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

To: H James Morris who wrote (102851)	5/5/2000 10:34:00 PM
From: Glenn D. Rudolph	Respond to of 164684

Tim Koogle, Chairman & CEO, Yahoo! (Nasdaq: YHOO) Jeff Bezos, Founder & CEO, Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) Meg Whitman, President & CEO, eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) Steve Case, Chairman & CEO, America Online (NYSE: AOL) I am not certain how an empire is defined here. I would go along with Tim Koogle and Meg Whitmen but skeptical of Bezos only since Amazon is not even close to a path to profitability from what I can tell. I keep thinking I am missing something. I believe I should be in the place of Bezos: Domains for Davidjewelers.com for the month of April with the only advertising buget being tags on our advertisements for our brick and mortar locations: ÿ lco226.zoominternet.net 26 ÿ ÿ lco227.zoominternet.net 22 ÿ ÿ cbl-jgingrich1.hs.earthlink.net 6 ÿ ÿ lco228.zoominternet.net 5 ÿ ÿ pm8-10.erie.net 4 ÿ ÿ 128.175.40.33 3 ÿ ÿ 166.102.24.238 3 ÿ ÿ r-185.195.alltel.net 3 ÿ ÿ slip166-72-154-39.pa.us.prserv.net 3 ÿ ÿ smtp.eriebc.com 3 ÿ ÿ spider-pa014.proxy.aol.com 3 ÿ ÿ 194.152.160.203 2 ÿ ÿ 1cust37.tnt1.erie.pa.da.uu.net 2 ÿ ÿ abd1a434.ipt.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ acs-63-67-123-42.zoominternet.net 2 ÿ ÿ b19.acc.upt.pitt.edu 2 ÿ ÿ dhcp78-113.hst.nasa.gov 2 ÿ ÿ fw1.rci.com 2 ÿ ÿ hbgate6.bankerstrust.com 2 ÿ ÿ ip122.stamford13.ct.pub-ip.psi.net 2 ÿ ÿ max1-196.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ max11-130.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ max3-90.mdvl.net 2 ÿ ÿ max5-204.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ max7-76.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ max8-136.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ omaprp01.inacom.com 2 ÿ ÿ pm3-24.erie.net 2 ÿ ÿ pm4-11.erie.net 2 ÿ ÿ pm5-24.erie.net 2 ÿ ÿ pool0998.cvx5-bradley.dialup.earthlink.net 2 ÿ ÿ ppp119-57-48-212.cvx-asd-02.zonnet.nl 2 ÿ ÿ r-185.157.alltel.net 2 ÿ ÿ spider-ti061.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ spider-ti062.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ spider-ti084.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ spider-tj083.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ spider-tk061.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ spider-tr084.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ spider-wa081.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ tnt1-18.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ tnt1-91.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ usr2-16.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ xd102.velocity.net 2 ÿ ÿ zzz-209254007002.splitrock.net 2 ÿ ÿ 19.pym7.pym.dialup.nauticom.net 1 ÿ ÿ 1cust173.tnt1.erie.pa.da.uu.net 1 ÿ ÿ 1cust44.tnt1.chi2.da.uu.net 1 ÿ ÿ 1cust45.tnt4.erie.pa.da.uu.net 1 ÿ ÿ 204.44.156.96 1 ÿ ÿ 128.175.40.33 3 ÿ ÿ 166.102.24.238 3 ÿ ÿ 19.pym7.pym.dialup.nauticom.net 1 ÿ ÿ 194.152.160.203 2 ÿ ÿ 1cust173.tnt1.erie.pa.da.uu.net 1 ÿ ÿ 1cust37.tnt1.erie.pa.da.uu.net 2 ÿ ÿ 1cust44.tnt1.chi2.da.uu.net 1 ÿ ÿ 1cust45.tnt4.erie.pa.da.uu.net 1 ÿ ÿ 204.44.156.96 1 ÿ ÿ 205.245.91.137 1 ÿ ÿ 205.245.91.146 1 ÿ ÿ 205.245.91.176 1 ÿ ÿ 206.104.225.130 1 ÿ ÿ a-ar3-33.tin.it 1 ÿ ÿ a24b31n64client208.hawaii.rr.com 1 ÿ ÿ abd1a434.ipt.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ acs-63-67-123-42.zoominternet.net 2 ÿ ÿ adsl-208-191-181-168.dsl.hstntx.swbell.net 1 ÿ ÿ b19.acc.upt.pitt.edu 2 ÿ ÿ bd142.velocity.net 1 ÿ ÿ bess-proxy2.iu5.org 1 ÿ ÿ c682561-a.stcla1.sfba.home.com 1 ÿ ÿ c797855-a.lakwod1.co.home.com 1 ÿ ÿ cbl-jgingrich1.hs.earthlink.net 6 ÿ ÿ cnet461.careernet.state.md.us 1 ÿ ÿ cx44174-a.msnv1.occa.home.com 1 ÿ ÿ dhcp-li-137-89.stc.indiana.edu 1 ÿ ÿ dhcp78-113.hst.nasa.gov 2 ÿ ÿ dip26.maxg4-4.dips.csonline.net 1 ÿ ÿ fw1.rci.com 2 ÿ ÿ fx3-2-139.mgfairfax.rr.com 1 ÿ ÿ gateway.ppg.com 1 ÿ ÿ george.erie.net 1 ÿ ÿ gw4.allstate.com 1 ÿ ÿ hbgate6.bankerstrust.com 2 ÿ ÿ ip122.stamford13.ct.pub-ip.psi.net 2 ÿ ÿ ip194.san-francisco34.ca.pub-ip.psi.net 1 ÿ ÿ lco226.zoominternet.net 26 ÿ ÿ lco227.zoominternet.net 22 ÿ ÿ lco228.zoominternet.net 5 ÿ ÿ max1-196.