Revision History - Jerry Post

1. Who are Amazon’s competitors?
Case Questions
2. Why would customers shop at Amazon if they can find better prices elsewhere?
3. Why did Amazon create most of its own technology from scratch?
4. If Amazon buys products from other firms and simply ships them to customers, why
does it need so many of its own distribution centers?
5. Will other retailers buy or lease the Web software and services from Amazon? Can
Amazon make enough money from selling these services?
6. Write a report to management that describes the primary cause of the problems, a
detailed plan to solve them, and show how the plan solves the problems and describe
any other benefits it will provide.
Additional Reading
Babcock, Charles, “Amazon Makes Online Merchandising Easier,” Information Week, September
15, 2003.
Bacheldor, Beth, “From Scratch: Amazon Keeps Supply Chain Close To Home,” Information
Week, March 5, 2004.
Claburn, Thomas, “Amazon.com And Toys 'R' Us Are On The Outs,” Information Week, May
31, 2004.
Claburn, Thomas, “Why Amazon Is Suing Toys 'R' Us,” Information Week, June 29, 2004.
Collett, Stacy, “The Web’s Best-seller,” Computerworld, September 30, 2002.
Goodridge, Elisabeth and Matthew G. Nelson, “Update: Amazon Drops Sun, Compaq For
HP,” Information Week, May 31, 2000.
Hansell, Saul. “A Front-Row Seat as Amazon Gets Serious,” The New York Times, May 20,
2001, http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/20/technology/20AMAZ.html.
Hayes, Mary, “CDs, High Heels, Flannel Shirts,” Information Week, November 4, 2002.
Heun, Christopher T., “Amazon, Borders Team For Superior Customer Service,” Information
Week, April 16, 2001.
Heun, Christopher T., “Amazon Loss Shrinks; AOL Buys Amazon Search Service,” Information
Week, July 24, 2001.
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