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Amazon hacks
Amazon is a popular online shopping platform that offers a wide range of products at competitive prices. However, it can be easy to overspend on Amazon, especially if you’re an impulse buyer. Fortunately, there are several hacks you can use to slash your Amazon spend. Here are some of the most effective ones:
Take Advantage of Amazon Prime Membership
If you’re a frequent Amazon shopper, it’s worth considering signing up for Amazon Prime. This membership program offers several benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, and exclusive deals. By taking advantage of these perks, you can save money on shipping fees and get discounts on products you buy regularly. If you use Vitality health insurance you can literally walk your PRIME membership cost. Students get also decent discounts 🙂 I also know some people share their Prime account between their households. If you are a book worm you can get some great Kindle titles for free or much cheaper too!
Utilize Price Tracking Tools
To ensure you’re getting the best deal on Amazon, consider using price tracking tools. These tools allow you to track the price history of a product and receive notifications when the price drops. By keeping an eye on price fluctuations, you can time your purchases to coincide with the lowest prices, saving you money in the long run. The most popular is CamelCamelCamel for UK & USA, Keepa in USA and PriceSpy or Idalo. Check my CamcelCamelCamel article for some more details!
Compare Prices from Different Sellers & pick-up the parcels
Amazon is known for its vast marketplace, where multiple sellers offer the same product. This means you can compare prices from different sellers to find the best deal. Prices vary significantly, so its worth comparing it all! Be sure to check the seller’s rating and reviews before making a purchase to ensure you’re buying from a reputable seller. I often opt for another seller than Amazon warehouse simply because the price of a given item is cheaper. I see a lot of second-hand books which often I dont mind saving money on when the description states the item is as new or in a good condition. Did you also notice how when you go for ‘pick up’ my parcel the price of the order is a few ££ cheaper too?
Subscribe and Save
If you regularly buy the same products on Amazon, consider subscribing to them. By subscribing, you can save up to 15% on the product’s price and get free shipping. This is a great way to save money on products you use regularly.
Beware Amazon prices change, so will your Subscribe and Save prices change too! I review my next order ahead of the cut off point for its amends.
Some of these deals are not to be beaten by mainstream supermarkets. You can defo check it on supermarket comparison sites such as Trolley or Supermarket Wizard, for example the Filippo Berio olive oil’s price is easily trackable at on either of the mentioned above sites.
At the time of writing this 2x 500ml = £7.98 at Morrisons and the cheapest 1L bottle cost £8.75 at ASDA. The Rustico bottle is at £7.99 in Morrisons as you can see I can buy both olive oils slightly cheaper on Amazon. I must say lockdowns make me buy more grocery related items on Amazon. In the past I d never believe I will go on Amazon for chocolate or olive oil…btw my fav chocolate is as well cheaper on Amazon!
Use Amazon Coupons
Amazon offers coupons on select products that can help you save money. Be sure to check the product page for any available coupons before making a purchase.
There are plenty of notifications of various Amazon vouchers / Amazon coupons on Latestfreestuff.co.uk.
Shop at the Right Time
Amazon often offers discounts and deals during certain times of the year, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. By shopping during these times, you can get significant discounts on products you want to buy. Additionally, certain products may have price fluctuations throughout the year, so consider tracking their prices to identify the optimal time for purchase. I do use Google Trends and Google Lens to check both trends and also if amazon is really the best place to get an item I want to buy. I also compare the prices using pages mentioned above.
Consider Amazon Warehouse Deals
Amazon Warehouse Deals offer discounted prices on open-box, used, and refurbished products. These items are often in excellent condition and come with Amazon’s guarantee. By considering Amazon Warehouse Deals, you can enjoy significant savings on various products while still maintaining quality. This is how we got our garden shredder. It came with some part broken but this part was on the outside of the shredder and didnt affect its performance so it was a minor inconvenience for us.
