Revenge of the dotcoms·
This could be the event that marks the rebound of the dotcoms. Amazon.com's first profit, only a year or so behind the schedule that Jeff Bezos laid out when he started the company. Okay, there are questions about the extent of Amazon's profitability, and even its creditworthiness. And I don't think the rest of the technology sector is going to bounce back so quickly.
But I've just spent $5,000 with Amazon.com, and the experience has been flawless. They even have a button that lets you track the status of the delivery without the hassle of entering a shipping number. Simple things, but beautifully executed. You could say that's fine for the customer, but doesn't mean the business model is a good one. My answer: I'm paying 5% more than I would with eCost and other discount electronic catalog sellers, but it's so much more convenient. Amazon already has my credit card details confirme; while eCost wanted me to fax over confirmation of the purchase. [Knock, knock: that was the last of my packages arriving by UPS, really.] BBC: Amazon turns its first profit Nick Denton: Revenge of the dotcoms [Management Today]
