Amazon buying shoe seller Zappos for $928 million

[onehandle]

Source: Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amazon.com said on Wednesday that it has reached a deal to buy online shoe retailer Zappos.com Inc for $927.9 million, mostly in stock, as the world's largest online retailer, known for its electronics and books, moves aggressively into shoes and apparel.

Zappos, which had about $1 billion of gross merchandise sales last year, is known for its attentive customer service and free shipping. It said the deal will allow it to continue running its business as it always has.

Amazon, which started as a bookseller and ran sites for big retailers like Target Corp, has moved toward carrying everything on its own site in recent years, while also operating a thriving business that allows other companies to sell to its customers through its site.

That has enabled it to challenge eBay Inc, the leading online auctioneer.

Read more: http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20090722/wr_nm/us_amazon_zappos_7

[Demobrat]

1. Zappos rocks

I hope Amazon doesnt wreck it or lay anybody off.

[havocmom]

2. Second that

If Amazon breaks Zappos it would break my heart.

[oldtime dfl_er]

4. Zappos is promising no changes

They're going to continue to operate as before, they'll be a "wholly owned subsidiary" which means they'll stay their own company, preserve the company culture and function as before. Let's hope that doesnt' change in the long term.

[Demobrat]

10. I hope so but

as a person who's gone through several corporate mergers I know from experience that they ALWAYS say that. They say whatever it takes to keep people in place and working until they don't need them anymore. In this case Zappos is so successful as a business model it might actually be true. I sure hope so for everybody's sake!

[oldtime dfl_er]

11. One of the questions in the FAQ they sent out was

about human resources, and the answer was "Your job is as safe today as it was yesterday."

I don't know but that wouldn't reassure me! LOL

[EFerrari]

5. I love Zappos.

:(

[WriteDown]

9. Same here.....

Hope nothing changes. Shoebuy.com is a close 2nd though.

[corpseratemedia]

3. Amazon protects its books better than the expensive

camera equipment it sells directly (not talking about the dealers that sell through Amazon).


I hope they won't screw up a good thing - Zappo's service is great.

Amazon's return service is labyrinthine.

[Raine]

6. I love Zappos

as long as Amazon keeps it the same I won't complain.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Just discovered Zappos a few months ago.

and the sister site that offers shoes on sale, but no free shipping.
Wonder how the price will change now?

I know when Land's End sold out to Sears, things did not feel the same.

[sledgehammer]

8. Love Zappos...best customer service ever! n/t