SEATTLE, July 2 (UPI) -- The Harry Potter craze reached a record high on Amazon.com as U.S. pre-sales topped 1 million copies for the series' finale, the company said Monday.
Worldwide, the online retailer so far has taken nearly 1.6 million orders for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," eclipsing the previous record of 1.5 million for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," Amazon.com, based in Seattle, said in a news release.
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" has been selling at a record-breaking pace on Amazon.com since ordering began Feb. 1. Company officials said U.S. first-day orders for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" were or 6.5 times more than first-day orders for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."
Sales for the seventh book have outpaced its predecessor's both at Amazon.com's U.S. and international sites.
Amazon.com said orders placed by noon June 17, using standard shipping or better, will be guaranteed delivery on the book's release date of July 21 in the contiguous 48 states, or the cost of the book will be refunded.
