Even when a big sale isn’t happening, these tricks can save you money.
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Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is an opportunity to find discounts on products you may have been eyeing and waiting to go on sale. But you don’t need to wait for a big event to save money at the giant retailer.
These eight tips will help you get the best prices — or even money back — whenever you shop at Amazon. Don’t forget, also, to steer clear of common Amazon mistakes.
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Clip those on-page coupons or discount codes
In the physical retail world, clipping printed coupons can earn you discounts at local stores with minimal effort. That idea has crossed into Amazon, shopping with a small coupon checkbox. Just like the physical coupons, you have to take action on an Amazon item when a coupon is available. Click that box.
Want to find more products with coupons? Look for the Coupon Deals section to browse current click-it discounts.
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Take Prime for a 30-day spin
Many Amazon Prime Day deals are (as the name suggests) for Prime members only, but we won’t hold it against you if you’re hesitant to kick in a yearly $139 fee just to save money elsewhere. You can, however, try Prime for 30 days and take advantage of its features. After the period is up, you’re automatically charged for the Prime Monthly plan at $15 per month (which calculates out to $180 per year) unless you cancel.
And if you do choose to stay on Prime, be sure to use these Amazon Prime perks.
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Set up deal alerts in the Amazon app
Is anyone clamoring for more notifications? When they’re actually targeted to your interests and relate to a specific event such as Prime Day sales, they can be useful. In the Amazon app on your phone or tablet, view your account (tap the person icon) and locate Deal alerts or Deals and recommendations in the Message center or Notifications settings (the specific location varies by operating system).
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Check other colors and configurations
When you’re looking at an item on Amazon, look below the large listed price to see if there are other variations. Prices may vary for other colors — a purple one might be on sale, but the standard black could be even cheaper. Or perhaps Amazon is looking to offload unpopular colors or patterns.
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Poke around Amazon Resale deals
What if you don’t have Amazon Prime? Sure, Amazon prefers that you join its membership club (which has a host of perks), but it’s not necessary to take advantage of huge savings. Amazon Resale Deals include discounts for preowned, used and open-box products in nearly every category.
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Order via Alexa if you think you might need to return items
Online ordering is convenient and can be done at any time of the day, but it’s still a hands-off experience. Without seeing something in person, there’s always the risk that an item won’t fit, is larger than the photos suggested or just isn’t right for some other reason. If you think you may need to return something and you have an Amazon Echo smart device, order it using Alexa. Physical merchandise (except Amazon Pharmacy items) ordered via Alexa Voice Shopping can be returned for free regardless of reason.
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Subscribe and Save for less stress
Is the onslaught of Prime Day sales too stressful to wade through? For items you use regularly, sign up for Subscribe and Save, which provides a recurring discount of up to 15% and automatic shipping on a schedule you set. Say goodbye to hazy pre-caffeine mornings when you realize you’re out of coffee filters — new ones will arrive before the old ones are used up.
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Consider the Amazon Prime Visa credit card
The tactical application of a credit card can save you money, earn cash back on purchases and knock off a big chunk of your Prime Day purchases. If you’re a Prime member and qualify for Amazon’s Prime Visa, you can start off with a $100 gift card upon approval. You’ll also get 5% cash back on items you order via Amazon’s website, Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh and 2% back at many other vendors.
If that sounds appealing, be sure to check out CNET’s look at all the details about the Prime Visa.