Day. The final orders requesting delivery by December 25 were placed between 11:22 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. PST on the 23rd and were shipped to all parts of the United States, from California to South Carolina to Ohio, in time to meet the holiday deadline. Those orders included the book Bellow: A Biography, the video game Frogger, a 21-inch stuffed Christmas dog, DVDs including the movie Left Behind, the No Angel CD by Dido, and a 19-inch color TV.</p><p>"Our job is to be there for our customers, even at midnight on December 23, and to make sure that children and adults across the United States and around the world have the joy of opening their presents in time for the holidays," said David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president and general manager of U.S. stores. "We want to thank the millions of customers who trusted us with their gifts this holiday season."</p><p>Deliveries on Christmas Eve day and Christmas Day were made possible through a special agreement between Amazon.com and the United States Postal Service.</p><p>Some of the hottest products across Amazon.com's Web site included the Polaroid i-zone camera and i-zone film, the Gladiator DVD, the Chicken Run video, the Beatles 1 CD, the Beatles Anthology book, the Tekno Robotic Puppy, DVD players, digital cameras, the George Foreman Champ Grill, and the Nokia 8260 mobile phone.</p><p>Amazon.com's Wish List, an online gift registry introduced last holiday season, has become one of Amazon.com's most quickly adopted site features, with more than 2.4 million Wish Lists today. This holiday season more than 7 million items were added to customers' Wish Lists between November 2 and December 23.</p><p>About the Delight-O-Meter</p><p>The Delight-O-Meter tracked the number of items ordered from Amazon.com's sites worldwide (www.amazon.com, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp) from November 2 through December 23, 2000, at midnight PST, including items ordered from its co-branded site with Toysrus.com. This feature excluded gift certificates purchased; items ordered from other members of the Amazon Commerce Network; and orders from Amazon.com's zShops, Auctions or Marketplace. Note: The Delight-O-Meter should not be viewed or used as a predictor or indicator of revenue or other financial information relating to Amazon.com.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, and wireless products. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Takes Last Holiday Order At 11:59 p.m. Saturday for Delivery On Christmas Day; Holiday Shipping Reliability Well in Excess of 99%

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Takes-Last-Holiday-Order-At-1159-p.m.-Saturday-for-Delivery-On-Christmas-Day-Holiday-Shipping-Reliability-Well-in-Excess-of-99/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Takes-Last-Holiday-Order-At-1159-p.m.-Saturday-for-Delivery-On-Christmas-Day-Holiday-Shipping-Reliability-Well-in-Excess-of-99

12/24/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Takes Last Holiday Order At 11:59 p.m. Saturday for Delivery On Christmas Day; Holiday Shipping Reliability Well in Excess of 99%

12/24/2000

2000

SEATTLE--December 24, 2000--At 11:59 p.m. (PST), just five hours ago, a last-minute holiday shopper ordered a game of Chutes and Ladders at Amazon.com, the leading online retailer, for delivery in Missouri on Christmas Day. It was the last of thousands of items ordered at Amazon.com Saturday for expedited delivery on Christmas Day. Again this year, Amazon.com shipped well in excess of 99 per cent of items to arrive in time for the holidays, even better than last year. "With more than 31 million items ordered, I'm incredibly proud of the thousands of people at Amazon.com who worked so hard to get these results for customers," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "On behalf of everyone here, I'd like to thank our many customers for their continuing support." The special Christmas Day deliveries are made possible by special arrangements between Amazon.com and the U.S. Postal Service. Throughout the holiday season, Amazon.com employees worked to help customers receive fast and reliable delivery, as reflected in this sampling of e-mails from customers: "I would like to say Amazon.com is GREAT!! I purchased a Nintendo Pokemon Stadium Bundle from another site and found out they did not even have it in stock. I looked all over the Internet and could not find one until I came across your site. I figured it would be out of stock and on back-order like everyone else. To my surprise, you had it in stock and my order was shipped within 24 hours. I want to thank Amazon.com for saving my son's Christmas!!!! This is the only gift he wants more than anything else in the world. Thank you for having items in stock when everyone else does not, and having fast turnaround with getting the orders out. A grateful mom." "I am impressed! My orders came today - one by UPS and the second by Post Office delivery - despite 10 inches of snow. Congratulations! You will be hearing from me again. Happy Holidays! (I know a 15 year-old and her mom that will!!!!)" "THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION!! I have had problems with 3 other .com vendors this holiday season. However, I gave you an order at the last minute and in return you gave me the FASTEST service and the LOWEST shipping fees!!! I'll be back! Thank you, thank you, thank you...Merry Christmas!!" About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, and wireless products. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--December 24, 2000--At 11:59 p.m. (PST), just five hours ago, a last-minute holiday shopper ordered a game of Chutes and Ladders at Amazon.com, the leading online retailer, for delivery in Missouri on Christmas Day. It was the last of thousands of items ordered at Amazon.com Saturday for expedited delivery on Christmas Day.</p><p>Again this year, Amazon.com shipped well in excess of 99 per cent of items to arrive in time for the holidays, even better than last year.</p><p>"With more than 31 million items ordered, I'm incredibly proud of the thousands of people at Amazon.com who worked so hard to get these results for customers," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "On behalf of everyone here, I'd like to thank our many customers for their continuing support."</p><p>The special Christmas Day deliveries are made possible by special arrangements between Amazon.com and the U.S. Postal Service.</p><p>Throughout the holiday season, Amazon.com employees worked to help customers receive fast and reliable delivery, as reflected in this sampling of e-mails from customers:</p><ul><li><p>"I would like to say Amazon.com is GREAT!! I purchased a Nintendo Pokemon Stadium Bundle from another site and found out they did not even have it in stock. I looked all over the Internet and could not find one until I came across your site. I figured it would be out of stock and on back-order like everyone else. To my surprise, you had it in stock and my order was shipped within 24 hours. I want to thank Amazon.com for saving my son's Christmas!!!! This is the only gift he wants more than anything else in the world. Thank you for having items in stock when everyone else does not, and having fast turnaround with getting the orders out. A grateful mom."</p></li><li><p>"I am impressed! My orders came today - one by UPS and the second by Post Office delivery - despite 10 inches of snow. Congratulations! You will be hearing from me again. Happy Holidays! (I know a 15 year-old and her mom that will!!!!)"</p></li><li><p>"THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION!! I have had problems with 3 other .com vendors this holiday season. However, I gave you an order at the last minute and in return you gave me the FASTEST service and the LOWEST shipping fees!!! I'll be back! Thank you, thank you, thank you...Merry Christmas!!"</p></li></ul><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, and wireless products. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crewmembers dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Delight-O-Meter Surpasses 25 Million Units

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Delight-O-Meter-Surpasses-25-Million-Units/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Delight-O-Meter-Surpasses-25-Million-Units

12/13/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Delight-O-Meter Surpasses 25 Million Units

12/13/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Dec. 13, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) today announced its Holiday Delight-O-Meter has surpassed 25 million units, with 11 days still remaining in the holiday shopping season. Found on the Amazon.com Welcome page (www.amazon.com) and updated continuously, the Delight-O-Meter counts the number of units ordered from Amazon.com sites worldwide starting November 2. "Not only are millions of products flying off our virtual shelves this holiday season, but customers are buying a fantastic range of products from across all of our retail stores," said David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president and general manager of U.S. stores. "We see robotic dogs being packed with Leatherman tools, Polaroid i-zones and Sonicare toothbrushes, as well as books, CDs, videos and DVDs, proving customers will buy anything for anyone online if you offer them vast selection and an enjoyable shopping experience." In 1999 Amazon.com shipped more than 20 million items from November 10 through December 31, over 99 percent of which were delivered on time for the holidays. This year Amazon.com will accept holiday orders through December 23 on items that show 24-hour availability, for delivery Christmas day. The number of units ordered isn't the only record being broken at Amazon.com this holiday season. With millions of customers fervently buying the perfect gifts for friends and loved ones, new holiday records are being set across Amazon.com's retail stores. Biggest DVD Pre-Order Ever: Gladiator (starring Russell Crowe) Biggest Music Pre-Order Ever: All That You Can't Leave Behind by U2 Fastest Sellout Ever: Sony PlayStation2 sold out in 30 seconds twice! (Oct. 26 and Nov. 24) Biggest Surprise Top Sellers: The Longest Journey (Computer Games); Left Behind (VHS); The O'Reilly Factor, From Dawn to Decadence and The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook (Books); and the Polaroid i-zone cameras, of which Amazon.com is one of the largest retailers Biggest Individual Product Sales: Consumer Electronics has sold more than 20,000 DVD players since November 2, the store's record for sales of a single product. Amazon.com's Camera & Photo store is also one of the largest retailers, online or off, of Polaroid i-zone cameras. Oldest Bestselling Author: The composer of Beowulf, who wrote between the 7th and 10th centuries (with a little 20th-century help from translator Seamus Heaney) About the Delight-O-Meter The Delight-O-Meter tracks the number of items ordered from Amazon.com's sites worldwide (www.amazon.com, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, and www.amazon.co.jp) starting November 2, 2000, including items ordered from its co-branded site with Toysrus.com. This feature excludes gift certificates purchased; items ordered from other members of the Amazon Commerce Network; and orders from Amazon.com's zShops, Auctions or Marketplace. The Delight-O-Meter is updated frequently and demonstrates Amazon.com's ability to delight millions of customers this holiday season. Note: The Delight-O-Meter should not be viewed or used as a predictor or indicator of revenue or other financial information relating to Amazon.com. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, and wireless products. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--Dec. 13, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) today announced its Holiday Delight-O-Meter has surpassed 25 million units, with 11 days still remaining in the holiday shopping season.</p><p>Found on the Amazon.com Welcome page (www.amazon.com) and updated continuously, the Delight-O-Meter counts the number of units ordered from Amazon.com sites worldwide starting November 2.</p><p>"Not only are millions of products flying off our virtual shelves this holiday season, but customers are buying a fantastic range of products from across all of our retail stores," said David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president and general manager of U.S. stores. "We see robotic dogs being packed with Leatherman tools, Polaroid i-zones and Sonicare toothbrushes, as well as books, CDs, videos and DVDs, proving customers will buy anything for anyone online if you offer them vast selection and an enjoyable shopping experience."</p><p>In 1999 Amazon.com shipped more than 20 million items from November 10 through December 31, over 99 percent of which were delivered on time for the holidays. This year Amazon.com will accept holiday orders through December 23 on items that show 24-hour availability, for delivery Christmas day.</p><p>The number of units ordered isn't the only record being broken at Amazon.com this holiday season. With millions of customers fervently buying the perfect gifts for friends and loved ones, new holiday records are being set across Amazon.com's retail stores.</p><ul><li><p>Biggest DVD Pre-Order Ever: Gladiator (starring Russell Crowe)</p></li><li><p>Biggest Music Pre-Order Ever: All That You Can't Leave Behind by U2</p></li><li><p>Fastest Sellout Ever: Sony PlayStation2 sold out in 30 seconds</p></li><li><p>twice! (Oct. 26 and Nov. 24)</p></li><li><p>Biggest Surprise Top Sellers: The Longest Journey (Computer Games); Left Behind (VHS); The O'Reilly Factor, From Dawn to Decadence and The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook (Books); and the Polaroid i-zone cameras, of which Amazon.com is one of the largest retailers</p></li><li><p>Biggest Individual Product Sales: Consumer Electronics has sold more than 20,000 DVD players since November 2, the store's record for sales of a single product. Amazon.com's Camera &amp; Photo store is also one of the largest retailers, online or off, of Polaroid i-zone cameras.</p></li><li><p>Oldest Bestselling Author: The composer of Beowulf, who wrote between the 7th and 10th centuries (with a little 20th-century help from translator Seamus Heaney)</p></li></ul><p>About the Delight-O-Meter</p><p>The Delight-O-Meter tracks the number of items ordered from Amazon.com's sites worldwide (www.amazon.com, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, and www.amazon.co.jp) starting November 2, 2000, including items ordered from its co-branded site with Toysrus.com. This feature excludes gift certificates purchased; items ordered from other members of the Amazon Commerce Network; and orders from Amazon.com's zShops, Auctions or Marketplace. The Delight-O-Meter is updated frequently and demonstrates Amazon.com's ability to delight millions of customers this holiday season. Note: The Delight-O-Meter should not be viewed or used as a predictor or indicator of revenue or other financial information relating to Amazon.com.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, and wireless products. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Announces New Deadlines for Overnight Holiday Delivery; Teams with USPS to Deliver over Christmas Weekend and on Christmas Day

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Announces-New-Deadlines-for-Overnight-Holiday-Delivery-Teams-with-USPS-to-Deliver-over-Christmas-Weekend-and-on-Christmas-Day/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Announces-New-Deadlines-for-Overnight-Holiday-Delivery-Teams-with-USPS-to-Deliver-over-Christmas-Weekend-and-on-Christmas-Day

12/06/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Announces New Deadlines for Overnight Holiday Delivery; Teams with USPS to Deliver over Christmas Weekend and on Christmas Day

12/06/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Dec. 6, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN), together with the United States Postal Service, today announced special plans to deliver gifts over the Christmas weekend and even on Christmas Day. Now customers can place orders at Amazon.com through Dec. 23, and still have them delivered in time for Christmas. The special holiday weekend delivery options mean customers will be able to order merchandise that shows 24-hour availability until 11:59 p.m. EST on Dec. 23 at Amazon.com and still receive their packages on Christmas Day, by choosing a special holiday delivery shipping method at check-out. Order deadlines and eligibility for the overnight holiday delivery are as follows: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Order By Delivery Delivery Provided To Date Method(s) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dec. 21 (Thurs) Dec. 23 - UPS Next Day Saturday All serviceable ZIP 11:59 p.m. EST (Sat) Delivery; & codes in the 48 - USPS Express Mail contiguous states; excludes Alaska and Hawaii ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dec. 22 (Fri) Dec. 24 - USPS Express Mail Approximately 11:59 p.m. EST (Sun) 32,000 major metropolitan ZIP codes ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dec. 23 (Sat) Dec. 25 - USPS Express Mail Approximately 11:59 p.m. EST (Mon) 32,000 major metropolitan ZIP codes ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Year after year, I find myself waiting until the last minute to do my holiday shopping," said David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president and general manager of U.S. stores. "This year, Amazon.com is making it possible for me and all the procrastinators out there to get their last-minute shopping done with just a click of the mouse." These overnight holiday delivery options will allow shoppers to easily and conveniently purchase merchandise from Amazon.com as last-minute gifts through Dec. 23, and still have delivery in time for Christmas. To help communicate the overnight holiday delivery options to customers, a co-branded television advertising campaign featuring Amazon.com and the Postal Service began airing nationwide on Dec. 4 and will continue through Dec. 22. The campaign will include two, 30-second television spots that will air on network television during prime time. Holiday shoppers who procrastinate beyond the Dec. 23 order deadline for Christmas Day delivery can still take advantage of Amazon.com's e-mail gift certificates, which can be scheduled for a specific delivery or sent immediately. Last holiday season, Amazon.com shipped more than 20 million items--well more than 99 percent of which were delivered on time for the holidays. Looking to build on its success, Amazon.com began working with major carriers such as the Postal Service and UPS in January to prepare for the 2000 holiday season. According to Amazon.com's Delight-O-Meter, customers have already ordered over 18.8 million units worldwide since Nov. 2. (Note: The Delight-O-Meter tracks the number of items ordered from Amazon sites worldwide, including items ordered from its co-branded site with Toysrus.com, but excludes gift certificates purchased, items ordered from other members of the Amazon Commerce Network, and orders from Amazon.com's zShops, Auctions and Marketplace. The Delight-O-Meter should not be viewed or used as a predictor of revenue or other financial information relating to Amazon.com.) About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, lawn and patio, and wireless products. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com, the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--Dec. 6, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN), together with the United States Postal Service, today announced special plans to deliver gifts over the Christmas weekend and even on Christmas Day.</p><p>Now customers can place orders at Amazon.com through Dec. 23, and still have them delivered in time for Christmas.</p><p>The special holiday weekend delivery options mean customers will be able to order merchandise that shows 24-hour availability until 11:59 p.m. EST on Dec. 23 at Amazon.com and still receive their packages on Christmas Day, by choosing a special holiday delivery shipping method at check-out.</p><p>Order deadlines and eligibility for the overnight holiday delivery are as follows:</p><pre>----------------------------------------------------------------------Order By Delivery Delivery Provided To Date Method(s)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dec. 21 (Thurs) Dec. 23 - UPS Next Day Saturday All serviceable ZIP11:59 p.m. EST (Sat) Delivery; &amp; codes in the 48 - USPS Express Mail contiguous states; excludes Alaska and Hawaii--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dec. 22 (Fri) Dec. 24 - USPS Express Mail Approximately 11:59 p.m. EST (Sun) 32,000 major metropolitan ZIP codes--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Dec. 23 (Sat) Dec. 25 - USPS Express Mail Approximately 11:59 p.m. EST (Mon) 32,000 major metropolitan ZIP codes----------------------------------------------------------------------</pre><p>"Year after year, I find myself waiting until the last minute to do my holiday shopping," said David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president and general manager of U.S. stores. "This year, Amazon.com is making it possible for me and all the procrastinators out there to get their last-minute shopping done with just a click of the mouse."</p><p>These overnight holiday delivery options will allow shoppers to easily and conveniently purchase merchandise from Amazon.com as last-minute gifts through Dec. 23, and still have delivery in time for Christmas.</p><p>To help communicate the overnight holiday delivery options to customers, a co-branded television advertising campaign featuring Amazon.com and the Postal Service began airing nationwide on Dec. 4 and will continue through Dec. 22. The campaign will include two, 30-second television spots that will air on network television during prime time.</p><p>Holiday shoppers who procrastinate beyond the Dec. 23 order deadline for Christmas Day delivery can still take advantage of Amazon.com's e-mail gift certificates, which can be scheduled for a specific delivery or sent immediately.</p><p>Last holiday season, Amazon.com shipped more than 20 million items--well more than 99 percent of which were delivered on time for the holidays. Looking to build on its success, Amazon.com began working with major carriers such as the Postal Service and UPS in January to prepare for the 2000 holiday season.</p><p>According to Amazon.com's Delight-O-Meter, customers have already ordered over 18.8 million units worldwide since Nov. 2.</p><p>(Note: The Delight-O-Meter tracks the number of items ordered from Amazon sites worldwide, including items ordered from its co-branded site with Toysrus.com, but excludes gift certificates purchased, items ordered from other members of the Amazon Commerce Network, and orders from Amazon.com's zShops, Auctions and Marketplace. The Delight-O-Meter should not be viewed or used as a predictor of revenue or other financial information relating to Amazon.com.)</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, lawn and patio, and wireless products. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com, the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.</p>

Samsung, Amazon.com Team Offer Wireless Handsets Online; New Relationship Gives Online Shoppers Greater Choices in Sophisticated Wireless Products

/news/news-details/2000/Samsung-Amazon.com-Team-Offer-Wireless-Handsets-Online-New-Relationship-Gives-Online-Shoppers-Greater-Choices-in-Sophisticated-Wireless-Products/default.aspx

Samsung-Amazon.com-Team-Offer-Wireless-Handsets-Online-New-Relationship-Gives-Online-Shoppers-Greater-Choices-in-Sophisticated-Wireless-Products

11/28/2000 00:00:00

Samsung, Amazon.com Team Offer Wireless Handsets Online; New Relationship Gives Online Shoppers Greater Choices in Sophisticated Wireless Products

11/28/2000

2000

DALLAS--Nov. 28, 2000--Samsung Telecommunications America Inc. (Samsung), an established leader in wireless handset innovation, today announced that leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) has become the first major online retailer for Samsung's wireless products. Launching at midnight tonight, Amazon.com created the Wireless Phones store (www.amazon.com/wirelessphones) to offer consumers the best way to compare and select wireless services and products. By teaming up with Amazon.com, Samsung is helping to meet a growing consumer demand for quick, convenient access to advanced, affordable wireless communications products. Through the Amazon Wireless Phones store, online shoppers are able to comparison shop easily for Samsung products that best meet their needs, reviewing features and functionality at a price they can afford. Shoppers can read reviews and star ratings by customers who already own the Samsung products they're researching. Consumers also can access other detailed, useful product information such as weight, talk time, dimensions, images of the product and compatible service plans to help them decide exactly which handset best meets their needs. In addition, consumers will be able to take advantage of special online promotions and offers, making Samsung phones an even better value. "Through the Amazon Wireless Phones store, we are striving to give our customers the best selection of wireless products and services available anywhere at great prices," said Christopher Payne, vice president of Amazon Electronics. "By working with Samsung, we are bringing to our customers high-quality products from a trusted brand name." "The Amazon Wireless Phones store allows us to extend the reach of products to a new customer base with premium exposure on the number one online retailer," said Peter Skarzynski, senior vice president of sales and marketing for wireless terminals, Samsung. "Amazon.com's e-commerce knowledge and reputation for world-class service ensures that our customers will have a pleasant, satisfying shopping experience." Samsung phones featured on the Amazon Wireless Phones store include the Samsung Uproar, the world's first MP3 phone, the SCH-8500, the SCH-6100 and the SCH-3500. About Samsung Samsung Telecommunications America, Inc., a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd., researches, markets and develops wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, see STA's website at www.samsungusa.com. Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd., a $22.8 billion flagship company of the Korean-based Samsung Group, is a world leader in electronics, with operations in more than 46 countries. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com, the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.

