So yeah, Prime Day’s back, and now it’s four days long. July 8 through the 11th. I don’t totally hate it, though. I’ve had years where I found awesome deals, like real ones I actually used. And then other years where I got sucked into buying random crap because it had a little timer and said “40% off.” I’ll explain how I run the Prime Day gauntlet. I’ve got a few things saved, and if the price drops, great. If not, I’m not wasting money. I’m also checking Walmart and Target closely cuz they’ve been trying to take down Amazon every Prime Day which I love.
First of All… Is Prime Day Still a Thing?
Yeah. It’s still a thing. Amazon wants it to feel like Black Friday in flip-flops. But let’s be honest: unless you’re paying attention, you’ll end up with a cart full of regrets.
The deals come fast, the FOMO comes faster, and if you don’t walk in with a plan, you’ll convince yourself you need a $400 air purifier and a case of protein bars you’ve never tried just because they had a little green badge next to them.
See Also: Amazon Hacks That’ll Save You Every Time You Shop
What’s Actually Worth Buying on Prime Day
1. Amazon Stuff
If you’re in the market for Echo speakers, Fire tablets, Kindles, or Ring doorbells—Prime Day is the time. These are the one category where the deals are real and deep. They’ll bundle stuff too, like “Buy an Echo, get a smart plug free,” so it’s actually worth it.
2. Big-Name Home Goods
If you’ve had your eye on a Shark vacuum, an Instant Pot, or that bougie air fryer with a touchscreen, this is your week. You’ll see legit discounts—$80, $100, even $150 off sometimes.
But here’s the move: use CamelCamelCamel or Keepa to check if the “before” price is real or made up. Amazon’s been known to bump prices before Prime Day just so they can slash them and pretend you’re saving more than you are.
3. Boring But Necessary Stuff
Laundry detergent. Paper towels. Trash bags. Not sexy, but these are often the sneaky-good deals you’ll wish you bought more of. Especially with Amazon’s Subscribe & Save option, you can stack a couple discounts and stock up without touching your emergency fund.
4. Back-to-School Gear
You’ll see solid prices on headphones, backpacks, lunchboxes, and those giant multipacks of snacks that make your kid’s lunchbox the most popular one at school. Don’t fall for the “school kit” bundles though—they’re usually overpriced fluff.
See Also: Not Getting 2-Day Prime Delivery? Get Some Money Back
What You Should Skip
1. Clothing
Amazon’s fashion deals are 90% off-brand junk and leftover clearance with fake retail prices.
You’ll see “70% OFF” plastered everywhere, but it’s usually stuff that was $25 to begin with and looks like it came from a vending machine.
2. Sketchy Electronics
If the brand name looks like someone sneezed on a keyboard, skip it.
You’ll see headphones, gaming accessories, tablets, and gadgets with massive markdowns, but if you’ve never heard of the company and can’t find a real review, it’s probably a landfill-in-training.
3. Anything That Just Magically Went on Sale Today
Amazon loves fake urgency. Some prices are higher now than they were two weeks ago. Then they slash it 30% and call it a deal. Use a tracker and don’t get duped.
Walmart: Quietly (Loudly?) Trying to Kill Prime Day
While Amazon’s throwing countdown timers and “Lightning Deals” at you, Walmart’s over here like, “Hey, we’ll just do a longer sale and make it easy.”
Walmart Deals runs July 8–13, and for the first time, they’re doing it in-store and online.
Early access drops at 7pm ET on July 7 if you’re a Walmart+ member. That alone gives it an edge—because you don’t need to sit around refreshing your browser at midnight.
What’s on sale:
Laptops and TVs (often the same ones Amazon’s selling)
Kitchen gadgets and small appliances
Outdoor stuff, dorm room gear, and tech
Beauty, toys, clothes, and back-to-school bundles
And they’re not doing that weird “request an invite” thing Amazon is obsessed with. More on that in a sec.
Target Circle Week: More Chill, Same Goal
Target’s Circle Week runs July 7–13, and honestly, it’s perfect if you don’t care about buying a smart TV but still want 30% off sunscreen and school glue.
No Prime membership. No chaos. Just bonus gift cards for buying stuff like baby gear, pet food, and beauty products. They also love throwing surprise coupons into the app, so always check there first.
Plus, if you have a RedCard, you’re stacking even more savings. Might not be as flashy, but it’s Target. It never is.
Best Buy: The Tech Nerd’s Prime Day
Best Buy’s “Black Friday in July” sale is July 7–13, and it’s a real contender if you’re shopping for name-brand electronics.
And if you’re okay with open-box gear? You can save even more. Seriously, if you’re buying something pricey like a laptop or soundbar, start here.
Curious if Best Buy will price match Amazon during the Prime Day events? Yeah, me too.
I read VERY conflicting info online about this, so I started a live chat with Best Buy to get the skinny and here’s what I was told…”our Price Match Policy does not cover the deals that are limited to a particular group of customers. To qualify for this discount, shoppers must first sign up for the Amazon Prime, a premium membership. So the answer is no.”
Bummer, but kinda makes sense.
New Stuff Amazon’s Trying in 2025:
1. Invite-Only Deals
Yep, it’s real. Amazon’s doing more of these than ever.
You’ll see a big flashy deal on something like a 65” Fire TV for $299—but instead of adding it to your cart, you have to click “Request Invite.” Then Amazon just… decides who gets to buy it.
No reason. No logic. It’s like trying to get into a club you didn’t know was cool until the bouncer said no.
Is it annoying? Yep. Does it work? Also yep.
If it’s something big you actually want, it’s worth clicking. Just don’t count on getting lucky.
2. Young Adult Prime Tier
If you’re between 18 and 24, you get a 6-month free trial and then $7.49/month after that—plus 10% back on Prime Day purchases.
That’s a decent perk if you qualify. Probably Amazon’s way of grooming the next generation of impulse shoppers.
3. Buy Now, Pay Later
Amazon’s pushing “pay over time” options through Affirm. So if you’re about to drop a few hundred bucks and don’t want to cough it up all at once, you can split it.
Just be careful as it’s not always interest-free. Don’t turn your Prime Day deal into a four-month regret.
How to Not Get Screwed This Week
- Make a list. Otherwise you’re buying nonsense at 2am.
- Use a price tracker. If you’re trusting Amazon’s “before price,” you’re already behind.
- Stack everything. Use rewards, cash back sites, gift cards…whatever you’ve got.
- Check other sites before you checkout. Don’t assume Amazon is cheapest just because it’s loudest.
- Don’t panic buy. Lightning Deals are just digital peer pressure.
Final Take:
Prime Day is what you make it. If you’re strategic, you can knock out half your holiday shopping in July and save real money. If you’re winging it? You’re gonna be out $400 and stuck with two back massagers and a juicer you didn’t need.
Make your list. Cross-shop everything. And maybe, just maybe, let Amazon fight Walmart and Target for your attention while you sit back and cherry-pick the real steals.
By Kyle James
I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)