Saving 101, Store Secrets, Tips & Tricks

29 Amazon Shopping Tips You Need to Know

The Smart Shopper Editors · Published on 2019-04-10

As one of the leading online retailers, Amazon boasts some amazing deals on everything from women’s apparel and shoes to home decor and office supplies. Although their prices are competitive, there are still some Amazon shopping tips that can help you save more. Take a look.

1. Amazon Prime

Although you don’t need Amazon Prime to shop and save like a pro, it does come with innumerable perks that make it worth it. Prime memberships include two-day free shipping on tens of millions of items, discounts on groceries from Whole Foods Market, baby products, early access to Lightning Deals on Prime Day, Amazon original movies and shows, Prime Music, unlimited photo storage and so much more.

2. Save on Prime

Share your Amazon Prime membership with up to four family members who have the same address as you so you can split the cost of the $119 annual or $12.99 monthly membership. If you’re a student, you can get a free six-month trial and then pay just $6.49 a month or $59 a year thereafter. Qualifying customers with an EBT or Medicaid card can get Prime for only $5.99 a month.

3. Subscribe & Save

Are there some household products you constantly have to refill? That’s the case with dog food in my house. I have the Subscribe & Save option to make sure my dog never goes hungry due to my forgetfulness, and I save 5% when I automate the orders. The more to which you subscribe, the bigger your discount. With Subscribe & Save, online shopping has never been easier.

4. Amazon Warehouse

At Amazon Warehouse, you can find open-box goods at a discount. Shop categories such as tablets and laptops, TVs, toys, home and kitchen, lawn and garden, home improvement, cameras, sports and outdoors, automotive and more.

5. Amazon Bargain Bin

For discounts of 50% or more, shop the Amazon Bargain Bin. This is your final chance to shop already reduced prices on select items from 26 departments, such as clothing, shoes and jewelry; tools and home improvement; and more.

6. Amazon Outlet

This is where you’ll find clearance deals on overstocked items, markdowns and closeouts. Instead of having to go to an outlet store, Amazon Outlet brings the savings to you online. Find deals on dresses, heels, furniture, video games, books and so much more.

7. Amazon Family

To receive exclusive deals and discounts, email newsletters with parenting tips and more, share your child’s birthday or arrival date, gender and name with Amazon Family. This information will help Amazon curate the right offers for you and your family. Receive up to 20% off diapers, baby food and other baby essentials, plus a 15% Amazon promo code upon completion of your baby registry on Amazon.

8. Amazon Trade-In

If you have old electronics, cell phones and books sitting around, hand them over to the Amazon Trade-In program and get an Amazon.com gift card in return. Everything from video games and Fire tablets to books and mobile devices are accepted, so check the website to see if your item is eligible. It comes at no cost to you, with free shipping and an immediate gift card.

9. Subscription boxes

Find an array of subscription boxes in beauty, food, toys, pets, lifestyle and more, all available on Amazon. In just a few clicks, you can choose subscription boxes and easily use the payment methods you already have on Amazon. As with most subscription boxes, you can still cancel anytime and rest easy knowing that every box is backed by the Amazon A-to-Z Guarantee.

10. Choose the no-rush shipping option

If you choose no-rush shipping at checkout, you’ll get a credit to apply toward another Amazon purchase, such as a reward for select digital items, Amazon Fresh and more.

11. Shop Whole Foods Market

Amazon is now also an online grocery store because of its partnership with Whole Foods Market. As an Amazon Prime member, you can save an extra 10% on sale items such as grocery favorites and everyday essentials at Whole Foods Market stores. You can even pick up products and make returns with Amazon Locker. To get all the latest on Whole Foods Market on Amazon, subscribe to the emails.

12. Control where and when your orders get delivered

If you’re concerned about leaving your orders in plain sight on your front porch, get them delivered to an Amazon locker at a Prime pickup location near you. There is also the option to choose your Amazon Day, where you pick a day that works best to accept deliveries, order throughout the week, and then have all your orders delivered for free on your selected day.

