Amazon has officially announced that its annual Prime Day event will return on July 16 and 17 this year. The mega sale, which started in 2015, has become one of the most anticipated shopping events of the year, offering millions of deals exclusively to members of Amazon's Prime subscription service. This year's event promises to continue the tradition with discounts on a wide array of products, including some of the most sought-after electronics, home goods, and more.
As in previous years, Prime Day 2024 will feature deals dropping "as often as every five minutes during select periods throughout the event," according to Amazon. The event will also include invite-only deals, allowing Prime members to request invitations to access discounts on items that are expected to sell out quickly. This system, introduced last year, aims to give Prime members a better chance to snag high-demand products.
Prime membership, which costs $139 annually, provides perks beyond just access to Prime Day deals. Benefits include speedy shipping, access to Amazon's streaming services, and more. The Prime Day event is designed not only to boost Amazon's sales during a typically slow shopping period but also to attract new Prime subscribers and promote Amazon's range of products and services.
The event also spurs competition among other retailers, many of whom have started holding their own sales events around the same time to capitalize on the shopping frenzy. This year, Walmart has announced its "Walmart Deals" event running from July 8 to July 11, and Target will host a weeklong discount event from July 7 to 13. In previous years, other retailers like Kohl's and Best Buy have also launched similar events to compete with Prime Day.
Last year, total online sales in the U.S. during Prime Day hit a record $12.7 billion, surpassing 2022's total of $11.9 billion, according to Adobe Analytics. Amazon reported selling 375 million items during the two-day event, up from 300 million in 2022. This year's Prime Day is expected to be another significant revenue driver for the company and the broader e-commerce industry.
Amazon Prime Day 2024 is set to offer deals from a variety of brands, including Sony and Peloton. However, some of the best deals are likely to be on Amazon's own products, such as Echo speakers, Fire TV sets, Ring cameras, Kindles, and Eero routers. Amazon has already started offering significant discounts on many of these items in the lead-up to the event.
In addition to physical goods, Amazon will offer deals on digital products and services. New subscribers can get five free months of Amazon Music Unlimited, up to 50% off select movies and shows, and discounts on Prime Video Channels like Starz and Crunchyroll. Prime members can also get $15 off orders of $75 or more at Amazon Fresh stores and three free months of Amazon's new unlimited grocery delivery subscription, which is also available to EBT customers who haven't signed up before.
Prime Day will be available in numerous countries, including the US, UK, Spain, Australia, Germany, Mexico, Japan, and nearly 20 other regions. India will have a separate event later this summer. Amazon will also collaborate with select partners to offer equivalent sales from smaller brands, accessible through the "Buy with Prime" option, which provides free delivery and 24/7 chat support.
Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, emphasized the meticulous approach to ensuring the safe return of the Starliner. "We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process. We are letting the data drive our decision making relative to managing the small helium system leaks and thruster performance we observed during rendezvous and docking," Stich stated.
