Prime Day Is Here! How to Unlock Hidden Deals Only Insiders Know, Like How to Get a Free $150 Amazon Gift Card!
Score bigger savings with secret coupons, cashback tricks and little-known Prime discounts
Amazon Prime Day is back once again, allowing shoppers the chance to snag new and favorite finds at a great price. When is Prime Day exactly? The upcoming sales event is being held over a two-day period from October 7 to 8, so you have even more time to shop the exclusive deals across the site. Though you’ll no doubt save some money during the sale, there are additional tricks that can help you cut down on costs. From coupons and discounted memberships to the Amazon Resale store, discover how you can shop for less.
Save on Prime membership With Prime Access—here’s how to qualify
A Prime membership can be costly at $14.99 per month or $139 annually. To help make Prime more accessible for those on a fixed budget, the company offers what is known as Prime Access. As part of this membership discount program, qualifying recipients who receive EBT or other government assistance can save 50 percent on their monthly membership. This brings the cost down to $6.99 per month.
To verify eligibility, you must provide an image that shows a card or document proving you qualify. The accepted options:
- Supplemental Security Income letter
- SNAP/EBT Card Medicaid letter
- Direct Express Debit Card
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families letter
- National School Lunch Program letter
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program letter
- Women, Infants, and Children program letter
- Image of Tribal assistance eligibility letter
- Puerto Rico’s Nutrition Assistance Program’s Family Card
Once you’re approved, you can start enjoying all the perks of Prime and take advantage of the discounts. You’ll be able to reverify your eligibility every 12 months for up to four years to continue receiving the discount.
If you’re not sure if Prime a good fit for you, there is an option to try Prime Access free for up to 30 days. This gives you time to experience all the benefits and decide if it’s worth continuing.
Unlock secret Amazon coupons most shoppers never find
Prime Days are all about savings, but there’s another way to get even greater deals while you shop: coupons! This well-hidden Amazon feature is available to all customers, but there are reportedly deals that are also exclusive to Prime members.
On a desktop version of the web page, you can click “Today’s Deal” and then select “Coupons” in the next tab. It will show you all of the items that have coupons available, and you can filter by department, brand, price, discount and more.
To apply the coupon, make sure you click the box next to the coupon flag right below the item’s price. Then the discount will automatically apply once you check out.
Shop Amazon Resale for quality items at a fraction of the cost
Amazon Resale, formerly known as Amazon Warehouse, consistently provides deals on quality pre-owned and open box products from third-party sellers. You can find everything from smart TVs and dining room tables to lunch boxes and car phone holders. When you look at an individual product, you will be able to see all of the sellers who have the item available for purchase, as well as the price for which they are selling it.
If you’re hesitant about purchasing a used product online, here’s some peace of mind: All items sold on Amazon Resale go through a quality check, with the condition of each item carefully tested. Every product is then labeled as “like new,” “very good,” “good” or “acceptable.”
You may be able to get a barely used item for a fraction of the cost and still have it work like new! (For example, this three-quart Instant Pot is being sold as “very good” for $47 when it normally costs $90.)
Save even more on Amazon Prime Day with credit card cashback
If you use a credit card to make your Prime Day purchases, you could end up with more money back in your pocket. Many cards offer cash back (as much as 6 percent in some cases), which you can use to help pay for what’s in your Amazon cart. If you don’t have existing cash back, you can still earn money back when you shop on Prime Day to use for future shopping.
Here are some credit cards that are known to give shoppers high cash-back rates for Amazon purchases:
- U.S. Bank Shopper Cash
- Chase Freedom Flex
- Bank of America Customized Cash
- Wells Fargo Active Cash
- Citi Custom Cash
There are also Amazon-specific credit cards worth considering. Prime Visa is available exclusively to Prime members and it has no annual fee beyond your Prime membership cost.
Members can expect a plethora of rewards with this card, including 5 percent cash back on both Amazon and Chase Travel purchases. Even better: You’ll receive a $150 Amazon gift card once you’re approved. It will instantly be loaded into your Amazon account’s Gift Card Balance so you can immediately start using it to shop.
Non-Prime members have a great option too. The Amazon Visa Card offers 3 percent cash back and has no annual fee. Once you’re approved for this credit card, you’ll automatically receive a $50 Amazon gift card.
Make sure you’re getting a true deal—here’s how to check price history
It’s no secret that many items have their prices increased prior to the sales event, which means the promoted discount may not actually be as good as you may think. If you’re wondering if a Prime Day deal is worth it, your best bet is to look at the price history, suggest the experts at PCWorld.com.
Websites like Keepa and Camel Camel Camel break down the price history for items as recently as the past month, but you can even see what it was being sold for a year ago. Both sites also have a section for price drops, so you can easily see what items have some of the best discounts that may not be as obvious on the Amazon home page.
Know which “deals” to avoid on Prime Day
Shopping strategically means knowing which categories offer the best Prime Day deals—and which ones to skip. Some categories consistently offer deep discounts during Prime Day, while others are better saved for different sales events.
Categories to consider on Prime Day:
- Small home and kitchen appliances
- Personal tech and gadgets (cell phones, smartwatches, etc.)
- Gift cards
- Seasonal decor
- Everyday essentials
For some products you don’t need right away, you’re better off waiting for other sales events or buying the items elsewhere.
Categories to skip:
- TVs
- Laptops
- Home appliances
- Kitchen appliances
- Gaming-related products
- Winter fashion
- Indoor furniture
- Mattresses
Many of these items will be on sale for Black Friday, likely with better deals.
Can you use a free trial for Prime Day deals?
If you aren’t already a Prime member and want to be able to take advantage of the deals, there’s still time. As long as you have a current, valid credit card, you can usually sign up for a 30-day free trial.
Go to the Amazon Prime website, select the option to start a free trial if the option is offered, then follow the on-screen instructions. Your free trial will include the free two-day shipping, Prime Video and Prime Music.
At the end of the trial, you’ll automatically be upgraded to a paid membership plan unless you end the temporary membership yourself first.
Whether you’re already a Prime member or planning to sign up ahead of the sales event, expect to find some great deals perfect for your holiday shopping or every day needs!
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