Christmas in July? Amazon’s ‘Prime Day’ is back

NEW YORK — Amazon’s Fire TV stick and a curved Samsung TV were top sellers during Amazon’s second annual “Prime Day” sales bonanza.

The e-commerce powerhouse launched the event last July to promote its $99 annual Prime loyalty program, which offers free two-day shipping and other perks.

Other deals included $50 off Amazon’s Echo smart speaker on sale at $130, half off toys including Nerf and Barbie brands and up to 60 percent off athletic shoes.

In its study of about 2,000 products Tuesday morning, retail analytics firm Market Track said average discounts ranged from 20 to 30 percent, with the best deals on high-demand products including tablets, tools, video games, soundbars and toys.

Rick Ostopowicz, a marketing communications manager for a chemical company in Catonsville, Md., was disappointed in the deals last year during Prime Day.

Debi Hyland, who works in IT in Henderson, Colo., created an advance wish list of the items she was interested in, so she could get notifications when they went on sale.