Nilay Patel at Engadget has an image showing that Target is adding Kindles to their inventory systems. The price is $259, the status is listed as Active, and the 6″ model is listed.
Here’s what he has to say -
We’re told that the in-store date is April 25, so we’ll be keeping an eye out -
- and we’re definitely curious to see if Amazon’s retail packaging for stores is any flashier than the current Kindle box.
Perhaps Amazon thinks Nook and iPad have too much of an advantage because people are able to try them out in person
A lot of the arguments being used against the Kindle – eInk isn’t better for reading, weight doesn’t make a difference, Kindle is hard to use, the screen is hard to read on - are easy to dispel by letting people play with a Kindle in person.
B&N have the Nook in all their stores and the iPad is available to try out at Apple Stores and at Best Buy. It’s about time Amazon found a retail location for its Kindles and Target is a decent choice. Actually, since Amazon provides the e-commerce platform for Target (guess that means Amazon runs Target.com) it’s a natural fit.
Could there be other retail locations the Kindle would sell at?
WalMart might be ruled out because of the Amazon-WalMart war over retailing in general and online retailing in particular. We still have some interesting possibilities -
- Electronic stores like Best Buy and Frye’s.
- AT&T stores.
- Perhaps even independent bookstores.
Also worth considering are stores and locations that target travelers and businesses – airports, Staples, Office Depot.
It’ll be a big change for Amazon and a logical one. It’s already producing Kindle Apps for different platforms – it might as well start selling Kindles at retail locations beyond Amazon.com.
Filed under: kindle Tagged: | kindle sales, kindle target
Although possibly a good idea, I’m nervous that this could be the beginning of paying state sales taxes, i.e. you’re not charged any sales tax unless the web vendor has a store in your state. Living in Illinois, I save quite a bit of tax money ordering books, dvd’s, etc. through Amazon.
Well, people could always go buy the Kindle online after trying it out and avoid sales taxes.
It would be Target doing the selling so Amazon would not exactly have a store in the state – at least that’s what it seems like to me.
Addison brings up a good point. State governments all over the country are trying to pass laws that will require Amazon and other online retailers to collect state sales tax on purchases, 4 already have in fact, and at least a half dozen more are actively perusing legislation at this moment.
And I most definitely think that selling Kindles from Targets will establish a physical distribution center in the eyes of the law. Even websites like this one, where affiliate links connect to Amazon, are considered a local presence in some states like Rhode Island and North Carolina, and that’s why Amazon doesn’t allow affiliates in those states.
It’s ridiculous, but Amazon’s going to have to do something about it at some point; they can’t just keep killing off their affiliate marketers in every state that passes one of these new laws, especially with the rise in competition.
Addision, Illinois is one of the states that is currently pursing an online tax bill. Make sure your voice is heard or you’ll soon have to start paying sales tax on all internet purchases!
A similar bill just passed in Colorado and get this: it requires retailers to submit annual itemized reports of every single online purchase made by each individual Colorado resident, including all personal information, so that the state government can enforce the collection of sales tax.
How’s that for unconstitutional!
I think having the Kindle in retail stores is a great idea so people can see them and try them out.
I don’t think Target is a good store for it (try finding an employee in one, let alone having them answer questions about the Kindle).
Every store mentioned would be far better imo.
I think this is a really good idea. I was the first in my office to buy a kindle. There are at least 3 other Kindle owners now who have one because they got to play with mine, and loved it. And two other people have one because they said “YES!” when it was suggested as a gift, after seeing mine. I personally might have bought one sooner myself, if I could have seen it in person – I did buy one after I saw someone reading one in the food court at the mall, and he was kind enough to show it to me.
Please help me… I really want to buy a Kindle but have no idea which one to get and just end up confused. I don not have any friends that have one. I am really only just interested in using it for reading! Which one is best? I can not figure out the difference between the Kindle 2 and the DX. Which do you have and would you recommend?
Thanks!
Lisa, I have both the Kindle and the Kindle DX. If you read mostly books the Kindle is the better choice.
I get tons of people asking me about my Kindle. I can only assume that an actual retail presence would work better for displaying them than hoping people who are curious run across a Kindle owner.
Yeah, heaven forbid people should pay sales tax. And you wonder why your schools and state services have gone to crap.
Well, we’re currently paying over 10% in our county in Illinois–the highest in the country–so I don’t feel too guilty if I can get a break once in awhile.
Amazon has two distribution centers here in Arizona but collects or remits no tax on in-state sales. It’s absurd, and it’s helping to kill our economy. Essential services are being scaled back, public parks are closing, everyone is near hysterical for want of revenue, and yet Amazon maintains its unfair competitive advantage with no objection whatsoever from the local government.
Not my area of expertise so have no idea what to say. Doesn’t every online company not pay state tax in states that are not its headquarters?