Amazon : took $170 million charge in Q3 on phone inventory, supplier costs

Amazon.com, Inc. is one of the world leaders in on-line distribution of products to the general public. The group also operates a marketplace activity, allowing individuals and distribution companies to conduct their purchase and selling transactions for goods and services. The activity is organized around three families of products and services: - electronic and computer products: toys, cameras, computers, laptops and peripherals, TVs, stereo systems, readers, wireless communication products, etc. Amazon.com also offers kitchen and garden equipment, clothing, beauty products, etc.; - cultural products: books, musical products, video games and DVDs; - other: primarily Internet interface and application development services. Net sales break down by source of income between sales of services (55.5%) and sales of products (44.5%). Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: the United States (68.8%), Germany (6.5%), the United Kingdom (5.9%), Japan (4.5%), and other (14.3%).