<p>DALLAS--Nov. 28, 2000--Samsung Telecommunications America Inc. (Samsung), an established leader in wireless handset innovation, today announced that leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) has become the first major online retailer for Samsung's wireless products.</p><p>Launching at midnight tonight, Amazon.com created the Wireless Phones store (www.amazon.com/wirelessphones) to offer consumers the best way to compare and select wireless services and products. By teaming up with Amazon.com, Samsung is helping to meet a growing consumer demand for quick, convenient access to advanced, affordable wireless communications products.</p><p>Through the Amazon Wireless Phones store, online shoppers are able to comparison shop easily for Samsung products that best meet their needs, reviewing features and functionality at a price they can afford. Shoppers can read reviews and star ratings by customers who already own the Samsung products they're researching. Consumers also can access other detailed, useful product information such as weight, talk time, dimensions, images of the product and compatible service plans to help them decide exactly which handset best meets their needs. In addition, consumers will be able to take advantage of special online promotions and offers, making Samsung phones an even better value.</p><p>"Through the Amazon Wireless Phones store, we are striving to give our customers the best selection of wireless products and services available anywhere at great prices," said Christopher Payne, vice president of Amazon Electronics. "By working with Samsung, we are bringing to our customers high-quality products from a trusted brand name."</p><p>"The Amazon Wireless Phones store allows us to extend the reach of products to a new customer base with premium exposure on the number one online retailer," said Peter Skarzynski, senior vice president of sales and marketing for wireless terminals, Samsung. "Amazon.com's e-commerce knowledge and reputation for world-class service ensures that our customers will have a pleasant, satisfying shopping experience."</p><p>Samsung phones featured on the Amazon Wireless Phones store include the Samsung Uproar, the world's first MP3 phone, the SCH-8500, the SCH-6100 and the SCH-3500.</p><p>About Samsung</p><p>Samsung Telecommunications America, Inc., a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd., researches, markets and develops wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, see STA's website at www.samsungusa.com.</p><p>Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd., a $22.8 billion flagship company of the Korean-based Samsung Group, is a world leader in electronics, with operations in more than 46 countries.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com, the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Launches Wireless Phones Store; Teams Up with AT&T Wireless, Sprint PCS and VoiceStream Wireless to Offer Easy Way to Find, Discover and Buy Wireless Products and Services

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Launches-Wireless-Phones-Store-Teams-Up-with-ATT-Wireless-Sprint-PCS-and-VoiceStream-Wireless-to-Offer-Easy-Way-to-Find-Discover-and-Buy-Wireless-Products-and-Services/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Launches-Wireless-Phones-Store-Teams-Up-with-ATT-Wireless-Sprint-PCS-and-VoiceStream-Wireless-to-Offer-Easy-Way-to-Find-Discover-and-Buy-Wireless-Products-and-Services

11/28/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Launches Wireless Phones Store; Teams Up with AT&T Wireless, Sprint PCS and VoiceStream Wireless to Offer Easy Way to Find, Discover and Buy Wireless Products and Services

11/28/2000

2000

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 28, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) tonight will launch a new Wireless Phones store (www.amazon.com/wirelessphones) that will simplify the way people shop for wireless phones and services. The Wireless Phones store will provide in-depth information, unmatched ease of use and great selection at affordable prices. Customers can easily and confidently choose their most appropriate and cost-effective wireless solution from leading national providers AT&T Wireless, Sprint PCS and VoiceStream Wireless. The new store provides detailed product information to help both first-time and current wireless users find the best products and services to meet their needs. To simplify the process of buying wireless phones and service and ensure that customers receive the best value, the store provides customers with: Side-by-side comparisons. Compare phones or service plans side by side. Compare many phones on a single screen -- compare everything from price, size and weight to features like battery life, Web access and games. Five easy questions. Customers can answer five easy questions about features and usage to narrow the broad range of offerings. Amazon.com will recommend the best products and service plans based on customers' responses. Outstanding coverage maps and product images. Detailed local, regional and national maps illustrate the coverage of each service plan. Products are shown in multiple views. Personalized results. The store personalizes its offerings, allowing customers to quickly and easily find the cell phones, accessories and service plans available in their community. Many ways to shop. Customers can browse by brands, phones, accessories, service plans and top sellers. In addition, customers will find all the other buying tools and information that they have come to expect at Amazon.com in the new Wireless Phones store: customer reviews and rankings, expert recommendations, buying guides and technical data. The store's helpful information and ease of use enable customers to buy the right service at a great price. "With this store, we are working to do one thing -- make buying a wireless phone easy. When possible, the phone even arrives activated in the box, ready to use and battery-charged," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "We're grateful to the companies that have teamed up with us in this effort, including AT&T Wireless, Nokia, Samsung, Sprint PCS and VoiceStream Wireless." The new store will offer services from three leading national carriers -- AT&T Wireless, Sprint PCS and VoiceStream Wireless -- and the latest wireless phones and accessories from industry trendsetters such as Samsung. Customers can shop for a new phone and service plan or, alternatively, upgrade to the latest phone and keep their existing service. Additionally, customers can choose from over 1,000 wireless accessories and more than 250 phone faceplates that highlight colleges, colors, themes or unique interests -- some even glow in the dark. "Because we're teaming up with the leader in the online retail space, millions of customers now have a clear and easy way to find what they need and can shop day or night for a rich selection of compelling Sprint PCS products and services," said Charles Levine, chief operating officer of Sprint PCS. "Amazon.com has proven the viability of commerce on the Web, and we anticipate that their ease of use and brand will give more customers an opportunity to experience the digital clarity of Sprint PCS." At launch, the Wireless Phones store will feature two retail offers exclusive to Amazon.com from Sprint PCS and VoiceStream Wireless, in addition to a full assortment of other promotions. The new store will also provide extra touches such as batteries that arrive charged so customers can quickly enjoy using their new phone. To ensure customers the ultimate in satisfaction, a 30-day risk-free guarantee is offered on all wireless phones and accessories purchased in the Wireless Phones store. To celebrate the launch and the holidays, Amazon.com is offering a $50 discount on cell phone and accessory purchases over $100 in the new Wireless Phones store (see www.amazon.com/wirelessphones for details). About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com, the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000. CONTACT: Amazon.com Ling Hong, 206/266-7180

<p>SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 28, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) tonight will launch a new Wireless Phones store (www.amazon.com/wirelessphones) that will simplify the way people shop for wireless phones and services.</p><p>The Wireless Phones store will provide in-depth information, unmatched ease of use and great selection at affordable prices. Customers can easily and confidently choose their most appropriate and cost-effective wireless solution from leading national providers AT&amp;T Wireless, Sprint PCS and VoiceStream Wireless.</p><p>The new store provides detailed product information to help both first-time and current wireless users find the best products and services to meet their needs. To simplify the process of buying wireless phones and service and ensure that customers receive the best value, the store provides customers with:</p><ul><li><p>Side-by-side comparisons. Compare phones or service plans side by side. Compare many phones on a single screen -- compare everything from price, size and weight to features like battery life, Web access and games.</p></li><li><p>Five easy questions. Customers can answer five easy questions about features and usage to narrow the broad range of offerings. Amazon.com will recommend the best products and service plans based on customers' responses.</p></li><li><p>Outstanding coverage maps and product images. Detailed local, regional and national maps illustrate the coverage of each service plan. Products are shown in multiple views.</p></li><li><p>Personalized results. The store personalizes its offerings, allowing customers to quickly and easily find the cell phones, accessories and service plans available in their community.</p></li><li><p>Many ways to shop. Customers can browse by brands, phones, accessories, service plans and top sellers.</p></li></ul><p>In addition, customers will find all the other buying tools and information that they have come to expect at Amazon.com in the new Wireless Phones store: customer reviews and rankings, expert recommendations, buying guides and technical data. The store's helpful information and ease of use enable customers to buy the right service at a great price.</p><p>"With this store, we are working to do one thing -- make buying a wireless phone easy. When possible, the phone even arrives activated in the box, ready to use and battery-charged," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "We're grateful to the companies that have teamed up with us in this effort, including AT&amp;T Wireless, Nokia, Samsung, Sprint PCS and VoiceStream Wireless."</p><p>The new store will offer services from three leading national carriers -- AT&amp;T Wireless, Sprint PCS and VoiceStream Wireless -- and the latest wireless phones and accessories from industry trendsetters such as Samsung. Customers can shop for a new phone and service plan or, alternatively, upgrade to the latest phone and keep their existing service. Additionally, customers can choose from over 1,000 wireless accessories and more than 250 phone faceplates that highlight colleges, colors, themes or unique interests -- some even glow in the dark.</p><p>"Because we're teaming up with the leader in the online retail space, millions of customers now have a clear and easy way to find what they need and can shop day or night for a rich selection of compelling Sprint PCS products and services," said Charles Levine, chief operating officer of Sprint PCS. "Amazon.com has proven the viability of commerce on the Web, and we anticipate that their ease of use and brand will give more customers an opportunity to experience the digital clarity of Sprint PCS."</p><p>At launch, the Wireless Phones store will feature two retail offers exclusive to Amazon.com from Sprint PCS and VoiceStream Wireless, in addition to a full assortment of other promotions. The new store will also provide extra touches such as batteries that arrive charged so customers can quickly enjoy using their new phone. To ensure customers the ultimate in satisfaction, a 30-day risk-free guarantee is offered on all wireless phones and accessories purchased in the Wireless Phones store.</p><p>To celebrate the launch and the holidays, Amazon.com is offering a $50 discount on cell phone and accessory purchases over $100 in the new Wireless Phones store (see www.amazon.com/wirelessphones for details).</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com, the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.</p><table><tbody><tr><th>CONTACT:</th><td>Amazon.com</td></tr><tr><td>Ling Hong, 206/266-7180</td></tr></tbody></table>

Amazon.com Announces Hottest Books, Music, Videos and DVDs of The Year as Determined by Editor's Picks and Customer Sales

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Announces-Hottest-Books-Music-Videos-and-DVDs-of-The-Year-as-Determined-by-Editors-Picks-and-Customer-Sales/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Announces-Hottest-Books-Music-Videos-and-DVDs-of-The-Year-as-Determined-by-Editors-Picks-and-Customer-Sales

11/22/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Announces Hottest Books, Music, Videos and DVDs of The Year as Determined by Editor's Picks and Customer Sales

11/22/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Nov. 22, 2000--As 2000 winds to a close, Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN), the leading online retailer, reveals the hottest books, CDs, videos and DVDs of the year with the release of its annual holiday "Best of" lists. The Best of 2000 lists were compiled from the votes of Amazon.com's expert editorial staffs, while Amazon.com's Top Sellers 2000 lists reflect the year's bestselling book, music, video and DVD titles. Accessible via the book, music, video and DVD home pages, the lists are a fun, easy way to discover new authors and artists, and to compare how popular favorites stack up against editor picks. "Amazon.com's 'Best of' lists have become a holiday tradition with customers who look to our editors, as well as other shoppers, for recommendations and ideas during this gift-giving season," said Nicholas H. Allison, editor-in-chief of Amazon.com's Books store. "Customers anticipate the release of Amazon.com's year-end lists to see how their picks compare to those of our editors and if their favorite titles are represented." Amazon.com's Best of 2000 feature includes the following: Books: The bookstore lists feature the 50 bestselling books of the year overall, bestsellers by category, and editors' picks for the best books in each of more than 30 categories, including business, entertainment, cooking, children's, religion and audiobooks. Music: The Music store lists showcase the top 100 editors' picks and the top 100 bestselling customer choices across a wide variety of musical genres. Also included are editors' and customers' picks for the 10 best CDs in 21 musical categories, including rock, jazz, classical, soundtracks, dance/DJ and hip-hop. Video and DVD: Both the Video and the DVD store lists feature the top 50 customer bestsellers along with the top 50 editors' picks for easy cross-referencing. The top 20 titles in each category -- including science fiction, drama, fitness, yoga, and mystery and suspense -- can also be accessed for more film discovery. The lists also reflect the year's industry and consumer trends, notably: Books: The extraordinary Harry Potter phenomenon is reflected in the Bestsellers of 2000 books list. J.K. Rowling's series took the top four spots, led by the most recent release, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. And while familiar names like John Grisham and Tom Clancy appear among the year's top 10 bestselling books, at press time the No. 6 slot was occupied by the breakaway business book Who Moved my Cheese? by Spencer Johnson. Music: Bestselling CDs of the year range widely from veteran stars (Sting, U2, Steely Dan) to breakthrough artists (Macy Gray, Shelby Lynne). Amazon.com's editors have honored a diverse array of artists from rock (Radiohead) and hip-hop (Jurassic 5) to jazz (the Arthur Blythe Trio) and international (Susana Baca). Video: One theme runs through the customer-driven video bestsellers list -- Star Wars. Three of the top 10 titles are various incarnations of the space epic, with the short, independent film George Lucas in Love also making the top 5. DVD: As consumers continue to embrace DVD technology, feature-rich DVD titles generate a buzz among all audiences. Blockbuster titles such as Gladiator and American Beauty made the top 10 lists for both customers and Amazon.com's editors. In addition, the editors' list featured the DVD premieres of classics like North by Northwest, Brief Encounter and I, Claudius, while customers preferred recent action-packed movies, including The Perfect Storm, Mission: Impossible 2 and X-Men. Top Pre-Orders: Both Gladiator and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire are Amazon.com's top pre-orders ever in DVD and Books respectively. Top 10 Amazon.com editors' picks: MUSIC: EDITORS' PICKS 1. Quality Control, Jurassic 5 2. Kid A, Radiohead 3. One Endless Night, Jimmie Dale Gilmore 4. The Man Who, Travis 5. Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea, PJ Harvey 6. Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia, The Dandy Warhols 7. Heartbreaker, Ryan Adams 8. Spirits in the Field, Arthur Blythe Trio 9. The Hill, Richard Buckner 10. Jin Jin/Firefly, Takashi Hirayasu and Bob Brozman VIDEO: EDITORS' PICKS 1. Run Lola Run 2. American Beauty (The Awards Edition) -- 3. The Sopranos -- The Complete First Season 4. Chicken Run 5. The Story of G.I. Joe 6. South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut 7. The Decalogue (Complete Set) -- 8. The Woody Allen Collection -- 8 pack 9. Walking with Dinosaurs 10. The Insider DVD: EDITORS' PICKS -- 1. Toy Story & Toy Story 2 -- The Ultimate Toy Box: 3-Disc Collector's Set 2. Gladiator -- 3. Rushmore -- Criterion Collection 4. Magnolia 5. Being John Malkovich 6. American Beauty (The Awards Edition) 7. High Fidelity 8. North by Northwest 9. I, Claudius -- 10. Brief Encounter -- Criterion Collection To view the book editors' selections for best books of the year, by category, visit the Books home page at www.amazon.com/books. The 10 Top Sellers of the year in each category -- based on sales from Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers worldwide -- are as follows: BOOKS: AMAZON.COM TOP SELLERS 1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (Amazon.com's biggest book pre-order ever) 2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling 3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling 4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling 5. The Brethren, John Grisham 6. Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life, Spencer Johnson 7. Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength, Bill Phillips 8. The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver 9. Eating Well for Optimum Health: The Essential Guide to Food, Diet, and Nutrition, Andrew Weil M.D. 10. The Bear and the Dragon, Tom Clancy MUSIC: AMAZON.COM TOP SELLERS 1. Supernatural, Santana 2. Riding with the King, B.B. King 3. Brand New Day, Sting 4. On How Life Is, Macy Gray 5. Two Against Nature, Steely Dan 6. All That You Can't Leave Behind, U2 7. No Strings Attached, 'N Sync 8. Oops!...I Did it Again, Britney Spears 9. You're the One, Paul Simon 10. Kid A, Radiohead VIDEO: AMAZON.COM TOP SELLERS 1. Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition Boxed Set) 2. Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace 3. Toy Story 2 -- 4. Tae-Bo Workout -- 4 Pack 5. George Lucas in Love 6. Tarzan 7. Star Wars Trilogy -- 8. Sex and the City -- The Complete First Season 9. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 10. 8 Minute Abs with 8 Minute Arms DVD: AMAZON.COM TOP SELLERS 1. Gladiator (Amazon.com's biggest DVD pre-order ever.) 2. American Beauty (The Awards Edition) 3. The Perfect Storm 4. The Sixth Sense 5. Mission: Impossible 2 6. X-Men 7. Braveheart 8. The Patriot 9. The Green Mile 10. The Matrix For more information about Amazon.com's annual Best of 2000 feature, or to view the lists in their entirety, visit each store's home page: www.amazon.com/books, www.amazon.com/music, www.amazon.com/video or http://www.amazon.com/dvd. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com) the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--Nov. 22, 2000--As 2000 winds to a close, Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN), the leading online retailer, reveals the hottest books, CDs, videos and DVDs of the year with the release of its annual holiday "Best of" lists.</p><p>The Best of 2000 lists were compiled from the votes of Amazon.com's expert editorial staffs, while Amazon.com's Top Sellers 2000 lists reflect the year's bestselling book, music, video and DVD titles.</p><p>Accessible via the book, music, video and DVD home pages, the lists are a fun, easy way to discover new authors and artists, and to compare how popular favorites stack up against editor picks.</p><p>"Amazon.com's 'Best of' lists have become a holiday tradition with customers who look to our editors, as well as other shoppers, for recommendations and ideas during this gift-giving season," said Nicholas H. Allison, editor-in-chief of Amazon.com's Books store. "Customers anticipate the release of Amazon.com's year-end lists to see how their picks compare to those of our editors and if their favorite titles are represented."</p><p>Amazon.com's Best of 2000 feature includes the following:</p><ul><li><p>Books: The bookstore lists feature the 50 bestselling books of the year overall, bestsellers by category, and editors' picks for the best books in each of more than 30 categories, including business, entertainment, cooking, children's, religion and audiobooks.</p></li><li><p>Music: The Music store lists showcase the top 100 editors' picks and the top 100 bestselling customer choices across a wide variety of musical genres. Also included are editors' and customers' picks for the 10 best CDs in 21 musical categories, including rock, jazz, classical, soundtracks, dance/DJ and hip-hop.</p></li><li><p>Video and DVD: Both the Video and the DVD store lists feature the top 50 customer bestsellers along with the top 50 editors' picks for easy cross-referencing. The top 20 titles in each category -- including science fiction, drama, fitness, yoga, and mystery and suspense -- can also be accessed for more film discovery.</p></li></ul><p>The lists also reflect the year's industry and consumer trends, notably:</p><ul><li><p>Books: The extraordinary Harry Potter phenomenon is reflected in the Bestsellers of 2000 books list. J.K. Rowling's series took the top four spots, led by the most recent release, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. And while familiar names like John Grisham and Tom Clancy appear among the year's top 10 bestselling books, at press time the No. 6 slot was occupied by the breakaway business book Who Moved my Cheese? by Spencer Johnson.</p></li><li><p>Music: Bestselling CDs of the year range widely from veteran stars (Sting, U2, Steely Dan) to breakthrough artists (Macy Gray, Shelby Lynne). Amazon.com's editors have honored a diverse array of artists from rock (Radiohead) and hip-hop (Jurassic 5) to jazz (the Arthur Blythe Trio) and international (Susana Baca).</p></li><li><p>Video: One theme runs through the customer-driven video bestsellers list -- Star Wars. Three of the top 10 titles are various incarnations of the space epic, with the short, independent film George Lucas in Love also making the top 5.</p></li><li><p>DVD: As consumers continue to embrace DVD technology, feature-rich DVD titles generate a buzz among all audiences. Blockbuster titles such as Gladiator and American Beauty made the top 10 lists for both customers and Amazon.com's editors. In addition, the editors' list featured the DVD premieres of classics like North by Northwest, Brief Encounter and I, Claudius, while customers preferred recent action-packed movies, including The Perfect Storm, Mission: Impossible 2 and X-Men.</p></li><li><p>Top Pre-Orders: Both Gladiator and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire are Amazon.com's top pre-orders ever in DVD and Books respectively.</p></li></ul><p>Top 10 Amazon.com editors' picks:</p><p>MUSIC: EDITORS' PICKS</p><ul><li><p>1. Quality Control, Jurassic 5</p></li><li><p>2. Kid A, Radiohead</p></li><li><p>3. One Endless Night, Jimmie Dale Gilmore</p></li><li><p>4. The Man Who, Travis</p></li><li><p>5. Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea, PJ Harvey</p></li><li><p>6. Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia, The Dandy Warhols</p></li><li><p>7. Heartbreaker, Ryan Adams</p></li><li><p>8. Spirits in the Field, Arthur Blythe Trio</p></li><li><p>9. The Hill, Richard Buckner</p></li><li><p>10. Jin Jin/Firefly, Takashi Hirayasu and Bob Brozman</p></li></ul><p>VIDEO: EDITORS' PICKS</p><ul><li><p>1. Run Lola Run</p></li><li><p>2. American Beauty (The Awards Edition)</p></li><li><p>-- 3. The Sopranos -- The Complete First Season</p></li><li><p>4. Chicken Run</p></li><li><p>5. The Story of G.I. Joe</p></li><li><p>6. South Park: Bigger, Longer &amp; Uncut</p></li><li><p>7. The Decalogue (Complete Set)</p></li><li><p>-- 8. The Woody Allen Collection -- 8 pack</p></li><li><p>9. Walking with Dinosaurs</p></li><li><p>10. The Insider</p></li></ul><p>DVD: EDITORS' PICKS</p><p>-- 1. Toy Story &amp; Toy Story 2 -- The Ultimate Toy Box: 3-Disc</p><p>Collector's Set</p><ul><li><p>2. Gladiator</p></li><li><p>-- 3. Rushmore -- Criterion Collection</p></li><li><p>4. Magnolia</p></li><li><p>5. Being John Malkovich</p></li><li><p>6. American Beauty (The Awards Edition)</p></li><li><p>7. High Fidelity</p></li><li><p>8. North by Northwest</p></li><li><p>9. I, Claudius</p></li><li><p>-- 10. Brief Encounter -- Criterion Collection</p></li></ul><p>To view the book editors' selections for best books of the year, by category, visit the Books home page at www.amazon.com/books.</p><p>The 10 Top Sellers of the year in each category -- based on sales from Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers worldwide -- are as follows:</p><p>BOOKS: AMAZON.COM TOP SELLERS</p><ul><li><p>1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling (Amazon.com's biggest book pre-order ever)</p></li><li><p>2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling</p></li><li><p>3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling</p></li><li><p>4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling</p></li><li><p>5. The Brethren, John Grisham</p></li><li><p>6. Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life, Spencer Johnson</p></li><li><p>7. Body for Life: 12 Weeks to Mental and Physical Strength, Bill Phillips</p></li><li><p>8. The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver</p></li><li><p>9. Eating Well for Optimum Health: The Essential Guide to Food, Diet, and Nutrition, Andrew Weil M.D.</p></li><li><p>10. The Bear and the Dragon, Tom Clancy</p></li></ul><p>MUSIC: AMAZON.COM TOP SELLERS</p><ul><li><p>1. Supernatural, Santana</p></li><li><p>2. Riding with the King, B.B. King</p></li><li><p>3. Brand New Day, Sting</p></li><li><p>4. On How Life Is, Macy Gray</p></li><li><p>5. Two Against Nature, Steely Dan</p></li><li><p>6. All That You Can't Leave Behind, U2</p></li><li><p>7. No Strings Attached, 'N Sync</p></li><li><p>8. Oops!...I Did it Again, Britney Spears</p></li><li><p>9. You're the One, Paul Simon</p></li><li><p>10. Kid A, Radiohead</p></li></ul><p>VIDEO: AMAZON.COM TOP SELLERS</p><ul><li><p>1. Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition Boxed Set)</p></li><li><p>2. Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace</p></li><li><p>3. Toy Story 2</p></li><li><p>-- 4. Tae-Bo Workout -- 4 Pack</p></li><li><p>5. George Lucas in Love</p></li><li><p>6. Tarzan</p></li><li><p>7. Star Wars Trilogy</p></li><li><p>-- 8. Sex and the City -- The Complete First Season</p></li><li><p>9. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat</p></li><li><p>10. 8 Minute Abs with 8 Minute Arms</p></li></ul><p>DVD: AMAZON.COM TOP SELLERS</p><ul><li><p>1. Gladiator (Amazon.com's biggest DVD pre-order ever.)</p></li><li><p>2. American Beauty (The Awards Edition)</p></li><li><p>3. The Perfect Storm</p></li><li><p>4. The Sixth Sense</p></li><li><p>5. Mission: Impossible 2</p></li><li><p>6. X-Men</p></li><li><p>7. Braveheart</p></li><li><p>8. The Patriot</p></li><li><p>9. The Green Mile</p></li><li><p>10. The Matrix</p></li></ul><p>For more information about Amazon.com's annual Best of 2000 feature, or to view the lists in their entirety, visit each store's home page: www.amazon.com/books, www.amazon.com/music, www.amazon.com/video or http://www.amazon.com/dvd.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com) the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Launches New Holiday Feature on Its Site; ''Delight-o-meter'' to Track Number of Items Ordered Worldwide

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Launches-New-Holiday-Feature-on-Its-Site-Delight-o-meter-to-Track-Number-of-Items-Ordered-Worldwide/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Launches-New-Holiday-Feature-on-Its-Site-Delight-o-meter-to-Track-Number-of-Items-Ordered-Worldwide

11/16/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Launches New Holiday Feature on Its Site; ''Delight-o-meter'' to Track Number of Items Ordered Worldwide

11/16/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Nov. 16, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) today unveiled a new holiday feature on its site called the "Delight-o-meter." The Delight-o-meter tracks the number of items ordered from Amazon sites worldwide (www.amazon.com, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp), including items ordered from its co-branded site with Toysrus.com. This feature excludes gift certificates purchased and items ordered from other members of the Amazon Commerce Network, and does not include orders from Amazon.com's zShops, Auctions or Marketplace. The Delight-o-meter will be updated frequently and is a demonstration of Amazon.com's ability to delight millions of customers this holiday season. The Delight-o-meter debuted with a count of over 6.8 million items, the number of items ordered since Amazon.com launched its Gifts store on November 2, 2000. The Holiday area of Amazon.com's home page will feature the Delight-o-meter for the first few days following launch, after which it will rotate between that spot and the bottom of the Amazon.com home page throughout the holiday season. Note: The Delight-o-meter should not be viewed or used as a predictor or indicator of revenue or other financial information relating to Amazon.com. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--Nov. 16, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) today unveiled a new holiday feature on its site called the "Delight-o-meter."</p><p>The Delight-o-meter tracks the number of items ordered from Amazon sites worldwide (www.amazon.com, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp), including items ordered from its co-branded site with Toysrus.com. This feature excludes gift certificates purchased and items ordered from other members of the Amazon Commerce Network, and does not include orders from Amazon.com's zShops, Auctions or Marketplace. The Delight-o-meter will be updated frequently and is a demonstration of Amazon.com's ability to delight millions of customers this holiday season.</p><p>The Delight-o-meter debuted with a count of over 6.8 million items, the number of items ordered since Amazon.com launched its Gifts store on November 2, 2000. The Holiday area of Amazon.com's home page will feature the Delight-o-meter for the first few days following launch, after which it will rotate between that spot and the bottom of the Amazon.com home page throughout the holiday season.</p><table><tbody><tr><th>Note:</th><td>The Delight-o-meter should not be viewed or used as a</td></tr><tr><td>predictor or indicator of revenue or other financial information</td></tr><tr><td>relating to Amazon.com.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Launches e-Books Store, Offering Unique and Exclusive Content to Customers

