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Just what is Prime Day, you might be wondering as early buzz starts to generate at this time of year ahead of summer. Amazon's Prime Day event is its annual members-only summer sale and is the hottest event of the season for bargain fans.
Expect to see low prices across thousands of products at the online giant. As indicated by the name though, you will need to be a Prime member to enjoy these exclusive discounts. On the plus side, if you're not a member when the sale kicks off, you'll be able to sign up for a free 30-day trial to avoid missing out and are free to drop it once the sale's over if you don't want to turn into a paying subscriber.
The sale involves big discounts on pretty much every category Amazon has under its vast empire. Tech, gadgets, home, kitchen, garden, fashion, jewelry, beauty, gaming, and many more all get involved.
As you'd expect, Amazon really leans on its own products, usually giving the year's lowest prices on Kindles, Echo smart speakers, Fire TV Sticks, and Fire Tablets - usually with prices even lower than Black Friday's.
Here's everything else you need to know about Amazon Prime Day and how to find the best deals for you.
Related: See Insider's picks for the best credit cards to use on Amazon purchases.
When is Amazon Prime Day 2023?
We're expecting Prime Day 2023 to land in July, most likely around the 10th or 11th going off past form as it's run on similar dates in the past and always takes place early in the week. Yes, the Prime Early Access Sale, ran from October 11 to 12 but that wasn't an official 'Prime Day' event although Amazon really should have tried branding it as Prime Day 2 as 'Early Access Sale' didn't exactly help create buzz for the members-only event. We wouldn't bet against it making some sort of comeback this October.
But the Summer event is what you should be more excited about as we've found it to have a better selection of deals. As soon as Amazon confirms the date, we'll be sure to update this article so you can get it in your diary.
History of Prime Day dates
What once started as a small event to celebrate Prime members has grown into a full-scale shopping holiday. Here's a complete rundown of the history of Prime Day dates:
Year | Date |
Prime Day 2023 | July TBC |
Prime Early Access Sale 2022 | Tuesday and Wednesday, October 11-12 |
Prime Day 2022 | Tuesday and Wednesday, July 12-13 |
Prime Day 2021 | Monday and Tuesday, June 21-22 |
Prime Day 2020 | Tuesday and Wednesday, October 13-14 (delayed due to the pandemic) |
Prime Day 2019 | Monday and Tuesday, July 15-16 |
Prime Day 2018 | Monday and Tuesday, July 16-17 |
Prime Day 2017 | Monday and Tuesday, July 11-12 |
Prime Day 2016 | Tuesday, July 12 |
Prime Day 2015 | Wednesday, July 15 |
Is Prime Day only for Prime members?
Amazon's Prime Day deal events are exclusive to Amazon Prime members. In addition to access to Prime Day, Prime membership includes tons of other perks, most notably free two-day shipping and free access to streaming services like Prime Video, Prime Music, and more.
While Amazon Prime costs $15 a month or $139 a year, there is a free 30-day trial for new subscribers. The trial grants you access to the sale — just remember to cancel your membership after the event if you don't anticipate using your Prime membership often enough to make the annual fee worth it.
For non-members, there are many competing sales from other retailers to consider. Major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy offer their own deals during Prime Day. Though these sales aren't as splashy, they deliver similarly low prices on tech and home goods and don't require a Prime subscription.
Is Prime Day worth it?
During the two-day event, thousands of products are put on sale, and not all of them will pique your interest. Given the number of deals — many of which go up and sell out in an hour or even minutes — the sale can get overwhelming pretty quickly.
Prices for Amazon devices like Kindles, Fire TVs, and Echo devices are typically the lowest on Prime Day. Beyond that, you'll find deals across categories like household essentials, beauty products, electronics, and more.
All that said, whether or not Prime Day is worth your time ultimately depends on what you're shopping for. There are plenty of deals worth exploring, and the tips below will help you find them.
How are Prime Day deals organized?
Amazon runs several different types of deals that run for varying lengths of time. You'll only score the discount when you place an order while the deal is live during the event.
Prime Day deals are typically broken up into two types:
- Deals of the Day:These deals last 24 hours only. They typically feature Amazon's best-selling products. This means many deals on the first day of the sale may not be available on the second day.
- Lightning Deals: These flash deals are run on specific items and are offered for a short period of time. They usually last for a few hours, or until the item sells out. New Lightning Deals pop up as frequently as every five minutes.
Are Prime Day deals the same on both days?
Over the 48-hour event, Amazon releases thousands of sales. There are some deals that span both days, but some deals sell out quickly. If you shopped on the first day of Prime Day, you can expect a whole new set of fresh deals on the second day.
