Wal-Mart Stores Inc's <WMT.N> Sam's Club warehouse store division is launching a pilot program with computer repair services company Geeks on Call Holdings Inc <GOCH.OB> to offer technology services, like new computer set-up, to its members.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc's <WMT.N> Sam's Club warehouse store division is launching a pilot program with computer repair services company Geeks on Call Holdings Inc <GOCH.OB> to offer technology services, like new computer set-up, to its members.

Amazon.com Inc <AMZN.O> said on Wednesday quarterly profit doubled and sales grew 41 percent, indicating to Wall Street that many cost-conscious shoppers are heading online to save money in a tough economy.

By Alexandria Sage

Amazon.com Inc said on Wednesday quarterly net income doubled on a 41 percent rise in revenue, helped by higher operating profit margins.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc said on Wednesday quarterly net income doubled on a 41 percent rise in revenue, helped by higher operating profit margins.

Shares of big-format discount retailers declined on Wednesday after Costco Wholesale Corp. forecast earnings below Wall Street expectations.

Costco Wholesale Corp <COST.O> warned on Wednesday that its quarterly profit would miss current Wall Street targets because of soaring energy costs and other inflationary pressures, sending shares of the No. 1 U.S. warehouse club operator down as much as 13.5 percent.

By Nicole Maestri

Costco Wholesale, the No. 1 U.S. warehouse club operator, warned on Wednesday that quarterly profit would miss current Wall Street targets because of soaring energy costs and other inflationary pressures, sending its shares down more than 8 percent.

Economics will be a far more important subject than fashion for retailers this year as cash-strapped U.S. consumers do their back-to-school shopping over the next several weeks.

Police are trying to find a man suspected of leaving an explosive device outside a Wal-Mart store in Boone, North Carolina, that was disabled by a bomb squad.

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Wall Street on Tuesday will see if U.S. shoppers crippled by high energy prices earlier this month continued to spend mostly on necessities like food and household items.

Mervyns LLC, the low-end department store chain that has been languishing for several years, could be the latest casualty of the fiercely competitive retail climate.