MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It’s that time of year again. Amazon is hosting its Prime Day event from July 8th through the 11th. The online retail giant is boasting it will offer millions of deals across 35 categories with savings of up to 50% off some products.
WREG is looking at the best deals from Amazon and other retailers, running competing sales. Plus, we show you how to figure out whether the item you’re about to buy is a true bargain or whether you should skip the sales altogether.
New This Year
Amazon has extended the Prime Day event from two days to four. Early Prime Day Deals are live now. However, according to savings blogger Kyle James, more time for shopping may not mean you’ll save more money.
“Doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to have more deals, right, they’re just going to spread them out a little bit further. So, they really are trying to get you to come on and start scrolling for stuff, looking for what you think is a deal, without doing any research,” said James, who runs the site Rather-Be-Shopping.com.
Ways to Save on Prime Day
The key to ensuring you’re actually saving? Start by doing your research, which includes comparison shopping. WREG has told you before about the price tracking site Camel Camel Camel. Keepa is another Amazon price tracker.
Users can search Keepa by product or input a direct link from an Amazon product to see its price history.
The popular website Krazy Coupon Lady now has an app that offers deal alerts, so people may find some Prime Day hacks there.
Also, set a budget. James says it’s critical to create a plan.
“If you’re shopping for back to school, maybe you’re looking to stock up a college dorm. There are good tech deals out there. So, kind of know what you want and I write it down,” added James.
What to Buy, What to Skip
In addition to discounts on tech, James says we can expect to see Prime Day deals on kitchen gadgets, vacuums, and of course, Amazon products.
He says you may want to skip large appliances and furniture that will be sold at cheaper prices after Labor Day, as well as what James calls “sketchy” electronics from unfamiliar names.
James also encourages shoppers to be cautious when buying from certain third-party sellers on Amazon. He says they may offer lower prices, but have bad return policies or be shady altogether. So read the fine print.
You Need a Prime Membership
Keep in mind, taking advantage of the Prime Day deals requires a Prime membership.
Costs are as follows:
- Prime Membership – $14.99/month or $139/year
- 30-day trial – free based on eligibility
- Prime for Young Adults – FREE for six months, $7.49/month or $69/year
- Prime Access – $6.99/month for qualifying government assistance recipients
Take Advantage of Prime without Shopping
If you already have a Prime membership, you can use it to your advantage during the Prime Day event, even if you’re not buying anything from Amazon. For example, from July 3rd through July 6th, members can link their accounts to Earnify and save $1 per gallon at BP and Amoco gas stations.
Competing Sales
Amazon isn’t the only retailer running a sale. Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and even TikTok Shop have their own sales events.
- Walmart Deals – July 8-13th
- Target Circle Week – July 6-12th
- Best Buy – 4th of July Sale
- TikTok Shop – Deals for You Days-July 7-19th