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Tips for successful Prime Day shopping, according to an actual shopping expert

This article was originally published on Oct. 8, 2020, and was updated on June 8, 2021.

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Amazon Prime Day is around the corner. The annual shopping event, which historically takes place in July, is being bumped up to June 21-22 this year after being delayed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two-day sale, exclusively for Prime members, will feature steep discounts on electronics, fashion, home, kitchen and more.

However, with tens of thousands of products that will be included in the massive sale, we know shopping can get overwhelming. Sara Skirboll, a shopping and trends expert at RetailMeNot, shared her tips and tricks when it comes to navigating Prime Day 2021.

Ahead, we’re sharing Skirboll’s top five tips for successful Prime Day shopping along with other intel that will ease your shopping woes. Take a look.

1. “Be ready when the festivities begin and check back often.”

The early bird gets the worm when it comes to Amazon Prime Day 2021 deals. Top deals will go fast — so make sure you’re ready.
The early bird gets the worm when it comes to Amazon Prime Day 2021 deals. Top deals will go fast — so make sure you’re ready.

“Amazon Prime Day’s best bargains are available in limited quantities,” Skirboll says. “As a Prime member, you’ll get advance notice, but if it’s one of those 4K big-screen TVs you’re after or a Nintendo Switch, be ready to pounce before they’re all gone.”

2. “Create your own wish list.”

HAGERSTOWN, MD, USA - MAY 5, 2017: Image of an Amazon packages. Amazon is an online company and is the largest retailer in the world.
Amazon wish lists are an easy way to track if the items you want are on sale.

When you create an Amazon wish list, “Amazon will notify you if any of the items you’re coveting become Prime Day deals,” Skirboll says. An Amazon wish list is an easy way to keep an eye on whether items you want actually are included in any Prime Day promotions.

3. “Keep Lightning Deals on your radar.”

Prime Day lightning deals might be some of the best deals of the day — but they’re also the shortest.
Prime Day lightning deals might be some of the best deals of the day — but they’re also the shortest.

“These super-limited offers are the best-of-the-best and never last long,” Skirboll says. “[In 2019], to qualify as a lightning deal, a product had to be at least 20% off its list price. Once you put a lightning deal in your cart, you only have about 15 minutes to transact.”

4. “Consider getting the Amazon Prime credit card.”

mother with her children shopping on line from their living room
The Amazon Prime credit card is an easy way to make sure you’re getting the most out of Amazon every time you shop.

When you sign up for an Amazon Prime credit card, “You’ll immediately get a $70 gift card and 5% back on all Amazon purchases,” Skirboll says. Learn more about the Amazon Prime credit card and decide whether it’s the right fit for your lifestyle.

5. “Remember, Amazon isn’t the only one offering deals on Prime Day.”

Look beyond Amazon for Prime Day 2021 deals. Various shopping destinations like Nordstrom, Best Buy, Macy’s, Walmart, Target and more will be offering competitive Prime Day sales, too.
Look beyond Amazon for Prime Day 2021 deals. Various shopping destinations like Nordstrom, Best Buy, Macy’s, Walmart, Target and more will be offering competitive Prime Day sales, too.

“Yes, Prime Day is an Amazon-exclusive event, but competitors are eager to tap into the wallets of shoppers who are already online that day looking to spend,” Skirboll says. “[In 2019], RetailMeNot noted 200 retailers getting in on the Prime Day action.”

It’s important to remember that some deals have already started early. From fashion deals to kitchen gadgets, Amazon released a slew of early daily deals to give shoppers a head start on Prime Day.

As for what to expect, Skirboll says, “We can safely assume that Amazon will slash prices on its own devices and brands, such as the Echo Dot, Alexa-enabled devices, Kindles, Fire tablets, Amazon Newsstand and Prime Video channels.”

Not an Amazon Prime member? Sign up here.

If you enjoyed this story, you might want to bookmark our full guide to Prime Day 2021 coverage.

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Contributors: Laura Galvan and Brittany Nims

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