Report: Walmart to stop carrying Kindle products
updated 12:46 pm EDT, Thu September 20, 2012
E-retailer's Kindle Fire cuts in on Walmart's turf
After exhausting its current inventory of Amazon products, Walmart will no longer carry Amazon's Kindle tablets and e-readers. This according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters, as well as confirmation from a source familiar with Walmart's operations. The decision, making Walmart the second major retail chain to stop carrying Kindle products, is said to be an attempt on Walmart's part to curb competition from Amazon's e-retail unit.
Amazon's Kindle e-readers serve as a portal for book purchases, and Amazon's Kindle Fire devices allow customers to purchase many other items through the company's web portal. These capabilities bring Amazon into direct competition with Walmart and any other retailer that carries a Kindle product.
Walmart will continue to carry some Kindle accessories. A search for "Kindle" on the Sam's Club or Walmart website will bring up Kindle accessories such as cases and screen protectors. Such a search also brings up e-readers and tablets from Amazon's competitors.
Walmart is the second major retailer to drop Amazon's products. In May, Target did the same, though the retailer does continue to sell e-readers from other companies.
