Amazon.com just closed warehouses for the first time since 2006, including one open just 18 months. No wonder: Penny-pinching consumers don't mind waiting a few extra days for their stuff. And CEO Jeff Bezos would no doubt prefer those in a hurry buy high-margin Kindle downloads.

As tough as it is to lay off 215 workers, Bezos is betting he'll have reason to laugh (and laugh and laugh) maniacally for some time to come.

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