RetailMeNot shopping expert Mackenzie Shand says it’s easy to get caught up in the hype during Prime Big Deal Days, which are coming up next week on October 8th and 9th. The Mega Sale is the first major shopping event of the 2024 holiday season, giving Prime members exclusive access to thousands of discounts on technology, kitchen products, home goods and more. But the last thing you want to do is overspend or make impulse purchases.
In my five years of covering Prime Day, I’ve learned that strategy is everything. Knowing what to buy and what to skip will help you create a wish list and set a budget, which is key to shopping wisely. We spoke to shopping experts about how to save the most money on Prime Big Deals Day this year and what you need to know about competitors’ sales like Target Circle Week and Walmart’s holiday sales event. Experts also noted the differences between Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.
Skip What to buy on Prime Day | What to skip shopping on Prime Day | Prime Day vs. Black Friday | How to save the most money during Prime Day | Why trust NBC Select?
What to buy on Prime Day
Prime Big Deal Day is in October, which is usually when people start thinking about holiday shopping. That’s why brands offer deep discounts on giftable items like toys and gift cards during the event, Shand said. “Unlike many popular gifts such as clothing and home decor, toys tend to sell out during the busy holiday shopping season,” she says. “If your child is interested in a particular toy and you see it available at a discount on Prime Big Deal Day, we encourage you to buy it instead of waiting.” For discounted gift cards: It’s basically like adding free money to your wallet, Shand says.
A variety of beauty products, especially from luxury brands, is also expected to be on sale. Halloween is just around the corner, so keep an eye out for discounted prices when shopping for decorations and costumes.
As with previous Prime Days, Shand said there will be “significant price reductions” on Amazon-owned products this October. Find deals up to 50% off on Echo speakers, Ring doorbells, Blink smart home devices, and Amazon Essentials apparel and home goods. Shand especially recommends looking for a discounted video doorbell if you’re concerned about porch piracy this season. “Purchasing a smart doorbell now will help you keep tabs on the many holiday packages arriving at your doorstep in the coming months,” she says.
Finally, many small kitchen appliances tend to go on sale during Prime Day, but you may find even better deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. That said, if you want something special to help you prepare for Thanksgiving, buy it during Prime Big Deal Day, Shand says.
lightning deal
Lightning Deals are time-limited sales that are available in limited quantities. There are regular sales during Prime Day, but you can’t plan because you don’t know exactly what will be on sale. Lightning Deals tend to be one of the most competitive discounts Amazon offers during the 48-hour event, so it’s important to keep an eye on them.
Things you shouldn’t buy on Prime Day
Prime Big Deal Days are about a month before Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Although there are many comparable discounts available, there are a few product categories that experts recommend skipping until November.
Non-Amazon technology: TVs, phones, laptops, computer monitors, headphones and speakers are good to shop for during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, says Vipin Porwal, CEO and consumer savings expert at Smarty . Amazon and other big retailers have a much wider selection and better overall discounts. Large kitchen appliances, cookware, and tableware: Unless you need something before Thanksgiving, wait until Black Friday and Cyber Monday to buy these items. Polwal said that’s when the most options are sold. Vacuums: It’s unlikely to sell out over the holidays, so if you can wait a few weeks to buy between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you should. Clothing and footwear: Fashion-related items typically don’t stand out in terms of Prime Day’s biggest savings, Shand says. “It’s better to wait until a pre-Black Friday sale where you can look at other retailers’ sales and compare them to Amazon’s products,” she says.
Prime Day and Black Friday: What’s the difference?
In recent years, more brands and retailers have started offering early Black Friday discounts in mid-October. That way, shoppers will be able to take advantage of the discounts for a full month instead of five days from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday. Amazon strategically holds Prime Big Deal Day in early October, essentially kickstarting early Black Friday shopping. And other retailers are following suit, with Target, Walmart and Best Buy holding their own October savings events around Prime Big Deal Day.
That said, there are some advantages and disadvantages to Prime Big Deal Day shopping that experts should be aware of.
Benefits: Only Prime members have access to Prime Big Deal Day, but Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are usually accessible to everyone. To create a special shopping experience for Prime members this October, some brands will offer discounts that weren’t available on Prime Day in July, and on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Porwal said. cannot be used again. That means Prime Big Deal Day may be your only chance to save on certain items all year long. The advantage: With so many people shopping at once on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, popular items can sell out quickly, Powal says. There is less competition for products during Prime Big Deal Days because only Prime members receive discounts. So if you or a loved one has an item on your wish list that’s expected to sell out, Shand says it’s a good idea to buy it during Prime Day so you don’t risk missing out. Cons: Several retailers hold their own savings events around that time of year. Almost every brand and retailer on Prime Day will have a Black Friday or Cyber Monday sale. This means shoppers will be able to compare more product types and prices at more retailers in November, Porwal said.