We paid £305 for our shredder in June 2021 when its RPP was above £400:
Avoid Impulse Buying
One of the easiest ways to overspend on Amazon is by impulse buying. To avoid this, make a list of the products you need before you start shopping and stick to it. If you see a product you want to buy but don’t need, add it to your “Save for Later” list instead of buying it right away. I actually have a ‘Black Friday ‘ list in my Keep app. I save items I may want to buy around Black Friday and I also save the RPP of the item from the day I am adding it to my list…I then know what to look for and use the price saved by me alongside other price comparison tools, mentioned a few times in this post already.
Utilize the “Save for Later” Feature
Amazon’s “Save for Later” feature allows you to save products you’re interested in buying on Amazon for later. By using this feature, you can keep track of products you want to buy without adding them to your cart and overspending.
Buy Second-Hand or Refurbished Items
Buying second-hand or refurbished items can save you money on Amazon. Be sure to check the product’s condition and seller rating before making a purchase to ensure you’re buying a quality product. Just make sure to read the product descriptions and check the seller’s ratings and reviews to ensure a satisfactory purchase. Below you see that the book sold as ‘used’ is £4.5 cheaper and its quality is ‘very good’, so I’d be tempted to give it a go and save a few ££ 🙂
Take Advantage of Lightning Deals
Lightning Deals are time-limited offers on Amazon that provide substantial discounts on selected products. These deals are available for a short period and are often highly sought after. By keeping an eye on Lightning Deals, you can snag incredible bargains on a wide range of items. Act quickly when you see a deal that interests you, as they tend to sell out fast. I occasionally check them out that is how I come across my latest coconut collagen creamer. I m trying to avoid dairy so that came handy at a lower price and I saved between £7-11 depending on the options I could have gone when buying it outside of the Lightning Deal, see below (RPP £28.21 or £24.06 on subscription and Lightning Deal price was just £16.82):
Subscribe to Newsletters and Follow Social Media
To stay updated on the latest deals, discounts, and promotions, consider subscribing to newsletters and following Amazon’s social media accounts. Amazon frequently sends out emails highlighting special offers and upcoming sales. By subscribing and following, you’ll be among the first to know about these opportunities, giving you a competitive edge in finding the best deals. You can also set alerts both on Amazon. The next set of deals will be on Amazon Prime Day held on 11 and 12th of July 2023! They already started pre-Amazon Prime day deals and you can get Amazon Dot 5th generation for £42.98 from 54.99, so 22% cheaper.
Utilize Cashback Websites
Cashback websites like Rakuten or Honey in the USA allow you to earn a percentage of your purchase amount back as cashback when you shop through their links. Sadly no decent cashback sites available for Amazon in the UK. There is a low % offered on Amazons devices available on Topcashback. You can earn 1% cashback on the first £1,500 of your eligible spend each month with Chase bank too. This means up to £15 cashback on your everyday debit card spending.
Consider Amazon’s Trade-In Program
If you have old electronics, books, or other eligible items lying around, consider utilizing Amazon’s Trade-In Program. This program allows you to trade in your items for Amazon gift cards. By participating in the program, you can declutter your space while earning credits to use towards future purchases on Amazon. I am yet to use this, so no POV.
Get Amazon Gift Cards
There are a few ways to get Amazon Gift vouchers or cards. You can buy them on CardYard. Or you can earn them when participating in ‘Shop& Scan’. Using the scheme I am able to get about £60 worth of Amazon vouchers but if you dont miss any weeks you can earn as much as £83.
Make Use of Alexa Deals
If you own an Alexa-enabled device, take advantage of Alexa Deals. These exclusive deals are available only to Alexa users and can offer significant savings on a variety of products. Simply ask Alexa about the available deals, and she will provide you with the latest offers. It’s a convenient way to find discounts :-).
In conclusion, there are several hacks you can use to slash your Amazon spend. By taking advantage of these hacks, you can save money on products you want to buy and avoid overspending.
