Amazon Prime Day 2023: What You Need to Know to Avoid Scams and Score Deals
Amazon Prime Day is here. First introduced in 2015 to celebrate Amazon’s 20th year in business, Amazon Prime Day has become a much-anticipated annual shopping event. Now spanning two days, it offers deep discounts on thousands of products in Amazon’s marketplace.
When Is Amazon Prime Day 2023?
Amazon Prime Day kicks off on Tuesday, July 11 at midnight Pacific time (3 a.m. ET) and runs through Wednesday, July 12.
Do I Need a Prime Membership for Amazon Prime Day?
The short answer is yes. You must be an Amazon Prime member to participate in the sale. The cost of membership is $139 a year.
How to Shop Prime Day
Compare Prices
If you really have your eyes set on specific items, search for it online to cross-reference the prices. According to NBC’s Emilie Ikeda, recent analysis shows that the two-day savings event might not actually offer the best sale. “The 10 most popular items on Prime Day last year were sold for lower prices outside of those deal days,” she said.
Watch for Lightning Deals
One way to find the best sales on Amazon Prime Day is by taking advantage of “Lightning Deals,” which are short-lived discounts that last for a short window of time — expiring when the item sells out or the timer runs out.
You can monitor Lightning Deals on the Amazon Prime Day page and they’ll be easy to spot since they display a countdown timer next to the item.
Ask Alexa
Amazon’s Alexa device can be used to notify you of deals on items in your wish list or products you have “saved for later” in your cart.
Tips on Avoiding Amazon Prime Day Scams and Counterfeits
Amazon does sell many of its own goods and those by name brand companies, but the majority of their listings are from “third-party sellers.”
While many of those merchants are very reputable, some are peddling fake merchandise or advertising amazing deals on something you may want or need, but will result in you getting scammed.
So, if you are planning to take advantage of Prime Day deals, here’s some tips to avoid getting scammed:
- First, only “click” on the Amazon Prime box — that will limit your exposure online to phony or scam ads.
- Avoid clicking on products with “no reviews.” Just about every item for sale will have reviews good or bad, if there are none, consider that your warning.
- Don’t just research the product, research the seller. Google their name along with the word “scam” and see what the search could reveal about prior complaints about the product and the company selling it.
- If there is odd spelling, poor descriptions or bad grammar, that’s another warning sign you could be dealing with a fraudster from overseas.
- Lastly, if the price just seems too good to be true, it probably is. Do some comparison shopping for the same item and if there is a vast difference, you could be dealing with a seller that’s not legit.
Competing Retailer Events and Price-Matching: Other Ways to Score Deals on Prime Day 2023
Some of the nation’s largest retailers are holding competing deal events, including Macy’s and Best Buy’s “Black Friday in July” events and Target’s Circle Week which kicked off on July 9 and lasts through July 15. Walmart is also offering a week of Roll Back deals that kicked off early for Walmart+ members.
Wayfair is having a 72-hour clearout sale and Ulta’s Big Summer Beauty Sale event is going on now until July 15.
Another way to score some savings on Prime Day is to take advantage of price-matching policies offered at major chain retailers.
Target provides in-store price matches for 27 online competitors, including Amazon, Kohls.com and Walmart.com. You can also match prices when shopping at Target.com, but you must call a toll-free number (800-591-3869) to do so.
Best Buy matches prices for online stores that sell electronics, but is limited to five retailers: Amazon, Crutchfield.com, Dell.com, HP.com and TigerDirect. However, Best Buy has a more generous price-matching policy for local brick-and-mortar retail stores. That includes all retailers within a 25-mile radius, not just those specializing in electronics. It even promises to match prices offered at warehouse clubs like Costco, BJ’s and Sam’s Club.
Conclusion:
Amazon Prime Day has become a major event, with thousands of products on sale. While it’s a great opportunity to score deals, it’s important to be aware of potential scams and counterfeits. By following the tips provided, you can make the most of Prime Day and avoid common pitfalls.
FAQs:
Q: What is Amazon Prime Day?
A: Amazon Prime Day is an annual shopping event where Amazon offers deep discounts on thousands of products in its marketplace.
Q: When is Amazon Prime Day 2023?
A: Amazon Prime Day 2023 is on Tuesday, July 11 at midnight Pacific time (3 a.m. ET) and runs through Wednesday, July 12.
Q: Do I need a Prime membership to participate in Amazon Prime Day?
A: Yes, you must be an Amazon Prime member to participate in the sale.
Q: How do I avoid scams on Amazon Prime Day?
A: To avoid scams, only click on the Amazon Prime box, avoid clicking on products with no reviews, research the seller, and be cautious of unrealistic prices.
Q: Are there other ways to score deals on Prime Day?
A: Yes, some retailers are offering competing deal events and price-matching policies, allowing you to score deals even if you’re not an Amazon Prime member.
