Key takeaways

  • Amazon announced the new savings event Prime Big Deal Days for October 10 and October 11 of this year, with sales similar to that of Prime Day earlier on July 11 and 12.
  • Frequent shoppers of the retail giant can enjoy sales exclusive to Prime members.
  • Plan your shopping in advance — and consider paying with a rewards credit card that can boost rewards earned on Amazon or general online shopping purchases.

Amazon Prime Day is one of the biggest online shopping events of the year for anyone who loves a great deal, running for two full days on July 11 and July 12, 2023.

If Prime Day didn’t fully scratch your savings itch, you’re in luck: The retail giant announced a second savings event called Amazon Prime Big Deal Days that will also run for two full days — from Tuesday, Oct. 10 through Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.

Knowing what you’re looking for and planning your spending in advance can help you get the best shopping deals ahead of the holiday season. Here’s what you should know about Prime Day 2023 — and Prime Big Deal Days — including tips for making the most of the sale.

What is Prime Day?

It’s Amazon’s biggest, most comprehensive sale of the year that’s reserved exclusively for Prime members. For frequent Amazon shoppers, the savings potential of Prime Day is on par with Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Prime Day began in 2015 to celebrate Amazon’s 20th anniversary, and it’s expanded each year since — a trend that experts say will continue this year.

This year, Amazon also announced an exclusive two days of sales called Amazon Prime Big Deal Days. On October 10 and October 11, you’ll find deep discounts on electronics, housewares, toys, beauty products and more.

Like Prime Day, sales are exclusive to Prime members, and so you must have a Prime membership to take advantage of sale prices. Amazon Prime memberships cost $14.99 a month or $139 if paid annually. Students can get a free six-month trial of Prime, followed by a discounted Prime Student membership for just $7.49 a month or $69 a year. If you don’t yet have a membership, Amazon offers a free 30-day trial period to new members.

Plan your shopping in advance

Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Day items are likely to move quickly, and so it pays to plan your purchases ahead of the sale.

Look for time-sensitive discounts like Prime Day Lightning Deals — or discounted products that are usually limited to one per customer and available for a few hours or until inventory is gone.

Based on advertising within the Amazon app, Prime bargain hunters may be able create deal alerts for holiday items and gifts on your wishlist.

“Amazon’s app allows you to set up Watch this Deal notifications, so you can pounce when an item you want goes on sale,” says Kristin McGrath, a former editor and shopping expert at Offers.com. “Plus, Amazon stokes the Prime Day hype by announcing some deals in advance, or at least deal categories so you can prep your shopping list.”

Amazon-branded items like the Fire tablet, Echo and Kindle tend to be heavily discounted. You’ll also find steep savings on popular tech gadgets like the Ring doorbell camera, Apple Watch and Nintendo Switch. Check your Amazon app and the website throughout the sales event to stay on top of announcements for the lowest prices.

What to add to your shopping list

Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days offer discounts on a vast, wide-ranging assortment of Amazon’s offerings, including a few mainstay categories that experts typically expect to see.

“Historically, we have seen that Amazon offers some of the biggest discounts on their own electronic devices such as Echo, Alexa, Kindle and Fire tablets,” says Sara Bigham, a former shopping and trends expert at RetailMeNot. “This must-shop event is also a great opportunity to purchase other smart-home devices, TVs, appliances — and get a head start on any hot toys that you may want to gift this upcoming holiday season.”

McGrath points specifically to Amazon-owned Fire TV, Echo and Ring products as well as in-house brands like Solimo, which makes everyday goods, instant pots, robot vacuums and more.

Consider rewards credit cards to make the most of Prime Day

If you’re looking to spend big during Amazon’s Prime Day or Prime Big Deal Days, don’t just prepare for what you’ll buy — be savvy about how you’ll make your purchases. By strategically using one of the best credit cards for shopping on Amazon, you can increase your savings even more.

Frequent Amazon shoppers looking to fully reap Prime membership benefits may find the most value in the Prime Visa card (formerly the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card). For no annual fee (besides your Prime membership cost), you’ll earn 5 percent cash back through Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and Chase Travel purchases. Plus, cardmembers with eligible Prime memberships earn an additional 5 percent back on select Amazon purchases through October 12 this year. Bankrate estimates the Prime Visa card is best suited for shoppers who spend more than $2,000 annually with Amazon in order to earn back the membership cost.

Cards with categories focused on online shopping can also help you score rewards on your Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days purchases. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card, for example, offers 3 percent cash back on category purchases of your choice — among them online shopping.

If you’d prefer the simplicity of a flat-rate cash back card, the Citi® Double Cash Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited®* are great options. You’ll earn up to 2 percent back on all spending with the Double Cash (1 percent as you buy and 1 percent as you pay off your purchase) and 1.5 percent back on all non-category spending with the Freedom Unlimited.

The bottom line

Amazon Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days are solid opportunities to save big on purchases at a discount, but take care that you’re not using flashy sales as an excuse to rack up credit card debt on unnecessary items.

“Remember that just because it’s Prime Day and Amazon has something on sale, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the best deal out there,” Bigham says. “Do your due diligence and price compare.”

*Information about the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has been collected independently by Bankrate. Card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.