How to save the most money during Prime Day
Planning is the key to saving money during Prime Day. This will keep you focused and ensure you take advantage of the best deals possible. Below are some ways experts recommend to prepare for Prime Big Deal Day.
Sign up to receive notifications about discounts
Amazon offers a number of tools that loyalty members can use to receive notifications about sales during Prime Day. And in many cases, receiving alerts about products that are high on your wish list can make a big difference. “We’ve seen good inventory on Prime Day recently, but many of the lowest-priced deals are in limited supply and are gone while they last,” Porwal said.
With this in mind, use the following tools to receive notifications about Prime Day discounts.
Amazon Listings: Add featured products to Amazon listings through the retailer’s app or website. When the prices of items on your list drop, Amazon categorizes them in the Deals tab, making it easy to quickly find discounts. Deal Alerts: Instead of adding specific products to your Amazon list, you can choose to receive deal alerts based on general or recent searches. Items viewed. Once Prime Day begins, you’ll receive alerts about related sales. Alexa Deal Alerts: Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa, can notify you up to 24 hours before a deal starts for items on your list, in your shopping cart, or saved for later. You can ask Alexa to notify you when a transaction is initiated, and you can give Alexa permission to order items on your behalf using your account’s default payment method and shipping address.
make a shopping list
Prime Big Deal Days and comparable savings events are aimed at impulse purchases. Retailers are betting that shoppers will be seduced by sale items and add more items to their carts than originally planned. That’s why it’s important to make a shopping list. This will keep you organized and reduce the temptation to spend money on unnecessary purchases.
To create a shopping list, think about the products you intended to buy, replenish, or replace. These are your top priorities. Next, think about what you want, like new jeans or an e-book reader. If you find a bargain or end up spending less than you budgeted for, hope can guide the rest of your shopping.
Creating a shopping list can also save time, says Shand. Many of Amazon’s Prime Day sales last only a few hours or sell out quickly, so you don’t want to waste your time searching for sale pages or reading day-of reviews. With a shopping list, you can quickly check if the items you want are on sale and check out.
Focus on featured sellers
During Prime Day, keep an eye out for products featured on the sale homepage, says Porwal. “These sellers pay a premium to Amazon to feature their best products, often at the lowest prices ever,” he says. “These deals tend to have time limits, so keep that in mind.”
Conversely, be wary of sellers you’ve never heard of. “Many of the Prime Day sale items are overstocked and retailers are trying to clear them while they have a large audience,” Porwal said. “If it’s from an unknown seller or a brand you’re not familiar with, and you don’t really need it, it may not be worth the risk to save money.”
comparison shop
Other retailers hold their own October discount events around Prime Big Deal Days, so it’s important to compare prices between sites. As retailers compete for shopping carts, they tend to “price chase” each other. This means that products sold at multiple retailers are likely to have accurate (or nearly accurate) price tags across the board. In these cases, deciding which retailer to buy from comes down to comparing factors such as shipping charges, reward points, product rebates, and cash-back offers, says Porwal. Although rare, some retailers may match prices with Amazon sales, so please contact us if you’re interested.
We recommend using a price tracker such as Keepa, CamelCamelCamel, or Honey to help you compare. They track pre-sale and on-sale prices and allow you to sign up for price drop alerts for specific products.
Also note that during the October Savings Event, major retailers like Walmart and Target may discount items that Amazon doesn’t carry. For example, Target owns several brands such as Brightroom, Casaluna, and Heyday. For this reason, Polwal says it’s worth browsing through competing sales to see if there are any unique deals worth buying.
Consider paying by credit card
If you’re interested in using your credit card to shop on Prime Day, you may be able to earn points, cash back, and take advantage of exclusive offers. Certain cards also offer welcome bonuses. For example, Prime members can get a $150 Amazon Gift Card when they get approved for a Prime Visa from October 2nd to 31st, and an $80 Amazon Gift Card when they get approved for a Prime Store Card from October 3rd to 9th. You can earn cards. Additionally, Prime Cardmembers can take advantage of Amazon’s Prime Card Bonus to earn more than 10% on select Prime Big Deals Day sales.
Research Return Policy
Generally, there are no special return policies for items purchased on Amazon Prime Day. However, we recommend that you read the seller’s return policy carefully before checking out, so you know how long you have to return the item if necessary.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have expertise and authority based on relevant training and experience. We also ensure that all professional advice and recommendations are rendered independently and without any private financial conflicts of interest.
Vipin Porwal is the CEO and consumer savings expert at Smarty. Mackenzie Shand is RetailMeNot’s shopping expert.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m an associate updates editor at NBC Select and have been covering Amazon Prime Day for five years. I’ve written numerous sales stories, as well as explanations of the history of Prime Day, Amazon’s return policy, and Prime membership. In this article, we interviewed two experts about what to shop for and skip during Prime Big Deal Day, and how to save the most money during the event.
Check out NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, technology and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Twitter Stay up to date with TikTok.
