GoKawiilAmazon Prime Day is one of the most confusing shopping holidays in existence: It’s not even a single “day" anymore. Amazon promises “millions of deals”—but the displayed discounts are often misleading, and while it’s advertised as a members-only event, some deals are available to people who don’t subscribe to Prime. Add in the frenzy of limited-time Lightning Deals and you’ve got a perfect recipe for spending too much money on stuff you don't even really want.
Fear not! I've been covering deals for over a decade and am here to help. WIRED’s Reviews team is familiar with common shopping pitfalls, and we closely track the best Prime Day deals. What time do sales start and end? How do you tell whether a deal is actually a deal? We pooled our collective expertise to get you prepared for the latest Amazon Prime Day, which will be from June 23 to June 26 this year.
When Is Amazon Prime Day?
Amazon Prime Day has a main sale in the summer and a secondary sale—previously called Prime Big Deal Days—in the autumn. This year Prime Day will run June 23 to June 26.
When Do Prime Day Deals Start?
The event always kicks off at 3 am Eastern time (midnight Pacific). WIRED will cover the best Prime Day deals from both Amazon and retailers that have competing sales.
Are Prime Day Deals Only for Prime Members?
Officially, yes. You need to be an Amazon Prime member to shop Amazon Prime Day deals. There is a free 30-day trial available for new accounts. (Prime membership comes with a lot of perks, and we've rounded up all of them here.) The trial will let you get in on the sale—just remember to cancel your membership to avoid any subsequent $15 monthly renewal charges.
There are usually some discounts available if you're not a subscriber (although those deals might not be that great). Other major retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart typically hold competing sales during Prime Day. The prices are often close to what Amazon is offering on the same products, and sometimes the competing sales match the Prime Day price exactly. This is a good way to save even if you object to shopping on Amazon.
Is Prime Day Worth It?
... continue reading