Plan to Shop Amazon Prime Day? Read These 5 Tips First
Amazon Prime Day is upon us.
But with such a variety of goods, it’s hard to make heads and tails of it all.
How do I know what’s a good deal? How do I know what I should jump on right now? Did I order a Roomba just for my cat to enjoy?
Luckily, we’ve got some tips to help you navigate this sales event.
Finds Deals for More Than Your Amazon Wish List
You might have the willpower to wait for your entire Amazon wish list to go on sale — but everyday expenses aren’t so accommodating. Things like internet, gas, and groceries rarely come with a “deal of the day.”
That’s why we’ve rounded up smart ways to save on the essentials you’re already paying for.
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5 Tips to Get the Best Amazon Prime Day Deals
This year Amazon’s Prime Days are taking place July 8–11, running longer than its usual two days — but that doesn’t mean you can rest on your laurels until then.
Early deals on tech and select Amazon devices kicked off already and discounts are going on until the official Prime Day begins.
If you use Alexa, it’s even easier to blow your money on Amazon.
Prime members can add products to their wish list, cart or save for later, and then ask Alexa to notify them about the deal when it’s live. Amazon’s AI assistant will even order products for you if you want.
These big discounts are in limited supply, so you’ll want to act fast to claim a deal that piques your interest. If you miss it, you can join the waitlist to be notified if extras become available.
Here’s how to maximize these days of tempting deals.
1. Get a Trial Amazon Prime Membership
If you haven’t been an Amazon Prime member in the last 12 months, sign up for a free 30-day Prime trial and take part in Prime Day before you commit to the service.
College students and some people who receive government assistance can get half off an annual membership.
2. Make a Shopping List
Just because something is half-off with free shipping doesn’t mean you need it.
If you’re planning to purchase specific items or upgrade what you already have, write it down. Check that list during the Prime Day to make sure the items in your cart are good spending decisions instead of a bunch of stuff you’ll regret buying in a week.
You can even save Amazon items to a wish list to make it easier to spot if any discounts magically appear during the sale event.
You can also subscribe to receive deal alerts related to your recent Amazon searches and recently viewed items.
Simply visit the Amazon app between now and July 8 to create deal alerts. When the big day arrives, you’ll get push notifications on available sales.
3. Check In On Lightning Deals
Some deals are only available for a limited time. Keep an eye out for those, and act quick if you find a deal on something from your wishlist.
4. Compare Historical Prices to Get the Best Deal
Sellers have been known to increase prices before a discount event so that you think you’re snagging a great deal — when really you’re paying the standard price.
Be a savvy shopper and use a price tracker like CamelCamelCamel to show you the historical price of an item on Amazon over time.
You can even download the Capital One Shopping browser extension and check it while you shop Amazon Prime Day to see a chart of past prices.
5. Follow Amazon on Social Media
The company posts frequently on X, formerly Twitter, and Facebook, so stay tuned on October 8 and 9 to catch any extra-special or surprise deals.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. thepennyhoarder.com utilizes paid Amazon links.Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
Rachel Christian is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder. Lisa Rowan, a former Penny Hoarder writer, also contributed.
