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

To: Glenn D. Rudolph who wrote (4159)	5/10/1998 4:56:00 PM
From: Gordon A. Langston	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 164684

Amazon's shortcomings 1. Amazon cannot really put a brand on their products just their service. Do you prefer buying a Coke at Taco Bell or Jack-in-the-Box? 2. Somehow buying books with Amazon is on a par with buying a commodity, a pencil perhaps, something you need, whereas the reality is a book is something you want, and looking or browsing for one is not only pleasurable, (at least in my local Barnes&Noble) but necessary. This of course is JMHO

To: Glenn D. Rudolph who wrote (4159)	5/10/1998 5:54:00 PM
From: Bilow	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 164684

That brand loyalty argument had me thinking that there are some odd things I am amazingly loyal to. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese for instance. I've been fed it for near 40 years, I pay a premium for the product and I've returned to it repeatedly. That said, I really don't care whether I buy it at Safeway, Costco, Fred Meyer, QFC, or whatever. Similarly, I will buy any book written by Mark Helprin, (if I haven't bought it yet), but I really don't care where I buy it. As far as retail goes, no brand loyalty. It just doesn't exist. And as consumers become more sophisticated, their inclination to use a few keystrokes to get a better deal will increase. As far as AMZN selling advertising space, the idea is quite ludicrous. Retail establishments can sometimes get a little kick-back from giving good shelf-space or poster space to a supplier, but it is not a big deal. People aren't going to visit the AMZN web site in order to be assaulted by unwanted advertisements, because there is no draw like a television sitcom, or newspaper articles, or what have you, to keep them sitting through it. Of course there is probably some company out there willing to pay for such, but not for the long haul. -- Carl

To: Glenn D. Rudolph who wrote (4159)	5/11/1998 10:14:00 AM
From: doug doan	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 164684

Glenn, The one issue that you did not mention that could have a substantial impact on AMZN stock is the dreaded accounting irregularities. As you know, the stock options have not been accounted for properly and carried as a liability on the AMZN books. Forbes has an excellent article on this very principle. Bottom line is that these stock options will depress share earnings considerably. I will try to work that up now to understand exactly how much.