Amazon is America's second favorite retail giant (just behind Walmart), according to the National Retail Federation's 2024 Top 100 Retailers report. (Who came in third? Costco).
No question, Amazon comes in at number two for good reason. You can find a huge selection of products and services. And if you're a Prime member, you'll also get free, one or two-day shipping on all eligible items, as well as access to digital storage for your photos, video streaming, music, audio books and so many more Prime exclusive benefits.
Although there are dozens of reasons to join Prime, Amazon did hike the price of its subscription in 2022. So you might be thinking about canceling your Prime membership or even switching over to a Walmart Plus membership to see what America's number one retailer has to offer.
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Before you pull the plug, take a look at these 10 ways to save when shopping on Amazon. Some of these money-saving hacks require a Prime membership. But, if you're not sure it's worth joining, Amazon is letting shoppers try out Amazon Prime for free for 30 days. Tap the button below to start your free trial.
1. Shop Woot! deals
Woot! is Amazon’s daily deals site where you can get deals and discounts on everything from clothing to home items and electronics. These aren't your average discounts, either. Shoppers can regularly find items on sale for as much as 96% off.
What's the catch? Woot! deals are only available for a limited time and have a limited stock. Once an item sells out, the deal is gone for good. So check back daily to see what’s available, because offers change all the time.
A good rule of thumb: check Woot! first for anything you're planning to buy on Amazon. You might get lucky and find what you want at a steep discount.
If you're a Prime member, you’ll get free standard shipping on all Woot! purchases. If you're not a member, you'll pay a flat $6 fee per order for standard shipping.
2. Use Amazon coupons
You read that right. Amazon offers coupons — clickable coupons, link coupons and promo codes that automatically apply to your cart or require you to enter the code during checkout.
If there's a coupon available for the product you want, you'll typically see a small orange "coupon" banner underneath the price on the product page. But the easiest way to find Amazon coupons is on Amazon’s Coupon Page.
If you’re about to order an item and you're not set on a specific brand, check to see if there’s a similar item that has a coupon attached.
When you log on and start searching for coupons, you may notice that most name-brands do not offer coupons. No fear. Come back often as new coupons are added daily and you never know what will pop up.
Just remember to click the box next to the coupon to actually apply it to your order. If you don't, you'll pay full price even though a coupon was available.
3. Search for lightning deals
When you're looking for great bargains, search lightning deals on Amazon where you can find discounts of over 70% on some items. But many of these deals are temporary and fly out the door quickly, so don't hesitate too long.
You’ll see a status bar that indicates when the deal expires — this will either be a countdown clock showing when the deal expires or a percentage of deals claimed by customers.
4. Set up subscribe and save
There are certain items that you always need around the house, like coffee, vitamins and paper towels. These are often available at a discounted price through Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program.
If there's a discounted price, you'll see it on the product page, so you can see how much you'll save by signing up for a subscription vs. making a one-off purchase.
There are thousands of qualifying products available. Just pick the quantity and delivery frequency that works for you. You have the option to cancel or change your subscription settings at any time.
Plus, once you order five or more Subscribe & Save products in a month to a single address, you’ll unlock extra price discounts. Best of all, it takes the guesswork out of shopping for everyday items, and you can save.
5. Select no-rush shipping
On certain orders, you'll see the option to choose no-rush shipping. Not only is this option free, but it comes with either an instant discount on your current order or, if you're a Prime member, cash back or other rewards to use on future purchases.
If you don't need your Amazon package right away, choosing no-rush shipping on your order is great way to save a little more on your order.
The option isn't available on every item and there's no real way to search for products that are eligible for no-rush shipping. So just keep an eye out every time you checkout on Amazon to see if it's listed as a shipping option.
6. Get free shipping without a Prime membership
If you don't order from Amazon often enough to warrant spending $139 a year or $14.99 per month for Prime membership, there are a couple of other ways to get your occasional orders delivered free.
When you order $35 worth of eligible products, your entire order qualifies for free standard shipping, which typically takes five to eight business days.
If your order doesn't quite meet the $35 threshold, consider throwing in a household staple or other essential item you'd have to buy anyway. This can help you qualify for free shipping without forcing you to spend on things you wouldn't normally buy.
7. Shop Amazon Resale deals
When eligible used, pre-owned and open-box products are returned to Amazon, they often show up on Amazon Resale. You can find deep discounts on everything from computers and household goods to tools and pet supplies.
Everything listed on Amazon Resale goes through a quality check and is rated based on its condition. So you'll see items ranging from "like new" to "as is." However, the used price is not always that much better than buying new so always compare before you buy.
The biggest savings are on items with more signs of wear and tear. So this trick is best used for products that you don't mind a few dents or scratches on.
8. Shop Amazon Haul
One of Amazon's newer saving options is Amazon Haul. Available on mobile devices only, Amazon Haul is a regularly-updated marketplace featuring items available at extremely low prices.
Everything on Amazon Haul costs $20 or less, and you'll find plenty of things listed for as low as $1. While you won't find the latest iPhone there, it's a great way to save on items where quality doesn't really matter.
Are you stocking up on disposable plates and napkins for an upcoming backyard barbecue? Are you assembling gifts bags for the guests at your kid's birthday? Are you tired of forking out $20+ for sunglasses that you inevitably lose a month or two later?
Amazon Haul is the place to stock up on ultra-cheap goods.
9. Get the Prime Visa credit card
You may be hesitant to apply for another credit card, but if you shop a lot on Amazon, the Prime Visa card is worth checking out.
The biggest perks are reserved for Prime members only. If you're a member, you'll get 5% back on all Amazon and Audible purchases made with the card. You'll also get 5% on Chase Travel.
Amazon also offers a rotating selection of products on its website that earn 10% cash back for Prime members who pay with their Prime Visa card.
But there are other perks that you can enjoy without splurging on a membership. All cardholders earn unlimited 5% cashback at Whole Foods Market. You'll also get 2% back at restaurants and gas stations.
This all comes with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
10. Add someone to your Prime account
If the $139 annual or $14.99 per month membership fee isn't worth it to you, there's a way to split it with someone else. One of the lesser known benefits of Amazon Prime is Amazon Family (formerly Amazon Household). This feature allows you to link other Amazon accounts to your Prime membership, so you can share the benefits and potentially split the cost with other Amazon shoppers.
You can add up to two adults (including yourself), four teens and four children to a single Prime membership. All linked accounts get to enjoy the benefits of Amazon Prime, though certain restrictions apply to teen and child accounts.
While you don't have to live in the same house to link your accounts through Amazon Family, you do have to share payment methods. So, this is only a trick to use with people you trust.
The bottom line
Amazon offers plenty of ways to save money on everyday products. You don't need to join Amazon Prime to snag some savings, but the retailer definitely offers more ways to save to its members. Good luck, and happy shopping!
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