Amazon surpasses 2 million orders in single day
With boosts from sporting goods, digital cameras and gourmet food, Amazon.com says this year marked its busiest holiday shopping season ever, setting a single-day record of more than 2.1 million units ordered worldwide – or 24 items per second – resulting in more than 1 million shipments.
Amazon attributed the increased holiday season shopping activity this year to its extended shipping deadlines, which provided customers with four more days of free-shipping as well as extended periods for guaranteed holiday shipping, 1-day shipping and 2-day shipping.
True to its image as a mass merchant, Amazon said its hottest gift items this year represented several product categories. They included the Sportline 360 Fitness Pedometer, scooters and snow boards in sporting goods; gourmet food items from selling partners Harry & David, chocolatier Ghirardelli and Omaha Steaks; digital cameras and wireless networking equipment in its Electronics & Office section; and the iRobot Roomba robotic vacuum in its Home & Garden section.
Amazon also noted that it took orders for more than 70,000 gift certificates on Dec. 24.
Sharper Image Corp. said Internet holiday sales rose 34% year-to-year through Dec. 24, compared to increases of 30% in total company sales and 21% in comparable store sales.
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