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Amazon is set to offer millions of discounts during Prime Big Deal Days, its members-only “October Prime Day” sale scheduled for October 8 and 9. However, consumers should be cautious as not every “deal” may be as promising as it appears.
It can be challenging to determine which offers are genuinely good deals. Here are some pieces of advice from the Mashable Shopping team on what to avoid during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days.
Any deal that seems too good to be true… probably is
Shoppers can verify if an item’s sale price on Amazon is a genuine deal by cross-checking the listing with the manufacturer’s website to confirm its MSRP. Sometimes, Amazon inflates MSRPs to make discounts seem more significant. Additionally, comparing sale prices at other retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target may reveal better offers or matching deals.
The Amazon price-tracking website CamelCamelCamel is also a valuable tool during sales. By entering a product’s Amazon listing into its search bar, users can view the product’s price history. This enables consumers to assess whether a discount is as substantial as it appears.
For instance, Amazon offered an Acer gaming laptop for $769.99 in September 2024, advertising a $75 discount. However, checking Acer’s website revealed that the deal only saved $10.
Similarly, a Rockland luggage set advertised as 56% off at $97.26 was found to have been consistently priced around $90 to $100 for years, putting the discount into a different perspective.
Even deals like the Apple AirPods Pro 2, commonly discounted to $189.99 from $249, are not as rare as they seem. It might be worth waiting for a potential return to their all-time low of $168.99 during Prime Big Deal Days.
Impulse buys: Just say ‘no’
Not every sale item is worth purchasing. Despite the temptation, it’s unnecessary to buy something just because it’s on sale. Echo Pops, for example, may seem appealing at a low price, but potential buyers should ask if they truly need a new smart speaker.
To avoid buyer’s remorse, as experienced by many according to a 2023 Google survey, customers are advised to create a list of needed items before Prime Big Deal Days and adhere to it strictly.
Be cautious of products sold and shipped by third-party sellers
It is advisable to purchase products sold and shipped by Amazon rather than independent third-party merchants. While many third-party sellers offer legitimate products, some may sell counterfeits. Amazon attempts to combat counterfeit items, but certain sellers still manage to list them. Moreover, third-party sellers might have different customer service policies than Amazon.
There are verified official storefronts of brands among third-party sellers, which are generally reliable. Nonetheless, scrutinizing an unfamiliar seller’s reviews for potential red flags is often not worth the effort when there are plenty of deals directly from Amazon.
Consumers can identify the seller by checking the product page, which indicates if the product “Ships from Amazon.com” and is “Sold by Amazon.com.”
If a counterfeit item is unintentionally purchased, or if issues arise with an order, customers can use Amazon’s “A-to-z Guarantee,” which involves an eligibility and claims process.
Last, but not least: Stay away from Ring camera deals
Although numerous Ring deals appear during Prime events, customers are advised against buying Ring’s home security equipment due to privacy concerns and the company’s problematic history with security and data handling, including controversial law enforcement partnerships. These issues raise skepticism about the brand’s reliability, making Ring devices a questionable purchase.