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Launches-e-Books-Store-Offering-Unique-and-Exclusive-Content-to-Customers/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Launches-e-Books-Store-Offering-Unique-and-Exclusive-Content-to-Customers

11/14/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Launches e-Books Store, Offering Unique and Exclusive Content to Customers

11/14/2000

2000

By Bringing Together the Strengths of Amazon.com, Microsoft and Audible.com, New Store Makes Shopping for Digital Content Easier Than Ever Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) today announced the opening of its new electronic book store (www.amazon.com/e-books), featuring content that has never before been available in print along with exclusive electronic book (e-book) titles in Microsoft Reader format (Nasdaq:MSFT) and downloadable digital audio titles from Audible, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADBL). E-books are already delivering brand-new content--whether it's access to books before they hit the street (M.J. Rose's In Fidelity) or a short essay by author David Baldacci on the origins of his latest novel (The Origins of Wish You Well)--to readers in a fast and easy-to-use new format. Some of the titles offered in the Amazon.com e-Books store that are not available in print include: In Fidelity by M.J. Rose (Pocket Books) Star Trek: S.C.E #1: The Belly of the Beast by Dan Wesley Smith (Pocket Books) Star Trek: S.C.E. #2: Fatal Error by Keith R.A. DeCandido (Pocket Books) Snow: The Prologue to Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan (Simon & Schuster Trade) Turtle Island Dreaming by Thompson Sayer Crockett (ipublish.com) Up, Simba! 7 Days on Trial of an Anticandidate by David Foster Wallace (ipublish.com) The new Amazon.com e-Books store brings together the best of Amazon.com--great search capabilities, unique personalization features, insightful customer reviews and vast selection--and combines it with the strengths of the Microsoft Reader eBook platform to bring customers the ultimate destination for digital content. Offering e-books in Microsoft Reader format for PCs and laptops, and downloadable e-audiobooks from Amazon.com partner audible.com, the new store makes it easy for novices to get started with these new formats and for experts to find exactly what they are seeking. "E-books are already opening up a whole new world for readers," said Lyn Blake, Amazon.com Books general manager. "What's exciting for readers is that we are just scratching the surface today with the technology and the content, and the potential for both is amazing. While customers will continue to be impressed with the technology as it advances, we think it's the unique and exclusive content that will really delight customers, as demonstrated today by our launch with a host of titles that are unavailable in print or audio anywhere else." With more than a thousand e-book titles ranging from science fiction to business and investing to romance to health, mind, and body and more, the e-Books store lets customers download recent bestsellers or find their favorite traditional works. The store also features more than 30 free e-book titles available for download, providing customers a risk-free opportunity to experience e-books and test drive Microsoft Reader. Five bestselling titles are making their e-book debut exclusively at Amazon.com. They are: -- Leading the Revolution (Harvard Business School Press)-- an Amazon.com Hot 100 title written by bestselling business strategist Gary Hamel -- Secrets of Frank Herbert's Dune (ibooks)-- the highly-anticipated insider's guide to the upcoming television miniseries airing on the Sci-Fi channel -- The GE Way Fieldbook: Jack Welch's Battle Plan for Corporate Revolution (McGraw-Hill)-- Amazon.com Hot 100 title that outlines Welch's successful strategies while CEO at General Electric -- The New American Standard Bible (Foundation Publications)-- considered the most literally accurate translation of the Bible in the English language -- Worst-Case Scenario Handbook (Chronicle Books)-- the quirky "how-to" guide that provides readers sound advice for those unexpected life-threatening situations "Once again, Amazon.com is redefining what it means to buy a book," said Steve Stone, general manager of the Microsoft eBooks product group. "The combination of Amazon.com's incredible shopping experience and the unique capabilities and instant delivery available with Microsoft Reader will make electronic reading a powerful new reality." Amazon.com has brought together leading digital technology providers to ensure a seamless customer experience. Microsoft has created a customized Amazon.com version of Microsoft Reader, giving customers the ability to purchase and download e-book titles directly from Amazon.com and store an entire library of content on their laptops and PCs. Microsoft Reader is the first product to include ClearType(TM) display technology, a Microsoft innovation that greatly improves font resolution on LCD screens for users of desktop or laptop PCs running the Windows(R) operating system as well as handheld reading devices. Microsoft Reader strictly adheres to the traditions and benefits of fine typography. It provides a clean, uncluttered display; ample margins; full justification; proper spacing, leading and kerning; and powerful tools for bookmarking, highlighting and annotation. Microsoft Reader is available for free immediate download at http://www.amazon.com/microsoftreader. The Amazon.com e-Books store will also feature the latest in e-audiobook titles from audible.com, including two digital exclusives that are not available in conventional cassette tape or CD formats. They are: -- The Second Coming of Steve Jobs (Random House Audible)-- Alan Deutschman's in-depth portrait of the man who helped to found Apple Computer and then returned to lead the company to new success -- E-Boys (Random House Audible)-- business historian Randall E. Stross's take on venture capitalists and billion-dollar start-ups Audible.com provides Amazon.com's customers with more than 15,000 digital audio titles ready for download or streaming or portable listening, ranging from bestselling e-audiobooks to a vast array of comedy, daily audio newspapers and magazines, business information and public radio programs. "Audible is about offering customers a desktop, laptop or mobile listening experience that is as intellectually evocative, as informative, and just as entertaining as reading," said Donald Katz, founder and chairman of Audible, Inc. "We are proud to bring Amazon.com customers the opportunity to program their own listening time with digital audio streams and downloads from audible.com." Amazon.com has engaged Lightning Source Inc.SM to provide seamless fulfillment of e-books for the new store. Lightning Source draws on its experience with publishers and its technological expertise to provide Amazon.com comprehensive digital fulfillment services including secure e-book delivery. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, and www.amazon.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.

<p>By Bringing Together the Strengths of Amazon.com, Microsoft and Audible.com, New Store Makes Shopping for Digital Content Easier Than Ever</p><p>Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) today announced the opening of its new electronic book store (www.amazon.com/e-books), featuring content that has never before been available in print along with exclusive electronic book (e-book) titles in Microsoft Reader format (Nasdaq:MSFT) and downloadable digital audio titles from Audible, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADBL).</p><p>E-books are already delivering brand-new content--whether it's access to books before they hit the street (M.J. Rose's In Fidelity) or a short essay by author David Baldacci on the origins of his latest novel (The Origins of Wish You Well)--to readers in a fast and easy-to-use new format. Some of the titles offered in the Amazon.com e-Books store that are not available in print include:</p><ul><li><p>In Fidelity by M.J. Rose (Pocket Books)</p></li><li><p>Star Trek: S.C.E #1: The Belly of the Beast by Dan Wesley Smith (Pocket Books)</p></li><li><p>Star Trek: S.C.E. #2: Fatal Error by Keith R.A. DeCandido (Pocket Books)</p></li><li><p>Snow: The Prologue to Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan (Simon &amp; Schuster Trade)</p></li><li><p>Turtle Island Dreaming by Thompson Sayer Crockett (ipublish.com)</p></li><li><p>Up, Simba! 7 Days on Trial of an Anticandidate by David Foster Wallace (ipublish.com)</p></li></ul><p>The new Amazon.com e-Books store brings together the best of Amazon.com--great search capabilities, unique personalization features, insightful customer reviews and vast selection--and combines it with the strengths of the Microsoft Reader eBook platform to bring customers the ultimate destination for digital content. Offering e-books in Microsoft Reader format for PCs and laptops, and downloadable e-audiobooks from Amazon.com partner audible.com, the new store makes it easy for novices to get started with these new formats and for experts to find exactly what they are seeking.</p><p>"E-books are already opening up a whole new world for readers," said Lyn Blake, Amazon.com Books general manager. "What's exciting for readers is that we are just scratching the surface today with the technology and the content, and the potential for both is amazing. While customers will continue to be impressed with the technology as it advances, we think it's the unique and exclusive content that will really delight customers, as demonstrated today by our launch with a host of titles that are unavailable in print or audio anywhere else."</p><p>With more than a thousand e-book titles ranging from science fiction to business and investing to romance to health, mind, and body and more, the e-Books store lets customers download recent bestsellers or find their favorite traditional works. The store also features more than 30 free e-book titles available for download, providing customers a risk-free opportunity to experience e-books and test drive Microsoft Reader.</p><p>Five bestselling titles are making their e-book debut exclusively at Amazon.com. They are: -- Leading the Revolution (Harvard Business School Press)-- an</p><pre> Amazon.com Hot 100 title written by bestselling business strategist Gary Hamel -- Secrets of Frank Herbert's Dune (ibooks)-- the highly-anticipated insider's guide to the upcoming television miniseries airing on the Sci-Fi channel -- The GE Way Fieldbook: Jack Welch's Battle Plan for Corporate Revolution (McGraw-Hill)-- Amazon.com Hot 100 title that outlines Welch's successful strategies while CEO at General Electric -- The New American Standard Bible (Foundation Publications)-- considered the most literally accurate translation of the Bible in the English language -- Worst-Case Scenario Handbook (Chronicle Books)-- the quirky "how-to" guide that provides readers sound advice for those unexpected life-threatening situations</pre><p>"Once again, Amazon.com is redefining what it means to buy a book," said Steve Stone, general manager of the Microsoft eBooks product group. "The combination of Amazon.com's incredible shopping experience and the unique capabilities and instant delivery available with Microsoft Reader will make electronic reading a powerful new reality."</p><p>Amazon.com has brought together leading digital technology providers to ensure a seamless customer experience. Microsoft has created a customized Amazon.com version of Microsoft Reader, giving customers the ability to purchase and download e-book titles directly from Amazon.com and store an entire library of content on their laptops and PCs.</p><p>Microsoft Reader is the first product to include ClearType(TM) display technology, a Microsoft innovation that greatly improves font resolution on LCD screens for users of desktop or laptop PCs running the Windows(R) operating system as well as handheld reading devices. Microsoft Reader strictly adheres to the traditions and benefits of fine typography. It provides a clean, uncluttered display; ample margins; full justification; proper spacing, leading and kerning; and powerful tools for bookmarking, highlighting and annotation. Microsoft Reader is available for free immediate download at http://www.amazon.com/microsoftreader.</p><p>The Amazon.com e-Books store will also feature the latest in e-audiobook titles from audible.com, including two digital exclusives that are not available in conventional cassette tape or CD formats. They are: -- The Second Coming of Steve Jobs (Random House Audible)-- Alan</p><pre> Deutschman's in-depth portrait of the man who helped to found Apple Computer and then returned to lead the company to new success -- E-Boys (Random House Audible)-- business historian Randall E. Stross's take on venture capitalists and billion-dollar start-ups</pre><p>Audible.com provides Amazon.com's customers with more than 15,000 digital audio titles ready for download or streaming or portable listening, ranging from bestselling e-audiobooks to a vast array of comedy, daily audio newspapers and magazines, business information and public radio programs.</p><p>"Audible is about offering customers a desktop, laptop or mobile listening experience that is as intellectually evocative, as informative, and just as entertaining as reading," said Donald Katz, founder and chairman of Audible, Inc. "We are proud to bring Amazon.com customers the opportunity to program their own listening time with digital audio streams and downloads from audible.com."</p><p>Amazon.com has engaged Lightning Source Inc.SM to provide seamless fulfillment of e-books for the new store. Lightning Source draws on its experience with publishers and its technological expertise to provide Amazon.com comprehensive digital fulfillment services including secure e-book delivery.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, and www.amazon.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Celebrates Holiday Season; Invites Customers to Shop Early, Ship Free; Leading Online Retailer Offers Free Shipping On Orders Over $100 Through November 22

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Celebrates-Holiday-Season-Invites-Customers-to-Shop-Early-Ship-Free-Leading-Online-Retailer-Offers-Free-Shipping-On-Orders-Over-100-Through-November-22/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Celebrates-Holiday-Season-Invites-Customers-to-Shop-Early-Ship-Free-Leading-Online-Retailer-Offers-Free-Shipping-On-Orders-Over-100-Through-November-22

11/09/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Celebrates Holiday Season; Invites Customers to Shop Early, Ship Free; Leading Online Retailer Offers Free Shipping On Orders Over $100 Through November 22

11/09/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Nov. 9, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN)(www.amazon.com) today announced it has officially kicked off the holiday shopping season, launching a new Gifts store (www.amazon.com/gifts) and thanking its customers with the gift of free shipping through November 22. Customers shopping at Amazon.com between now and November 22 can find holiday gifts for their loved ones in all stores -- Books, Toys & Games, Electronics, Music, DVD, Video, Kitchen, Camera & Photo, Computer & Video Games, Software, Lawn & Patio and Tools & Hardware -- and receive free standard shipping if their order exceeds $100 and is shipped to a single U.S. address. Detailed information can be found at www.amazon.com/free-shipping-offer. "Our mission this holiday season is to be the place customers go to easily find, discover and buy the perfect gift -- from the Big George Foreman grill to the Poo-Chi interactive puppy -- for everyone on their list," said David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president and general manager of U.S. stores. "We also wanted to give our customers a gift this holiday season, so we're inviting them to shop early, ship free, and have peace of mind knowing their items will arrive on time, beautifully wrapped from Amazon.com." Amazon.com has also launched a new Gifts store that brings the best gift ideas from across the site together in a dedicated holiday area. Customers can access the store directly from the Amazon.com welcome page, and once there will enjoy gift suggestions and recommendations for even the most difficult person on their list. Holiday shoppers can browse the store by price, age, interests or top sellers to discover great gifts under $10, $25, $50, $100 or higher; gifts for the kid at heart, the brainiac or the romantic; a variety of stocking stuffers; Amazon.com's favorite and most popular items; and much more. Visitors will also find several new features designed to make holiday shopping easy and stress-free, including: Gift Wizard: This new gift recommendations tool provides custom gift suggestions to match the recipient's interests. Customers can enter information about the recipient, or click on a category to see Amazon.com's top picks. Customers will find recommendations for everything from a "Fitness Fanatic" and "Gadget Lover" to holiday essentials for Hanukkah, New Year's and more. Wish Lists: One of Amazon.com's most popular and most quickly adopted features, Wish Lists allow customers to create lists of the Amazon.com products they'd most like to receive as gifts, similar to a wedding registry. With Wish Lists, customers can eliminate the guesswork from gift buying, feel good about choosing a gift the recipient will love and send it with the click of a mouse -- no hunting for addresses, no trips to the post office. This year customers can even send e-cards to friends and loved ones asking them to complete a Wish List. Corporate Gift Recommendations: Amazon.com's expert editorial staff recommends fun and appropriate gifts for coworkers by price, interests and product category. Gift Certificates with Holiday e-Cards: Customers can now attach gift certificates ranging in value from $5 to $5,000 to more than 100 holiday-themed electronic greeting cards and e-mail them to friends and loved ones. E-mail gift certificates, and e-cards with attached gift certificates, arrive hours after having been sent and are popular last-minute gifts. Gift Wrapping for All Occasions: Our festive gift-wrapping was designed exclusively for Amazon.com customers and is terrific for all ages and occasions. New Stores, Product Lines and Partners: Amazon.com also forged an alliance with Toysrus.com to create a co-branded toy store at Amazon.com. The new Toysrus.com teamed with Amazon.com site (www.toysrus.com) combines the strengths of the world's No. 1 toy retailer with the world's leading online retailer, bringing consumers the best of both worlds in time for the holidays. Toysrus.com, the most recognized toy brand in the world, offers customers a vast selection of the hottest products, great deals and exclusive offers. Amazon.com provides its expertise to manage all aspects of the online shopping experience, including site features and content, customer service and delivery. Since last holiday season, Amazon.com has also added new stores featuring vast product lines, continuing to enhance Earth's Biggest Selection and making Amazon.com the place to find, discover and buy a gift for everyone this holiday. These additions include Kitchen, Camera & Photo, and dedicated DVD, Software, and Computer & Video Games stores; New Cars, via trusted partner Greenlight.com; and Health & Beauty, through trusted partner drugstore.com. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--Nov. 9, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN)(www.amazon.com) today announced it has officially kicked off the holiday shopping season, launching a new Gifts store (www.amazon.com/gifts) and thanking its customers with the gift of free shipping through November 22.</p><p>Customers shopping at Amazon.com between now and November 22 can find holiday gifts for their loved ones in all stores -- Books, Toys &amp; Games, Electronics, Music, DVD, Video, Kitchen, Camera &amp; Photo, Computer &amp; Video Games, Software, Lawn &amp; Patio and Tools &amp; Hardware -- and receive free standard shipping if their order exceeds $100 and is shipped to a single U.S. address. Detailed information can be found at www.amazon.com/free-shipping-offer.</p><p>"Our mission this holiday season is to be the place customers go to easily find, discover and buy the perfect gift -- from the Big George Foreman grill to the Poo-Chi interactive puppy -- for everyone on their list," said David Risher, Amazon.com's senior vice president and general manager of U.S. stores. "We also wanted to give our customers a gift this holiday season, so we're inviting them to shop early, ship free, and have peace of mind knowing their items will arrive on time, beautifully wrapped from Amazon.com."</p><p>Amazon.com has also launched a new Gifts store that brings the best gift ideas from across the site together in a dedicated holiday area. Customers can access the store directly from the Amazon.com welcome page, and once there will enjoy gift suggestions and recommendations for even the most difficult person on their list. Holiday shoppers can browse the store by price, age, interests or top sellers to discover great gifts under $10, $25, $50, $100 or higher; gifts for the kid at heart, the brainiac or the romantic; a variety of stocking stuffers; Amazon.com's favorite and most popular items; and much more. Visitors will also find several new features designed to make holiday shopping easy and stress-free, including:</p><ul><li><p>Gift Wizard: This new gift recommendations tool provides custom gift suggestions to match the recipient's interests. Customers can enter information about the recipient, or click on a category to see Amazon.com's top picks. Customers will find recommendations for everything from a "Fitness Fanatic" and "Gadget Lover" to holiday essentials for Hanukkah, New Year's and more.</p></li><li><p>Wish Lists: One of Amazon.com's most popular and most quickly adopted features, Wish Lists allow customers to create lists of the Amazon.com products they'd most like to receive as gifts, similar to a wedding registry. With Wish Lists, customers can eliminate the guesswork from gift buying, feel good about choosing a gift the recipient will love and send it with the click of a mouse -- no hunting for addresses, no trips to the post office. This year customers can even send e-cards to friends and loved ones asking them to complete a Wish List.</p></li><li><p>Corporate Gift Recommendations: Amazon.com's expert editorial staff recommends fun and appropriate gifts for coworkers by price, interests and product category. Gift Certificates with Holiday e-Cards: Customers can now attach gift certificates ranging in value from $5 to $5,000 to more than 100 holiday-themed electronic greeting cards and e-mail them to friends and loved ones. E-mail gift certificates, and e-cards with attached gift certificates, arrive hours after having been sent and are popular last-minute gifts.</p></li><li><p>Gift Wrapping for All Occasions: Our festive gift-wrapping was designed exclusively for Amazon.com customers and is terrific for all ages and occasions. New Stores, Product Lines and Partners: Amazon.com also forged an alliance with Toysrus.com to create a co-branded toy store at Amazon.com. The new Toysrus.com teamed with Amazon.com site (www.toysrus.com) combines the strengths of the world's No. 1 toy retailer with the world's leading online retailer, bringing consumers the best of both worlds in time for the holidays. Toysrus.com, the most recognized toy brand in the world, offers customers a vast selection of the hottest products, great deals and exclusive offers. Amazon.com provides its expertise to manage all aspects of the online shopping experience, including site features and content, customer service and delivery.</p></li><li><p>Since last holiday season, Amazon.com has also added new stores featuring vast product lines, continuing to enhance Earth's Biggest Selection and making Amazon.com the place to find, discover and buy a gift for everyone this holiday. These additions include Kitchen, Camera &amp; Photo, and dedicated DVD, Software, and Computer &amp; Video Games stores; New Cars, via trusted partner Greenlight.com; and Health &amp; Beauty, through trusted partner drugstore.com.</p></li></ul><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Partners With Acclaimed Filmmaker Ken Burns to Launch Dedicated Jazz Store

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Partners-With-Acclaimed-Filmmaker-Ken-Burns-to-Launch-Dedicated-Jazz-Store/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Partners-With-Acclaimed-Filmmaker-Ken-Burns-to-Launch-Dedicated-Jazz-Store

11/02/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Partners With Acclaimed Filmmaker Ken Burns to Launch Dedicated Jazz Store

11/02/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Nov. 2, 2000--In anticipation of the January 2001 PBS broadcast of Ken Burns's new documentary, Jazz, Amazon.com, the No. 1 online music store (Nasdaq:AMZN), today launched a special Ken Burns's Jazz Store, created in partnership with the acclaimed documentary filmmaker. Beginning on PBS on January 8, 2001, Burns's 10-part documentary, a General Motors Mark of Excellence Presentation, will examine the evolution of jazz and its beloved artists, from its beginnings in the dance halls, saloons, and street parades of New Orleans in the early 20th century to its current renaissance. In celebration of the upcoming broadcast, Amazon.com's editors have built a dedicated Ken Burns's Jazz Store, located within Amazon.com's Music store, featuring: Video streams of Burns talking about the making of the series and each episode Burns's personally recommended CD sampler representing the genre's best artists and recordings Best-of compilations of 22 jazz performers from the Jazz documentary, including Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald -- A five-CD box, Ken Burns Jazz -- Story of America, representing the history of jazz from Louis Armstrong to Cassandra Wilson The series companion book, Jazz: An Illustrated History, by Burns and long time collaborator Geoffrey C. Ward The ability to pre-order the Jazz series videos in advance of the PBS television debut in 2001 (release date: January 2) Recommended recordings for 48 jazz greats featured in the series, selected by Amazon.com's editors "Jazz has had to compete with an increasingly wider range of music," Ken Burns said. "But at the same time, most of this other music owes a great debt to jazz. Amazon.com reaches a global audience that is already interested in jazz -- or open to discovering it. Together I hope we can spark a jazz renaissance that will bring this great music to more and more people." "In the '30s, radio was a new medium that turned swing into America's most popular music; the Internet has similar potential for broadening the global audience for jazz in the 21st century," added Keith Moerer, editor in chief of Amazon.com's Music store. "We are delighted to work with Ken Burns to help music lovers discover jazz for the first time or deepen their knowledge of and passion for this uniquely American art form." Even before its partnership with Burns, Amazon.com has used its unlimited shelf space and the discovery nature of the Internet to promote jazz. The company's commitment to this music is demonstrated in the following ways: -- Amazon.com carries 35,000 jazz titles in its catalog -- a greater number devoted to this particular genre than many retail stores' entire inventory -- As a percentage of total Amazon.com sales, jazz represents more than two and a half times the industry average. -- Twelve of Amazon.com's 200 top selling artists are jazz artists: Diana Krall, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Louis Armstrong, Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Christian McBride, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday. -- Amazon.com has proven itself a crucial player in the sales of jazz catalog titles and reissues. Some examples: of all the copies sold, Amazon.com accounts for 15 percent of Miles Davis and John Coltrane's Complete Columbia Recordings, more than 12 percent of John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, and nearly 27 percent of Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert. -- Amazon.com also represents a high percentage of sales for new jazz releases, accounting for 15 percent of sales for Keith Jarrett's 1999 CD, The Melody at Night with You, and 8 percent of Diana Krall's All for You, among many others. For more information about the Amazon.com Ken Burns's Jazz Store or to learn more about the upcoming Ken Burns Jazz documentary, a General Motors Mark of Excellence Presentation, visit Amazon.com's Music store (www.amazon.com/music) or go directly to www.amazon.com/ken-burns-jazz-store. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr (http://www.amazon.fr), (www.amazon.co.uk) and (www.amazon.de). It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com) (http://www.imdb.com/), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon.com Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000. For information about Jazz and to interview Ken Burns, please contact Susan Makarichev at 212/981-5243.

