Get ready to shop: Amazon Prime Day is July 16 and 17, 2024.
It’s one of the biggest shopping events of the year, but is Amazon Prime Day really a good time to find great deals? Here’s everything you need to know.
Amazon Prime Day: Table of Contents
- It’s (Almost) Always in the Summer
- Prime Day Is Typically More Than One Day
- You Have To Be an Amazon Prime Member
- There Are Deals in a Variety of Categories
- But Not Everything Is a Deal
- Other Retailers Offer Sales on Prime Day
- It’s Not Your Last Chance To Find Bargains
It’s (Almost) Always in the Summer
Amazon Prime Day is Tuesday, July 16 and Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
While the shopping holiday typically takes place in the middle of the year, it was once moved to October (in 2020) because of the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s a look at the history of Amazon Prime Day dates.
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2024 | July 16-17 |
| 2023 | July 11-12 |
| 2022 | July 12-13 |
| 2021 | June 21-22 |
| 2020 | October 13-14 |
| 2019 | July 15-16 |
| 2018 | July 16-17 |
| 2017 | July 11-12 |
| 2016 | July 12 |
| 2015 | July 15 |
Prime Day Is Typically More Than One Day
Amazon Prime Day started in 2015 as a one-day-only shopping event exclusively for Amazon Prime members.
Over the years, Amazon Prime Day has extended beyond one day to more than 48 hours. This year, Prime Day will last 48 hours. And Amazon is already starting to post early deals now for Prime members.
You Have To Be an Amazon Prime Member
Only Amazon Prime members can access Prime Day deals. An Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99/month or $139/year. In addition to access to Prime Day, membership includes free and fast delivery, Prime Video, ad-free music streaming, photo storage and more. If you are a Prime member and have an Amazon credit card, you can save 5% on every purchase on Prime Day and year-round.
How To Save on an Amazon Prime Membership
Depending on how much you use Amazon or its other products like Prime Video, an Amazon Prime membership may not be worth $139 every year to you. Here are a few ways to save:
- Free Trial: You can try Amazon Prime for free for 30 days. If you time it right, your free trial can occur during Prime Day. Just remember to cancel if you decide not to become a member.
- Student Discount: Students can get Amazon Prime for $7.49/month or $69/year.
- Government Assistance Discount: Qualifying government assistance recipients get a discount on Amazon Prime. It costs $6.99/month.
If you are curious about becoming a Prime member, read our comprehensive guide to see if Amazon Prime is really worth it.
There Are Deals on a Variety of Brands and Categories
This year, the e-commerce giant promises low prices on certain products, including “up to 40% off Sony Wireless Headphones and up to 30% off Peloton products.”
During previous Prime Day events, we’ve seen deals on Amazon devices such as the Fire TV Stick, Kindle, Fire tablet and Echo Dot. We’ve also seen prices drop on laptops, televisions, genetic testing kits, Instant Pots and more.
But Not Everything Is a Deal
Not every single discount on Prime Day is really a deal. Money expert Clark Howard has a warning:
“The thing I’ve always noticed about Prime Day is they have certain items that are a deal, and then a bunch of items that I call ‘non-sale sales’: They’re pretending to be great deals — but are not.”
Other Retailers Offer Sales on Prime Day
As is customary, rival retailers have rolled out the sales to compete with Amazon Prime Day.
Target
This year, Target is planning a week-long event, Target Circle Week, running from July 7-13, 2024. The retailer promises “50% off select toys, up to 40% off kitchen items and 30% off family apparel.” The event is for Target Circle members, which is the retailer’s free-to-join loyalty program.
Walmart
At Walmart, the store is running its Walmart Deals sale from Monday, July 8 at 5 p.m. ET through Thursday, July 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The retailer says it will showcase big deals on electronics, back-to-school items, toys, travel and more.
Best Buy usually joins the party as well so keep an eye out.
It’s Not Your Last Chance To Find Bargains in 2024
While several popular retailers will likely offer deals on Prime Day, you don’t have to wait. The team at Clark Deals searches the web and compares prices to share the best prices on products from companies you can trust.
Sign up for the Clark Deals daily newsletter to receive the very best deals from around the internet every day.
Final Thoughts
You can probably expect to find a great deal or two on Amazon Prime Day, but Team Clark has a few pieces of advice before you start shopping:
- Never buy something just because it’s a deal.
- Always comparison shop to make sure you’re getting the best price.
Free tools such as Camelcamelcamel and ShopSavvy can help you determine whether you’re really getting a deal. And remember to check out Clark Deals to find the very best deals from around the internet every day.
Are you buying any Amazon Prime Day deals? Let us know in the Clark.com community and see what others are buying.
