Amazon generated over $10 billion in Q3 sales (Jul-Sep); to show "profit" of a mere $63 million means they must generate $1,000 for every $6.30 profit. Amazon is hardly in "start-up" mode and even expensive things like Kindle Fire are teeny investments next to $40 billion in annual sales. Investors have a right to demand a little bit better ROI.
Amazon currently employs 51,300 people, many in the US. As recently as ONE year ago, they employed 31,300 people. Amazon has created 20,000 jobs in the past 12 months ... given US unemployment of 9.1%, I wouldn't be complaining.
See:
http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/da...2205dex991.htm