Not counting the sale of its toy inventory last year to ToysRUs.com, third quarter sales at Amazon.com Inc. rose $21 million compared to third quarter sales last year, Amazon reports. Third quarter sales this year were $639 million, a 3.4% increase, vs. $618 million, excluding the $20 million toy sale, last year. Meanwhile, net loss for the quarter improved 29% to $170 million from $241 million a year earlier. International sales rose 57% to $138 million from $88 million.
Amazon says U.S. sales of books, music and videos was profitable for the sixth consecutive quarter. It also reports that sales of used merchandise account for 17% of all orders. Amazon began its used-merchandise business last November. Annualized inventory turns improved to 15, compared with 11 last year.
Amazon added 2.9 million new customers in the quarter, including 1 million international customers.
For the fourth quarter, Amazon expects sales to be flat to up 10%.
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