We’re deals experts – three things to always buy on Amazon Prime Day and what to avoid
AMAZON PRIME day is one of the biggest discount shopping events of the year- but customers should be careful not to get duped by a bad deal.
The 48-hour flash sale, which is available exclusively for Prime members, runs from 16 to 17 July 2024.
First launched in 2015, Prime Day was originally a once-a-year event, but since 2022, Amazon has delivered two events per year — one in the original July slot and one in October.
But with household budgets tighter than ever, it’s important not to waste your hard earned cash on products that aren’t actually good value.
The Sun spoke to a number of deal experts who have shared the areas to watch that are actually a good deal, as well as those to avoid.
What to buy
“Every year I stay up throughout Prime Day and hand pick the best deals,” Tom Church, co-founder of money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk told The Sun.
“There are thousands. But you have to be careful as many aren’t as good as they seem. Genuine bargains are there for the steal, so keep your eyes peeled – and here are some tips”.
Tech Gadgets
Amazon often offers significant discounts on electronics like headphones, smart speakers, and tablets, and Prime Day is no different.
But Tom said to also look out for other tech gadgets, such as power tools and garden appliances.
“For example, last year, I spotted a Flymo Turbo Lite 1400W Lawn Mower for £58.99 delivered instead of the usual £79.99, a great saving for anyone needing to upgrade their gardening tools,” he explained.
Amazon Devices
Prime Day is also said to be one of the best times to purchase Amazon’s own products like Echo Dots, Fire Tablets, and Kindle e-readers.
Tom says these devices can often be on sale for half price.
The expert also said items such as ring video doorbells and security cameras are already on offer, so now would be a good time to sort out your home security.
However, it is important to be wary of the added subscription costs that come with some of these devices, as they can add extra costs on top of already paying for the item and wipe out any savings.
Household Essentials
Items like vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances, and storage solutions are also often heavily discounted too.
“For instance, you might find a Shark vacuum cleaner reduced from £299 to £179 – but you’ll still want to compare prices,” Tom added.
STAYNG SAFE WHEN YOU SHOP
THE SUN spoke to Vonny Gamot, head of EMEA at online protection company, McAfee who has explained how to stay safe when you shop this Prime Day
For many, Amazon Prime Day is a fantastic opportunity to grab a bargain.
But unfortunately as the offers start to roll out, so do fake deals and scams, as cybercriminals attempt to cash in on the consumer rush to purchase discounted products.
Many online scams play on emotions with a sense of urgency in their message, so it’s important to look out for this sign. And remember, when something appears too good to be true, it’s probably because it isn’t true!
In addition to fake deals, scammers will target victims by sending fake order confirmations via email or text.
Packed with an attachment or a link to a fake website, they’ll try to get you to download malware or visit a site that attempts to steal your identity.
Scammers may also send a fake email or text warning that there’s a problem with your Amazon account with a link to a site designed to steal your info, including account password.
The best way to keep your online privacy and money safe this Amazon Prime Day, is to avoid clicking any links in emails or texts purporting to be from Amazon and above all, go directly to the Amazon website or app to make any purchases, check the status of orders or to verify any account ‘issues’.
What to avoid
Prime Day can be exciting for shoppers, but it is important to not get carried away and make impulse purchases which aren’t good value.
Here are some of the top categories to avoid.
Unknown brands
Liz Hunter, commercial director at price comparison website Money Expert, said shoppers should be wary of unknown brands.
“While searching on Amazon, you’re likely to come across products from random, unrecognisable brands,” she said.
“These products often undercut key players on price, but without brand reputation, you risk sacrificing quality and durability.
“I’m not saying you should avoid these products entirely – but I would recommend having a careful read of the reviews and only purchasing an item that has a good amount of positive, verified reviews,” she added.
If they have a high rating, it can be a sign that they are a trusted vendor – but it’s always important to check actual seller reviews as well.