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ max1-235.mdvl.net 1 ÿ ÿ max1-235.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ max11-130.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ max11-191.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ max2-33.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ max2-42.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ max3-70.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ max3-90.mdvl.net 2 ÿ ÿ max5-213.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ max5-230.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ max6-174.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ max7-76.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ max7-79.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ max8-132.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ max8-136.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ max8-148.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ max8-166.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ max8-173.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ meadforge.com 1 ÿ ÿ mepa3pp10.alltel.net 1 ÿ ÿ mepa3pp16.alltel.net 1 ÿ ÿ omaprp01.inacom.com 2 ÿ ÿ onehundred193.ptsi.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm10-38.erie.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm2-37.erie.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm3-24.erie.net 2 ÿ ÿ pm32-78.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm33-193.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm33-223.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm35-68.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm35-79.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm35-81.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm36-135.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm4-11.erie.net 2 ÿ ÿ pm5-24.erie.net 2 ÿ ÿ pm5-42.erie.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm5-79.inetarena.com 1 ÿ ÿ pm6-34.erie.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm6-7.erie.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm7-40.erie.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm8-10.erie.net 4 ÿ ÿ pm8-40.erie.net 1 ÿ ÿ pm9-8.erie.net 1 ÿ ÿ pool0608.cvx6-bradley.dialup.earthlink.net 1 ÿ ÿ pool0998.cvx5-bradley.dialup.earthlink.net 2 ÿ ÿ ppp-63-198-86-149.dialup.nhwd02.pacbell.net 1 ÿ ÿ ppp119-57-48-212.cvx-asd-02.zonnet.nl 2 ÿ ÿ proxy-382.public.rwc.webtv.net 1 ÿ ÿ r-103.73.alltel.net 1 ÿ ÿ r-185.149.alltel.net 1 ÿ ÿ r-185.157.alltel.net 2 ÿ ÿ r-185.186.alltel.net 1 ÿ ÿ r-185.190.alltel.net 1 ÿ ÿ r-185.195.alltel.net 3 ÿ ÿ r-185.200.alltel.net 1 ÿ ÿ r-185.211.alltel.net 1 ÿ ÿ r-233.77.alltel.net 1 ÿ ÿ slip129-37-230-215.mo.us.prserv.net ÿ slip166-72-154-39.pa.us.prserv.net 3 ÿ ÿ smtp.eriebc.com 3 ÿ ÿ spider-pa012.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-pa014.proxy.aol.com 3 ÿ ÿ spider-tf052.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-tf053.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-th063.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-ti011.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-ti031.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-ti061.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ spider-ti062.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ spider-ti071.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-ti084.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ spider-tj033.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-tj053.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-tj083.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ spider-tk034.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-tk061.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ spider-to035.