Ahead of Amazon Prime Day, we’re gearing up to highlight the best deals as they roll in. But while we wait for discounts to go live on at 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET on Oct. 13, let’s consider a few ways to take full advantage of the discounts (and avoid fake deals).
Get Amazon Prime
This is Amazon Day, so—surprise!—you need to be a Prime member in order to get the discounts. Sign up for $119 per year or $12.99 per month. Amazon offers a 30-day free trial for first-time sign-ups.
Download the Amazon App
The app can provide real-time deal alerts, and let you place orders no matter where you on Prime Day.
Add Items to Your Cart Ahead of Time
If you know what you want, add it to your cart now. On Prime Day, you’ll be able to see at a glance whether your must-have items have been discounted.
Turn on 1-Click Purchases
1-Click ordering lets you streamline the shopping experience; click it and the item you’re buying is automatically charged to the payment method selected and shipped to the address associated with your 1-Click settings. To turn it on, head to your Amazon account, and click the “1-Click settings” link. From there, you can configure payment method and shipping address.
Amazon Reload or Prime Rewards Credit Card
If you plan to buy big-ticket items in the near future, consider taking advantage of the 2 percent bonus Prime members get when reloading gift card balance from their bank accounts. Simply load the desired amount onto your account’s gift card balance, and you’ll get a 2 percent bonus to use during Prime Day (or at your leisure).
If you don’t want to link a bank account, Prime members who apply for and are approved for the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card between now and Oct. 31 will get a $100 gift card, which will be loaded into your Amazon.com account and could be used for Prime Day purchases. Otherwise, the card offers 5% back at Whole Foods Market and at Amazon.com and 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores.
Look for Deals at Whole Foods
Speaking of Whole Foods, if you need to stock your pantry, the Amazon-owned grocery store will get in on the savings, too; stay tuned for details.
Keep Your Options Open
While not every brand or specific version of a product will be on sale on Prime Day, there’s a good chance you’ll find a great deal if you keep your options open. For example, the food processor you’ve had your eye on might not be discounted during Prime Day, but a very similar model from a competitor might pop up. As long as it has plenty of reviews, a decent average rating, and still serves your needs, it’s probably worth pulling the trigger on a good deal.
Don’t Forget About Subscriptions
Prime Day will offer deals on physical goods, but don’t forget about Amazon’s subscription services. It’s already offering deals on Audible, Amazon Music, and Kindle Unlimited, and those discounts are likely to continue into Prime Day.
Watch Those Lightning Deals
Many of Amazon’s hardware offerings will likely see nice discounts throughout Prime Day, but lightning deals have offered some of the steepest discounts in the past. Keep an eye on upcoming lightning deals throughout the day, and act fast if there’s something that tickles your fancy. Stock has historically been rather limited, so don’t hesitate when a sale goes live. (Spotlight deals are another thing to watch.)
Alexa, What’s on Sale?
Consider giving Alexa a try if you already have an Amazon device in your home. Amazon is encouraging Prime members to ask “Alexa, what are my Prime Day deals?” As an incentive, new Prime members who sign up for Prime using an Echo device (“Alexa, sign me up for Prime”) will receive a $5 Amazon credit.