Beware of products filled with keywords
Amazon keywords are the words and phrases that people type into the Amazon search bar when looking for a product.
But Charlotte Cartney, Amazon Marketplace Consultant at Add People, has warned that items with too many keywords can be a red flag for shoppers.
“Major brands typically guarantee a certain standard of quality, reliability, and customer support,” she explained.
“Whether you’re shopping for tech or decorations, you’ll encounter many suspiciously cheap items on Amazon.
“These products often have keyword-heavy names like “Bluetooth Wireless Headsets Earphones,” from brands you don’t recognise, often with random capital letters,” she explained.
“You will also notice identical products under different brand names as you keep scrolling.”
Charlotte also said to look out for the “frequently returned” label for items that are often sent back, as this “can help you determine their quality.”
Clothing items
Tom Church also recommends steering clear of using Prime Day as a way to revamp your wardrobe.
He said: “Clothing and shoes may not always be the best deals on Prime Day.
“Other retailers often have exclusive discount codes during Prime Day, so it’s worth comparing prices.”
COMMON PRIME DAY MISTAKES
Katy Phillips, senior brand and communication manager at idealo shares with Sun readers three common Prime Day mistakes
1. Buying something just because its discounted
An obvious rule that is often forgotten about is only buying something you actually need. Over half (59%) of those polled by idealo admitted that they ended up with a product they didn’t want after Prime Day last year.
Just because things are on sale, doesn’t mean you need to buy it! Keep a strict list if there are things you need. Nearly everything on the website will be marked as a ‘prime day deal’ regardless of whether the price has changed.
2. Not doing your research
A whopping 80% of Brits say they never price compare when shopping sale events but experts are urging everyone to spend more researching products before making a purchase.
Before you buy anything on Prime Day, make sure you compare prices elsewhere. Look on price comparison websites to see if it’s cheaper elsewhere and utilise price alerts where possible. These will send you notifications each time a product reaches its lowest price.
3. Not recognising scams
Each year a new scam will arrive just in time for Prime Day, ready to catch shoppers out. A common one includes hoax emails from the Amazon ‘Support Team’ were a new tactic used by criminals to steal people’s personal information.
If you see any emails or offers boasting £50 free to spend on Prime Day – they won’t be real. Make sure you’re on the real Amazon website also, as there may be links that take you to a site that looks similar to Amazon but isn’t the real thing.
How to shop on Amazon Prime Day
If you want access to all the Prime Day deals released throughout the event, you will need to sign up for a Prime membership.
If you have never signed up before, you can opt to use a 30-day free trial offer.
The trial is also available if you haven’t been an Amazon Prime member in the last 12 months.
This basically gives you access to the sale and the perks associated with the membership for nothing.
However, if you choose this route, you will need to remember to cancel before the end of the 30-day trial to avoid being charged.
Set a reminder on your phone or put it in your calendar so you don’t forget.
How much is Amazon Prime?
Amazon Prime costs £8.99 a month to join.
There are other plan options you can sign up for, including paying £95 for an annual subscription.
Outside of access to the sales event, you get same-day delivery, access to Prime Video – which includes films and TV shows – and Amazon Music, as well as a host of exclusive offers and deals throughout the year.
You can cancel your Prime membership at any time, but if you’ve already been charged, the cancellation won’t kick in until the next month.
Saving when you shop
Lots of retailers offer discounts, so it’s a good idea to shop around to make sure you get the best deal.
You don’t only need to use Amazon Prime Day to save on your shop.
There are plenty of comparison websites out there which will check and compare prices for you across hundreds of retailers.
For example, Google Shopping is a tool that lets users search for and compare prices for products across the web. Simply type in keywords, or a product number, to bring up search results.
Price Spy also logs the history of how much something costs from over 3,000 different retailers, including Argos, Amazon, eBay and the supermarkets.
And Trolley.co.uk compares the price of food products.
Once you select an individual product you can quickly compare which stores have the best price and which have it in stock.