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It sounds like a re-launch; an open letter this week on the Amazon.com website from founder/CEO Jeff Bezos announcing that his Kindle book reader is “in stock and ready for immediate shipment.”
Never mind that the electronic, wireless reader was actually ready to ship in November 2007, garnering headlines at the time in all the major national daily newspapers and the cover of Time Magazine. Bezos’ big bet on e-reading sells for $399, weighs just over 10 ounces, is as wide as a trade paperback and uses cell phone networks to wirelessly download books, magazines, newspapers and blogs from Amazon’s library. But it’s been as difficult to find as a Cormac McCarthy novel with a happy ending; Bezos’ letter explains Amazon couldn’t keep the device in stock after selling out initial shipments in the first five-and-a-half hours of release.

So Bezos and Amazon wanted to make sure that customers know he’s been working with manufacturers and suppliers to ramp up production and now, it appears, mass orders can be filled. There’s also an update on how much content is now available for the Kindle: more than 115,000 of the aforementioned books, magazines, etc.

The letter, which includes a link to Bezos’ note to shareholders, is an unusual step that risks negative PR for such a big product gamble by the leading e-commerce company - especially when there are no hard sales numbers accompanying the note - but Bezos clearly is rolling the dice that the consumer will appreciate the corporate candor. In that respect, it falls in line with Bezos’ oft-stated philosophy of putting customer service first; think back to Amazon’s efforts in the late 90s-early 00’s to get its Christmas shipping issues fixed. Certainly this all indicates widespread pent-up demand and revenue waiting to be tapped, but there have been a lot of negative economic headlines flashing across those Kindle screens since last November. Many customers might have other things to do with their $399, like buy gas, rice...or a Playstation 3 for playing Grand Theft Auto IV.

Read [Amazon.com]

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