How to Save Even More Money Shopping on Amazon: 10 Secret Links Plus Tips from Pros
Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer, with over one million employees, making it one of the biggest employers in the United States. And there is no limit to the kinds of products you can find on the site, from groceries and electronics to windshield wiper blades and running shoes. And, of course, Amazon’s prices are among the lowest online. One reason? The company can purchase a larger volume of products directly (i.e. without having to a brick-and-mortar place to stow them), which means lower prices for them, savings they then pass on to you. Another reason: there are so many third-party sellers on the site that competition keeps prices down. And yet, money pros have discovered ways to save even more money shopping on Amazon — and they are ready to share them with you.
Unlock $100s in savings with an Amazon Prime membership
When Amazon Prime was launched in February 2005, Prime members received a single benefit of free 2-day shipping on eligible products. Today, Amazon Prime membership is available for $14.99 per month or $139 annually after a 30-day free trial. But since Prime's inception, Amazon has added dozens more benefits to their membership, which have the potential to *save* you hundreds of dollars every year. Plus there are discounts for certain members:
College students can get Amazon’s Prime Student Monthly subscription for $7.49 per month after a 6-month free trial.
Amazon’s Qualified Government Assistance subscription is available to those receiving Medicaid, SNAP and other forms of government aid for $6.99 per month after a 30-day trial.
Also great? You *can* share your Amazon Prime account to cut the cost in half with the Amazon Household subscription. Amazon allows you to share Prime benefits and digital content (including eBooks, audiobooks, apps and games) in a Family Library with one family member who is over 18. To invite an adult to share one account, visit Amazon Household at Amazon.com/myh/households, tap “Add Adult”, then invite the person via email.
Besides free 2-day shipping (as well as 1-day and same-day shipping on millions of products). Here are just a few other perks of membership:
Prime Video: You can watch exclusive Amazon Originals and thousands of popular movies and TV shows at no extra cost. Watch at home or on the go with an electronic table, laptop or even your smartphone.
Amazon Music for Prime members: Whether you love rock, country, or gospel, you can listen to thousands of hours of music as well as the largest catalog of top podcasts without ads.
Prime Reading: Read as much as you want from a rotating selection of thousands of eBooks, audiobooks and more. This includes single-sitting reads from Amazon Original Stories that bring bestselling authors, acclaimed storytellers, and new voices to readers in digital and audio formats.
Prime Exclusive Deals: Enjoy deals every day on thousands of items available on Amazon.com only for Prime members.
Prime Member Deals at Whole Foods Market: You get exclusive discounts and offers on qualifying items in-store and online.
Free Grubhub+: Prime members are now eligible for one year of $0 food delivery fees, exclusive savings, and more with a free Grubhub+ membership.
For a full list of Amazon Prime benefits, visit Amazon.com/b/node=23945845011.
Learn more about how to save money shopping on Amazon at the Amazon Prime membership options at Amazon.com/amazonprime.
Get free shipping *without* Prime to save money shopping on Amazon
Don’t want to become an Amazon Prime member? You can still qualify for free shipping on many products when you make a purchase of at least $25. Any item that includes a “FREE Shipping” option on the product detail page and that is fulfilled and shipped by Amazon is eligible and counts toward your free shipping order minimum.
Just add the product to your shopping cart, then select “FREE Shipping” when checking out. Your order will be delivered 5 to 8 days after all your items are available to ship, including pre-order items.
Save up to 15% with ‘Subscribe and Save’
Do you regularly replenish certain items, such as coffee, paper towels, pet food or vitamins? You can save up to 15% on them when you schedule refills through Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program.
“My favorite way to save money shopping on Amazon is with Subscribe & Save,” shares money-saving expert Melissa Riker of TheHappierHomemaker.com. “I use Subscribe & Save on items that I use regularly to schedule recurring deliveries and get a discount.”
To set up automatic refills: Shop from thousands of products at Amazon’s Subscribe & Save storefront or select Subscribe & Save on product detail pages as you shop in various Amazon departments. Then select the quantity you need and a delivery schedule that works for you (such as every 2 weeks, once a month or once every other month). You can skip or cancel deliveries at any time.
Grab bargains with Amazon’s ‘Today’s Deals’
You can snap up limited-time sales of 20% off, 30% off or even 66% off on a whole host of products, including clothing, electronics and housewares. Just tap “Today’s Deals” on the top menu of most Amazon.com pages to see all the merchandise that has been discounted.
