Amazon Prime Day: Shoppers get bargains, Amazon adds members

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"Prime Day" is Amazon's major shopping season. Prime members get free fast shipping, plus access to Amazon music, video and other features. There are currently more than 100 million subscribers. And investors will be looking at- how this affects Prime membership moving forward. Jim Spellman has the story.

Richard Hsu made his first Amazon purchase more than 20 years ago. And has become a devoted Amazon shopper.

RICHARD HSU AMAZON PRIME MEMBER "When we started shopping on Amazon it was books, CDs textbooks, things like that. Now, it really is everything."

Like millions of others, he's ready for Prime Day to kick off. "Ok were live." First purchase: a pair of Amazon's digital assistants.

RICHARD HSU AMAZON PRIME MEMBER "I was looking at Echo Dot for the kids, and there is a two-pack. Individual dots are 30 bucks down from 50 and if you buy two they are 25 a piece." "Sorry, we're experiencing unusually heavy traffic. Please try again in a few seconds."

Like many shoppers taking part in this 36-hour sale, Richard hit a snag as Amazon struggled to keep up with heavy traffic. But after a few clicks, the Echo Dots are on their way.

Prime Day began in 2015. It joined Alibaba's "Singles Day" plus "Cyber Monday" and "Black Friday" as major shopping days.

RICHARD HSU AMAZON PRIME MEMBER "I've begun to regard Prime Day as Black Friday in the middle of summer."

Amazon Prime is a subscription service that currently costs 119 dollars a year. Prime members get free fast shipping plus access to Amazon music, video and other features. There are currently more than 100 million subscribers.

DANIEL SPARKS, TECH WRITER THE MOTLEY FOOL "I think the underlying story of 'Prime Day' is Prime membership. Last year, they added a record number of Prime members and think they will do that again this year, and I think that's what investors will be looking at- how this affects Prime membership moving forward."

Amazon has expanded beyond online retail - purchasing the Whole Foods grocery chain, opening brick and mortar stores and their own line of electronics.

DANIEL SPARKS, TECH WRITER THE MOTLEY FOOL "They are really expanding the Amazon Electronics across a lot of different categories and done a really good job of it."

The Amazon Prime phenomenon has created a loyal following of users always ready to click and buy.

Jim: "Do you use the Amazon app?"

Richard: "I do, I do. It's pretty handy."

Jim: "Do you ever find yourself out and about and something pops into your head and you just pull your phone out and buy it?"

Richard: "Daily, but I'm addicted to Amazon."

Sure enough --- as we are chatting Richard buys a trash can using the app, another Prime Day purchase in the books for Amazon. Jim Spellman, CGTN, Bethesda, Maryland.