<p>SEATTLE--Nov. 2, 2000--In anticipation of the January 2001 PBS broadcast of Ken Burns's new documentary, Jazz, Amazon.com, the No. 1 online music store (Nasdaq:AMZN), today launched a special Ken Burns's Jazz Store, created in partnership with the acclaimed documentary filmmaker.</p><p>Beginning on PBS on January 8, 2001, Burns's 10-part documentary, a General Motors Mark of Excellence Presentation, will examine the evolution of jazz and its beloved artists, from its beginnings in the dance halls, saloons, and street parades of New Orleans in the early 20th century to its current renaissance. In celebration of the upcoming broadcast, Amazon.com's editors have built a dedicated Ken Burns's Jazz Store, located within Amazon.com's Music store, featuring:</p><ul><li><p>Video streams of Burns talking about the making of the series and each episode</p></li><li><p>Burns's personally recommended CD sampler representing the genre's best artists and recordings</p></li><li><p>Best-of compilations of 22 jazz performers from the Jazz documentary, including Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald -- A five-CD box, Ken Burns Jazz -- Story of America, representing the history of jazz from Louis Armstrong to Cassandra Wilson</p></li><li><p>The series companion book, Jazz: An Illustrated History, by Burns and long time collaborator Geoffrey C. Ward</p></li><li><p>The ability to pre-order the Jazz series videos in advance of the PBS television debut in 2001 (release date: January 2)</p></li><li><p>Recommended recordings for 48 jazz greats featured in the series, selected by Amazon.com's editors</p></li></ul><p>"Jazz has had to compete with an increasingly wider range of music," Ken Burns said. "But at the same time, most of this other music owes a great debt to jazz. Amazon.com reaches a global audience that is already interested in jazz -- or open to discovering it. Together I hope we can spark a jazz renaissance that will bring this great music to more and more people."</p><p>"In the '30s, radio was a new medium that turned swing into America's most popular music; the Internet has similar potential for broadening the global audience for jazz in the 21st century," added Keith Moerer, editor in chief of Amazon.com's Music store. "We are delighted to work with Ken Burns to help music lovers discover jazz for the first time or deepen their knowledge of and passion for this uniquely American art form."</p><p>Even before its partnership with Burns, Amazon.com has used its unlimited shelf space and the discovery nature of the Internet to promote jazz. The company's commitment to this music is demonstrated in the following ways: -- Amazon.com carries 35,000 jazz titles in its catalog -- a</p><pre> greater number devoted to this particular genre than many retail stores' entire inventory -- As a percentage of total Amazon.com sales, jazz represents more than two and a half times the industry average. -- Twelve of Amazon.com's 200 top selling artists are jazz artists: Diana Krall, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Louis Armstrong, Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Christian McBride, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday. -- Amazon.com has proven itself a crucial player in the sales of jazz catalog titles and reissues. Some examples: of all the copies sold, Amazon.com accounts for 15 percent of Miles Davis and John Coltrane's Complete Columbia Recordings, more than 12 percent of John Coltrane's A Love Supreme, and nearly 27 percent of Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert. -- Amazon.com also represents a high percentage of sales for new jazz releases, accounting for 15 percent of sales for Keith Jarrett's 1999 CD, The Melody at Night with You, and 8 percent of Diana Krall's All for You, among many others.</pre><p>For more information about the Amazon.com Ken Burns's Jazz Store or to learn more about the upcoming Ken Burns Jazz documentary, a General Motors Mark of Excellence Presentation, visit Amazon.com's Music store (www.amazon.com/music) or go directly to www.amazon.com/ken-burns-jazz-store.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr (http://www.amazon.fr), (www.amazon.co.uk) and (www.amazon.de). It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com) (http://www.imdb.com/), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon.com Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p><p>For information about Jazz and to interview Ken Burns, please contact Susan Makarichev at 212/981-5243.</p>

Amazon.com Launches Amazon.co.jp With a Comprehensive Catalog of Japanese and Foreign Books for Japan and Japanese Speakers Worldwide

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Launches-Amazon.co.jp-With-a-Comprehensive-Catalog-of-Japanese-and-Foreign-Books-for-Japan-and-Japanese-Speakers-Worldwide/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Launches-Amazon.co.jp-With-a-Comprehensive-Catalog-of-Japanese-and-Foreign-Books-for-Japan-and-Japanese-Speakers-Worldwide

10/31/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Launches Amazon.co.jp With a Comprehensive Catalog of Japanese and Foreign Books for Japan and Japanese Speakers Worldwide

10/31/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Oct. 31, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) (www.amazon.com) today launched Amazon.co.jp, a Japanese-language site, to serve Japan and Japanese-language speakers around the world. Amazon.co.jp enters Japan's market with a comprehensive books catalog, offering more than 1.7 million Japanese and English-language titles and extensive editorial content. Japan is Amazon.com's largest export market, with 193,000 customers and annualized sales of US$34 million. Amazon.com has consistently been ranked the No. 1 e-commerce site in Japan. Japan was also the home of Amazon.com's millionth customer, who received a personal delivery of books from Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos in Tokyo in 1997. "We're grateful to the tens of thousands of Japanese who have shopped at Amazon.com for the past five years," said Bezos. "With the launch of Amazon.co.jp, we can now make our customer-centric shopping experience -- great service, selection and convenience -- available to everyone looking for popular or hard-to-find Japanese language books." Amazon.co.jp is Amazon's first Asian-language site and its fourth international one. In developing its Unicode-enabled platform for the Japanese language site, Amazon.com worked with U.S.-based Basis Technology, a top provider of software internationalization services, with special expertise in Asian language information processing. Amazon's other international sites include the French-language Amazon.fr, launched Aug. 31 of this year, the German-language Amazon.de, and Amazon.co.uk. "We have drawn from our vast experience building international sites and our five years of global sales to more than 200 countries with Amazon.com to create a site customized for Japan and Japanese speakers everywhere and to promote Japanese literature and culture around the world," said Diego Piacentini, Amazon.com senior vice president, international. Amazon's operations in Japan include offices in Tokyo, a distribution center in Ichikawa, Chiba prefecture, and a customer service center in Sapporo, Hokkaido. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--Oct. 31, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) (www.amazon.com) today launched Amazon.co.jp, a Japanese-language site, to serve Japan and Japanese-language speakers around the world.</p><p>Amazon.co.jp enters Japan's market with a comprehensive books catalog, offering more than 1.7 million Japanese and English-language titles and extensive editorial content.</p><p>Japan is Amazon.com's largest export market, with 193,000 customers and annualized sales of US$34 million. Amazon.com has consistently been ranked the No. 1 e-commerce site in Japan. Japan was also the home of Amazon.com's millionth customer, who received a personal delivery of books from Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos in Tokyo in 1997.</p><p>"We're grateful to the tens of thousands of Japanese who have shopped at Amazon.com for the past five years," said Bezos. "With the launch of Amazon.co.jp, we can now make our customer-centric shopping experience -- great service, selection and convenience -- available to everyone looking for popular or hard-to-find Japanese language books."</p><p>Amazon.co.jp is Amazon's first Asian-language site and its fourth international one. In developing its Unicode-enabled platform for the Japanese language site, Amazon.com worked with U.S.-based Basis Technology, a top provider of software internationalization services, with special expertise in Asian language information processing.</p><p>Amazon's other international sites include the French-language Amazon.fr, launched Aug. 31 of this year, the German-language Amazon.de, and Amazon.co.uk.</p><p>"We have drawn from our vast experience building international sites and our five years of global sales to more than 200 countries with Amazon.com to create a site customized for Japan and Japanese speakers everywhere and to promote Japanese literature and culture around the world," said Diego Piacentini, Amazon.com senior vice president, international.</p><p>Amazon's operations in Japan include offices in Tokyo, a distribution center in Ichikawa, Chiba prefecture, and a customer service center in Sapporo, Hokkaido.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates four international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.co.jp. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com and Toysrus.com Announce Limited Number of PlayStation 2 Available at Noon PST on October 26

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-and-Toysrus.com-Announce-Limited-Number-of-PlayStation-2-Available-at-Noon-PST-on-October-26/default.aspx

Amazon.com-and-Toysrus.com-Announce-Limited-Number-of-PlayStation-2-Available-at-Noon-PST-on-October-26

10/25/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com and Toysrus.com Announce Limited Number of PlayStation 2 Available at Noon PST on October 26

10/25/2000

2000

Ultimate one-stop shopping destination this holiday season for PlayStation 2 -- complete offering of games and accessories, even auctions of hard to find consoles Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) and leading online toy retailer Toysrus.com (www.toysrus.com) announced today that a limited number of Sony's PlayStation 2 will be available at noon PST on October 26. Widely considered one of this season's hottest toys, the gaming console system will be available on a first come, first served basis at www.amazon.com/playstation2. Each PlayStation 2 console will be value bundled with three popular game titles, a DVD movie and an extra Dual Shock 2 controller, offering customers a complete PlayStation 2 package, all in one place. Toysrus.com and Amazon.com expect to receive several additional shipments before the holidays. Due to limited production, it's not known when or how many PlayStation 2s will be available, but customers will find regular updates in the PlayStation 2 store. "PlayStation 2 is definitely one of the hottest products of the season," said Greg Ahearn, vice president of marketing, Toysrus.com. "We are happy to have a limited number of the consoles available for customers the day of launch and will continue to work to get more product throughout the rest of the year." "Customers have been waiting all year for this launch, and the limited allocation has only increased the frenzy," said Kirk Koenigsbauer, general manager of Amazon.com Computer & Video Games. "We are offering PlayStation 2 on a first come, first served basis, and giving customers all of the information they need about its availability. We recommend customers check the site often for updates, and take advantage of our daily PlayStation 2 give-away." Special Online Giveaway Toysrus.com and Amazon.com are also offering customers a chance to win a free Sony PlayStation 2 bundle. Starting today, customers who sign up for the "PlayStation 2 Delivers" mailing will automatically be entered into a daily drawing to win a complete PlayStation 2 value bundled package. The first drawing will take place October 26, and one winner will be selected each business day through November 7, giving consumers an extra ten chances to win. All the Latest On PlayStation 2 To keep customers abreast of all PlayStation 2 news, Toysrus.com and Amazon.com have created a one-stop PlayStation 2 destination (www.amazon.com/playstation2). Features and content include: Updates on when Toysrus.com and Amazon.com will have additional PlayStation 2s available Updated lists of the top-selling PlayStation 2 games and accessories A complete selection of PlayStation 2 games and accessories Expert reviews about PlayStation 2's DVD player and other features Links to sellers of PlayStation 2 products in Amazon.com Auctions About Toysrus.com Toysrus.com, an affiliate of Toys "R" Us, Inc., is a leading global Internet retailer for toys and children's products. Earlier this year, SOFTBANK, a leading Internet investor, became a minority partner. In July, Toysrus.com launched Babiesrus.com, an online e-resource partnership with the No. 1 Juvenile retailer in the world, Babies "R" Us. And, in August, Toysrus.com teamed up with Amazon.com, one of the pioneers of e-commerce, to form a co-branded online toy store offering customers an unparalleled shopping experience over the Internet. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon.com Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.

<p>Ultimate one-stop shopping destination this holiday season for PlayStation 2 -- complete offering of games and accessories, even auctions of hard to find consoles</p><p>Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) and leading online toy retailer Toysrus.com (www.toysrus.com) announced today that a limited number of Sony's PlayStation 2 will be available at noon PST on October 26.</p><p>Widely considered one of this season's hottest toys, the gaming console system will be available on a first come, first served basis at www.amazon.com/playstation2.</p><p>Each PlayStation 2 console will be value bundled with three popular game titles, a DVD movie and an extra Dual Shock 2 controller, offering customers a complete PlayStation 2 package, all in one place.</p><p>Toysrus.com and Amazon.com expect to receive several additional shipments before the holidays. Due to limited production, it's not known when or how many PlayStation 2s will be available, but customers will find regular updates in the PlayStation 2 store.</p><p>"PlayStation 2 is definitely one of the hottest products of the season," said Greg Ahearn, vice president of marketing, Toysrus.com. "We are happy to have a limited number of the consoles available for customers the day of launch and will continue to work to get more product throughout the rest of the year."</p><p>"Customers have been waiting all year for this launch, and the limited allocation has only increased the frenzy," said Kirk Koenigsbauer, general manager of Amazon.com Computer &amp; Video Games. "We are offering PlayStation 2 on a first come, first served basis, and giving customers all of the information they need about its availability. We recommend customers check the site often for updates, and take advantage of our daily PlayStation 2 give-away."</p><p>Special Online Giveaway</p><p>Toysrus.com and Amazon.com are also offering customers a chance to win a free Sony PlayStation 2 bundle. Starting today, customers who sign up for the "PlayStation 2 Delivers" mailing will automatically be entered into a daily drawing to win a complete PlayStation 2 value bundled package. The first drawing will take place October 26, and one winner will be selected each business day through November 7, giving consumers an extra ten chances to win.</p><p>All the Latest On PlayStation 2</p><p>To keep customers abreast of all PlayStation 2 news, Toysrus.com and Amazon.com have created a one-stop PlayStation 2 destination (www.amazon.com/playstation2). Features and content include:</p><ul><li><p>Updates on when Toysrus.com and Amazon.com will have additional PlayStation 2s available</p></li><li><p>Updated lists of the top-selling PlayStation 2 games and accessories</p></li><li><p>A complete selection of PlayStation 2 games and accessories</p></li><li><p>Expert reviews about PlayStation 2's DVD player and other features</p></li><li><p>Links to sellers of PlayStation 2 products in Amazon.com Auctions</p></li></ul><p>About Toysrus.com</p><p>Toysrus.com, an affiliate of Toys "R" Us, Inc., is a leading global Internet retailer for toys and children's products. Earlier this year, SOFTBANK, a leading Internet investor, became a minority partner. In July, Toysrus.com launched Babiesrus.com, an online e-resource partnership with the No. 1 Juvenile retailer in the world, Babies "R" Us. And, in August, Toysrus.com teamed up with Amazon.com, one of the pioneers of e-commerce, to form a co-branded online toy store offering customers an unparalleled shopping experience over the Internet.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon.com Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Third-quarter Sales Up 79% Year-Over-Year; Electronics Store Becomes Second-Largest Business At Amazon.com, Surpassing Music

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Third-quarter-Sales-Up-79-Year-Over-Year-Electronics-Store-Becomes-Second-Largest-Business-At-Amazon.com-Surpassing-Music/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Third-quarter-Sales-Up-79-Year-Over-Year-Electronics-Store-Becomes-Second-Largest-Business-At-Amazon.com-Surpassing-Music

10/24/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Third-quarter Sales Up 79% Year-Over-Year; Electronics Store Becomes Second-Largest Business At Amazon.com, Surpassing Music

10/24/2000

2000

AMAZON.COM THIRD-QUARTER SALES UP 79% YEAR-OVER-YEAR; ELECTRONICS STORE BECOMES SECOND-LARGEST BUSINESS AT AMAZON.COM, SURPASSING MUSIC US Books, Music and DVD/Video Segment Achieves 6% Pro Forma Operating Margin; Cash and Marketable Securities of $900 Million SEATTLE, WA—October 24, 2000—Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced net sales for the third quarter of 2000 were $638 million, an increase of 79% over net sales of $356 million for the third quarter of 1999. For the first time, the Electronics store has grown to become the second-largest U.S. store, behind Books and ahead of Music. Gross margin for the third quarter of 2000 was 26%, up from 20% for the third quarter of 1999. Pro forma operating loss for the third quarter of 2000 was $68 million, or 11% of sales, compared to a pro forma operating loss of $79 million, or 22% of sales, in the third quarter of 1999. Third-quarter pro forma net loss was $0.25 per share, an improvement over the pro forma net loss of $0.26 per share in the third quarter of 1999. Amazon.com's U.S. Books, Music and DVD/Video segment fully allocated third-quarter pro forma operating profit was $25 million, or 6% of sales, up from 0% in the same period a year ago. "The strong growth in electronics is due to great prices and deep selection combined with our widely recognized customer service. In September, 6 of the 10 top-selling items on Amazon.com were from our electronics store," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com chief executive officer. "As always, we're grateful to customers for continuing to choose Amazon.com." "This was a strong quarter for Amazon.com; we are driving toward profitability, and we surpassed our key internal operational and financial objectives," said Warren Jenson, Amazon.com chief financial officer. "As we enter our sixth holiday season, we are better prepared operationally than ever to deliver for customers, while at the same time we expect to improve our operating margin for the fourth consecutive quarter." Amazon.com worldwide cumulative customer accounts increased by over 2.8 million during the quarter to over 25 million as of September 30, 2000. Sales per active customer for the twelve months ended September 30, 2000, were $130, up from $108 for the same period a year ago. As part of its agreement with Amazon.com, Toysrus.com purchased at cost approximately $20 million of toys-related inventory, which is included in third-quarter sales. Amazon International sales, which comprise the Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, and Amazon.fr businesses, were $88 million, up 121% from $40 million for the third quarter of 1999. Amazon International added approximately 800,000 new customer accounts in the third quarter of 2000, bringing cumulative Amazon International customer accounts to approximately 3.9 million, an increase of 225% from approximately 1.2 million as of September 30, 1999. Operating cash usage in the third quarter was $4 million, compared to $76 million in the third quarter of 1999. Third-quarter GAAP net loss was $0.68 per share, compared to a net loss of $0.59 per share in the third quarter of 1999. Recent Highlights Global Expansion ·         Amazon.com launched Amazon.fr, a French-language site offering books, music CDs, DVDs and videos dedicated to customers in France and to French-speaking customers around the world. Amazon.fr was named the best overall online retailer by leading French publications Capital, Le Monde and Journal du Net. ·         Amazon.de launched a Software store. Expanded Selection and Partnerships ·         Amazon.com, in connection with a strategic alliance with Toysrus.com, launched a co-branded toy store. The new online store combined the strengths of the two e-tailers' prior stores, to bring customers the best toy-buying experience available online. ·         Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) announced its Microsoft Reader had been selected by Amazon.com as the preferred format for Amazon.com's forthcoming e-Books store. ·         Amazon.com launched a Camera & Photo store, offering digital and film cameras, optical gear, and accessories, and announced an alliance with Ofoto, Inc., a premier online photography service. ·         Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) announced it had licensed Amazon.com's 1-Click patent and trademark for use in its Apple Online Store, as part of an e-commerce patent cross-licensing agreement. ·         Amazon.com launched a Computer & Video Games store, offering the largest selection of computer and video games and accessories available, online or off-, to provide a one-stop gaming destination for both casual and hard-core gaming enthusiasts. ·         Amazon.com launched a new-car buying service, providing customers with a superior car-buying experience backed by service and support from an expansive network of premier auto dealers affiliated with its partner Greenlight.com. Platform Growth ·         Amazon.com announced the availability of Mobile Auctions, a wireless service that provides customers the ability to search for new auction items, enter and monitor bids, and track sales, and offers mobile alerts for Amazon Auctions directly from a mobile phone. ·         Enrollment in the Amazon.com Associates Program surpassed 500,000 members, reinforcing its position as the largest and most popular program of its kind. Business Outlook The following forward looking-statements reflect Amazon.com's expectations as of October 24, 2000. Given the emerging nature of online retail, potential changes in general economic conditions, and the various other risk factors discussed below, actual results may differ materially. The company intends to continue its practice of not updating forward-looking statements until its next quarterly results announcement, other than in publicly available statements. Fourth Quarter 2000 Expectations ·         Sales are expected to be between $950 million and $1.05 billion. ·         Gross margin is expected to be seasonally down compared to the third quarter of this year, although up strongly over the fourth quarter of 1999. ·         Pro forma operating losses are expected to be between 5% and 8% of sales. ·         Cash and marketable securities at year-end are expected to be over $1 billion. 2001 Expectations ·         Sales are expected to be approximately $4 billion. ·         Pro forma loss from operations is expected to narrow to less than 5% of sales, perhaps substantially so. ·         Cash and marketable securities as of March 31, 2001, are expected to be approximately $700 million, and the company expects to generate significant positive cash flow from operations for the nine months ended December 31, 2001. The aforementioned forward-looking statements are inherently difficult to predict. Actual results could differ materially for a variety of reasons, including the rate of growth of the Internet and online commerce, the amount that Amazon.com invests in new business opportunities and the timing of those investments, customer spending patterns, the mix of products sold to customers, the mix of revenues derived from products sales as compared to services, risks of inventory management, the magnitude of losses arising from investments accounted for under the equity method, the degree to which the company enters into Amazon Commerce Network and other strategic transactions, fluctuations in the value of securities and non-cash payments Amazon.com receives in connection with such transactions, and risks of distribution and fulfillment throughput and productivity. Other risks and uncertainties include Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks associated with distribution center expansion, adverse consequences arising from system interruptions, risks associated with management of potential growth, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000. A live Webcast of Amazon.com's third quarter 2000 financial results conference call can be heard at 2:00 p.m. PDT/5:00 p.m. EDT today at www.amazon.com/ir. The call will also be archived and available until December 31, 2000. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. Notes on Financial Presentation Historical results of operations are preliminary and unaudited. Financial results are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Pro forma financial results exclude stock-based compensation costs, amortization of goodwill and other intangibles, acquisition-related and other costs, non-cash investment gains and losses, net, and equity in losses of equity-method investees, net. The Electronics store business includes Amazon Electronics, Video Games and Software. Customer accounts exclude Amazon Commerce Network partners' businesses and Amazon.com's catalog businesses but include users of Amazon Marketplace services. Trailing twelve-month sales per active customer figures include revenue recorded from Amazon Commerce Network partners and exclude catalog sales and $20 million from the sale of inventory to Toysrus.com. Amazon.com commenced its Amazon Commerce Network program in the fall of 1999 to develop new strategic relationships and expand the products and services the company offers to its customers. As part of this program, Amazon.com entered into a variety of relationships with third parties, including relationships where the company invested in its partners and relationships where the company received securities of its partners as payment for services it provides to them. These relationships, particularly those in which Amazon.com receives securities in payment for its services, require reporting and disclosure that involve estimates to determine fair value, the recognition of revenue over time, and the ongoing accounting for the company's investments in its partners. Estimates of fair value are based on the use of independent third party appraisals when appropriate. Amazon.com has received informal inquiries from the SEC staff with respect to accounting treatment and disclosures for some of its initial Amazon Commerce Network transactions and has responded to those questions. Amazon.com reviewed the accounting for the transactions with its auditors and the SEC staff, and the company believes that the accounting treatment, and disclosures, were appropriate. Amazon.com will continue to cooperate with the SEC staff if they have further questions.