“Amazon deals can definitely save you money,” asserts Riker. “But you have to be vigilant about checking them and be ready to purchase if an item you want goes on sale,” she notes. “They are worth looking at if you are planning a larger purchase where the money saved on the deal is worth the time spent checking daily.”
Another way to save money shopping on Amazon: Tap the “Upcoming” option in the side menu to find out about products that are going to be discounted soon. Then add them to a watchlist so you can get alerted when the sale starts so you don’t miss it.
Unlock discounts from Amazon’s coupon page
Love the way coupons save you cash? Listen up: Amazon has their own coupons page at Amazon.com/Coupons, and it’s filled with money-saving deals on groceries, health products, beauty items and even lawn and garden merchandise. Just select the offers you want, and they’ll be applied when you check out.
Or find coupons as you shop! “Before adding an item to your cart, check to see if there's a coupon listed under the product price,” urges money-saving pro Andrea Woroch. “If there is, check the box to apply the coupon to your order.”
And the savings are big! Some Amazon coupons offer cash off (such as $5, $10, $30 and more), and others offer a percentage off (up to 50%).
Know the best time to save with price trackers
Notice that prices on Amazon tend to rise and fall from week to week or even day to day? This is due to dynamic pricing, which is a tactic many online retailers use to determine prices based on a number of factors, such as supply, demand and prices from competitors.
Unfortunately, this can make it difficult to figure out the best time to make a purchase to ensure that you’re getting the lowest price. But, there’s a way to fix that: “Use price tracking tools or browser extensions to your advantage,” advises Joie Roberts, Amazon Seller and Coach at AMZ Insiders and host of Fearless Sellers Podcast. For example, you can install The Camelizer and PayPal Honey browser extensions.
“These handy tools allow you to monitor price fluctuations for specific products on Amazon,” Roberts says. “You can set up price alerts and receive notifications when prices drop, enabling you to make purchases at the most cost-effective times. Price tracking tools empower you to make well-timed decisions and secure the best deals, ensuring you never miss out on savings.”
Another way to know if the price of an Amazon product you want has increased or decreased in price? “Simply add stuff to your shopping cart and save for later!” advises Amazon shopping expert Marlene Srdic of LifeWithMar.com. “When you open your shopping cart, you'll see notifications at the top on whether or not the item in your cart has increased or decreased in price.” When you see the price has dropped, you’ll know it’s time to buy!
Earn rewards and discounts with no-rush shipping
Have Amazon Prime, but don’t need an order delivered in 1 or 2 days? To help Amazon employees focus on getting the fastest deliveries to those with urgent needs, Amazon offers a free no-rush shipping option to Prime members on millions of eligible items. And when you select it, Amazon will give you a reward that you can use toward a future Amazon purchase (such as a $1 off a movie rental) or you’ll receive an immediate discount on your current order.
Once the item you bought ships, your reward is automatically added to your Amazon account. You’ll receive an email alerting you. And you can also keep track of your Amazon no-rush shipping rewards at Amazon.com/norushcredits.
Save up to 60% at Amazon Warehouse
“The Amazon Warehouse is a treasure trove of discounted products,” says Roberts. “These items are usually open-box, pre-owned or have minor cosmetic flaws, but are still in excellent working condition,” she notes. Here, you can find great deals on electronics, smartphones, kitchen appliances and a lot more.
And you don’t have to worry about wasting your money. All of these products are fulfilled by Amazon, so Amazon thoroughly tests them for function and appearance. They’re then graded for quality (“Like New”, Very Good”, “Good” and “Acceptable”). And you’ll get a detailed description on the product page, so you know exactly what you’re getting. Plus, you can return Amazon Warehouse purchases within 30 days if you’re not satisfied.
To start shopping, visit the Amazon Warehouse storefront, select Amazon Warehouse from the search bar or look for an Amazon Warehouse purchase option on a product’s detail page.
Find lower prices from third-party sellers on Amazon
There’s one unique aspect of Amazon that most other major retailers don’t have: Amazon allows third-party sellers to sell new, used and refurbished items. As a result, you can save a lot of cash by opting for a third-party seller’s product since they can often price their goods a lot lower than other retailers, and even other sellers on Amazon. “I always check for gently used options when it comes to home goods and books on Amazon,” Woroch shares.
“Keep in mind, some used options will come with a shipping charge, so compare them to find one that's fulfilled through Amazon to avoid the delivery fee if you’re a Prime Member,” she says. “However, sometimes the savings you get on the product more than makes up for any shipping costs you’d incur. Therefore, just run the numbers to find the best deal.”
