Amazon manages to lose money selling 2.5 million copies of Deathly Hallows

Publishers Weekly is reporting that Amazon.com managed to lose money selling Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

According to the report, sales in Amazon's North American media segment were up 38% in the third quarter, which ended 30 September, to $1.08 billion (sales for the entire company were up 41%, to $3.26 billion). Net income rose to $80 million (it was $19 million in the third quarter of 2006).

In the third quarter, Amazon worldwide sold 2.5 million copies of Deathly Hallows, making it "the largest new product release in Amazon history. Because of the deep discounts on the title, however, Amazon did not quite break even on sales of the book." Amazon is currently selling the hardcover for $19.24 (list price is $34.99).

We previously discussed Amazon's Hallows sales concept in this article.