<table><tbody><tr><td><p>AMAZON.COM THIRD-QUARTER SALES UP 79% YEAR-OVER-YEAR; ELECTRONICS STORE BECOMES SECOND-LARGEST BUSINESS AT AMAZON.COM, SURPASSING MUSIC</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>US Books, Music and DVD/Video Segment Achieves 6% Pro Forma Operating Margin;</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cash and Marketable Securities of $900 Million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>SEATTLE, WA—October 24, 2000—Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced net sales for the third quarter of 2000 were $638 million, an increase of 79% over net sales of $356 million for the third quarter of 1999. For the first time, the Electronics store has grown to become the second-largest U.S. store, behind Books and ahead of Music. Gross margin for the third quarter of 2000 was 26%, up from 20% for the third quarter of 1999.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pro forma operating loss for the third quarter of 2000 was $68 million, or 11% of sales, compared to a pro forma operating loss of $79 million, or 22% of sales, in the third quarter of 1999. Third-quarter pro forma net loss was $0.25 per share, an improvement over the pro forma net loss of $0.26 per share in the third quarter of 1999.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Amazon.com's U.S. Books, Music and DVD/Video segment fully allocated third-quarter pro forma operating profit was $25 million, or 6% of sales, up from 0% in the same period a year ago.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>"The strong growth in electronics is due to great prices and deep selection combined with our widely recognized customer service. In September, 6 of the 10 top-selling items on Amazon.com were from our electronics store," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com chief executive officer. "As always, we're grateful to customers for continuing to choose Amazon.com."</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>"This was a strong quarter for Amazon.com; we are driving toward profitability, and we surpassed our key internal operational and financial objectives," said Warren Jenson, Amazon.com chief financial officer. "As we enter our sixth holiday season, we are better prepared operationally than ever to deliver for customers, while at the same time we expect to improve our operating margin for the fourth consecutive quarter."</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Amazon.com worldwide cumulative customer accounts increased by over 2.8 million during the quarter to over 25 million as of September 30, 2000. Sales per active customer for the twelve months ended September 30, 2000, were $130, up from $108 for the same period a year ago. As part of its agreement with Amazon.com, Toysrus.com purchased at cost approximately $20 million of toys-related inventory, which is included in third-quarter sales.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Amazon International sales, which comprise the Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, and Amazon.fr businesses, were $88 million, up 121% from $40 million for the third quarter of 1999. Amazon International added approximately 800,000 new customer accounts in the third quarter of 2000, bringing cumulative Amazon International customer accounts to approximately 3.9 million, an increase of 225% from approximately 1.2 million as of September 30, 1999.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Operating cash usage in the third quarter was $4 million, compared to $76 million in the third quarter of 1999.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Third-quarter GAAP net loss was $0.68 per share, compared to a net loss of $0.59 per share in the third quarter of 1999.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Recent Highlights</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Global Expansion</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Amazon.com launched Amazon.fr, a French-language site offering books, music CDs, DVDs and videos dedicated to customers in France and to French-speaking customers around the world. Amazon.fr was named the best overall online retailer by leading French publications <em>Capital</em>, <em>Le Monde</em> and Journal du Net.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Amazon.de launched a Software store.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Expanded Selection and Partnerships</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Amazon.com, in connection with a strategic alliance with Toysrus.com, launched a co-branded toy store. The new online store combined the strengths of the two e-tailers' prior stores, to bring customers the best toy-buying experience available online.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) announced its Microsoft Reader had been selected by Amazon.com as the preferred format for Amazon.com's forthcoming e-Books store.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Amazon.com launched a Camera &amp; Photo store, offering digital and film cameras, optical gear, and accessories, and announced an alliance with Ofoto, Inc., a premier online photography service.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) announced it had licensed Amazon.com's 1-Click patent and trademark for use in its Apple Online Store, as part of an e-commerce patent cross-licensing agreement.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Amazon.com launched a Computer &amp; Video Games store, offering the largest selection of computer and video games and accessories available, online or off-, to provide a one-stop gaming destination for both casual and hard-core gaming enthusiasts.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Amazon.com launched a new-car buying service, providing customers with a superior car-buying experience backed by service and support from an expansive network of premier auto dealers affiliated with its partner Greenlight.com.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Platform Growth</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Amazon.com announced the availability of Mobile Auctions, a wireless service that provides customers the ability to search for new auction items, enter and monitor bids, and track sales, and offers mobile alerts for Amazon Auctions directly from a mobile phone.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Enrollment in the Amazon.com Associates Program surpassed 500,000 members, reinforcing its position as the largest and most popular program of its kind.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Business Outlook</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>The following forward looking-statements reflect Amazon.com's expectations as of October 24, 2000. Given the emerging nature of online retail, potential changes in general economic conditions, and the various other risk factors discussed below, actual results may differ materially. The company intends to continue its practice of not updating forward-looking statements until its next quarterly results announcement, other than in publicly available statements.</em></p></td></tr><tr><td>Fourth Quarter 2000 Expectations</td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Sales are expected to be between $950 million and $1.05 billion.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Gross margin is expected to be seasonally down compared to the third quarter of this year, although up strongly over the fourth quarter of 1999.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Pro forma operating losses are expected to be between 5% and 8% of sales.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Cash and marketable securities at year-end are expected to be over $1 billion.</p></td></tr><tr><td>2001 Expectations</td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Sales are expected to be approximately $4 billion.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Pro forma loss from operations is expected to narrow to less than 5% of sales, perhaps substantially so.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>·         Cash and marketable securities as of March 31, 2001, are expected to be approximately $700 million, and the company expects to generate significant positive cash flow from operations for the nine months ended December 31, 2001.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>The aforementioned forward-looking statements are inherently difficult to predict. Actual results could differ materially for a variety of reasons, including the rate of growth of the Internet and online commerce, the amount that Amazon.com invests in new business opportunities and the timing of those investments, customer spending patterns, the mix of products sold to customers, the mix of revenues derived from products sales as compared to services, risks of inventory management, the magnitude of losses arising from investments accounted for under the equity method, the degree to which the company enters into Amazon Commerce Network and other strategic transactions, fluctuations in the value of securities and non-cash payments Amazon.com receives in connection with such transactions, and risks of distribution and fulfillment throughput and productivity. Other risks and uncertainties include Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risks associated with distribution center expansion, adverse consequences arising from system interruptions, risks associated with management of potential growth, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000.</em></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>A live Webcast of Amazon.com's third quarter 2000 financial results conference call can be heard at 2:00 p.m. PDT/5:00 p.m. EDT today at <u>www.amazon.com/ir</u>. The call will also be archived and available until December 31, 2000.</p></td></tr><tr><td>About Amazon.com</td></tr><tr><td><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 28 million unique items in categories such as electronics, kitchen products, books, music, DVDs, videos, camera and photo items, toys, software, computer and video games, tools and hardware, and lawn and patio items. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 25 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: <u>www.amazon.fr</u>, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (<u>www.imdb.com</u>), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment titles and 1 million cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1891 to 2003.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Notes on Financial Presentation</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Historical results of operations are preliminary and unaudited. Financial results are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Pro forma financial results exclude stock-based compensation costs, amortization of goodwill and other intangibles, acquisition-related and other costs, non-cash investment gains and losses, net, and equity in losses of equity-method investees, net.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>The Electronics store business includes Amazon Electronics, Video Games and Software. Customer accounts exclude Amazon Commerce Network partners' businesses and Amazon.com's catalog businesses but include users of Amazon Marketplace services. Trailing twelve-month sales per active customer figures include revenue recorded from Amazon Commerce Network partners and exclude catalog sales and $20 million from the sale of inventory to Toysrus.com.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Amazon.com commenced its Amazon Commerce Network program in the fall of 1999 to develop new strategic relationships and expand the products and services the company offers to its customers. As part of this program, Amazon.com entered into a variety of relationships with third parties, including relationships where the company invested in its partners and relationships where the company received securities of its partners as payment for services it provides to them. These relationships, particularly those in which Amazon.com receives securities in payment for its services, require reporting and disclosure that involve estimates to determine fair value, the recognition of revenue over time, and the ongoing accounting for the company's investments in its partners. Estimates of fair value are based on the use of independent third party appraisals when appropriate. Amazon.com has received informal inquiries from the SEC staff with respect to accounting treatment and disclosures for some of its initial Amazon Commerce Network transactions and has responded to those questions. Amazon.com reviewed the accounting for the transactions with its auditors and the SEC staff, and the company believes that the accounting treatment, and disclosures, were appropriate. Amazon.com will continue to cooperate with the SEC staff if they have further questions.</p></td></tr></tbody></table>

Amazon.com to Webcast Third Quarter 2000 Financial Results Conference Call

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-to-Webcast-Third-Quarter-2000-Financial-Results-Conference-Call/default.aspx

Amazon.com-to-Webcast-Third-Quarter-2000-Financial-Results-Conference-Call

10/20/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com to Webcast Third Quarter 2000 Financial Results Conference Call

10/20/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Oct. 20, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) (www.amazon.com) will webcast its third quarter 2000 financial results conference call on Tuesday, October 24, 2000. The webcast will begin at 5:00 p.m. EDT/2:00 p.m. PDT and will be available at www.amazon.com/ir. The webcast will also be archived until December 31, 2000, at www.amazon.com/ir.

<p>SEATTLE--Oct. 20, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) (www.amazon.com) will webcast its third quarter 2000 financial results conference call on Tuesday, October 24, 2000.</p><p>The webcast will begin at 5:00 p.m. EDT/2:00 p.m. PDT and will be available at www.amazon.com/ir. The webcast will also be archived until December 31, 2000, at www.amazon.com/ir.</p>

Internet Movie Database Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary as Most Popular Comprehensive Movie Information Destination

/news/news-details/2000/Internet-Movie-Database-Celebrates-10-Year-Anniversary-as-Most-Popular-Comprehensive-Movie-Information-Destination/default.aspx

Internet-Movie-Database-Celebrates-10-Year-Anniversary-as-Most-Popular-Comprehensive-Movie-Information-Destination

10/17/2000 00:00:00

Internet Movie Database Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary as Most Popular Comprehensive Movie Information Destination

10/17/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Oct. 17, 2000-- Largest Film Database On the Internet Holds More Than 250,000 Film Titles The Internet Movie Database (IMDb), www.imdb.com, today celebrates a 10-year milestone as the largest and most popular film database on the Internet. One of the first Web sites, IMDb has amassed more than 250,000 film titles and close to 1 million names of cast and crew dating back to the inception of film in 1891. For a retrospective on the first 10 years of IMDb, visit www.imdb.com/birthday. The Internet Movie Database grew out of an early Usenet bulletin board called rec.arts.movies, a place where movie fans would gather to discuss movies and share knowledge. Building on the community input, IMDb has since added features and tools to help users answer a variety of questions about movies and celebrities. IMDb is an example of a community-based Web site, where users contribute raw data and opinions while the IMDb staff adds features and tools to present the information in a fun and useful format. Last month alone, IMDb had more than 5 million unique visitors and recorded over 100 million page views. The interactive use of IMDb's message boards and daily user polls have connected movie enthusiasts from around the world, helping them make objective choices before viewing or purchasing films. People can choose which movies to watch by checking user ratings and IMDb's lists of top movies organized in a number of ways, including best of all time, genre and decade. The data is organized so that movie fans can find answers to trivia questions, celebrity birthdays, film awards and famous quotes. Users can even find films similar to all of their favorite movies by using the "IMDb Recommends" feature. IMDb also gives users an option to purchase many titles on video or DVD from its parent company, Amazon.com. "We're grateful to the thousands of film enthusiasts whose contributions help make the IMDb so valuable to film fans around the world," said Col Needham, founder of IMDb. "Whether you want to just find a good movie to watch, or find out who played Gill-Man both in and out of the water in Creature from the Black Lagoon, IMDb is the place to start." IMDb recently began adding new types of information, with an independent film section and multimedia formats, including over 20,000 celebrity photographs and film trailers. The current focus at IMDb is to provide people with the ability to customize the site with the way they seek information on film through personalization features. Users can see showtimes in their local theaters and use the "My Movies" section to track their favorite films. Apple Computer recently chose IMDb to be embedded in their release of MAC OS X. IMDb will be featured in an entertainment channel of the "Sherlock" search tool on every Macintosh sold this holiday season. IMDb was acquired by Amazon.com in 1998. Customers at Amazon.com can access IMDb through links on Amazon.com's DVD and Video title pages. About IMDb The Internet Movie Database (located at www.imdb.com) is the Web's most comprehensive and authoritative source of information on movies and the film industry. IMDb.com offers searchable filmographies on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment programs. With an unparalleled depth of information and never-exhausted search capabilities, IMDb.com houses information on nearly 1 million industry cast and crew members, from the birth of motion pictures in 1891 to future releases scheduled through 2003. Highly regarded among both consumers and industry influencers, IMDb has won numerous "Best Movie Site" awards from publications such as Forbes, Yahoo! Internet Life, Webby Awards and Parade. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, camera and photo services, software, and computer and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 25,000 movies and entertainment programs. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com. Amazon.com also has a minority interest in NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--Oct. 17, 2000--</p><p>Largest Film Database On the Internet Holds More Than 250,000 Film Titles</p><p>The Internet Movie Database (IMDb), www.imdb.com, today celebrates a 10-year milestone as the largest and most popular film database on the Internet.</p><p>One of the first Web sites, IMDb has amassed more than 250,000 film titles and close to 1 million names of cast and crew dating back to the inception of film in 1891. For a retrospective on the first 10 years of IMDb, visit www.imdb.com/birthday.</p><p>The Internet Movie Database grew out of an early Usenet bulletin board called rec.arts.movies, a place where movie fans would gather to discuss movies and share knowledge. Building on the community input, IMDb has since added features and tools to help users answer a variety of questions about movies and celebrities.</p><p>IMDb is an example of a community-based Web site, where users contribute raw data and opinions while the IMDb staff adds features and tools to present the information in a fun and useful format. Last month alone, IMDb had more than 5 million unique visitors and recorded over 100 million page views. The interactive use of IMDb's message boards and daily user polls have connected movie enthusiasts from around the world, helping them make objective choices before viewing or purchasing films.</p><p>People can choose which movies to watch by checking user ratings and IMDb's lists of top movies organized in a number of ways, including best of all time, genre and decade. The data is organized so that movie fans can find answers to trivia questions, celebrity birthdays, film awards and famous quotes. Users can even find films similar to all of their favorite movies by using the "IMDb Recommends" feature. IMDb also gives users an option to purchase many titles on video or DVD from its parent company, Amazon.com.</p><p>"We're grateful to the thousands of film enthusiasts whose contributions help make the IMDb so valuable to film fans around the world," said Col Needham, founder of IMDb. "Whether you want to just find a good movie to watch, or find out who played Gill-Man both in and out of the water in Creature from the Black Lagoon, IMDb is the place to start."</p><p>IMDb recently began adding new types of information, with an independent film section and multimedia formats, including over 20,000 celebrity photographs and film trailers. The current focus at IMDb is to provide people with the ability to customize the site with the way they seek information on film through personalization features. Users can see showtimes in their local theaters and use the "My Movies" section to track their favorite films.</p><p>Apple Computer recently chose IMDb to be embedded in their release of MAC OS X. IMDb will be featured in an entertainment channel of the "Sherlock" search tool on every Macintosh sold this holiday season.</p><p>IMDb was acquired by Amazon.com in 1998. Customers at Amazon.com can access IMDb through links on Amazon.com's DVD and Video title pages.</p><p>About IMDb</p><p>The Internet Movie Database (located at www.imdb.com) is the Web's most comprehensive and authoritative source of information on movies and the film industry. IMDb.com offers searchable filmographies on more than 250,000 movies and entertainment programs. With an unparalleled depth of information and never-exhausted search capabilities, IMDb.com houses information on nearly 1 million industry cast and crew members, from the birth of motion pictures in 1891 to future releases scheduled through 2003. Highly regarded among both consumers and industry influencers, IMDb has won numerous "Best Movie Site" awards from publications such as Forbes, Yahoo! Internet Life, Webby Awards and Parade.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, camera and photo services, software, and computer and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 25,000 movies and entertainment programs. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com.</p><p>Amazon.com also has a minority interest in NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p>

Sothebys.com and Sothebys.Amazon.com Will Combine To Create Single Online Auction Web Site For Authenticated Arts, Antiques and Collectibles; Bidding to be Extended to Nine Additional Countries

/news/news-details/2000/Sothebys.com-and-Sothebys.Amazon.com-Will-Combine-To-Create-Single-Online-Auction-Web-Site-For-Authenticated-Arts-Antiques-and-Collectibles-Bidding-to-be-Extended-to-Nine-Additional-Countries/default.aspx

Sothebys.com-and-Sothebys.Amazon.com-Will-Combine-To-Create-Single-Online-Auction-Web-Site-For-Authenticated-Arts-Antiques-and-Collectibles-Bidding-to-be-Extended-to-Nine-Additional-Countries

10/10/2000 00:00:00

Sothebys.com and Sothebys.Amazon.com Will Combine To Create Single Online Auction Web Site For Authenticated Arts, Antiques and Collectibles; Bidding to be Extended to Nine Additional Countries

10/10/2000

2000

-- SOTHEBYS.COM, the combined site, will now include "Arcade" property -- BIDDING TO BE EXTENDED TO NINE ADDITIONAL COUNTRIES Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and New Zealand New York, New York, -- October 10, 2000 -- Sotheby's and Amazon.com today announced that they will combine SOTHEBYS.COM and sothebys.amazon.com into one online auction Web site for the sale of authenticated and guaranteed arts and antiques. The unified site, which will bear the name SOTHEBYS.COM, and can be found at www.sothebys.com, will offer collectors the largest selection of authenticated and guaranteed fine and decorative arts, antiques, books, fine jewelry and collectibles anywhere in the world. "It has become clearer than ever before that what matters in this business is scale," said Craig Moffett, President of SOTHEBYS.COM. "By combining our two sites, we can now offer our customers a much deeper selection in a single venue; and our network of 5,000 Associates will now have a clearer and simpler way to conduct business online." "Whether customers are looking for sports memorabilia or Impressionist paintings, the unified site will offer Amazon.com customers a better customer experience by combining the largest selection of authenticated art, antiques and collectibles in a single site," said Victoria Treyger, general manager of sothebys.amazon.com. Bidders will be able to access the combined site either directly at www.sothebys.com, or from www.amazon.com where it will be featured on the Auctions homepage. The joining of the two sites, under which Amazon.com will receive annual cash payments, is expected to take place during the next 30 days. SOTHEBYS.COM will be Amazon.com's exclusive online auction aggregator for authenticated fine arts, antiques and collectibles. In addition to site placement, Amazon.com will promote SOTHEBYS.COM to its customers through marketing campaigns. The combined SOTHEBYS.COM site will continue to offer quality property that has been carefully examined, authenticated, catalogued and offered for sale by professionals. The site will include nearly 300 collecting categories, expanding to include those categories specific to sothebys.amazon.com, such as sports and entertainment memorabilia, stamps and coins, antique toys and other collectibles. In the process, SOTHEBYS.COM will introduce "Arcade" property - affordable objects with moderate estimates for the general collector. A wide and diverse array of "Arcade" lots will be offered in select categories such as fine arts, furniture, decorative arts and jewelry. The "Arcade" will facilitate browsing a site that will have a much wider range of property. The designation "Arcade" comes from Sotheby's live auction business, where "Arcade" auctions have a devoted following. William F. Ruprecht, CEO of Sotheby's Holdings Inc., stated, "The combination of our two sites will be a terrific benefit for both our customers and dealer Associates. We're excited that our SOTHEBYS.COM site will now share the benefit of access to Amazon.com's tremendous pool of registered customers." "With its vast dealer network and more than two centuries of experience in sourcing and authenticating property, Sotheby's is the kind of category leader we want to make available to our customers," said Amazon.com's David Risher, senior vice president of U.S. stores. International ExpansionSOTHEBYS.COM also announced that coinciding with the joining of the two sites, it will enable bidding in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and New Zealand – countries that boast some of the highest Internet usage rates in the world. "Sotheby's has a significant live auction clientele in each of these locations, and we will continue to provide our customers and Associates with the same high level of security protection and customer service in these countries," said Mr. Moffett. Online Auction Results to DateSOTHEBYS.COM and sothebys.amazon.com have established themselves as the two leading Web sites for the sale of authenticated and guaranteed fine art and antiques. To date, sales across the two sites have exceeded the annual sales of any high-end art and antiques Web site for authenticated and guaranteed property, indicating that Sotheby's is the clear leader in the emerging online art and antiques market. In total, more than 60,000 works of art, antiques and collectibles have been sold online in just 10 months. Sothebys.amazon.com and SOTHEBYS.COM have experienced tremendous success with selling rare and valuable items online. Examples from sothebys.amazon.com include Center Court from the Boston Garden Parquet Floor ($331,100), Lou Gehrig's 1930s Yankees Cap ($56,650), and the Psychedelic VW Beetle from "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" ($54,411.50). On SOTHEBYS.COM, notable sales include a first printing of the Declaration of Independence ($8.14 million), Andy Warhol's work on paper entitled Gold and Silver Shoe ($63,250) and a circa 1518 rare illustrated edition of "The Boke of Hawkynge and Huntynge and Fysshynge" ($88,000). Furthermore, Sotheby's Associate network of the world's leading art and antiques dealers has grown to more than 5,000 members from around the globe. "It is our intention to continue to expand this network of carefully selected partners," said Mr. Moffett. "This will ensure that our customers will have access to the broadest and deepest selection of property on SOTHEBYS.COM." Fall Online HighlightsSOTHEBYS.COM has an exciting sales line-up this fall. From November 1 to November 15 SOTHEBYS.COM will conduct an online auction of Andy Warhol's Nine Multicolored Marilyns. In this painting, which is estimated to bring between $450,000 and $600,000, the genius of Andy Warhol captures nine different moods of Marilyn Monroe, one of the greatest icons of the 20th Century. Also this fall, in a special online auction, The Moderns: From Maillol to Miro, November 1 – 15, 2000, SOTHEBYS.COM will offer a stunning life-size bronze sculpture by Aristide Maillol from the important New York Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Pflueger entitled Venus sans bras. This wonderful sculpture has an estimate of $500/$700,000, the most valuable work of art to be sold online to date. Other forthcoming online sales include The Dee and Evan Pancake Collection of Paperweights (November 8–29), a Major Private Collection of Crown and Handbuilt HO Trains (November 9–20), 18th Century American Furniture and Decorative Arts (November 15–December 6), The American Landscape (November 15–December 6) and The Griffith Toy Collection of Robots and Space Toys (December 1–24), to name a few. About Sotheby's Holdings, Inc.Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. is the parent company of Sotheby's worldwide live and Internet auction businesses, art-related financing and real estate activities. The Company operates in 38 countries, with principal salesrooms located in New York and London. The Company also regularly conducts auctions in 15 other salesrooms around the world, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Monaco, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Taiwan. Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" (as such term is defined in the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) relating to future events and the financial performance of Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. Such statements are only predictions and involve risks and uncertainties, resulting in the possibility that the actual events or performance will differ materially from such predictions. Major factors which the Company believes could cause the actual results to differ materially from the predicted results in the "forward-looking statements" include the overall strength of the international economy and financial markets, competition with other auctioneers and art dealers, the volume of consigned property and the marketability at auction of such property, the Company's success in developing and implementing its Internet auction strategy, and the resolution of the Department of Justice investigation and other related investigations and civil lawsuits. About Amazon.comAmazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, camera and photo services, software, and computer and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com. Amazon.com also has a minority interest in NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.

