Amazon, Wal-mart | featured news

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is phasing out the sale of Amazon.com's Kindle Fire tablet and Kindle e-readers, the second major retailer to stop offering the items in six months... Retailers are trying to fight a growing practice called "showrooming." That's when shoppers, armed with smartphones, browse products in physical stores and then shop online for a better price.

The online retailer wants voters to strike down the California law requiring the company to collect sales taxes. Wal-Mart, labor groups and other opponents could wage a costly, noisy battle against such a referendum. Escalating its fight to thwart a new levy on Internet purchases, Amazon.com says it will ask California voters to overturn a state law requiring all companies with operations or affiliates here to collect sales tax.

The retailer launched the new service in San Jose, Calif., as it seeks to adapt to competitive threats from Amazon.com and others.

For now, it’s a battle of discounts, but Wal-Mart’s long-term goal appears to be stopping Amazon from taking away its business.

Amazon lowered its prices on hot upcoming book releases to $9, once again matching Walmart.com in an escalating price war.