Can you return Prime Day deals?
Yes, you can return Prime Day deals. Amazon's return policy for items bought during Prime Day is the same as it is any day of the year. The majority of items, including Amazon devices, can be returned in 30days. However, there are some items you can't return, including grocery products and gift cards — so be sure to read the fine print.
7 tips for getting the best deals on Prime Day
Make no mistake: Amazon Prime Day is a big shopping holiday. And if you want to set yourself up for success, there are a few tips to keep in mind.
1. Prepare a wish list
Between the big-ticket sales and limited-time Lightning Deals, Prime Day is chock-full of impulse buys. It's smart to go into Prime Day with at least some idea of what you want to buy (and save on).
For making a shopping list, we like Amazon's Wish List feature. You can add all the items you're interested in, and keep track of what you actually want. As an added bonus, you can set up Alexa or the Amazon mobile app to alert you when a deal goes live for any of the items on your list.
2. Price-check everything
One of the most common Prime Day questions is "how do I know if I'm getting a good deal?" The answer is only if you research the product's price history.
To understand the real value of any deal, we recommend using the free tool CamelCamelCamel, which allows you to track the price history of everything on Amazon. We're also big fans of Keepa, which has a browser extension that actually offers a price history chart directly on each Amazon product page.
3. Take advantage of the Amazon mobile app
Amazon's mobile app is a great way to keep track of items and set up notifications. The app can send you a push notification 5 minutes before the deals start, which is especially useful if you've set up a wish list (see above).
4. Get deal notifications from Alexa
Alexa can now alert you to deals and, even make the purchase for you. The smart voice assistant can alert you when eligible products in your Wish List or shopping cart are on sale. Here's how to set up Alexa to give you deal notifications.
Once enabled, you'll see a yellow ring light or a pop-up notification on your Echo device. From there, you can ask Alexa for more details or order the item for yourself.
5. Get free Amazon credits and subscriptions
Before, and sometimes during, Prime Day-type events, Amazon often offers a few ways to get free credits or subscriptions. Last time around there were numerous options to get some free cash to spend during the big event.
During the Prime Early Access Sale, members got a $10 promotional credit when they bought a $50 gift card from participating brands including Amazon, GAP, Panera, and more. If you purchased your first year of an Amazon Prime subscription, you got to enjoy unlimited Grubhub deliveries for a $0 delivery fee. Prime members got up to four free months of Amazon Music Unlimited (it's usually only 30 days), and non-Prime members received up to three free months. Alternatively, Prime members could have grabbed a 3rd Generation Echo Dot for a mere $0.99 with a one-month subscription to Amazon Music Unlimited.
We expect plenty of similar incentives around July this year and will keep this guide updated when they arrive.
6. Compare prices with other retailers
For non-members, there are many competing sales from other retailers to consider. Major retailers like Walmart,Target, andBest Buy offer their own deals during Prime Day. Though these sales aren't as splashy, they deliver similarly low prices on tech and home goods and don't require a Prime subscription.
7. Bookmark Insider Reviews' Prime Day coverage
The Insider team will be working around the clock to help you find the best deals. We'll be running a live blog that highlights deals throughout the 48-hour event and we'll also have roundups of deals per category if there are enough good deals to choose from, but you're more than likely see us rounding up items like headphones, homewares, Apple products, gaming, and the like. And if you're trying to avoid splurging too much, we'll have you covered for the best deals under $50. Stay tuned as we'll update this guide with new pages as they come online. For now though, check out our central hub for all things Prime Day.
As a Tech Deals and Streaming Reporter for Insider's Reviews team, Sarah covers the latest movie and series releases along with the best sales on products we recommend. Prior to joining Insider Inc., she was a Deals Writer at Wirecutter, a New York Times company. After graduating from California State University, Fullerton with a degree in Marketing, Sarah started out as a Freelance Deals Writer at Wirecutter; there she focused on newsletter creation, social media promotion, and syndication in addition to deals writing before stepping into a full-time role. Her accomplishments from this position, in addition to the countless deals she's written, include implementing multiple social media marketing campaigns and launching a Deals Facebook group for the company. Say hi (or send a picture of your pet) to Sarah at ssaril@insider.com, or reach her on Twitter at @sarahhahr or on Instagram at @lord_ponty. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Learn more about how we research deals.
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FAQs
Are there different deals on each day of Prime Day? ›
Longer deals tend to be Deals of the Day which last for 24 hours, while others last for the entire length of Prime Day. Some can also come back into stock on the second day but don't rely upon this if you see the right deal for you.