<p>-- SOTHEBYS.COM, the combined site, will now include "Arcade" property --</p><p>BIDDING TO BE EXTENDED TO NINE ADDITIONAL COUNTRIES</p><p>Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and New Zealand</p><p>New York, New York, -- October 10, 2000 -- Sotheby's and Amazon.com today announced that they will combine SOTHEBYS.COM and sothebys.amazon.com into one online auction Web site for the sale of authenticated and guaranteed arts and antiques. The unified site, which will bear the name SOTHEBYS.COM, and can be found at www.sothebys.com, will offer collectors the largest selection of authenticated and guaranteed fine and decorative arts, antiques, books, fine jewelry and collectibles anywhere in the world.</p><p>"It has become clearer than ever before that what matters in this business is scale," said Craig Moffett, President of SOTHEBYS.COM. "By combining our two sites, we can now offer our customers a much deeper selection in a single venue; and our network of 5,000 Associates will now have a clearer and simpler way to conduct business online."</p><p>"Whether customers are looking for sports memorabilia or Impressionist paintings, the unified site will offer Amazon.com customers a better customer experience by combining the largest selection of authenticated art, antiques and collectibles in a single site," said Victoria Treyger, general manager of sothebys.amazon.com.</p><p>Bidders will be able to access the combined site either directly at www.sothebys.com, or from www.amazon.com where it will be featured on the Auctions homepage. The joining of the two sites, under which Amazon.com will receive annual cash payments, is expected to take place during the next 30 days. SOTHEBYS.COM will be Amazon.com's exclusive online auction aggregator for authenticated fine arts, antiques and collectibles. In addition to site placement, Amazon.com will promote SOTHEBYS.COM to its customers through marketing campaigns.</p><p>The combined SOTHEBYS.COM site will continue to offer quality property that has been carefully examined, authenticated, catalogued and offered for sale by professionals. The site will include nearly 300 collecting categories, expanding to include those categories specific to sothebys.amazon.com, such as sports and entertainment memorabilia, stamps and coins, antique toys and other collectibles. In the process, SOTHEBYS.COM will introduce "Arcade" property - affordable objects with moderate estimates for the general collector. A wide and diverse array of "Arcade" lots will be offered in select categories such as fine arts, furniture, decorative arts and jewelry. The "Arcade" will facilitate browsing a site that will have a much wider range of property. The designation "Arcade" comes from Sotheby's live auction business, where "Arcade" auctions have a devoted following.</p><p>William F. Ruprecht, CEO of Sotheby's Holdings Inc., stated, "The combination of our two sites will be a terrific benefit for both our customers and dealer Associates. We're excited that our SOTHEBYS.COM site will now share the benefit of access to Amazon.com's tremendous pool of registered customers."</p><p>"With its vast dealer network and more than two centuries of experience in sourcing and authenticating property, Sotheby's is the kind of category leader we want to make available to our customers," said Amazon.com's David Risher, senior vice president of U.S. stores.</p><p>International ExpansionSOTHEBYS.COM also announced that coinciding with the joining of the two sites, it will enable bidding in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and New Zealand – countries that boast some of the highest Internet usage rates in the world. "Sotheby's has a significant live auction clientele in each of these locations, and we will continue to provide our customers and Associates with the same high level of security protection and customer service in these countries," said Mr. Moffett.</p><p>Online Auction Results to DateSOTHEBYS.COM and sothebys.amazon.com have established themselves as the two leading Web sites for the sale of authenticated and guaranteed fine art and antiques. To date, sales across the two sites have exceeded the annual sales of any high-end art and antiques Web site for authenticated and guaranteed property, indicating that Sotheby's is the clear leader in the emerging online art and antiques market. In total, more than 60,000 works of art, antiques and collectibles have been sold online in just 10 months.</p><p>Sothebys.amazon.com and SOTHEBYS.COM have experienced tremendous success with selling rare and valuable items online. Examples from sothebys.amazon.com include Center Court from the Boston Garden Parquet Floor ($331,100), Lou Gehrig's 1930s Yankees Cap ($56,650), and the Psychedelic VW Beetle from "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" ($54,411.50). On SOTHEBYS.COM, notable sales include a first printing of the Declaration of Independence ($8.14 million), Andy Warhol's work on paper entitled Gold and Silver Shoe ($63,250) and a circa 1518 rare illustrated edition of "The Boke of Hawkynge and Huntynge and Fysshynge" ($88,000). Furthermore, Sotheby's Associate network of the world's leading art and antiques dealers has grown to more than 5,000 members from around the globe. "It is our intention to continue to expand this network of carefully selected partners," said Mr. Moffett. "This will ensure that our customers will have access to the broadest and deepest selection of property on SOTHEBYS.COM."</p><p>Fall Online HighlightsSOTHEBYS.COM has an exciting sales line-up this fall. From November 1 to November 15 SOTHEBYS.COM will conduct an online auction of Andy Warhol's Nine Multicolored Marilyns. In this painting, which is estimated to bring between $450,000 and $600,000, the genius of Andy Warhol captures nine different moods of Marilyn Monroe, one of the greatest icons of the 20th Century. Also this fall, in a special online auction, The Moderns: From Maillol to Miro, November 1 – 15, 2000, SOTHEBYS.COM will offer a stunning life-size bronze sculpture by Aristide Maillol from the important New York Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Pflueger entitled Venus sans bras. This wonderful sculpture has an estimate of $500/$700,000, the most valuable work of art to be sold online to date.</p><p>Other forthcoming online sales include The Dee and Evan Pancake Collection of Paperweights (November 8–29), a Major Private Collection of Crown and Handbuilt HO Trains (November 9–20), 18th Century American Furniture and Decorative Arts (November 15–December 6), The American Landscape (November 15–December 6) and The Griffith Toy Collection of Robots and Space Toys (December 1–24), to name a few.</p><p>About Sotheby's Holdings, Inc.Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. is the parent company of Sotheby's worldwide live and Internet auction businesses, art-related financing and real estate activities. The Company operates in 38 countries, with principal salesrooms located in New York and London. The Company also regularly conducts auctions in 15 other salesrooms around the world, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Monaco, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Taiwan. Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.</p><p>This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" (as such term is defined in the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) relating to future events and the financial performance of Sotheby's Holdings, Inc. Such statements are only predictions and involve risks and uncertainties, resulting in the possibility that the actual events or performance will differ materially from such predictions. Major factors which the Company believes could cause the actual results to differ materially from the predicted results in the "forward-looking statements" include the overall strength of the international economy and financial markets, competition with other auctioneers and art dealers, the volume of consigned property and the marketability at auction of such property, the Company's success in developing and implementing its Internet auction strategy, and the resolution of the Department of Justice investigation and other related investigations and civil lawsuits.</p><p>About Amazon.comAmazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, camera and photo services, software, and computer and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments.</p><p>Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com.</p><p>Amazon.com also has a minority interest in NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Launches Full-Service Camera and Photo Store

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Launches-Full-Service-Camera-and-Photo-Store/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Launches-Full-Service-Camera-and-Photo-Store

10/04/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Launches Full-Service Camera and Photo Store

10/04/2000

2000

SEATTLE & BERKELEY, Calif.— October 4, 2000—Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) today launched its new Camera & Photo store (www.amazon.com/photo) and announced an alliance with Ofoto, Inc., a premiere online photography service. A one-stop solution for all photo needs, the new store provides a full range of photo-related products and innovative online photo services for both digital and film camera users. The Amazon Camera & Photo store will help customers find and discover the right cameras, optical gear, and accessories. Customers can browse product categories such as digital cameras, film cameras, camcorders, printers and scanners, binoculars and telescopes, frames and albums, and photo books. In addition, customers can shop for accessories including digital memory cards, film, batteries, cases and bags, lenses and filters, tripods, and photo editing software. Beyond products and expert information, Amazon.com Photo Services, provided by Ofoto, will offer premium online photo processing. Through Amazon.com Photo Services, customers can get high-quality prints delivered straight to their door for both digital and film images. And with a few clicks of the mouse, customers can store their digital or film photographs online, organize and enhance them in online photo albums, and share the albums with friends and family. Customers can even preview their photos online in a wide selection of frames before buying just the right framed photo. "We're thrilled to be such an integral part of Amazon.com's new Camera & Photo store. This is the first time that a leading online retailer and the leading online photo service have been so tightly linked together," said James Joaquin, president and CEO of Ofoto, Inc. "It's a huge win for Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers to have access to the very best photo equipment, premiere content, and high-quality photography services all in one place." "Whether you take the occasional snapshot or are an avid shutterbug, the Amazon Camera & Photo store will have something for you," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "Where else can you find everything from a pocket-sized Lomo Soviet spy camera to a fisheye lens to fuzzy cow frames with hooves?" Cameras have been a very popular product category since Amazon.com launched the Electronics store last year. In fact, two digital cameras made Amazon.com's list of top 10 sales volume items for all retail stores in holiday 1999. The Amazon Camera & Photo store will offer the same helpful information and expertise of other Amazon.com stores: detailed product information and specifications, customer reviews, expert editor reviews, tips from renowned photographers such as Art Wolfe, product comparison tools, and buying guides to help customers find the right products. About Ofoto, Inc. Founded in July 1999, Ofoto, Inc., (www.ofoto.com) is the premier online photography service offering a way for millions of people to use the Internet to transform photography into the fastest, easiest and most enjoyable experience possible. Ofoto delivers a world-class service to its customers and partners by providing secure online photo storage, film and digital processing, the highest quality silver-halide prints, and photo display and storage merchandise. Ofoto online photography services are available from www.ofoto.com or through the Ofoto partner sites, including Amazon.com, Corbis, Excite@Home, Getty Images, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, PhotosToGo and Sony. A team of fotogenic business veterans run Ofoto, Inc., with experience from companies such as America Online, Apple Computer, Critical Path, CyberCash, Williams-Sonoma, Polaroid and StarMedia. Ofoto is privately funded by The Barksdale Group, Benchmark Capital Partners and a small group of nearly angelic investors. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com. Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com. Amazon.com also has a minority interest in NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE &amp; BERKELEY, Calif.— October 4, 2000—Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) today launched its new Camera &amp; Photo store (www.amazon.com/photo) and announced an alliance with Ofoto, Inc., a premiere online photography service. A one-stop solution for all photo needs, the new store provides a full range of photo-related products and innovative online photo services for both digital and film camera users.</p><p>The Amazon Camera &amp; Photo store will help customers find and discover the right cameras, optical gear, and accessories. Customers can browse product categories such as digital cameras, film cameras, camcorders, printers and scanners, binoculars and telescopes, frames and albums, and photo books. In addition, customers can shop for accessories including digital memory cards, film, batteries, cases and bags, lenses and filters, tripods, and photo editing software.</p><p>Beyond products and expert information, Amazon.com Photo Services, provided by Ofoto, will offer premium online photo processing. Through Amazon.com Photo Services, customers can get high-quality prints delivered straight to their door for both digital and film images. And with a few clicks of the mouse, customers can store their digital or film photographs online, organize and enhance them in online photo albums, and share the albums with friends and family. Customers can even preview their photos online in a wide selection of frames before buying just the right framed photo.</p><p>"We're thrilled to be such an integral part of Amazon.com's new Camera &amp; Photo store. This is the first time that a leading online retailer and the leading online photo service have been so tightly linked together," said James Joaquin, president and CEO of Ofoto, Inc. "It's a huge win for Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers to have access to the very best photo equipment, premiere content, and high-quality photography services all in one place."</p><p>"Whether you take the occasional snapshot or are an avid shutterbug, the Amazon Camera &amp; Photo store will have something for you," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "Where else can you find everything from a pocket-sized Lomo Soviet spy camera to a fisheye lens to fuzzy cow frames with hooves?"</p><p>Cameras have been a very popular product category since Amazon.com launched the Electronics store last year. In fact, two digital cameras made Amazon.com's list of top 10 sales volume items for all retail stores in holiday 1999.</p><p>The Amazon Camera &amp; Photo store will offer the same helpful information and expertise of other Amazon.com stores: detailed product information and specifications, customer reviews, expert editor reviews, tips from renowned photographers such as Art Wolfe, product comparison tools, and buying guides to help customers find the right products.</p><p>About Ofoto, Inc.</p><p>Founded in July 1999, Ofoto, Inc., (www.ofoto.com) is the premier online photography service offering a way for millions of people to use the Internet to transform photography into the fastest, easiest and most enjoyable experience possible. Ofoto delivers a world-class service to its customers and partners by providing secure online photo storage, film and digital processing, the highest quality silver-halide prints, and photo display and storage merchandise. Ofoto online photography services are available from www.ofoto.com or through the Ofoto partner sites, including Amazon.com, Corbis, Excite@Home, Getty Images, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, PhotosToGo and Sony. A team of fotogenic business veterans run Ofoto, Inc., with experience from companies such as America Online, Apple Computer, Critical Path, CyberCash, Williams-Sonoma, Polaroid and StarMedia. Ofoto is privately funded by The Barksdale Group, Benchmark Capital Partners and a small group of nearly angelic investors.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com.</p><p>Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com.</p><p>Amazon.com also has a minority interest in NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Celebrates Publication of Highly Anticipated Beatles Book With Dedicated Beatles Store

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Celebrates-Publication-of-Highly-Anticipated-Beatles-Book-With-Dedicated-Beatles-Store/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Celebrates-Publication-of-Highly-Anticipated-Beatles-Book-With-Dedicated-Beatles-Store

10/03/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Celebrates Publication of Highly Anticipated Beatles Book With Dedicated Beatles Store

10/03/2000

2000

SEATTLE—Oct. 3, 2000—To celebrate the release of the highly anticipated Beatles Anthology book on October 5, leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) today launched a dedicated Beatles store located at www.amazon.com/beatles. With more than 23 million customers worldwide, Amazon.com has experienced firsthand the enduring popularity of the Fab Four. Consider these Amazon.com Beatles facts Even though they haven't recorded together for 30 years, the Beatles are Amazon.com's fifth highest-selling musical artist overall. Their popularity spans all ages and musical tastes, and their sales record puts them ahead of other top-selling rock icons such as the Rolling Stones, Madonna and Sting. Anticipation for the Beatles Anthology book has been strong, even prior to its publication. The book is currently ranked in the top 10 of Amazon.com's Hot 100 list. The Beatles were named "Artist of the Millennium" in a fall 1999 Amazon.com customer poll. In the same poll, the band's 1967 release, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, was named the top album of all time in Amazon.com's customer poll of the "100 Best Albums of the Millennium." The Beatles earned three of the top five spots (for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road and The White Album). In a bit of transatlantic rivalry, the top-selling Beatles album on Amazon.com is Abbey Road, while the best-selling Beatles album on Amazon.co.uk is Revolver. Amazon.com has more than 1,000 Beatles items in its store, including 475 Beatles books, 156 Beatles CDs, 24 Beatles videos, nine Beatles DVDs, 13 Beatles toys and 771 Beatles auction items. The quirkiest Beatles product on Amazon.com may be Golden Throats 4: Celebrities Butcher the Beatles (a compilation CD featuring Mae West singing "Day Tripper," Telly Savalas performing "Something" and William Shatner's legendary rendition of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"). "The Beatles' enormous popularity among music lovers of all ages is a testament to the band's lasting work and continued relevance," said Amazon.com music editor-in-chief Keith Moerer. "We're proud to launch our dedicated Beatles store, giving lifelong fans the chance to remember favorite Beatles moments and younger fans a chance to dive deeper into the band's incredibly rich legacy." Amazon.com's Beatles store features: · Reviews of the new Beatles Anthology book and the anticipated November 14 release of the 27-track companion CD, Beatles 1: The Beatles Project (No. 1 Hits)—both available for pre-order today · More than 1,000 Beatles products, including their complete collection of CDs, books, DVDs and videos · Interviews with Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono and producer George Martin (the "fifth Beatle") · Rare Beatles photos and auctions of Beatles memorabilia · An interactive discussion board where experts and customers share their most memorable Beatles moments The Beatles Anthology, published by Chronicle Books, was written by surviving Beatles members McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Content from the late John Lennon was included by compiling interviews, comments and anecdotes from numerous sources. The 368-page hardcover book features more than 1,300 images, including photographs and personal memorabilia never before available to fans. The Beatles Anthology book can be pre-ordered in the Amazon.com Books store. Beatles 1: The Beatles Project (No. 1 Hits) contains 27 songs arranged chronologically, from "Love Me Do" to "The Long and Winding Road." The Capitol Records CD is available for pre-order in the Amazon.com Music store, where it has remained on Amazon.com's top sellers list for approximately six weeks prior to release. For more information about the Beatles Store or to pre-order, visit: www.amazon.com/beatles. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items and kitchen products, software, and video games. Amazon.com has three international sites—www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.fr—that offer a complete line of British, German and French books, music CDs, DVDs and videos. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE—Oct. 3, 2000—To celebrate the release of the highly anticipated Beatles Anthology book on October 5, leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) today launched a dedicated Beatles store located at www.amazon.com/beatles.</p><p>With more than 23 million customers worldwide, Amazon.com has experienced firsthand the enduring popularity of the Fab Four. Consider these Amazon.com Beatles facts</p><ul><li>Even though they haven't recorded together for 30 years, the Beatles are Amazon.com's fifth highest-selling musical artist overall. Their popularity spans all ages and musical tastes, and their sales record puts them ahead of other top-selling rock icons such as the Rolling Stones, Madonna and Sting.</li><li>Anticipation for the Beatles Anthology book has been strong, even prior to its publication. The book is currently ranked in the top 10 of Amazon.com's Hot 100 list.</li><li>The Beatles were named "Artist of the Millennium" in a fall 1999 Amazon.com customer poll. In the same poll, the band's 1967 release, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, was named the top album of all time in Amazon.com's customer poll of the "100 Best Albums of the Millennium." The Beatles earned three of the top five spots (for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road and The White Album).</li><li>In a bit of transatlantic rivalry, the top-selling Beatles album on Amazon.com is Abbey Road, while the best-selling Beatles album on Amazon.co.uk is Revolver.</li><li>Amazon.com has more than 1,000 Beatles items in its store, including 475 Beatles books, 156 Beatles CDs, 24 Beatles videos, nine Beatles DVDs, 13 Beatles toys and 771 Beatles auction items.</li><li>The quirkiest Beatles product on Amazon.com may be Golden Throats 4: Celebrities Butcher the Beatles (a compilation CD featuring Mae West singing "Day Tripper," Telly Savalas performing "Something" and William Shatner's legendary rendition of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds").</li></ul><p>"The Beatles' enormous popularity among music lovers of all ages is a testament to the band's lasting work and continued relevance," said Amazon.com music editor-in-chief Keith Moerer. "We're proud to launch our dedicated Beatles store, giving lifelong fans the chance to remember favorite Beatles moments and younger fans a chance to dive deeper into the band's incredibly rich legacy."</p><p>Amazon.com's Beatles store features:</p><p>· Reviews of the new Beatles Anthology book and the anticipated November 14 release of the 27-track companion CD, Beatles 1: The Beatles Project (No. 1 Hits)—both available for pre-order today · More than 1,000 Beatles products, including their complete collection of CDs, books, DVDs and videos · Interviews with Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono and producer George Martin (the "fifth Beatle") · Rare Beatles photos and auctions of Beatles memorabilia · An interactive discussion board where experts and customers share their most memorable Beatles moments</p><p>The Beatles Anthology, published by Chronicle Books, was written by surviving Beatles members McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Content from the late John Lennon was included by compiling interviews, comments and anecdotes from numerous sources. The 368-page hardcover book features more than 1,300 images, including photographs and personal memorabilia never before available to fans. The Beatles Anthology book can be pre-ordered in the Amazon.com Books store.</p><p>Beatles 1: The Beatles Project (No. 1 Hits) contains 27 songs arranged chronologically, from "Love Me Do" to "The Long and Winding Road." The Capitol Records CD is available for pre-order in the Amazon.com Music store, where it has remained on Amazon.com's top sellers list for approximately six weeks prior to release.</p><p>For more information about the Beatles Store or to pre-order, visit: www.amazon.com/beatles.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items and kitchen products, software, and video games. Amazon.com has three international sites—www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.fr—that offer a complete line of British, German and French books, music CDs, DVDs and videos. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Issues Statement Regarding Random Price Testing

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Issues-Statement-Regarding-Random-Price-Testing/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Issues-Statement-Regarding-Random-Price-Testing

09/27/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Issues Statement Regarding Random Price Testing

09/27/2000

2000

SEATTLE--September 27, 2000— Amazon.com today issued the following statement regarding random price testing: Some news reports over the last several weeks have incorrectly characterized a recent Amazon.com random price test as a test based on customer demographic information. These reports were incorrect and were not based on the facts. Contrary to these reports, Amazon.com varied the discount levels on a totally random basis, not with respect to customer demographic information. The purpose of the test was to determine how much sales are affected by lower prices. In retrospect, this random testing was a mistake, and we regret it because it created uncertainty and complexity for our customers, and our job is to simplify shopping for customers. That is why, more than two weeks ago, in response to customer feedback, we changed our policy to protect customers should we ever do random price testing again (and currently we have no plans to do so). Now, if we ever do such a test again, we'll automatically give customers who purchased a test item the lowest test price for that item at the conclusion of the test period—thereby ensuring that all customers pay the lowest available price. Under this new policy, by Sept. 14, we had refunded to 6,896 customers an average of $3.10 as a result of the DVD random price test. "We've never tested and we never will test prices based on customer demographics," said Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. "What we did was a random price test, and even that was a mistake because it created uncertainty for customers rather than simplifying their lives. The policy we put in place two weeks ago removes that uncertainty." Some details about the DVD pricing test: --68 DVD titles --over a five-day period --discount levels tested: 20% to 40% --6,896 customers refunded an average of $3.10 About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com. Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com. Amazon.com also has a minority interest in NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--September 27, 2000— Amazon.com today issued the following statement regarding random price testing:</p><p>Some news reports over the last several weeks have incorrectly characterized a recent Amazon.com random price test as a test based on customer demographic information. These reports were incorrect and were not based on the facts.</p><p>Contrary to these reports, Amazon.com varied the discount levels on a totally random basis, not with respect to customer demographic information. The purpose of the test was to determine how much sales are affected by lower prices. In retrospect, this random testing was a mistake, and we regret it because it created uncertainty and complexity for our customers, and our job is to simplify shopping for customers. That is why, more than two weeks ago, in response to customer feedback, we changed our policy to protect customers should we ever do random price testing again (and currently we have no plans to do so). Now, if we ever do such a test again, we'll automatically give customers who purchased a test item the lowest test price for that item at the conclusion of the test period—thereby ensuring that all customers pay the lowest available price. Under this new policy, by Sept. 14, we had refunded to 6,896 customers an average of $3.10 as a result of the DVD random price test.</p><p>"We've never tested and we never will test prices based on customer demographics," said Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. "What we did was a random price test, and even that was a mistake because it created uncertainty for customers rather than simplifying their lives. The policy we put in place two weeks ago removes that uncertainty."</p><p>Some details about the DVD pricing test:</p><p>--68 DVD titles</p><p>--over a five-day period</p><p>--discount levels tested: 20% to 40%</p><p>--6,896 customers refunded an average of $3.10</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com.</p><p>Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com.</p><p>Amazon.com also has a minority interest in NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.co.uk Becomes First European E-commerce Site With 2 Million Customers; Amazon.co.uk's Customer Base Doubles in Eight Months

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.co.uk-Becomes-First-European-E-commerce-Site-With-2-Million-Customers-Amazon.co.uks-Customer-Base-Doubles-in-Eight-Months/default.aspx

Amazon.co.uk-Becomes-First-European-E-commerce-Site-With-2-Million-Customers-Amazon.co.uks-Customer-Base-Doubles-in-Eight-Months

09/20/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.co.uk Becomes First European E-commerce Site With 2 Million Customers; Amazon.co.uk's Customer Base Doubles in Eight Months

09/20/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Sept. 12, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) (www.amazon.com) announced today that Amazon.co.uk is the first European e-commerce site to reach 2 million customers, a doubling of its customer base in less than eight months. Amazon.co.uk is ranked number one in Europe as the most visited shopping site, followed by Amazon.com and Amazon.de (Germany).(a) Amazon.co.uk has recorded an average growth of more than 125,000 new customers each month this year. "We're grateful to see more and more people choosing to shop with us," said Amazon.co.uk managing director Steve Frazier. "Today, nearly one-fourth of Amazon's sales come from outside the United States, and that number is growing quickly as our U.K., Germany and France sites work continually to provide the best customer experience," said Diego Piancentini, Amazon.com's senior vice president and general manager for international. (a) MMXIEurope July 2000 About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com. Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service -- with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California – at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com. Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--Sept. 12, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) (www.amazon.com) announced today that Amazon.co.uk is the first European e-commerce site to reach 2 million customers, a doubling of its customer base in less than eight months.</p><p>Amazon.co.uk is ranked number one in Europe as the most visited shopping site, followed by Amazon.com and Amazon.de (Germany).(a) Amazon.co.uk has recorded an average growth of more than 125,000 new customers each month this year.</p><p>"We're grateful to see more and more people choosing to shop with us," said Amazon.co.uk managing director Steve Frazier.</p><p>"Today, nearly one-fourth of Amazon's sales come from outside the United States, and that number is growing quickly as our U.K., Germany and France sites work continually to provide the best customer experience," said Diego Piancentini, Amazon.com's senior vice president and general manager for international.</p><p>(a) MMXIEurope July 2000</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com.</p><p>Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service -- with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California – at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com.</p><p>Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p>

Back-to-School 2000 Marks Another Increase in Homeschooling Trend

/news/news-details/2000/Back-to-School-2000-Marks-Another-Increase-in-Homeschooling-Trend/default.aspx

Back-to-School-2000-Marks-Another-Increase-in-Homeschooling-Trend

09/11/2000 00:00:00

Back-to-School 2000 Marks Another Increase in Homeschooling Trend

09/11/2000

2000

In Response to Need for Homeschooling Products and Information, Book Retailers Expanding Resources from Regional to National Level What: As millions of students head back-to-school this month, approximately 1.3 - 1.7 million youths will be staying home -- and not because of sickness. This growing percentage of children is staying home for their education -- a trend that is increasing by an estimated 7-15 percent annually. With these numbers quickly spreading from rural to more mainstream areas, national resources for homeschooling products, recommendations and information are becoming increasingly more important. Parents previously restricted to limited selections and regionalized searching now have easier access to the information they need. In response to the growth, Amazon.com(Nasdaq:AMZN) today launched its dedicated homeschooling store www.amazon.com/homeschooling devoted to providing the ultimate selection of homeschooling books, videos, software, curriculum guides, test prep manuals, games and other resources. Why: -- 25% of homeschooled children are learning at one grade level above their peers that are not homeschooled -- Homeschooled children on average score above conventionally schooled children in both reading and math -- The Internet is perfectly tailored to homeschooling parents' needs for searching, selection and shopping at home Where: Located at www.amazon.com/homeschooling the store features expert editorial recommendations, an ultimate selection and the comprehensive tools needed for first-time as well as seasoned homeschooling parents. Packaged in one easy to navigate area, the Amazon.com Homeschooling store provides the comfort and convenience of discovering the best products to suit individual children and families.

