Amazon Prime Day is a genius piece of salesmanship. Set over two days per year where you advertise serious discounts to subscribers (Prime members) and non-members and let the money roll in.
Held every year, Amazon Prime Day is almost as popular as Black Friday and offers the opportunity to save big.
But, also like Black Friday, you have to be careful as not all the prices are as they seem.
Some discounts are nowhere near as much as advertised, some are available to non-Prime members too and it can be a nightmare trying to figure out whether you’re actually getting a deal or not.
That’s why I put these tips together.
Amazon Prime Day tips
As a Prime member, I like to save a little money but find fewer genuine savings than is advertised.
That’s why I put these tips together.
Here are my suggestions for making genuine savings during Amazon Prime Day.
1. Know the sales
You’ll probably notice a few different sales on the day.
Deals of the day – Items on sale for just 24 hours that will be replaced the following day.
Lightning deals – Limited promotions on items that last maybe a few hours.
Alexa deals – Exclusive deals only available for Alexa users. Ask ‘Alexa, what are your deals?’ and you’ll get your answer.
2. Enable 1-click purchases
Enable 1-click purchase if you don’t already have it enabled. You’ll need willpower, but this speeds up the shopping process. It should also mean missing out on fewer offers as they sit in your cart.
3. Make a list ahead of time
You only save money with a discount if you need that item in the first place. It’s so very easy to end up buying random stuff you don’t need on Amazon, so making a list is key.
List the products you want or need, their current price, the model number and the URL.
Then you can compare prices on the day to make sure you’re getting a genuine deal or not.
The model number is important as you’ll often find items on Amazon look the same but aren’t exactly the same on Amazon Prime Day.
4. Compare prices at other retailers
Amazon can be cheap but it isn’t always. Sometimes other retailers are cheaper or offer better discounts. Some retailers offer longer warranties on some items, like John Lewis, which is worth paying for.
IF you’re building a shopping list, compare prices elsewhere too and note them down. Save the URL and check those prices on the day too.
5. Set a budget or stick to the list
If you just want to buy something, set a budget. If you have items in mind, use the list.
Either way, use self control to make sure you’re not overspending on things you don’t need or items that aren’t on sale.
6. Do your research beforehand
When you list the items you want to buy, make sure you have performed your research, read reviews, checked out the various feedback sites and know the exact make and model of product.
Be careful with model numbers. I mentioned it above but I’ll mention it again. Some retailers switch out products with options specifically for sales.
They look the same and may have lots of the same features, but often have compromises. That’s why using model numbers is so important.
7. Start early
Even in tough times, Amazon Prime Day gets busy. If there are specific items you want to buy, start early. Popular items will go out of stock quickly, so the sooner you bag them yourself, the better.
I wouldn’t suggest getting up at 4am like some people do, but the earlier you shop, the higher the chances of bagging a bargain.
8. Use Camelcamelcamel
Camelcamelcamel is an Amazon price tracking website. Paste the Amazon URL or ASIN from the product page and the site will show the price history.
This is where you can check previous prices, whether that price fluctuates much and whether it features in deals.
9. Try Keepa
Keepa is similar to Camelcamelcamel but is a browser extension that works directly on the Amazon product page.
It doesn’t have quite the level of detail as Camel but offers decent insight without having to leave the product page.
10. Use Amazon Prime Day for your own ends
Even though Amazon Prime Day is in July, there’s nothing stopping you stocking up for birthdays or Christmas.
You get to save money (if you shop savvy) and can spread the cost over the year. Be mindful of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals too, as they can be better, but nothing beats spreading the cost.
Surviving Amazon Prime Day
Those are my 10 tips for surviving Amazon Prime Day. As long as you never take a discount at face value, perform your research and know exactly what you’re buying, you should be fine.
Don’t forget to check the price history and prices elsewhere as you can find discounts everywhere right now!
Do you have any tips for saving money on Amazon Prime Day? Tell us about the below!