What happens in Amazon Prime Day sale? ›Amazon's Prime Day event is its annual members-only summer sale and is the hottest event of the season for bargain fans. Expect to see low prices across thousands of products at the online giant. As indicated by the name though, you will need to be a Prime member to enjoy these exclusive discounts.
Do prices go down on Amazon Prime Day? ›Prime Day is an annual retail holiday celebrated by Amazon, typically during the month of July. During the 48-hour event — which is for Prime members only — Amazon offers sitewide discounts on everything from 4K TVs to kitchen appliances. However, Amazon hardware tends to receive the biggest discounts.
What is Amazon summer sale? ›Synopsis. Starting right away, Amazon will provide exclusive Prime members a tonne of shopping and savings during the Great Summer Sale. Along with great products and recent debuts, there are fantastic deals that will upgrade your shelter while saving you a tonne of money.
What is the best day to buy on Amazon? ›While each customer is unique on the Amazon platform, we see trends in our client's accounts in overall sales and conversion rates. Recent studies of online shopping like that found on Oribi indicate that Monday and Tuesday are the busiest days for online sales – with Tuesday being the strongest.
How many Prime Day deals are there? ›In 2021, Amazon offered more than 2 million deals.
Which is Amazon's biggest sale? ›7. What is the biggest Amazon shopping event? Prime Day on Amazon is one of the biggest Amazon sale events. The Amazon Great Indian Festival sale is also one of the biggest sale events in India.
Do Prime members get early access to Prime Day sale? ›Getting Amazon Prime Day discounts is one of the many benefits Prime members have access to, along with fast and free shipping options and Prime Video streaming. If you've yet to sign up for a Prime account, now's the time to do so before Amazon's Prime Day sales event.
Do you have to have Amazon Prime to get Prime Day sales? ›Anyone can participate in Prime Day by becoming a member of Amazon Prime. If you're not yet a Prime member, you can participate in Prime Day by signing up for an Amazon Prime free trial or paid Prime membership. Check the Prime Day page for updates, announcements, and all the deals we'll be offering.
What time of day are Amazon prices lowest? ›Time-wise, we spotted that morning sales aren't the best as the lowest product prices typically occur between 4 am and 12 pm. If you want something more specific than time ranges, check the graph below.
How do I avoid Amazon Prime price increase? ›
On the day before your membership expires, log into your Amazon account to manually end your subscription. (This will prevent Amazon from automatically renewing your Prime membership at the new/higher price).
Do Amazon Prime members get lower prices? ›Amazon offers discounted membership options with the same valuable benefits including fast, free delivery on millions of items, exclusive perks, savings, and world-class entertainment for eligible members. The two discounted memberships are Prime Access and Prime Student.
What is a hot item to sell on Amazon? ›- Electronics.
- Toys & Games.
- Camera & Photo.
- Video Games.
- Pet Supplies.
- Home & Kitchen.
- Books: consistently some of the best selling items, especially ebooks sold via the Kindle store.
- Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry.
Cyber Monday is a great time to buy Amazon devices, home items, beauty and personal care goodies, and lots of other things at some incredibly low prices. You can look forward to discounts of up to 70% — or in some cases even more!
What is meant by Amazon pay later? ›What is Amazon Pay Later? Amazon Pay Later is the hassle-free way to get instant credit, via a completely digital process, for purchases using EMI on Amazon.in. You have to complete the one-time setup process, which should not take more than 2 minutes and does not require you to provide credit card details.
What sells most on Prime Day? ›- Apple AirPods. Both the Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro earbuds were big winners during Prime Early Access. ...
- Levoit Air Purifiers. ...
- Bose Headphones. ...
- Crest 3D Whitestrips. ...
- Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. ...
- Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. ...
- Marlowe Face Moisturizer. ...
- Casper Pillows.
While specific days of the week are best for saving on specific items, the best overall shopping days are Wednesday and Thursday. Bread and beer are typically marked down on Wednesdays, and snacks are often cheapest on Thursdays, according to shopping experts.
What day does peak start for Amazon? ›When Does Amazon Peak Season 2022 Start? Although in 2022, the Amazon Peak season started on October 1st, it will actually begin with Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday and last until the Christmas season. Therefore, you can benefit from this peak period to boost sales and raise revenue with Amazon.
How many times does Prime Day happen a year? ›The annual two-day deals event is regularly held in the summer months and is exclusively available to Amazon Prime members only. If you're not a member when the next one rolls around, you can always sign up for a free 30-day trial to get access to that year's Prime Day deals.