<p>In Response to Need for Homeschooling Products and Information, Book Retailers Expanding Resources from Regional to National Level</p><p>What:</p><p>As millions of students head back-to-school this month, approximately 1.3 - 1.7 million youths will be staying home -- and not because of sickness. This growing percentage of children is staying home for their education -- a trend that is increasing by an estimated 7-15 percent annually.</p><p>With these numbers quickly spreading from rural to more mainstream areas, national resources for homeschooling products, recommendations and information are becoming increasingly more important. Parents previously restricted to limited selections and regionalized searching now have easier access to the information they need.</p><p>In response to the growth, Amazon.com(Nasdaq:AMZN) today launched its dedicated homeschooling store www.amazon.com/homeschooling devoted to providing the ultimate selection of homeschooling books, videos, software, curriculum guides, test prep manuals, games and other resources.</p><p>Why:</p><p>-- 25% of homeschooled children are learning at one grade level above their peers that are not homeschooled</p><p>-- Homeschooled children on average score above conventionally schooled children in both reading and math</p><p>-- The Internet is perfectly tailored to homeschooling parents' needs for searching, selection and shopping at home</p><p>Where:</p><p>Located at www.amazon.com/homeschooling the store features expert editorial recommendations, an ultimate selection and the comprehensive tools needed for first-time as well as seasoned homeschooling parents. Packaged in one easy to navigate area, the Amazon.com Homeschooling store provides the comfort and convenience of discovering the best products to suit individual children and families.</p>

Advisory/Amazon.com Launches Computer & Video Games Store

/news/news-details/2000/Advisory-Amazon.com-Launches-Computer--Video-Games-Store/default.aspx

Advisory-Amazon.com-Launches-Computer--Video-Games-Store

09/08/2000 00:00:00

Advisory/Amazon.com Launches Computer & Video Games Store

09/08/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Sept. 8, 2000--Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN): Leading online retailer integrates Earth's Biggest Selection(TM) of computer and video games in one, new store WHAT: -- Leading online retailer Amazon.com has launched a new store -- Computer & Video Games -- that provides a one-stop gaming destination for both casual and hard-core gaming enthusiasts. -- Offering the largest selection of computer and video games and accessories available online or off, the new store is rich in features and content to reate the ultimate online gaming experience, such as: -- New and future release lists, improved navigation by gaming platform, and more -- Regular discounts and deals on both front and back list titles -- An interactive gaming community via discussion boards and customer reviews -- ...with the convenience and reliability of Amazon.com WHERE: -- Click on the Computer & Video Games link on the Amazon.com directory page (www.amazon.com), or go directly to www.amazon.com/videogames. In addition to the new Computer & Video Games store, customers also will soon be able to shop in a new family-friendly environment as part of Amazon.com's recently announced alliance with Toyrsus.com. NOTES: -- Amazon.com exclusive! We've teamed with Westwood Studios/Electronic Arts to bring customers a unique multiplayer map for Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2. This downloadable map is available exclusively to Amazon.com customers. Pre-order a copy today to get access to this special download! --Amazon.com is the Interactive Digital Software Association's (ISDA) exclusive online partner for its annual "A Nite to Unite for Kids" online auction. Amazon Auctions will host an online auction from October 7-20, featuring unique and hard-to-find PC and video game products from Sony, Nintendo, Sega, Microsoft, and other computer and video game publishers as well as Amazon.com's computer and video games store.

<p>SEATTLE--Sept. 8, 2000--Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN):</p><p>Leading online retailer integrates Earth's Biggest Selection(TM) of computer and video games in one, new store</p><p>WHAT:</p><p>-- Leading online retailer Amazon.com has launched a new store -- Computer &amp; Video Games -- that provides a one-stop gaming destination for both casual and hard-core gaming enthusiasts. -- Offering the largest selection of computer and video games and accessories available online or off, the new store is rich in features and content to reate the ultimate online gaming experience, such as: -- New and future release lists, improved navigation by gaming platform, and more -- Regular discounts and deals on both front and back list titles -- An interactive gaming community via discussion boards and customer reviews -- ...with the convenience and reliability of Amazon.com</p><p>WHERE:</p><p>-- Click on the Computer &amp; Video Games link on the Amazon.com directory page (www.amazon.com), or go directly to www.amazon.com/videogames. In addition to the new Computer &amp; Video Games store, customers also will soon be able to shop in a new family-friendly environment as part of Amazon.com's recently announced alliance with Toyrsus.com.</p><p>NOTES:</p><p>-- Amazon.com exclusive! We've teamed with Westwood Studios/Electronic Arts to bring customers a unique multiplayer map for Command &amp; Conquer: Red Alert 2. This downloadable map is available exclusively to Amazon.com customers. Pre-order a copy today to get access to this special download!</p><p>--Amazon.com is the Interactive Digital Software Association's (ISDA) exclusive online partner for its annual "A Nite to Unite for Kids" online auction. Amazon Auctions will host an online auction from October 7-20, featuring unique and hard-to-find PC and video game products from Sony, Nintendo, Sega, Microsoft, and other computer and video game publishers as well as Amazon.com's computer and video games store.</p>

Amazon Anywhere Provides Complete Mobile Auction Capability With Wireless Phones; Never Miss a Bid With Mobile Alerts

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon-Anywhere-Provides-Complete-Mobile-Auction-Capability-With-Wireless-Phones-Never-Miss-a-Bid-With-Mobile-Alerts/default.aspx

Amazon-Anywhere-Provides-Complete-Mobile-Auction-Capability-With-Wireless-Phones-Never-Miss-a-Bid-With-Mobile-Alerts

09/01/2000 00:00:00

Amazon Anywhere Provides Complete Mobile Auction Capability With Wireless Phones; Never Miss a Bid With Mobile Alerts

09/01/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Sept. 1, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) (www.amazon.com) today launched Mobile Auctions, a wireless service that offers mobile alerts for Amazon Auctions to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers directly from a mobile phone. Extending Amazon.com's commitment to providing customers with the largest possible product selection across a broad spectrum of mobile platforms, Amazon Anywhere (www.amazon.com/anywhere) now brings customers with wireless Internet-capable phones the ability to search for new auction items, enter and monitor bids and track sales directly from a handset. In addition, customers can create their own custom alerts to be sent to their handsets or pagers notifying them of the status of their auctions. "Mobile Auctions provides our customers with convenient access to Amazon Auctions while being away from their computers," said Nayeem Islam, general manager of Amazon Anywhere. "This way, instead of waiting by your computer for the outcome of your auction, you can simply set an alert and get on with your day." Customers can sign up for mobile alerts on the Amazon Auctions home page (www.amazon.com/auctions). Amazon.com Auctions is the most trusted auction site on the Web and ranked No. 1 on Gomez Advisors' customer confidence scorecard. Customers need a handset that can receive alphanumeric messages to receive alerts. About Amazon Anywhere Launched as a business division of Amazon.com in October 1999, Amazon Anywhere is a leader in mobile e-commerce, providing customers access to Earth's Biggest Selection on Amazon.com from handheld wireless Internet devices. Amazon Anywhere is available on Internet-ready phones and the Palm VII. Service and handset providers that feature mobile shopping for their customers include Bell Mobility, Nextel, Nokia, Motorola and Sprint PCS. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com. Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service--with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California--at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com. Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--Sept. 1, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) (www.amazon.com) today launched Mobile Auctions, a wireless service that offers mobile alerts for Amazon Auctions to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers directly from a mobile phone.</p><p>Extending Amazon.com's commitment to providing customers with the largest possible product selection across a broad spectrum of mobile platforms, Amazon Anywhere (www.amazon.com/anywhere) now brings customers with wireless Internet-capable phones the ability to search for new auction items, enter and monitor bids and track sales directly from a handset. In addition, customers can create their own custom alerts to be sent to their handsets or pagers notifying them of the status of their auctions.</p><p>"Mobile Auctions provides our customers with convenient access to Amazon Auctions while being away from their computers," said Nayeem Islam, general manager of Amazon Anywhere. "This way, instead of waiting by your computer for the outcome of your auction, you can simply set an alert and get on with your day."</p><p>Customers can sign up for mobile alerts on the Amazon Auctions home page (www.amazon.com/auctions). Amazon.com Auctions is the most trusted auction site on the Web and ranked No. 1 on Gomez Advisors' customer confidence scorecard. Customers need a handset that can receive alphanumeric messages to receive alerts.</p><p>About Amazon Anywhere</p><p>Launched as a business division of Amazon.com in October 1999, Amazon Anywhere is a leader in mobile e-commerce, providing customers access to Earth's Biggest Selection on Amazon.com from handheld wireless Internet devices. Amazon Anywhere is available on Internet-ready phones and the Palm VII. Service and handset providers that feature mobile shopping for their customers include Bell Mobility, Nextel, Nokia, Motorola and Sprint PCS.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs,</p><p>tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com.</p><p>Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online</p><p>leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service--with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California--at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No.</p><p>1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com.</p><p>Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer</p><p>trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect</p><p>Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Announces New Privacy Policy; Proactively Notifies Customers By E-Mail

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Announces-New-Privacy-Policy-Proactively-Notifies-Customers-By-E-Mail/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Announces-New-Privacy-Policy-Proactively-Notifies-Customers-By-E-Mail

08/31/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Announces New Privacy Policy; Proactively Notifies Customers By E-Mail

08/31/2000

2000

SEATTLE—August 31, 2000—Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) today announced a revised privacy policy and took the unprecedented step of proactively notifying its millions of customers by e-mail. "We value the trust our customers place in us, and we wanted them to have as clear a picture as possible of what we're doing and not doing when it comes to the information they give us," said Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. "In revising our privacy policy, we tried to take into consideration not only our current activities but also those things we could imagine possibly happening in the future." Over the last five years, Amazon.com has become the destination for customers to purchase just about anything they need online -- from cotton balls to cars. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service—with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California—at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com. Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon.Com Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filingswith the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000 and June 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE—August 31, 2000—Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) today announced a revised privacy policy and took the unprecedented step of proactively notifying its millions of customers by e-mail.</p><p>"We value the trust our customers place in us, and we wanted them to have as clear a picture as possible of what we're doing and not doing when it comes to the information they give us," said Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. "In revising our privacy policy, we tried to take into consideration not only our current activities but also those things we could imagine possibly happening in the future."</p><p>Over the last five years, Amazon.com has become the destination for customers to purchase just about anything they need online -- from cotton balls to cars.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service—with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California—at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com.</p><p>Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon.Com Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filingswith the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000 and June 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Selects Daksh.com as Its Preferred Customer Care Service Provider in India

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Selects-Daksh.com-as-Its-Preferred-Customer-Care-Service-Provider-in-India/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Selects-Daksh.com-as-Its-Preferred-Customer-Care-Service-Provider-in-India

08/29/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Selects Daksh.com as Its Preferred Customer Care Service Provider in India

08/29/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Aug. 29, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) today announced that it has selected Daksh.com to provide Web-based customer service from India. This latest move by Amazon.com aims to leverage India's high-quality and cost-effective customer care professionals. "As Amazon.com continues to attract new customers from all over the world, it is important that we have trained staff ready to respond to a customer's inquiry, no matter what time of day or night," said Bill Price, vice president for Global Customer Service at Amazon.com. "Daksh.com's passion for customer delight and commitment to efficient high-quality customer care matches our own. We believe this relationship will bring in tremendous benefits to Amazon.com customers by enabling us to continue to provide excellent customer service, regardless of what time it may be in their particular part of the world." He added that Amazon.com would work closely with Daksh.com to ensure a seamless experience for the Amazon.com customer. The parties also intend for Amazon.com to become a shareholder of Daksh.com. For Daksh, working with the world's largest Internet retailer promises to be challenging and exciting. Sanjeev Aggarwal, cofounder & CEO at Daksh.com, said: "We are delighted to be an addition to Amazon.com's customer service team. Daksh's mission is to enable ebusinesses to build exceptional customer relationships. Our 3P framework with strong emphasis on people orientation , quality processes and scalable platforms, is designed to support companies which have a high volume of electronic customer interactions, but at the same time provide customers with personalized service. Winning this project from Amazon.com -- the world's most customer centric company -- is a jewel in our crown." About Daksh.com (www.daksh.com) Daksh.com was conceived to help eBusiness deliver exceptional customer relationships and has presence in Sunnyvale, U.S. and in New Delhi, India. Daksh was cofounded by senior executives from Motorola, 3COM, Compaq and Pepsi and is an early mover in leveraging India's resource base for Web-enabled customer care. The service offerings include e-mail responses, real-time chat services, knowledge management and other value added services such as eCRM architecture. Daksh has strong focus on pure play Internet companies and traditional companies who are increasingly embracing the Web as a channel of interaction with their customers. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's biggest selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, home improvement products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, any seller can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth-quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon.com Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 1999, and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--Aug. 29, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) today announced that it has selected Daksh.com to provide Web-based customer service from India.</p><p>This latest move by Amazon.com aims to leverage India's high-quality and cost-effective customer care professionals.</p><p>"As Amazon.com continues to attract new customers from all over the world, it is important that we have trained staff ready to respond to a customer's inquiry, no matter what time of day or night," said Bill Price, vice president for Global Customer Service at Amazon.com.</p><p>"Daksh.com's passion for customer delight and commitment to efficient high-quality customer care matches our own. We believe this relationship will bring in tremendous benefits to Amazon.com customers by enabling us to continue to provide excellent customer service, regardless of what time it may be in their particular part of the world."</p><p>He added that Amazon.com would work closely with Daksh.com to ensure a seamless experience for the Amazon.com customer. The parties also intend for Amazon.com to become a shareholder of Daksh.com.</p><p>For Daksh, working with the world's largest Internet retailer promises to be challenging and exciting. Sanjeev Aggarwal, cofounder &amp; CEO at Daksh.com, said: "We are delighted to be an addition to Amazon.com's customer service team. Daksh's mission is to enable ebusinesses to build exceptional customer relationships. Our 3P framework with strong emphasis on people orientation , quality processes and scalable platforms, is designed to support companies which have a high volume of electronic customer interactions, but at the same time provide customers with personalized service. Winning this project from Amazon.com -- the world's most customer centric company -- is a jewel in our crown."</p><p>About Daksh.com (www.daksh.com)</p><p>Daksh.com was conceived to help eBusiness deliver exceptional customer relationships and has presence in Sunnyvale, U.S. and in New Delhi, India. Daksh was cofounded by senior executives from Motorola, 3COM, Compaq and Pepsi and is an early mover in leveraging India's resource base for Web-enabled customer care. The service offerings include e-mail responses, real-time chat services, knowledge management and other value added services such as eCRM architecture. Daksh has strong focus on pure play Internet companies and traditional companies who are increasingly embracing the Web as a channel of interaction with their customers.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's biggest selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, home improvement products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, any seller can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth-quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon.com Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 1999, and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Will Launches French Store Featuring Books, Music, DVDs and Videos; Amazon.fr is Third European Site, Serves Global French-Speaking Market

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Will-Launches-French-Store-Featuring-Books-Music-DVDs-and-Videos-Amazon.fr-is-Third-European-Site-Serves-Global-French-Speaking-Market/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Will-Launches-French-Store-Featuring-Books-Music-DVDs-and-Videos-Amazon.fr-is-Third-European-Site-Serves-Global-French-Speaking-Market

08/29/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Will Launches French Store Featuring Books, Music, DVDs and Videos; Amazon.fr is Third European Site, Serves Global French-Speaking Market

08/29/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Aug. 29, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) announced today it will launch Amazon.fr, a French-language site offering books, music CDs, DVDs and videos dedicated to customers in France and to French-speaking customers around the world. Amazon.fr will launch early Thursday morning Paris time. Amazon disclosed its plans at a press preview today in Paris. Amazon.fr is Amazon.com, Inc.'s third European site and offers the complete catalogue of French titles. "We're grateful to the tens of thousands of French customers who have shopped at Amazon.com during the past five years," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "With the launch of Amazon.fr, we're making the Amazon shopping experience -- with our obsession on customers -- available to French-speaking customers everywhere." "This is a store created for and designed by French people, which for the first time will allow French literature, music, film and culture to be accessed easily and quickly by people around the globe," said Diego Piacentini, Amazon.com senior vice president and general manager, international. "As with the universal Amazon focus on the customer experience, we'll provide vast selection, great prices, excellent customer service and 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week convenience. This is one further step in our plans to become a global merchandiser." Amazon.fr will be supported by two facilities in France, with operations and administration at Guyancourt and a distribution center in Orleans. Customer service needs will be handled through Amazon's pan-European customer service center in The Hague, the Netherlands. That facility employs native French speakers to work with Amazon.fr customers. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com. Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service -- with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California -- at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com. Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--Aug. 29, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) announced today it will launch Amazon.fr, a French-language site offering books, music CDs, DVDs and videos dedicated to customers in France and to French-speaking customers around the world.</p><p>Amazon.fr will launch early Thursday morning Paris time. Amazon disclosed its plans at a press preview today in Paris.</p><p>Amazon.fr is Amazon.com, Inc.'s third European site and offers the complete catalogue of French titles. "We're grateful to the tens of thousands of French customers who have shopped at Amazon.com during the past five years," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "With the launch of Amazon.fr, we're making the Amazon shopping experience -- with our obsession on customers -- available to French-speaking customers everywhere."</p><p>"This is a store created for and designed by French people, which for the first time will allow French literature, music, film and culture to be accessed easily and quickly by people around the globe," said Diego Piacentini, Amazon.com senior vice president and general manager, international. "As with the universal Amazon focus on the customer experience, we'll provide vast selection, great prices, excellent customer service and 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week convenience. This is one further step in our plans to become a global merchandiser."</p><p>Amazon.fr will be supported by two facilities in France, with operations and administration at Guyancourt and a distribution center in Orleans. Customer service needs will be handled through Amazon's pan-European customer service center in The Hague, the Netherlands. That facility employs native French speakers to work with Amazon.fr customers.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online.</p><p>Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com.</p><p>Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service -- with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California -- at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com.</p><p>Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect</p><p>Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com and America Online Announce Extended Advertising and Promotional Alliance

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-and-America-Online-Announce-Extended-Advertising-and-Promotional-Alliance/default.aspx

Amazon.com-and-America-Online-Announce-Extended-Advertising-and-Promotional-Alliance

08/29/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com and America Online Announce Extended Advertising and Promotional Alliance

08/29/2000

2000

SEATTLE and DULLES, Va.--Aug. 29, 2000-- Citing Successful Performance, the Companies Extend Their Previous Agreement, Making AOL Amazon.com's Largest Online Marketing Partner Amazon.com's Wide Category Selection to Be Available Across Several AOL Brands, Making Shopping Amazon.com Even Easier for Online Consumers Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) and America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL), the world's leading interactive services company, today announced a promotional alliance under which Amazon.com's broad selection of products will be available across several America Online, Inc. brands. This agreement extends the companies' prior marketing alliance, established in 1997. The alliance, an effective way of introducing customers to Amazon.com, brought new shopping choices to millions of AOL.COM and Netscape Netcenter users; this new agreement builds on that success and makes America Online, Inc. Amazon.com's largest online partner. Bringing consumers the easiest, most convenient electronic commerce experience is a hallmark of both Amazon.com and AOL. Through this extended alliance, Amazon.com will be widely available across AOL.COM, Netscape Netcenter and CompuServe, enabling users of these brands to readily access Amazon.com's vast selection of products and services, including electronics, kitchen products, tools, toys, books, music, DVDs and more. The agreement will also make it more convenient to order-and pre-order-extremely popular items such as new digital cameras and titles such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. "We want to make shopping as easy as possible for our customers," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "We're happy to extend our alliance with AOL, a company that shares our vision for electronic commerce and makes it even more convenient for people to shop Amazon.com." Bob Pittman, President and Chief Operating Officer, America Online, said: "Amazon.com is one of the best-known online retailers in the world, and I'm pleased to extend a relationship that has clearly been successful for both of us over the past several years. Amazon.com offers exactly the kind of quality, selection and customer service that AOL.COM and Netscape visitors have come to know and trust, and by extending these relationships and expanding them to include CompuServe, this new alliance gives consumers more reason than ever to shop online with these America Online, Inc. brands." About America Online, Inc. Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies, and e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates: America Online, with more than 23 million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2.8 million members, the company's two worldwide Internet services; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc.; the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; the Netscape Netscape Netcenter and Communicator browsers; AOL Moviefone, the nation's No.1 movie listing guide and ticketing service; and Spinner.com and NullSoft's Winamp, leaders in Internet music. Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the company develops and offers easy-to-deploy; end-to-end and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com. Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003. Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service-with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California-at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com. Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE and DULLES, Va.--Aug. 29, 2000--</p><p>Citing Successful Performance, the Companies Extend Their Previous Agreement, Making AOL Amazon.com's Largest Online Marketing Partner</p><p>Amazon.com's Wide Category Selection to Be Available Across Several AOL Brands, Making Shopping Amazon.com Even Easier for Online Consumers</p><p>Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) and America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL), the world's leading interactive services company, today announced a promotional alliance under which Amazon.com's broad selection of products will be available across several America Online, Inc. brands.</p><p>This agreement extends the companies' prior marketing alliance, established in 1997. The alliance, an effective way of introducing customers to Amazon.com, brought new shopping choices to millions of AOL.COM and Netscape Netcenter users; this new agreement builds on that success and makes America Online, Inc. Amazon.com's largest online partner.</p><p>Bringing consumers the easiest, most convenient electronic commerce experience is a hallmark of both Amazon.com and AOL. Through this extended alliance, Amazon.com will be widely available across AOL.COM, Netscape Netcenter and CompuServe, enabling users of these brands to readily access Amazon.com's vast selection of products and services, including electronics, kitchen products, tools, toys, books, music, DVDs and more. The agreement will also make it more convenient to order-and pre-order-extremely popular items such as new digital cameras and titles such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.</p><p>"We want to make shopping as easy as possible for our customers," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "We're happy to extend our alliance with AOL, a company that shares our vision for electronic commerce and makes it even more convenient for people to shop Amazon.com."</p><p>Bob Pittman, President and Chief Operating Officer, America Online, said: "Amazon.com is one of the best-known online retailers in the world, and I'm pleased to extend a relationship that has clearly been successful for both of us over the past several years. Amazon.com offers exactly the kind of quality, selection and customer service that AOL.COM and Netscape visitors have come to know and trust, and by extending these relationships and expanding them to include</p><p>CompuServe, this new alliance gives consumers more reason than ever to shop online with these America Online, Inc. brands."</p><p>About America Online, Inc.</p><p>Founded in 1985, America Online, Inc., based in Dulles, Virginia, is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies, and e-commerce services. America Online, Inc. operates: America Online, with more than 23 million members, and CompuServe, with more than 2.8 million members, the company's two worldwide Internet services; several leading Internet brands including ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger and Digital City, Inc.; the Netscape Netcenter and AOL.COM portals; the Netscape Netscape Netcenter and Communicator browsers; AOL Moviefone, the nation's No.1 movie listing guide and ticketing service; and Spinner.com and NullSoft's Winamp, leaders in Internet music. Through its strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems, the company develops and offers easy-to-deploy; end-to-end and enterprise solutions for companies operating in the Net Economy.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com.</p><p>Amazon.com operates three international Web sites: www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service-with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California-at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com.</p><p>Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Launches New-Car Buying Service Provided by Greenlight.com; Easy, Haggle-Free Shopping Supported by Network of Premier Local Dealers

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Launches-New-Car-Buying-Service-Provided-by-Greenlight.com-Easy-Haggle-Free-Shopping-Supported-by-Network-of-Premier-Local-Dealers/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Launches-New-Car-Buying-Service-Provided-by-Greenlight.com-Easy-Haggle-Free-Shopping-Supported-by-Network-of-Premier-Local-Dealers

08/23/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Launches New-Car Buying Service Provided by Greenlight.com; Easy, Haggle-Free Shopping Supported by Network of Premier Local Dealers

