'Twas the Night Before Christmas and... You Haven't Shopped Yet?!? Amazon.com Saves the Day With E-mail Gift Certificates

SEATTLE, WA (December 18, 1997)-- Amazon.com, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, has just three soothing words for all the stressed-out, extremely last minute shoppers out there -- e-mail gift certificates. For an almost instantaneous gift that can be sent as late as December 25th, customers can order e-mail gift certificates in a matter of minutes through the Amazon.com Gift Center.

"Amazon.com gift certificates are the best solution if you're down to the wire and still wracking your brain to find just the right present for someone," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. "And if you wake up at 11:59 on Christmas Eve because you forgot a gift, make a quick trip to your PC, log on to Amazon.com and send a gift certificate via e-mail. You'll soon be sleeping soundly knowing that your gift will arrive on time."

Corporate Gift-Giving

Amazon.com gift certificates also provide corporations with an easy, personalized way to thank or reward employees, vendors and clients during the holidays. Through a special, limited-time offer, Amazon.com will process multiple gift certificate orders for 10 or more recipients. Companies can choose from paper or email certificates and have them delivered with a customized gift message to each individual. All corporate orders for multiple gift certificates must be placed by December 24th.

With a catalog of 2.5 million titles to choose from, gift certificate recipients can find books that exactly match their personalities and passions. "When you know there's someone on your list who loves books, but you don't know what they've currently got on their nightstand, our gift certificates give them the freedom to choose what they want," said Bezos.

The Amazon.com Gift Center features thousands of book recommendations and personalized gift-matching services for grownups and kids alike. In addition, customers also can choose from thousands of audio books and hundreds of calendars. Customers also benefit from Amazon.com's everyday low prices on more than 400,000 titles-40% off selected titles, 30% off hardcovers and audio books, 20% off paper backs and calendars, and up to 89% off special value editions.

Amazon.com's Safe Shopping Guarantee

Every credit-card purchase customers make at Amazon.com is backed by a security guarantee. If any unauthorized use of a customer's credit card occurs as a result of their credit-card purchase from Amazon.com, the customer can simply notify their credit-card provider in accordance with its reporting rules and procedures. If, through no fault of the customer, their credit-card company finds credit-card fraud but does not waive their entire liability for unauthorized charges, Amazon.com. will reimburse the customer for the remaining liability, up to a maximum of fifty dollars U.S. ($50).

Amazon.com Inc., Earth's Biggest Bookstore, is the leading online retailer of books and is the premier bookseller on AOL.com, Yahoo!, Netscape, Excite, the AltaVista Search Service, @Home Network, 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, secure Web- based credit card payment, and direct shipping to customers. Amazon.com has virtually unlimited online shelf space and offers customers a vast selection through an efficient search-and-retrieval interface, as well as streamlined ordering through 1-Click(SM) technology.

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

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 well as the company's Form 10Q for the third quarter ended September 30, 1997, both filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Amazon.com, Earth's Biggest Bookstore, and 1-Click are service marks of Amazon.com Inc.

All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.