6 Tips to Save Extra Money on Amazon Prime Day 2019

Amazon’s 2019 Prime Day is right around the corner — and this year’s event runs for two full days (July 15 and 16). Prime Day offers some of the best bargains of the summer, but smart shoppers can get even more bang for their buck. Here are six suggestions for how you can save some extra money when Prime Day rolls around.

1. Use credit cards wisely

One of the best ways to make the most out of your Prime Day deals is to maximize your credit card rewards. The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is the most obvious choice. Cardholders get

• 5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases,
• 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores, and
• 1% back everywhere else.

The caveat is that the card gives its rewards in the form of Amazon credit — like a gift card. If you want the freedom to use your rewards wherever you want, consider a card that gives cash-back rewards instead. There are cash-back credit cards available with as much as 2% back on all purchases. Some also have rotating cash-back categories with 5% cash back, and Amazon purchases are sometimes included.

2. Shop at Whole Foods

Amazon just announced that last year’s Whole Foods deal will be offered once again. Prime members who spend at least $10 at Whole Foods between July 3 and July 16 will get a $10 Amazon credit. This is worth taking advantage of even if you don’t regularly shop at Whole Foods. Think of it this way: You could spend just over the minimum $10 threshold at Whole Foods and it’s basically free once you use the Amazon credit. There are a couple things to know. First, the $10 you spend at Whole Foods can’t be on gift cards, alcohol, or stamps, and doesn’t include sales tax. Second, the credit has to be used over the three-day window from July 15 through July 17 — that is, during Prime Day or the following day. 

To get the credit, just scan your Prime code from the Amazon Prime app when you check out at Whole Foods.

3. $10 here, $10 there

Besides the Whole Foods promotion, Amazon is offering four other ways to get an additional $10 credit. And yes, you can get all of them. This means you can get as much as $50 in free purchases if you also hit Whole Foods.

Here’s how to get these credits:

• You’ll get a $10 Amazon credit when you sign into the Amazon App for the first time.
• You’ll get another $10 credit after making your first purchase from the app.
• By installing Amazon Assistant on your computer to receive notifications on deals, you’ll get $10 off your next $50 order.
• By reloading $100 or more to your Amazon gift card balance for the first time, you’ll get yet another $10 bonus.

4. Don’t give up on deals that sell out

The best Prime Day deals sell out quickly. However, Amazon offers waitlists for these types of situations. Customers are given 15 minutes to check out after adding an item to their cart. It’s common for people to add deals to their cart only to change their mind when it comes time to pay. I’ve been able to take advantage of several deals that I was wait-listed for — it’s a surprisingly effective strategy.

5. Choose no-rush shipping

If you don’t need your order right away, you can squeeze extra value out of your Prime Day deals by choosing Amazon’s “no-rush shipping” option at checkout. Sure, being a Prime member entitles you to fast free shipping. But if you’re not in a rush to get your purchases, choosing no-rush shipping will get you a discount on your order or apply a reward to your account. For example, you might receive a $5 credit toward a future Prime Now order for choosing the slower shipping option. Common rewards also include a $1 credit towards a digital purchase and a credit towards a Prime Pantry purchase. There are reports of other rewards, too.

One caveat: You can’t choose your reward. Amazon will let you know which no-rush credit you can get when it’s time to select your shipping option. And there’s no need to worry about waiting for weeks to get your purchases. No-rush shipping is far more efficient than Amazon’s standard free shipping used to be. Amazon will still deliver your order within six business days. If you can wait a little while to receive whatever you buy, it can be worth it. In my experience, purchases typically arrive a day or two before the six-day window expires.

6. Don’t only look at Amazon

Many other retailers run their own specials to compete with Prime Day. Major retailers such as Target and Walmart often have specials, too. So take a minute and browse some of your other favorite retailers’ offers during Prime Day. You might be surprised at the deals you can find on non-Amazon sites.