08/23/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Aug. 23, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) today announced that it will launch a new-car buying service Thursday, providing customers with a superior car-buying experience backed by service and support from an expansive network of premier auto dealers affiliated with Amazon partner Greenlight.com. This innovative partnership takes the hassle out of buying a new car by offering Amazon.com shoppers access to Greenlight.com's proven services, including up-front, no-haggle pricing; one-stop shopping for convenient financing and trade-in options; a personal account manager for each customer; and top quality local dealers for delivery, after-purchase support and service. Car buyers can browse and search by make or model, or compare two cars side by side in Greenlight's Showroom. Consumers can also specify the precise options they want and configure their car online. Customers can access the New Cars area at Amazon.com via links from the Welcome page or throughout the site or directly via www.amazon.com/newcars. The Amazon.com/Greenlight.com service is available in 27 markets, representing over 70 percent of the e-commerce population in the U.S., including such major markets as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. "We're excited to be involved in this emerging industry online," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "Greenlight combines the interests of all parties -- the customers, the dealers and the manufacturers -- producing a simple and fast buying experience for customers." "I've focused my 20 year career -- from Saturn to Saab to Greenlight -- on improving the car-buying experience," said Joel Manby, CEO of Greenlight.com. "I am thrilled to introduce Amazon.com's 23 million experienced online shoppers to the best car buying experience available. By combining our local dealer network with a simple and convenient online buying site, consumers will be able to feel great about buying a car through Amazon's exclusive new cars partner, Greenlight.com." To best support a growing customer base, Greenlight.com continues to build its network by recruiting the most Internet-savvy, customer service-oriented dealers across the United States. Other markets served by Greenlight and Amazon.com are Buffalo, Greensboro, Jacksonville, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Rochester, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle, St. Louis and West Palm Beach. About Greenlight.com Greenlight.com was founded in 1999 to bring to new car buying the same convenience, confidence and simplicity that online shopping has brought to other consumer goods. Greenlight.com has developed a true click and mortar model -- combining an online buying experience with the nation's strongest network of local dealers. Greenlight.com simplifies the buying process by giving consumers low, upfront pricing, the ability to get the exact car they want, a dedicated live account manager, and support from Greenlight's network of local dealers where and when it is needed. Greenlight.com is backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm, and Asbury Automotive, an automotive retail industry leader. Greenlight.com has also received a strategic investment from Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) and is Amazon.com's exclusive partner in the new car market. To shop for a car or to get more information about Greenlight.com, visit the company on the web at http://www.greenlight.com. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service -- with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California -- at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com. Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon.com Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--Aug. 23, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) today announced that it will launch a new-car buying service Thursday, providing customers with a superior car-buying experience backed by service and support from an expansive network of premier auto dealers affiliated with Amazon partner Greenlight.com.</p><p>This innovative partnership takes the hassle out of buying a new car by offering Amazon.com shoppers access to Greenlight.com's proven services, including up-front, no-haggle pricing; one-stop shopping for convenient financing and trade-in options; a personal account manager for each customer; and top quality local dealers for delivery, after-purchase support and service. Car buyers can browse and search by make or model, or compare two cars side by side in Greenlight's Showroom. Consumers can also specify the precise options they want and configure their car online.</p><p>Customers can access the New Cars area at Amazon.com via links from the Welcome page or throughout the site or directly via www.amazon.com/newcars.</p><p>The Amazon.com/Greenlight.com service is available in 27 markets, representing over 70 percent of the e-commerce population in the U.S., including such major markets as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.</p><p>"We're excited to be involved in this emerging industry online," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "Greenlight combines the interests of all parties -- the customers, the dealers and the manufacturers -- producing a simple and fast buying experience for customers."</p><p>"I've focused my 20 year career -- from Saturn to Saab to Greenlight -- on improving the car-buying experience," said Joel Manby, CEO of Greenlight.com. "I am thrilled to introduce Amazon.com's 23 million experienced online shoppers to the best car buying experience available. By combining our local dealer network with a simple and convenient online buying site, consumers will be able to feel great about buying a car through Amazon's exclusive new cars partner, Greenlight.com."</p><p>To best support a growing customer base, Greenlight.com continues to build its network by recruiting the most Internet-savvy, customer service-oriented dealers across the United States.</p><p>Other markets served by Greenlight and Amazon.com are Buffalo, Greensboro, Jacksonville, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Rochester, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle, St. Louis and West Palm Beach.</p><p>About Greenlight.com</p><p>Greenlight.com was founded in 1999 to bring to new car buying the same convenience, confidence and simplicity that online shopping has brought to other consumer goods. Greenlight.com has developed a true click and mortar model -- combining an online buying experience with the nation's strongest network of local dealers. Greenlight.com simplifies the buying process by giving consumers low, upfront pricing, the ability to get the exact car they want, a dedicated live account manager, and support from Greenlight's network of local dealers where and when it is needed.</p><p>Greenlight.com is backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield &amp; Byers, a leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm, and Asbury Automotive, an automotive retail industry leader. Greenlight.com has also received a strategic investment from Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) and is Amazon.com's exclusive partner in the new car market. To shop for a car or to get more information about Greenlight.com, visit the company on the web at http://www.greenlight.com.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service -- with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California -- at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; and eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com.</p><p>Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances and the Amazon.com Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p>

Advisory/Gore's Books Edge Out Bush's Books on Amazon.com

/news/news-details/2000/Advisory-Gores-Books-Edge-Out-Bushs-Books-on-Amazon.com/default.aspx

Advisory-Gores-Books-Edge-Out-Bushs-Books-on-Amazon.com

08/17/2000 00:00:00

Advisory/Gore's Books Edge Out Bush's Books on Amazon.com

08/17/2000

2000

WHAT: Anticipating tonight's Democratic National Convention address from Presidential Candidate Al Gore, Amazon.com saw sales for books about Gore push to the lead over sales for books about George W. Bush. Gore books are currently leading in sales between the two candidates with a 51 percent majority. Bush-related books have held a strong lead since the index was first posted, but the tables have now turned to Gore's favor. As anticipation builds for the upcoming election, Amazon.com is tracking sales of books about the leading party candidates with the "Bush/Gore index" -- a weekly updated graph comparing sales of books related to Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush since early July. Readers will be able to track Amazon.com's sales race as the events leading up to the election unfold. WHERE: Found exclusively at www.amazon.com/election2000, the store features a wide range of election year merchandise to inform and entertain voters of all parties. Features include a recommended reading list from political pundit James Carville; audio books featuring well-known political speeches and memoirs; DVDs and videos, including both documentaries and politically oriented motion pictures; toys and games featuring presidential candidates and political themes; and Purchase Circles information showcasing what's being read on Capitol Hill.

<p>WHAT: Anticipating tonight's Democratic National Convention address from Presidential Candidate Al Gore, Amazon.com saw sales for books about Gore push to the lead over sales for books about George W. Bush. Gore books are currently leading in sales between the two candidates with a 51 percent majority. Bush-related books have held a strong lead since the index was first posted, but the tables have now turned to Gore's favor.</p><p>As anticipation builds for the upcoming election, Amazon.com is tracking sales of books about the leading party candidates with the "Bush/Gore index" -- a weekly updated graph comparing sales of books related to Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush since early July. Readers will be able to track Amazon.com's sales race as the events leading up to the election unfold.</p><p>WHERE: Found exclusively at www.amazon.com/election2000, the store features a wide range of election year merchandise to inform and entertain voters of all parties. Features include a recommended reading list from political pundit James Carville; audio books featuring well-known political speeches and memoirs; DVDs and videos, including both documentaries and politically oriented motion pictures; toys and games featuring presidential candidates and political themes; and Purchase Circles information showcasing what's being read on Capitol Hill.</p>

Amazon.com and Toysrus.com Announce Strategic Alliance

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-and-Toysrus.com-Announce-Strategic-Alliance/default.aspx

Amazon.com-and-Toysrus.com-Announce-Strategic-Alliance

08/10/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com and Toysrus.com Announce Strategic Alliance

08/10/2000

2000

COMBINATION OF TOYS "R" US BRAND, MERCHANDISING AND MARKETING STRENGTH WITH AMAZON'S E-COMMERCE BRAND, EXPERTISE AND DISTRIBUTION CAPABILITY WILL CREATE BEST ONLINE TOY-BUYING EXPERIENCE NEW YORK—August 10, 2000—Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) (Nasdaq: AMZN), and Toysrus.com (www.toysrus.com), the premier retailer of children's products on the Internet, today announced a strategic alliance to create a co-branded toy and video games store. Expected to launch in Fall 2000, the new online store will combine the strengths of the two e-tailers' existing stores, bringing customers the best toy-buying experience available online. Amazon.com and Toysrus.com have also agreed to launch a co-branded baby products store, in the first half of 2001. The two companies have entered into a strategic alliance under which each company will assume responsibility for specific aspects of the toy and video games and baby products stores. Toysrus.com, in collaboration with its majority shareholder, Toys "R" Us, Inc., (NYSE: TOY), will identify, buy and manage inventory; Amazon.com will handle site development, order fulfillment, and customer service, housing both Toysrus.com's and its own inventory in Amazon.com's U.S. distribution centers. The agreement also allows for global expansion of the arrangement. Under the terms of the 10-year agreement, Amazon.com will be compensated through a combination of periodic fixed payments, per unit payments and single-digit percentage of revenue. Amazon.com will also receive warrants entitling it to acquire 5 percent of Toysrus.com. All parties, including Toys "R" Us, Inc., will market the co-branded store to their respective customers. A Milestone in Online Retailing Benefiting Shoppers Marking a milestone in online shopping, the Toysrus.com and Amazon.com alliance is designed to maximize operating efficiencies and provide meaningful benefits to consumers. The alliance brings together the highly complementary strengths of two leading brands and premier retailers – one in brick-and-mortar retailing, one in e-commerce – to create a better shopping experience. "This is a huge win for our customers," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "Our existing toys and games business has grown rapidly because customers appreciate our passionate focus on selection and customer experience. By joining with Toys "R" Us, we're bringing customers an even greater and more diverse product selection and teaming up with the world's leading resource for toys, games and baby products." "Amazon.com is widely regarded as the gold standard in online retailing, and we are thrilled to deliver to our customers the enormous benefits we know this alliance will bring. The strength of the Toys "R" Us brand and our merchandising expertise combined with Amazon's unbeatable Internet savvy will create an online presence second to none," said John Eyler, CEO of Toys "R" Us, Inc. "Together, we will be the global leader for toys and children's and babies' products on the Internet." John Barbour, CEO and president of Toysrus.com, added his endorsement, noting, "This relationship truly embraces the best of both businesses and will take our business to a totally new level. We look forward to working with Amazon.com to create the world's best online toy, children's and baby store." About Toysrus.com Toysrus.com is a leading global Internet retailer for toys and children's products. Toysrus.com, an affiliate of Toys "R" Us, Inc., combines one of the world's most recognizable brands with unparalleled expertise in the toy and children's industry. Earlier this year, Softbank, the No. 1 Internet investor in the world, became a minority partner of Toysrus.com. In July, Toysrus.com launched Babiesrus.com, an online e-resource partnership with the No. 1 juvenile retailer in the world, Babies "R" Us. According to Media Metrix, in 1999 Toysrus.com became one of the fastest-growing e-commerce sites on the Internet and continues to consistently be ranked as the No. 1 online toy site in visitor traffic (Media Metrix, May 2000). About Toys "R" Us Toys "R" Us--The world's leading resource for kids, families and fun currently operates 1,552 stores; 707 toy stores in the United States, 469 international toy stores, including franchise stores, 201 Kids "R" Us children's clothing stores, 137 Babies "R" Us stores and 38 Imaginarium stores. The company also sells merchandise through its Internet sites at http://www.toysrus.com, http://www.babiesrus.com and http://www.imaginarium.com and through mail order catalogs. This press release contains certain 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, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Such statements should be considered as subject to risks and uncertainties that exist in the company's operations and business environment that could render actual outcomes and results materially different than predicted. Factors that could constitute risks are set forth in documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; living.com, the leading online home products and services retailer, at www.living.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service—with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California—at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com; and WineShopper.com, the San Francisco- and Napa-based Internet start-up that will ultimately offer consumers online access to the largest selection of wines available anywhere, at www.wineshopper.com. Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may vary from these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including, among others, difficulties encountered by Amazon.com, Toys "R" Us and Toysrus.com in implementing their relationship and successfully coordinating their respective operations, the failure of any of the parties to the strategic alliance to perform in accordance with their obligations under their agreements or the expectations of the other parties, fluctuations in the value of securities issuable under the Toysrus.com warrants, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances, and the Amazon.com Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.

<p>COMBINATION OF TOYS "R" US BRAND, MERCHANDISING AND MARKETING STRENGTH WITH AMAZON'S E-COMMERCE BRAND, EXPERTISE AND DISTRIBUTION CAPABILITY WILL CREATE BEST ONLINE TOY-BUYING EXPERIENCE</p><p>NEW YORK—August 10, 2000—Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) (Nasdaq: AMZN), and Toysrus.com (www.toysrus.com), the premier retailer of children's products on the Internet, today announced a strategic alliance to create a co-branded toy and video games store. Expected to launch in Fall 2000, the new online store will combine the strengths of the two e-tailers' existing stores, bringing customers the best toy-buying experience available online. Amazon.com and Toysrus.com have also agreed to launch a co-branded baby products store, in the first half of 2001.</p><p>The two companies have entered into a strategic alliance under which each company will assume responsibility for specific aspects of the toy and video games and baby products stores. Toysrus.com, in collaboration with its majority shareholder, Toys "R" Us, Inc., (NYSE: TOY), will identify, buy and manage inventory; Amazon.com will handle site development, order fulfillment, and customer service, housing both Toysrus.com's and its own inventory in Amazon.com's U.S. distribution centers. The agreement also allows for global expansion of the arrangement.</p><p>Under the terms of the 10-year agreement, Amazon.com will be compensated through a combination of periodic fixed payments, per unit payments and single-digit percentage of revenue. Amazon.com will also receive warrants entitling it to acquire 5 percent of Toysrus.com. All parties, including Toys "R" Us, Inc., will market the co-branded store to their respective customers.</p><p>A Milestone in Online Retailing Benefiting Shoppers Marking a milestone in online shopping, the Toysrus.com and Amazon.com alliance is designed to maximize operating efficiencies and provide meaningful benefits to consumers. The alliance brings together the highly complementary strengths of two leading brands and premier retailers – one in brick-and-mortar retailing, one in e-commerce – to create a better shopping experience.</p><p>"This is a huge win for our customers," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "Our existing toys and games business has grown rapidly because customers appreciate our passionate focus on selection and customer experience. By joining with Toys "R" Us, we're bringing customers an even greater and more diverse product selection and teaming up with the world's leading resource for toys, games and baby products."</p><p>"Amazon.com is widely regarded as the gold standard in online retailing, and we are thrilled to deliver to our customers the enormous benefits we know this alliance will bring. The strength of the Toys "R" Us brand and our merchandising expertise combined with Amazon's unbeatable Internet savvy will create an online presence second to none," said John Eyler, CEO of Toys "R" Us, Inc. "Together, we will be the global leader for toys and children's and babies' products on the Internet."</p><p>John Barbour, CEO and president of Toysrus.com, added his endorsement, noting, "This relationship truly embraces the best of both businesses and will take our business to a totally new level. We look forward to working with Amazon.com to create the world's best online toy, children's and baby store."</p><p>About Toysrus.com</p><p>Toysrus.com is a leading global Internet retailer for toys and children's products. Toysrus.com, an affiliate of Toys "R" Us, Inc., combines one of the world's most recognizable brands with unparalleled expertise in the toy and children's industry. Earlier this year, Softbank, the No. 1 Internet investor in the world, became a minority partner of Toysrus.com. In July, Toysrus.com launched Babiesrus.com, an online e-resource partnership with the No. 1 juvenile retailer in the world, Babies "R" Us. According to Media Metrix, in 1999 Toysrus.com became one of the fastest-growing e-commerce sites on the Internet and continues to consistently be ranked as the No. 1 online toy site in visitor traffic (Media Metrix, May 2000).</p><p>About Toys "R" Us</p><p>Toys "R" Us--The world's leading resource for kids, families and fun currently operates 1,552 stores; 707 toy stores in the United States, 469 international toy stores, including franchise stores, 201 Kids "R" Us children's clothing stores, 137 Babies "R" Us stores and 38 Imaginarium stores. The company also sells merchandise through its Internet sites at http://www.toysrus.com, http://www.babiesrus.com and http://www.imaginarium.com and through mail order catalogs.</p><p>This press release contains certain 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, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Such statements should be considered as subject to risks and uncertainties that exist in the company's operations and business environment that could render actual outcomes and results materially different than predicted. Factors that could constitute risks are set forth in documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.</p><p>About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; living.com, the leading online home products and services retailer, at www.living.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service—with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California—at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com; and WineShopper.com, the San Francisco- and Napa-based Internet start-up that will ultimately offer consumers online access to the largest selection of wines available anywhere, at www.wineshopper.com.</p><p>Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may vary from these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including, among others, difficulties encountered by Amazon.com, Toys "R" Us and Toysrus.com in implementing their relationship and successfully coordinating their respective operations, the failure of any of the parties to the strategic alliance to perform in accordance with their obligations under their agreements or the expectations of the other parties, fluctuations in the value of securities issuable under the Toysrus.com warrants, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations, strategic alliances, and the Amazon.com Commerce Network. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000.</p>

Amazon.com Associates Program Celebrates 500,000 Member Milestone With New-Customer Referral Bonuses

/news/news-details/2000/Amazon.com-Associates-Program-Celebrates-500000-Member-Milestone-With-New-Customer-Referral-Bonuses/default.aspx

Amazon.com-Associates-Program-Celebrates-500000-Member-Milestone-With-New-Customer-Referral-Bonuses

08/03/2000 00:00:00

Amazon.com Associates Program Celebrates 500,000 Member Milestone With New-Customer Referral Bonuses

08/03/2000

2000

SEATTLE--Aug. 3, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) today announced that enrollment in its Associates Program has reached 500,000 members, reinforcing its position as the largest and most popular program of its kind. To celebrate this milestone and thank its Associates, Amazon.com has launched a new-customer bonus initiative. Associates will now receive bonus payments based on the number of new customers they refer to the site through December 2000. Amazon.com pioneered the concept of online syndicated selling with its Associates Program, which was started in July 1996. By simply linking to Amazon.com, Associates can earn referral fees of up to 15 percent on certain items when visitors click through to Amazon.com to make purchases. Additionally, Associates will earn a bonus for referring 10 or more new customers per quarter to Amazon.com from now through the end of the year. New-customer bonuses will be paid quarterly, with the first checks to be issued in October. Bonuses will be calculated according to the following new-customer threshold levels: -0- *T New Customers Referred Bonus Payment ---------------------- ------------- 10-19 $20 20-49 $50 50-99 $150 100-199 $350 200-499 $800 500-999 $2,250 1,000 + $5,000 + $5 for each new customer over 1,000 *T "The Amazon.com Associates Program is more exciting and more powerful than ever, and the new-customer bonus pays tribute to the half million Associates who have played a key role in introducing new customers to Amazon.com," said Owen Van Natta, vice president of business development at Amazon.com. "With millions of unique items, Amazon.com lets Associates merchandise products closely related to the content of their sites; moreover, Amazon.com's incredible selection means a customer buying a book through an Associates link can add a CD, a cordless drill, a blender and a Palm handheld to the Shopping Cart, raising the total dollar value of the order and earning the Associate higher referral fees." Amazon.com's Associates network includes Web sites of all sizes and virtually every area of interest. The Associates Program's record-setting enrollment is evidence of its versatility and wide appeal across multiple product categories. Additional information on Amazon.com's Associates Program can be found at http://www.amazon.com/associates. About Amazon.com Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com. Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003. Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol. Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; living.com, the leading online home products and services retailer, at www.living.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service -- with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California -- at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com; and WineShopper.com, the San Francisco- and Napa-based Internet start-up that will ultimately offer consumers online access to the largest selection of wines available anywhere, at www.wineshopper.com. Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com. This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000.

<p>SEATTLE--Aug. 3, 2000--Leading online retailer Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) today announced that enrollment in its Associates Program has reached 500,000 members, reinforcing its position as the largest and most popular program of its kind.</p><p>To celebrate this milestone and thank its Associates, Amazon.com has launched a new-customer bonus initiative. Associates will now receive bonus payments based on the number of new customers they refer to the site through December 2000.</p><p>Amazon.com pioneered the concept of online syndicated selling with its Associates Program, which was started in July 1996. By simply linking to Amazon.com, Associates can earn referral fees of up to 15 percent on certain items when visitors click through to Amazon.com to make purchases.</p><p>Additionally, Associates will earn a bonus for referring 10 or more new customers per quarter to Amazon.com from now through the end of the year. New-customer bonuses will be paid quarterly, with the first checks to be issued in October. Bonuses will be calculated according to the following new-customer threshold levels: -0-</p><p>*T</p><pre> New Customers Referred Bonus Payment ---------------------- ------------- 10-19 $20 20-49 $50 50-99 $150 100-199 $350 200-499 $800 500-999 $2,250 1,000 + $5,000 + $5 for each new customer over 1,000*T</pre><p>"The Amazon.com Associates Program is more exciting and more powerful than ever, and the new-customer bonus pays tribute to the half million Associates who have played a key role in introducing new customers to Amazon.com," said Owen Van Natta, vice president of business development at Amazon.com. "With millions of unique items, Amazon.com lets Associates merchandise products closely related to the content of their sites; moreover, Amazon.com's incredible selection means a customer buying a book through an Associates link can add a CD, a cordless drill, a blender and a Palm handheld to the Shopping Cart, raising the total dollar value of the order and earning the Associate higher referral fees."</p><p>Amazon.com's Associates network includes Web sites of all sizes and virtually every area of interest. The Associates Program's record-setting enrollment is evidence of its versatility and wide appeal across multiple product categories.</p><p>Additional information on Amazon.com's Associates Program can be found at http://www.amazon.com/associates.</p><p>About Amazon.com</p><p>Amazon.com (Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries) is the Internet's No. 1 music, No. 1 DVD and video, and No. 1 book retailer. Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) opened its virtual doors on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection, along with online auctions and free electronic greeting cards. Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. Amazon.com lists more than 18 million unique items in categories including books, CDs, toys, electronics, videos, DVDs, tools and hardware, lawn and patio items, kitchen products, software, and video games. Through Amazon.com zShops, any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.com's more than 23 million customers, and with Amazon.com Payments, sellers can accept credit card transactions, avoiding the hassles of offline payments. The company also participates in sothebys.amazon.com, the leading auction site for guaranteed art, jewelry and collectibles, at www.sothebys.amazon.com.</p><p>Amazon.com operates two international Web sites: www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. It also operates the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), the Web's comprehensive and authoritative source of information on more than 220,000 movies and entertainment programs and 800,000 cast and crew members dating from the birth of film in 1892 to 2003.</p><p>Amazon Anywhere is the leader in mobile e-commerce, providing access from anywhere in the world to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.de on personal digital assistants (PDAs) and through handheld wireless Internet devices that use HDML or the Wireless Application Protocol.</p><p>Amazon.com has invested in leading Internet retailers that are improving the lives of customers by making shopping easier and more convenient: Greenlight.com, the only company that offers car buyers the control of auto purchasing online with ongoing service and support from local dealerships, at www.greenlight.com; living.com, the leading online home products and services retailer, at www.living.com; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy, at www.drugstore.com; Pets.com, the online leader for pet products, expert information, and services, at www.pets.com; HomeGrocer.com, the first fully integrated Internet grocery-shopping and home-delivery service -- with operations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Southern California -- at www.homegrocer.com; Gear.com, which offers brand-name sporting goods at prices from 20 to 90 percent off retail, at www.gear.com; Ashford.com, the leading Internet retailer of luxury and premium products and the Web's No. 1 retailer of watches and jewelry, at www.ashford.com; Audible, Inc., the leader in Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or playback on AudibleReady portable digital audio devices, at www.audible.com; eZiba.com, a leading online retailer of handcrafted products from around the world, at www.eziba.com; and WineShopper.com, the San Francisco- and Napa-based Internet start-up that will ultimately offer consumers online access to the largest selection of wines available anywhere, at www.wineshopper.com.</p><p>Amazon.com also has a minority interest in WeddingChannel.com, which brings together leading retailers with gift registry, expert advice and personalized gift suggestions to help everyone give and receive the right wedding gifts, at www.weddingchannel.com; NextCard, Inc., considered the industry's leading issuer of consumer credit on the Internet, at www.nextcard.com; and Kozmo.com, the world's leading "e-mmediate" Internet-to-door delivery service, at www.kozmo.com.</p><p>This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, anticipated losses, significant amount of indebtedness, unpredictability of future revenues, potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results, seasonality, consumer trends, competition, risk of distribution center expansion, risks related to fourth quarter performance, risks of system interruption, management of potential growth, inventory risks, risks related to auction and zShops services, risks related to fraud and Amazon.com Payments, and risks of new business areas, international expansion, business combinations and strategic alliances. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000.</p>