Don't Let Fake Prime Day Savings Fool You: How to Spot the Real Deals
James Martin/CNET
Amazon's Prime Day sale is still a big draw, but some of it is just marketing hype. Many overpriced items are simply discounted to their original price, which feels like a gimmick to convince you to spend your hard-earned money.
Even if an item costs less than normal, it may not be worth buying now. A good deal can be dangerous if you're stretching your budget to afford it, according to my colleague Kelly Ernst, who is opting out of Prime Day shopping.
So what's the best way to save money during Prime Day? CNET experts are tracking the best deals, and they're sharing a useful trick for determining what's worth buying and what's not.
Prime Day 2025 is Changing: New Drops, More Drama Prime Day 2025 is Changing: New Drops, More Drama
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Prime Day 2025 is Changing: New Drops, More Drama
How to spot the best Amazon Prime Day deals
I remember seeing Reddit users complain about Prime Day "discounts" in a thread last year. Some noted the markdowns didn't feel like much, while others reported an actual increase in prices during the Amazon sale.
But there's a way to find the real discounts. Before you start shopping, CNET editors recommend making a list of items you plan to buy, reviewing prices and installing the CamelCamelCamel browser extension.
"If you're not regularly tracking the prices for a computer, tablet or other device you want, it's tricky to know if you're getting a good deal," says Josh Goldman, managing editor and laptop reviewer at CNET. He says CamelCamelCamel will tell you the pricing history of any Amazon item. So, when the sale rolls around, it's easier to determine whether it's a deal or an everyday price.
CamelCamelCamel is free, and you don't need an Amazon account to use it. However, this price tracker only works for Amazon, so you'll need to use other websites or browser extensions, like Honey and Slickdeals, to compare prices from other retailers.
Avoid feeling pressured to shop the sales
If you haven't budgeted for spending on certain items, or you don't see worthwhile savings, it may be worth skipping the Prime Day frenzy altogether. Plus, there are plenty of other sales coming up: Labor Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Sometimes, waiting is best. Many of us are cutting back on spending and monitoring the effect of tariffs, which are pushing prices higher.
If you have a chunk of money you've set aside for a future purchase, I'd recommend keeping it in a high-yield savings account. Putting your savings into a high-yield account will help you earn interest while you wait. Right now, most HYSAs offer annual percentage yields between 3.60% and 4%, or even higher at select banks with stricter requirements.
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