Earth's Biggest Bookstore gives customers unrivaled state-of-the-art recommendation center, 22 subject-browsing areas, and the ease of 1-Click(SM) ordering

SEATTLE, WA (September 23, 1997)-- Amazon.com, Earth's Biggest Bookstore (Nasdaq: AMZN), today announced powerful new features that dramatically increase the benefits of online shopping and further strengthen the company's position as a leader in e-commerce. The new features include an unparalleled, state-of-the-art recommendation center; 22 subject-browsing areas; and the use of a proprietary technology, 1-Click(SM) ordering, to streamline the ordering process.

"The combination of Amazon.com's editorial expertise, technological leadership, and large customer base allows the company to offer customers these new features and services that are not available anywhere online or in physical stores," said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. "We are making Amazon.com the easiest, most enjoyable, and most effective way for customers to find their next book."

Amazon.com's recommendation center empowers visitors with seven distinct ways to choose their next book. Features range from personalized book recommendations, based upon customer ratings, to an If You Like This Author selection which allows customers to select favorite authors and receive a list of suggested authors the customer might also enjoy discovering. Included in the recommendation center is Book Matcher, which features technology developed by Amazon.com using NetPerceptions GroupLens collaborative filtering technology.

Amazon.com has designed 22 easy-to-navigate subject areas for customers who prefer to shop by subject. Within each area, subjects such as Literary Fiction, Mystery, and Romance are broken down into subcategories, including Bestsellers, Award Winners, New in Paperback, and Essential Bookshelf. Each area provides book excerpts, reviews, and recommended reads as well as Amazon.com's most popular selling books in the genre.

Driving the model for e-commerce, Amazon.com has developed proprietary software that for the first time, gives customers the ability to make purchases on the Web with just one click of the mouse, eliminating the need for customers to fill out order information every time they return to the site. The 1-Click(SM) technology offers customers the fastest, easiest, and most convenient way to shop.

"1-Click represents a new standard for ease of buying on or off the Web," says Bezos.

Amazon.com, Inc., Earth's Biggest Bookstore, is the leading online retailer of books and is the premier bookseller on AOL.com, Excite.com, Yahoo!, and the Prodigy Shopping Network. Amazon.com offers a catalog of 2.5 million titles, easy-to-use search and browse features, e-mail services, personalized shopping services, Web-based credit card payment, and direct shipping to customers. Amazon.com has virtually unlimited online shelf space and can offer customers a vast selection through an efficient search and retrieval interface.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from predicted results. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, Amazon.com's limited operating history, the unpredictability of its future revenues, and risks associated with capacity constraints and management of growth. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in the company's final prospectus, dated May 15, 1997, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Amazon.com, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, 1-Click, and Book Matcher are service marks of Amazon.com, Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Amazon.com, Inc., is headquartered at 1516 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101. Internet Address: http://www.amazon.com. Telephone: (206) 622-2335.