Borders.com Website Relaunches With Amazon.com Technology

Posted on August 3, 2001

Borders Group, Inc. has re-launched the Borders.com website, now teamed with Amazon.com. The new co-branded site provides customers access to Amazon's selection of books, music, videos and DVDs, along with Amazon's editorial reviews, personalization and recommendations, 1-Click ordering and other site tools. Transactions via the site will be made through Amazon.com, who will also handle product fulfillment, shipping and customer service.

The deal between Amazon.com and Borders was announced in April, 2001. The Borders.com website had struggled against competition from Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. Amazon.com also recently announced that its Amazon.co.uk website would power the website of Waterstone's, a U.K. book retailer. Amazon.com also has a similar deal with ToysRus.com and a recently announced deal to provide its ecommerce platform for AOL's shopping destination.

Tami Heim,president of Borders stores, says in the announcement, "This is a great time for customers. The alliance between Borders.com and Amazon.com, brings customers the convenience of online shopping through the co-branded web site and the world's best e-commerce experience. In the process, we have maintained the personality of Borders.com while providing innovative and unique new features to shoppers."

The site will also include various links to Borders Stores, a separate site operated by Borders that offers customers new features, such as the ability to access Borders bricks and mortar store inventory.