Tom Webb, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn. –
Target Corp. says it will no longer sell electronic gear made by archrival Amazon.com, including the popular e-reader, Kindle.
The Minneapolis-based discounter cited a “conflict of interest” for halting sales of Amazon products effective May 13, but didn’t provide further details. The decision was first reported by tech website The Verge.
Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder confirmed that decision Wednesday, May 2.
“Target is phasing out Amazon- and Kindle-branded products in the spring of 2012,” Snyder said in an email. “We will continue to offer our guests a full assortment of ereaders and supporting accessories.”
Target didn’t give a reason, except that it “continually evaluates its product assortment to deliver the best quality and prices for our guests.” But tech bloggers speculated that Target’s recent deal to expand offerings of Apple devices may be part of the “conflict.”
Target has tangled with Amazon in other ways recently. Target is working for laws that would force online-only retailers to collect sales tax, a measure fiercely opposed by Amazon. And last year Target took its website operations in-house, after years of contracting the work to Amazon.
Target has been selling Kindle e-readers since 2010.
