Amazon Unknown Facts

Amazon is the second largest company in the world, by market capitalization standing at a net worth of $ 736 billion, trailing only a tad behind Apple at $ 833 billion. Apple shares have been struggling lately, down 2.5 % in the past month. Capitalizing on Apple’s misfortunes, Amazon has upped its game and is very soon going to become the first trillion dollar company in the world! Before something as monumental as this happens here is looking at ten unknown facts about perhaps the largest online e commerce platform in the world!

1. The original name 

Did you know Amazon wasn’t supposed to be called Amazon? Founder Jeff Bezos wanted to name it Cadabara (Yes. You thought right. Cadabara came from Abracadabra!) Unfortunately, the name stopped having any meaning for him after someone misheard it as Cadaver. Cadaver.com? No thank you!

2. The first book sold online 

When Amazon was first launched, it was a platform meant only for selling books online. In fact, the first book sold on Amazon was Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies by Douglas Hofstadter. Apparently, during the early days, every time a new book was sold, the over enthusiastic employees would ring a bell to announce the sale! Within a few weeks, sales were happening so frequently that they had to shut off the bell.

3. Oops, A Program! 

Back in the day, the programmers of the Amazon website went through a major glitch. Customers could trick Amazon into thinking it had to send them money instead of books. For a long while, the programmers didn’t know how to fix this issue. Ultimately, they had to decode it to get it back to the right format! To be alive then! Such joy!

4. First legal problem 

Shortly after Amazon was launched, Barnes and Nobles filed a lawsuit against the platform, claiming Amazon was NOT the largest platform for books. The case was filed in the year 1997, with Barnes and Nobles claiming liability charges against the tagline of Amazon (Earth’s largest bookstore.) The two settled the issue out of court and Amazon continued to use the slogan without any hassles. Amazon: 1 – Barnes and Nobles: 0.

5. From the circus to the real world

Bezos’s father was a circus performer! From there to here, he grew and made an entirely new name for himself. At present, he is the richest man in the world.

Amazon’s path to success has been monumental and quick, a feat not many considered possible during that particular time period. If you think we missed out on any fact about Amazon, then let us know in the comments!