Company Crosses 1 Million Mark 11 Weeks Sooner Than It Did for Sixth Harry Potter Book; Lowers the Price of the Book in the U.S. to $17.99 (49 Percent Discount)SEATTLE, May 08, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN) (www.amazon.com) today announced that,
with over two-and-a-half months remaining until the release of "Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows," it has taken more than 1 million
pre-orders worldwide for the seventh and final book in the epic
series, saving customers more than $17 million. The company also
announced today it has further reduced the price of the hardcover
edition of the book in the U.S. from $18.89 to $17.99, bringing the
customer discount to 49 percent. In accordance with the company's
Pre-order Price Guarantee, all customers who have already pre-ordered
the book will be charged this lower price.
In 2005, pre-orders for the sixth book, "Harry Potter and the
Half-Blood Prince," didn't reach the 1 million worldwide mark at
Amazon until 174 days after the book was first available for
pre-order. It took just 95 days to reach that mark for the seventh
book. In the U.S. alone, more than 620,000 copies of "Harry Potter and
the Deathly Hallows" have already been pre-ordered while the company's
site in the U.K. has now surpassed 250,000 pre-orders.
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" has been selling at a
record-breaking pace at Amazon since pre-ordering began on February 1,
2007. First-day pre-orders for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"
in the U.S. were 547 percent higher than first-day pre-orders for
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," and sales for the seventh
book have continued to outpace its predecessor's both at Amazon.com
and each of its international sites.
Last month Amazon.com confirmed that for customers who select
standard shipping or better, including Amazon Prime, Amazon.com will
guarantee delivery of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" on its
release date of Saturday, July 21, to all addresses within the lower
48 states, or the cost of the book will be refunded.
The company also recently launched a search for the "Harry-est
Town in America," the town with the most "Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows" pre-orders on a per capita basis. Falls Church, Va.,
continues to hold the top spot in that search.
Amazon.com is also selling the deluxe version of "Harry Potter and
the Deathly Hallows" for $39.00, a savings of 40 percent as well as
the audio CD version for $47.97, also a savings of 40 percent.
Amazon's Pre-order Price Guarantee ensures that customers are charged
the lowest price offered by Amazon.com from the time they place their
order until the release date.
To place an order for the book and to explore Amazon.com's entire
selection of Harry Potter products -- including books, DVDs, computer
and video games, journals and stationery, and more -- visit
www.amazon.com/harrypotter.
About Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in
Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers
Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most
customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover
anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its
customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers
offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories
such as health and personal care, jewelry and watches, gourmet food,
sports and outdoors, apparel and accessories, books, music, DVDs,
electronics and office, toys and baby, and home and garden.
Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp,
www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, and www.joyo.com.
As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms
include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context
indicates otherwise.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ
significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others,
risks related to competition, management of growth, new products,
services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating
results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and
claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial
agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange
rates, system interruption, significant amount of indebtedness,
inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud.
More information about factors that potentially could affect
Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and all
subsequent filings.
SOURCE: Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Media Relations, 206-266-7180