13. Release date delivery

If you love popular books, video games and movies that will be released on Amazon, pre-order and choose the Release Date Delivery option at checkout to ensure you get your product by 7 p.m. the day it comes out. Don’t worry: You won’t get charged until the order ships.

14. Missed your chance to return?

Sell a product for cash if you’ve missed the 30-day return policy on Amazon.com. If you sell as an individual on Amazon, there is no listing fee and you can set your own price.

15. Amazon Assistant

Install the Amazon Assistant extension on your browser to get automatic updates on your orders and deliveries, product comparisons so you always get the best prices, deal notifications and shortcuts to your favorite and the most popular Amazon pages.

16. No Prime? Try all the 30-day free trials

If you don’t have Amazon Prime and you aren’t sure if you want to make the commitment, try a 30-day free trial. Additionally, try trials for Audible, Kindle Unlimited, Prime Video, Amazon Music and more.

17. Price match from other retailers

With the Amazon app, you can conduct comparisons to find the lowest price. For example, at Target, you can simply tap the camera icon in the Amazon app to take a photo of a product to see the price of the item on Amazon.com. If the item is cheaper on Amazon, you can buy your item instantly at the store you’re in by showing the product on the Amazon app and requesting a price match where available.

18. Contact customer service if you see a price drop on Amazon after you buy something

If an item you purchased in the past seven days has gone on sale, contact Amazon customer service for a refund of the difference.

19. Get your add-on items without meeting the $25 minimum

Amazon’s add-on items are offered at prices that are hard to beat, but you have to meet a $25 minimum order to purchase them. One way around that is to add a pre-order item like a book or video game to meet the minimum. Since you don’t get charged until items ship, you can always cancel the pre-order product if you change your mind, and you still get to keep the add-ons.

20. Shop today’s deals

Amazon features a plethora of Deals of the Day, from clothing and home goods to entertainment systems and must-have electronics. Save 70% or more on these goods, but make sure you act fast — some deals are timed and are offered only in limited quantities.

21. Check out Amazon Coupons

Visit the Amazon Coupons page to find the most popular coupons, or install the Ebates browser extension before you shop and activate the Cash Back button. We’ll automatically apply valid coupons and get your Cash Back ready.

22. Get a refund for a broken item

If you receive a defective item from Amazon, don’t worry about shipping it back. Simply contact Amazon customer service, and they’ll make sure you get your money back plus a new product without having to return the defective product.

23. Find anyone’s Wish List

If you struggle figuring out what to gift your friends and family, check whether they have an Amazon Wish List. All you have to do is search for the person’s name.

24. Read books for free

When you download the free Amazon app, you’ll get access to a huge library of free Kindle e-books that you can read directly on your phone.

25. Get a refund if you don’t get your order on time

If your order does not arrive on the scheduled delivery date, Amazon customer service will help you get a refund for your shipping costs or give you an extra month of Amazon Prime membership for free.

26. Avoid sales tax by buying from third-party sellers

Sometimes you can avoid paying sales tax by ordering from a third-party seller on Amazon. At checkout, confirm that the price you saw is the price you’ll be paying, because some sellers still charge other fees.

27. Shop using credit card rewards points

At checkout, you have the option to use your credit card rewards points, such as Chase Ultimate Rewards Points. This additional form of payment helps you maximize the value of your rewards points.

28. Apply for the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature

With your Prime membership, you’ll earn 5% back on eligible purchases at Amazon.com with this credit card. Additionally, you’ll earn 5% back on your Whole Foods Market purchases; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores; and 1% back on all other purchases. You don’t have to deal with an annual credit card fee or foreign transaction fees during your travels.

29. Use Rakuten

One of the easiest ways to save and earn Cash Back on all your purchases is by shopping Amazon with Rakuten. Every time you activate the Cash Back button, Rakuten automatically applies all eligible coupons and triggers up to 5% Cash Back on Amazon purchases. Join Rakuten today, get a $10 Cash Bonus and start shopping smarter!

The Smart Shopper Editors

From the latest tech to the hottest fashions and everything in between, the editors at The Smart Shopper are in the know and ready share their expertise. Check out our posts on shopping secrets and product trends for those who live for a little retail therapy.