In the consumer's mind there is no tax for online transactions.' Amazon has four warehouses in Indiana, but is protected by a prior deal negotiated with Governor Mitch Daniels's administration under which the state would not seek the sales taxes in exchange for the online retailer building there. 'The consumer that shops asks for the same price as the online retailer. 'We have a 2% profit margin, but are at a 7% disadvantage,” said Dennis May, president and CEO of hhgregg. Retailers doing business in Indiana amped up the pressure on legislators last week 'to require Amazon to start remitting sales tax on items sold to Indiana customers as a way to level the competitive playing field,' the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reported, noting that representatives of Best Buy, hhgregg and other companies discussed their competitive disadvantage because Amazon does not charge the state's 7% percent sales tax. Lindstrom, who is also principal accounting officer, joined B&N in 2007.

Before joining B&N in 2002 as v-p and controller, he had been CFO at the Museum Company, v-p and controller at Toys 'R' Us and partner at Ernst & Young. 'The story here is that Barnes & Noble is undergoing a real digital transformation, and I think they'll look for a new CFO who can tell that story.' ' Lombardi has been CFO since 2003. David Strasser, an analyst at Janney Montgomery Scott, said Barnes & Noble may now look to the West Coast for a new chief financial officer, one who has a strong digital background.

The Wall Street Journal said Lombardi had signed a three-year contract in March 2010 and was 'a key contact point for the company with Wall Street. Allen Lindstrom, v-p, corporate controller, has been named interim CFO. Barnes & Noble chief financial officer Joseph Lombardi resigned on Friday but is staying on to assist in the transition as the company seeks a new CFO.

A Fan's Notes by Frederick Exley