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-tq012.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-tr073.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-tr084.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ spider-wa081.proxy.aol.com 2 ÿ ÿ spider-wg023.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-wg033.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ spider-wo074.proxy.aol.com 1 ÿ ÿ tnt1-121.toolcity.net 1 ÿ ÿ tnt1-18.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ tnt1-91.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ trt-on54-73.netcom.ca 1 ÿ ÿ user-33qt0ui.dialup.mindspring.com 1 ÿ ÿ usr18-dialup30.mix2.boston.cw.net 1 ÿ ÿ usr2-16.toolcity.net 2 ÿ ÿ usr43-dialup50.mix2.boston.cw.net 1 ÿ ÿ xd102.velocity.net 2 ÿ ÿ xd87.velocity.net 1 ÿ ÿ zzz-209254007002.splitrock.net 2 ÿ I realize this is not nearly the traffic of Amazon.com. However my site was first on-line mid last October. Average sales price is $526.00. I believe that exceeds Amazon's average. Gross margins 42% and net profit is 11%. I am expensing my time for maintenance and development to fairly6 represent the picture at a price of $100/hour. Gross revenue in Apil was $47,554.60. April is a non jewelry month. Jewelry is seasonal with Christmas being number one, Mother's Day number two and Valentine's Day number three. The cost to acquire a new customer is almost nil. Items added to on-line during the month of April: 1. Black Hills gold. 2. Customized family jewelry 3. Platinum in various items such as rings, bracelets, etc. 4. Watches (Seiko, Pulsar and Skaeken) And these few other additions at this part of our site: vb.polygon.net All the additions were financed by the positive cash flow and earnings of the site. I am at a total loss as to what the media and market sees in Amazon in that they sell products with terrible margins, pay a tremendous amount of money for customer acquisitions, play engineers for their site design often with stock options. I admit my code writing is not nearly as nice as that of Amazon. I do nto have the expertice. However, I suspect for $100K I could have a very well written site but I am satisfied with the present appearance. My point is not to say how great: davidjewelers.com is but to state that retailers have traditionally been successful building market share by firstly focusing on a regional geographic area and expanding as positive cash flow permits, study of the demographics of new markets can be properly done and at some point tapping the equity markets to expand faster once the retailer learned by its successes and failures on a small scale. For examples of this, see Wal-mart, the group of Federated Department stores, Target, etc. This land grab at all costs makes no sense to me. The customers that are available on the net now will be around in the coming years. Customer can easily be taken from a competitor if one markets correctly, provides the merchandise that customer wants and does this with excellent service. A case in point. The Meadville market and surrounding areas is not large but was large enough to support eight jewelry stores in 1976 prior to me opening my store. Mine made nine. It is safe to say that almost every resident that was a jewelry buyer had a store they preferred so I guess I lost the land grab because I was born too late or something<VBG> Now this same market has four jewelry stores remaining. Apparently, many of the earlier winners lost market share and folded. That shows me that first mover advantage means nothing. See Kmart's woes for another example, W.T. Grant Company, Woolworths and I could go on forever. I do not recall the amount of dollars Amazon lost just due to merchandise mark-downs in Q4 of 1999. It was a lot I recall that. That was due to trying to be a toy and electronics store on a large scale with no experience in trial markets. What would have been wrong with adding markets and products once experience is gained to keep from have huge losses? Glenn ÿ