How much is Amazon Prime 2023? ›Who can participate in Prime Day 2023? Amazon Prime Day deals have historically been available only to shoppers with an active Amazon Prime subscription. Those who have never been Amazon Prime members can get a 30-day free trial. An Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month (plus taxes) or $139 per year.
Does Amazon have secret sales? ›
Does Amazon have a secret outlet? Yes, but it's not a place you can rifle through bargain bins at IRL. Instead of hitting a traditional brick-and-mortar outlet, shoppers can score significantly discounted items on Amazon from the comfort of their homes.
How do I get the maximum sale on Amazon? ›- Be a Resource. ...
- Get Help from Influencers. ...
- Try a Sponsored Products Campaign. ...
- Drive More Reviews. ...
- Optimize for Search. ...
- Create an Unmatched Buying Experience. ...
- Write Winning Product Descriptions. ...
- Leverage Video.
Most of the company's revenue is generated through e-retail sales of different categories of products, followed by third-party seller revenues, retail and media subscriptions, and AWS cloud services. Due to its global scope and reach, Amazon is considered one of the most valuable brands worldwide.
How do you increase sales on Prime Day? ›Generate Social Media Buzz: Creating a buzz on your social media channels is an excellent way to start promoting your products, your brand, and even Prime Day itself. Use engaging content and lifestyle images to capture your audience's attention and let them know that you'll be offering discounts on Prime Day.
What time do Prime deals start? ›What time does the Amazon Prime Early Access Sale 2022 start? Deals will start dropping on Amazon's website Tuesday at 3 a.m. ET.
What are the rules for Prime Day? ›Product must have at least 3.5-star rating or no rating. The discount must be at least 20% off the non-prime member non-promotional price. The discount must be at most 80% off the non-prime member non-promotional price. You must be a seller with at least 4 Seller Feedback Rating when seller rating is available.
Can you still shop at Amazon without membership? ›After years of membership, people often forget: Anyone can buy from Amazon, you don't need to be a Prime member. You're just not going to get the other perks — not all of which you might need, use or want. To that end, we've listed a range of 12 good reasons you might want to cancel your Amazon Prime membership.
How often does Amazon drop prices? ›The company is a pioneer in dynamic pricing and makes over 250 million price changes every day. The average product's price will change once every 10 minutes, making it difficult for Sellers and consumers to keep up.
What months are peak at Amazon? ›Amazon spokesperson Steve Kelly told Motherboard in an email that the company's peak season starts mid-October and ends in late December. He wrote that workers were never required to work more than 60 hours a week, or more than 12 hours a day.
How many times a day does Amazon change prices? ›A new analysis from the marketplace reveals that Amazon follows intelligent price changes for its extensive range of products. Surveys show that Amazon changes prices approximately 2.5 million times per day, around 50 times higher than other popular retailers such as Best Buy and Walmart.
How do I get 50% off Amazon Prime? ›
But, for more long-term savings, students can sign up for a Prime Student six-month trial right now. Once that ends, you'll get Prime for 50% off at just $7.49 a month or $69 for an annual plan.
Does Amazon offer senior discounts? ›While there is no official Amazon Prime senior discount, Amazon has a discounted membership called Prime Access. With Prime Access, you'd only have to pay $6.99 a month versus the regular $14.99 a month. You can qualify for the program if you're on Medicaid or any other qualifying government assistance program.
How much is Amazon Prime for seniors on Medicare? ›There isn't an official Amazon Prime for seniors discount. However, senior citizens can enroll in Prime Access, discounted at just $6.99 a month instead of the standard $14.99 a month. But you need to be enrolled in a qualified government assistance program such as Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and SSI.
How much does the average Prime member spend on Amazon? ›How much do Amazon Prime members spend? The average rate of spending for a Prime member is $1,400 per year. Non-Prime members spend less than half of that, at just $600 per year. Based on a 2021 survey, here is a breakdown of the average amount Prime members spend per month on Amazon.
Is Hulu free with Amazon Prime? ›Is Hulu free with Amazon Prime? No. Hulu and Amazon Prime are competitors, and so you can't get either of them as an inclusion with your subscription to the other.
Do nurses get free Amazon Prime? ›What If I'm Not a Student? If you've already graduated from nursing school, you can still get the free trial of free shipping. However, instead of using “Amazon Student,” you'll be signing up for “Amazon Prime.”
What is the most sold item? ›What Is The Most Sold Item In the World? The most sold item in the world is clothing and fashion items. This ranges from women's and men's outfits to children's clothing, shoes, accessories, and more. People love their clothes, and fashion isn't going anywhere!
What does FBA stand for? ›Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service that allows you to outsource order fulfillment to Amazon. Sign up for Amazon FBA to send products to Amazon's global network of fulfillment centers and offer customers free, two-day shipping through Prime.
