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

To: Glenn D. Rudolph who wrote (118907)	2/28/2001 11:36:13 PM
From: Victor Lazlo	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 164684

So Glenn, with land-based pure e-commerce going the way of the dinosuar, do you still think that mobile-commerce has a prayer?? Regardless of whether it is pure or brick and mortar / m-commerce blend, who will pay for it? The same customers who demand free shipping from AMZN? Or maybe the cell phone co's themselves, who can barely eke out an op profit and are getting raked on the 3g spectrum they are bidding far too much for? Who is going to pay $1.50 per minute to peck a cellphone keyboard to order a book or CD, knowing all the while they could lose the connection and still get billed for the time?? Cellphone co valuations are falling apart. European cell co's are in the dirt - that is where WAP was supposed to be huge. And new cell phone sales are falling off a cliff. And so whither m-commerce? Do you and William and Mark still see the m-commerce pie in the sky? .. scratching my head, Victor

To: Glenn D. Rudolph who wrote (118907)	3/1/2001 10:06:55 AM
From: microhoogle!	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 164684

Attrition is pretty common in pure etailers. However, Amazon.com commands more loyalty than any others, so I do expect that it will always have a critical base of users (let us say 17 million users) who should be a rich target for marketing. Keep in mind that catalog sales in itself is a huge market and I do expect pure etail (only the likes of Amazon) to stay. 3.5 Billion is a chump change to buy out Amazon by Walmart (or any other store). I see the following advantages for Walmart 1. Etailing Technology perfected by Amazon (walmart.com is not good) 2. Additional marketing channel for Walmart. Lots of potential for cross sells and up sells. 3. New customer base (walmart buyers typically do not go to Amazon.com and vice versa) 4. Returns for goods purchased online is easier, so customer satisfaction should remain high. 5. Raises barriers for entry to other big chains and making it difficult for others to compete. 6. I would raise the cost of goods sold online, just enough to make it profitable. This may cause attrition but there are many people who are willing to pay for better service. and many more... (I am getting lazier now) While I may agree with many other people that their way of conducting business at present may not be stellar, but it is not a company going in oblivion either. I will put my money where my mouth is. Begining today, I will start buying Amazon in small bits and pieces (Don't worry, I will stay diversified) and I will concede defeat, if I am wrong. The upside target for me will be $20 and if I see deterioration, I will reconsider my upside target. PS: Walmart.com is cutting it's workforce by 10% of its paltry 250 employees. This is a business that amazon is good at. They just need to figure out how to sell at 1.05 for a cost price of 1.00.

To: Glenn D. Rudolph who wrote (118907)	3/5/2001 9:45:47 PM
From: Gary Korn	Respond to of 164684

I think some on this thread might follow (or once have followed) ARBA. If so, here is an article from the March 19 Forbes: "B to Blah" "Ariba provides busines-to-business infrastructure -- software and the like -- which lately is a gaunt business model. Especially after Dell Computer shut down its Ariba-powered online marketplace in February because it drew little interest. "For 2000 Ariba posted a net loss of $800 million on revenue of $280 million. Shares have dropped 91% in the past year to a recent $17. But Ariba is far from a bottom, says David Hines, president of Avalon Research Group. "Why? The company practically pays customers to use its systems, issuing millions of stock warrants as come-ons, says Hines. Bye-bye to that gimmick: With the stock tumbling, the warrants have less appeal than in the Web's Wall Street heyday. Plus, Ariba is having trouble collecting bills. In February, it disclosed $27 million in doubtful accounts receivable, a huge 18% of the $120 million now due. Short the stock; cover at $5."