Earn cash back with an Amazon credit card
Are you a frequent Amazon Prime shopper and also pay off your credit card balances every month? You may want to consider one of the Prime cards that Amazon offers. They all earn you cash back on purchases and don’t have an annual fee.
With the Prime Visa card, you’ll earn 5% back at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh and on Chase Travel, 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and local transit and commuting, including rideshare, and 1% back on all other purchases. Once you’re approved, you’ll get a $100 Amazon.com gift card for applying.
With the Prime Store Card, you’ll earn 5% back at Amazon.com. You’ll have the option to buy now and pay over time with 6, 12 or 24 month financing. You’ll also get an extra 5% to 15% in additional rewards on select promotional items. Once you’re approved, you’ll get a $20 Amazon gift card for applying.
With the Amazon Prime Secured Card, you’ll earn 2% back at Amazon while building new credit or repairing old credit. You’ll have the option to buy now and pay over time with 6, 12 or 24 month financing. You’ll also get an extra 5% to 15% in additional rewards on select promotional items. If approved, you’ll first need to provide a security deposit. You can then add to your card, in $50 increments, anywhere between $100 and the amount you're approved for. If you decide to close your account, your security deposit will be refunded.
Snap up discounts on Prime Day to save money shopping on Amazon
If you’re an Amazon Prime member and haven’t signed up for the free Amazon News digital newsletter, take a moment to do so now. You’ll get alerted when Amazon’s annual 48-hour Prime Day event occurs. The easiest way to save money shopping on Amazon? Your Prime membership makes you eligible to take advantage of deals on hundreds of products from national brands and small business sellers, including clothing, electronics, home goods and toys.
While Prime Day events historically take place sometime in July to celebrate Amazon’s birthday, it’s also been known to pop up at other times of the year, such as October. So, keep an eye out!
Spend less on prescription drugs with Amazon Pharmacy
Tired of the cost of prescription medications going up, up, up? You could save on prescribed drugs by visiting Amazon Pharmacy at Pharmacy.Amazon.com. This full-service online pharmacy is staffed 24/7 with licensed pharmacists and offers a wide variety of medications at affordable prices regardless of whether you have insurance or not. Prescriptions cover a wide range of conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, depression, anxiety and birth control. And they’re available in both name-brand and generic versions.
While anyone can take advantage of Amazon Pharmacy’s low prices, Amazon Prime members will save even more. That’s because Prime members can get discounts of up to 80% off generic and 40% off brand-name medications at more than 60,000 participating pharmacies nationwide, including Amazon Pharmacy and the PillPack by Amazon Pharmacy service, which sort drugs to make them easier to take.
Prime members also receive free 2-day shipping. All other customers receive free 4- to 5-day standard shipping, or you can upgrade to 2-day shipping for $5.99.
Another way Prime members can save money shopping on Amazon is by taking advantage of Amazon RxPass. This new program lets you get all of your eligible generic medications for just one low flat fee of $5 a month and have them delivered at your door. Medications that treat more than 80 common conditions (such as high blood pressure, anxiety and acid reflux) are included in the Amazon RxPass subscription. For more information about RxPass from Amazon Pharmacy, visit Amazon.com/rxpass.
To find out how much you can save on your prescriptions, search for your medication at Pharmacy.Amazon.com/shop-all. You’ll see the cash price, whether it’s eligible for free Prime shipping and whether it’s FSA or HSA eligible.
Get promo codes from Amazon Influencers
One new way to save more at Amazon? “Leverage the power of Amazon Influencers to discover top-notch products with exclusive deals,” advises Roberts. “Amazon Influencers are content creators who recommend products they genuinely love,” she explains.
You can find them by searching for Amazon Influencer on social media, such as Instagram and TikTok. “By following their profiles, you gain access to curated lists of products with special discounts, limited-time offers and unique promo codes.”
Want to become an Amazon Influencer yourself? Watch this video!
Looking for more ways to save at your favorite discount stores? Click through these stories:
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Gabrielle Lichterman is an award-winning author and journalist who has been reporting on health, personal finance and lifestyle topics for Woman's World since 1997. Gabrielle is best known for pioneering the worldwide "cycle-syncing" movement that began with her groundbreaking women's health book, 28 Days: What Your Cycle Reveals About Your Moods, Health & Potential. Learn more at GabrielleLichterman.com.
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