What was the first item sold on Amazon? ›The first book sold on Amazon.com was Douglas Hofstadter's Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies: Computer Models of the Fundamental Mechanisms of Thought. In the first two months of business, Amazon sold to all 50 states and over 45 countries. Within two months, Amazon's sales were up to $20,000 per week.
Is Black Friday or Cyber Monday better on Amazon? ›Shop Black Friday for major stores.
"Places like Walmart and Best Buy tend to offer the best deals on Black Friday." The exception is Amazon, which tends to have better deals on Cyber Monday, as long as you're a Prime member.
Is it better to wait for Cyber Monday? ›
Though you don't have to wait in line for any doorbuster deals on Cyber Monday, sales do tend to come and go quickly. Many of the best offers only hang around for a day or two, and some items with very limited quantities — like Amazon Lightning Deals — may sell out within hours or even minutes.
Will things on Amazon be cheaper on Black Friday? ›As part of Black Friday, Amazon offers Deals of the Day and Lightning Deals. Just like the name suggests, the Deal of the Day is an item that Amazon has deeply discounted for the day.
What is the minimum credit score for Amazon Pay later? ›Eligibility Criteria for Amazon Pay ICICI Card. The minimum age of the applicant must be 18 years. The maximum age of the applicant must be 60 years. Individuals should have a Cibil Score of 750 or above to apply for the credit card.
Can you buy things on Amazon and pay later? ›Buy now, pay later plans
Amazon Monthly Payment is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) option. However, if it isn't offered on your product or does not meet your payment needs, you could choose a third-party BNPL provider.
There's no minimum credit score requirement because Amazon doesn't run a credit check when you choose monthly payments as your payment method.
Is Amazon Prime Day the same every year? ›Historically, Amazon has held its Prime Day sales each July with just a couple of deviations from that regular schedule. Notably, in 2020, Amazon pushed its Prime Day sale to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic before returning it to the summer in 2021 in a slightly earlier June spot.
How often does Amazon have Prime Day sales? ›Prime Day is an exclusive annual shopping event for Amazon Prime members that has evolved into a retail-industry phenomenon. The event began in July 2015 and provides the opportunity for shoppers to grab limited-time deals across some of Amazon's biggest categories and brands.
Do stores match Prime Day deals? ›Some more deal-hunting advice to keep in mind as you shop: If Amazon is offering a Prime Early Access discount on a product from another brand, there's a good chance that the direct retailer or a competing one will price match; sometimes they'll even offer an even better deal.
Is Prime Day for everything on Amazon? ›Aside from 2020, when the retailer bumped the sale to October due to the pandemic, and 2021, when the sale was held in June, Prime Day has taken place in mid-July. It has deals on products of all kinds throughout the site, a vast majority of which will be exclusively for Amazon Prime members.
Does everyone get Prime on Prime Day? ›Yes — Amazon's Prime Day discounts are exclusive to Amazon Prime members. If you are not already a Prime member, you can get 1 week of Prime for just $1.99 right now. An Amazon Prime membership then costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year.
Is Prime Day just for Prime customers? ›
Anyone can participate in Prime Day by becoming a member of Amazon Prime. If you're not yet a Prime member, you can participate in Prime Day by signing up for an Amazon Prime free trial or paid Prime membership. Check the Prime Day page for updates, announcements, and all the deals we'll be offering.
How much will Prime cost in 2023? ›How to prepare for Amazon Prime Day 2023. First things first: Make sure you actually have an Amazon Prime membership. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial, after which your membership will cost $14.99 per month or $139 per year.
Does Amazon have Prime Day twice a year? ›Amazon Prime Day usually happens once-a-year. But in 2022, the retailer hosted its first ever Prime Early Access Sale in October after hosting Prime Day in July. It was a Prime Day-level sale the retailer announced that fall.
Does Amazon Prime Day include clothes? ›Everything from gadgets to clothes to household necessities will be on sale during the 48-hour event, and if you're a Prime member, you'll have access to all of the deals on Amazon's site.
Does Target match Amazon Prime Day prices? ›Does Target price match Amazon? Yes, Target will match the prices on Amazon. As long as your item is the exact same brand, size, weight, color, quantity, and model number. One caveat here is that the item must be sold and fulfilled by Amazon — you can't claim price matching for items from third-party sellers.
Does Walmart match Amazon prices? ›What other stores does Walmart price match? Walmart won't price match any competitors in person. But if you're shopping on Walmart.com, they'll price match the following retailers' websites only: Amazon.