Amazon customers worldwide ordered more items than ever before this holiday season, according to the company. It also said that tens of millions of people took out trials or paid Amazon Prime memberships over the period.
Amazon’s Best Ever Holiday Season
Amazon had a record-breaking holiday season in 2018, it announced on Wednesday. The company sold millions of Prime membership and trials. It also sold more of its own devices than last year. The Echo Dot, Fire TV Stick 4K, and Echo were amongst the best-selling Amazon devices. More customers bought items using the online retail giant than in previous years too.
“This season was our best yet, and we look forward to continuing to bring our customers what they want, in ways most convenient for them in 2019. We are thrilled that in the U.S. alone, more than one billion items shipped for free this holiday with Prime,” said Jeff Wilke, CEO Worldwide Consumer.
iPad Amongst Bestsellers this Christmas
The 32 inch WiFi model of the iPad in space grey was one of the best selling electronics items on Amazon this holiday period. Other tech top sellers included Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Wireless Headphones, Samsung Flat 65″ 4K UHD 8 Series Smart LED TV, Wemo Mini Smart Plug, Blue Yeti USB Microphone in Blackout, and the Wyze Cam 1080p HD Indoor Wireless Smart Home Camera.
Prime Memberships Soar, but for how Long?
Amazon said that tens of millions of people around the world began Prime free trials or paid memberships over the Christmas period. It shipped over one billion items the U.S. via Prime during the holiday season. The last Prime Now delivery on Christmas Eve was made at 11:30pm in Berkeley, California. However, it remains to be seen how many people who took out those trials retain their subscription after the first, free, 30 days.
I definitely want a 32 inch iPad – it would be like Microsoft’s original tabletop-sized Surface devices from ten years ago but much lighter and transportable, usable in “drafting table” mode like a Cintiq, and it would support the amazing selection of modern iOS apps as well as the Apple pencil. 🙂