Despite Record Breaking Sales on Prime Day, Amazon’s Stock Falls 5% – Is Bernie Sanders the Culprit?

Well, the numbers are in, and Amazon's Prime Day has shattered records once again, even as luxury retailers are dropping like flies. 

It just goes to show that people will spend money on what’s important to them. This two-day shopping extravaganza is Amazon’s annual gift to shopaholics, and after nearly a decade, it’s only getting bigger and better.

Gone are the days of Black Friday madness where our parents camped outside stores, fueled by Thanksgiving leftovers and the dream of a cheap TV. Prime Day has taken that chaos online, so now you can snag deals without ever leaving your couch. No wrestling experience required.

This year Amazon started hyping up Prime Day weeks in advance, and this year, it paid off big time. In 2023, they raked in $12.7 billion. But 2024? They shattered that record with $14.2 billion.

So, what’s behind this shopping spree besides people gearing up for back-to-school and upgrading their Tablets, TVs and Bluetooth speakers?

A surprise hit this year was Amazon’s AI shopping assistant, Rufus (aka every husband's worst nightmare). He was the unsung hero, guiding millions through all the deals and practically forcing folks to pull out their credit cards.

While shoppers were busy grabbing deals, Amazon’s warehouse workers were having a tough time. According to a Senate investigation led by Bernie Sanders, Prime Day is a "major cause of injuries" for these workers.

The report found that during Prime Day 2019, the rate of "recordable" injuries was over 10 per 100 workers, more than double the industry average. Including less serious injuries, the total rate was just under 45 per 100 workers.

Amazon says they've improved, reducing their incident rate by 28% since 2019. They argue that the Senate report used outdated and flawed data. Imagine that? Our government wasting tax dollars on corporate witch hunts backed by stale data?

Now, here’s the kicker: despite having its best Prime Day sales event ever, Amazon’s stock dropped over 5%. So, is Bernie Sanders to blame for Amazon’s stock dip?

It’s not entirely clear-cut. On one hand, socialist Sanders’ report highlighting worker injuries could have spooked investors, making them wary of potential regulatory scrutiny and increased labor costs. On the other hand, the drop might also be part of a broader trend where investors are shifting from overvalued mega cap tech stocks to smaller, more agile companies.

In my opinion, Bernie Sanders’ report likely played a role, but it wasn’t the sole factor. It’s just as plausible that investors were ready to take their profits and look for the next big opportunity. Either way, Amazon is proving even without Bezos at the helm anymore, the company isn’t going anywhere. Just remember to spare a thought for the warehouse workers hustling to get your Fire TV Stick to your door.

Stock.News has positions in Amazon.