Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: KeepItSimple who wrote (83967)	11/11/1999 6:50:00 PM
From: LATreporter	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 164684

I am an L.A. Times reporter, and want to interview people about where they get stock picking advice. Do you use a stock broker? Subscribe to investment newsletters? Scan chat rooms or financial/stock-picking Web sites? Have a financial planner? Listen to Abby Cohen and other gurus? Or, more likely, do you use a combination of these sources for advice? Please let me know at walter.hamilton@latimes.com. Thanks.

To: KeepItSimple who wrote (83967)	11/12/1999 10:11:00 AM
From: Glenn D. Rudolph	Respond to of 164684

internetstocks.com CAN AMAZON LIVE UP TO ITS OWN HYPE? - On Monday, shares of Amazon surged 20%, likely in anticipation of a press conference being held on Tuesday to discuss developments at the company. It appeared Amazon's news (the launch of four new stores -- video games, software, home improvement, and gift ideas -- and an acquisition to enter the home improvement space) did not live up to Monday's hype as its shares fell 9% on Tuesday. While we believe Amazon's rapid store additions are indicative of how the company can effectively leverage previous investments to quickly launch new stores and enter huge categories, we were much more impressed by an announcement that came later in the week. That subsequent announcement (which arrived with much less fanfare) related to a partnership with NextCard for a co-branded credit card that could result in approximately $150 million in fees to Amazon over three years. The new stores certainly widen the potential scope of the company and can validate the company's market capitalization (although we admit that we wonder if the Amazon brand is flexible enough to support the expert status we believe is needed to serve professionals in the home improvement market). The reason we are more intrigued by the NextCard announcement is we view this move as indicative of the type of opportunities Amazon holds to monetize its huge and growing customer base into high-margin revenue streams that can improve the Amazon business model. Further, we expect the marketing agreement with NextCard could include some form of a rewards program for Amazon customers. We have been waiting anxiously for Amazon to launch a rewards program, and while its deal with NextCard will not begin until after the holidays, we believe an announcement of Amazon's official rewards program could be just around the corner.