[wongarsu]

Amazon Echo devices are so cheap that Amazon probably isn't making any profit at regular prices. Amazon is practically giving them away to generate more sales, more lock in and collect more data, bringing them well beyond a replaceable online store.

Of course when the devices are heavily discounted on Cyber Monday they are among the best possible deals (in terms of hardware per dollar). The only thing I know about that matches this is Valve selling Steam Links (last year) or Steam Controllers (this year) at 90% discount for mostly the same reasons.