Get $200 to Spend on Tomorrow's Prime Day Sale With the Prime Visa
Amazon's Prime Day starts tomorrow and ends on July 11. It's one of the summer's biggest sales with hundreds of discounts. If you're planning to shop, Amazon is offering a $200 gift card when you're approved for the Prime Visa.
It's rare for a credit card to offer a welcome bonus that you don't have to "earn" by spending a certain amount with the card. And while the Prime Visa technically has no annual fee, to get approved for this card, you'll need to be a Prime member, which costs $139 a year.
I've had the Prime Visa card for going on four years, and it comes in handy when I need last-minute gifts or everyday essentials. I also like that it earns 5% back on all purchases at Amazon and Whole Foods, and often earns even higher rewards on select items during events such as Prime Day.
How do you earn a $200 Amazon gift card with the Prime Visa?
All you have to do to earn this $200 gift card is get approved for a new Prime Visa credit card. Once approved for the Prime Visa, you'll receive the Amazon gift card right away. Most cards require you to spend a certain amount in the first few months of account ownership to "earn" a bonus, but the Prime Visa card doesn't. The gift card is automatically added to your Amazon Prime account when you're approved for this card.
What are the Prime Day benefits of the Prime Visa card?
Amazon's flagship card is a great all-around rewards card, since it offers 5% back on travel booked through Chase and 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and rideshare services. You can also earn 7% back or more on eligible Amazon items from July 8 to 11 when you opt for no-rush delivery, and 10% back on select products.
Checking out on Amazon is certainly convenient, but I also like to shop small. You can do both by shopping through Amazon's small business shopping hub. It's not the smoothest shopping experience, but it's worked well for me in a pinch.
Is the Prime Visa the best card for shopping Prime Day?
It's difficult to find another card that offers all of the same Amazon perks as the Prime Visa. But this card only makes sense if you're a Prime member and regular Amazon shopper. If you're not a Prime member, check out the card's younger sibling, the Amazon Visa, which earns 3% back at Amazon. It's not as rewarding but has no annual fee and comes with a $50 gift card on approval.
Don't shop Amazon often enough to justify either card? No problem. Our CNET credit card editor, Evan Zimmer, recommends the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express for groceries and gas and the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card* for pretty much everything else. There's also the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, which has no annual fee and offers rewards with select US online retailers, including Amazon.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, click here.
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
*All information about the Prime Visa and Wells Fargo Active Cash card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
a few seconds ago
- Business Insider
An Amazon seller doing 7 figures says one strategic addition has doubled her profit
Lisa Harrington's e-commerce career began in the early 2010s when she started selling clothing, purses, and other items in her closet that she didn't need anymore. She used the eBay profit to launch her first Amazon product — dog harnesses — and sold enough to quit her corporate job in 2016. She eventually created and patented interior cat doors, which have become a top-selling Amazon product and bring in seven figures in annual revenue. Harrington, who's been doing e-commerce for more than a decade, can pinpoint one decision that took her business to the next level: hiring a PPC coach. PPC (pay-per-click) refers to Amazon's advertising platform, where sellers can pay to have their products displayed prominently. Many sellers consider ads an essential aspect of succeeding in the competitive e-commerce space. For years, "I had a very low spend on my advertisement," Harrington told Business Insider. Figuring out how to run Amazon ads wasn't how she wanted to spend her time. "I just didn't have much interest in it. I really wanted to focus on branding and product development, but it has such an enormous impact on your profit and loss statement that you really can't ignore it." The idea to hire a coach came from an industry event. "I remember talking to this woman, and she's like, 'I hire a coach for everything I don't know how to do. It is the fastest way to level up,'" recalled Harrington. She took the advice, found a coach to help her specifically with ads, and, "in the time I've worked with her, my profit has doubled," said Harrington. It took her six months to find the right fit. "Coaches are hard to find. But when you do find one, it levels your business up," she said. Over the last couple of years, her PPC coach has become more of a general business coach. They discuss everything from product development to effective employee management. "She's the only person I can talk to about every aspect of my business. She not only has the expertise but has the background information, so I can spitball with her, solve problems, and come up with great ideas," said Harrington. The full-time entrepreneur and mother of two kids doesn't hesitate to outsource when she can. "I try to get a coach for everything because, thankfully, I've gotten to the point where I can pay people to help me," she said. "That, in some cases, tends to be a cheaper way to learn a skill or a cheaper way to get something done." Harrington is also a member of the elite group of seven-figure Amazon sellers called Million Dollar Sellers. Members must complete an interview and application and pay $7,497 a year to join the group, which grants them access to exclusive events and a robust network of top-tier entrepreneurs. She's adamant that investing in yourself "always pays dividends," she said. "The knowledge that you gain, the networks that you gain, the experience shares that you hear, the tips and tricks that you get access to — not only is that short-term helping your business and helping your profit and loss statement, but you're also learning all of those things, so that if everything fell apart tomorrow, you could rebuild it again."
Business Insider
22 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Some strategists see a stock-market bubble brewing — and it's not the Magnificent 7's fault this time
Yes, valuations of the Magnificent Seven stocks — Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet, Nvidia, and Tesla — are back up after since bottoming in April. Yet, the group's 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio is still down from mid-2024, mid-2023, and 2020 levels. Meanwhile, forward PE ratios on the next 20 stocks in the S&P 500 continue to surge, topping levels seen earlier this year. Their valuations are also higher than at any point over the last decade. Arun Sai, a senior multi-asset strategist at Pictet Asset Management, calls the group the "Terrific 20." Some may see the rising forward expectations for a widening number of stocks as a sign of health, as the rally extends beyond just the most popular stocks. But when stocks rise because of multiple expansion instead of earnings growth, it may be a sign that investor sentiment is becoming overheated. "These companies span a broad set of sectors more closely tied to the real economy, including financials, energy, industrials, consumer, and legacy tech," Sai wrote on Tuesday. "Names like Broadcom, Walmart, JPMorgan, Berkshire Hathaway, Visa, and GE Aerospace now account for ~17% of the MSCI US index, compared to 33% for the Mag 7." "Broader participation is a positive — when it's driven by earnings," he continued. "But when more of the market gets expensive, the narrative that 'US equities aren't overpriced, just a few exceptional companies are' becomes harder to justify." Sai compared the current environment to the so-called "Nifty Fifty" bubble in the 1960s. Richard Bernstein, the founder of Richard Bernstein Advisors and former chief investment strategist at Merrill Lynch, said in June that there are parallels to another famous episode of euphoria—the dot-com bubble of 2000—as the market seems solely focused on an emerging technology. On Wednesday, Bernstein reiterated his skepticism of the rally, noting that the market is still relatively concentrated even if valuations are surging among more than just the top seven stocks. Trading of leveraged ETFs, zero-day options, and low dollar-value stocks is also picking back up, signs of excess optimism, he said. "If you're a trader, I think you should take a deep breath and kind of look at what's going on and realize that everybody's in this huge speculative fervor," Bernstein told Business Insider. "But if you're an investor and you want to be a little patient, I don't think it gets much better than this." "The reckless abandon is going to leave you with so many opportunities," he continued. "It's going to be like post-2000." Most Wall Street strategists don't see a dramatic pullback ahead, and few have made direct comparisons to prior bubble episodes. In recent days, however, some have extended quiet warnings to investors about the market's near-term direction. Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi, CIO Americas and global head of equities at UBS Global Wealth Management, said in a note on Tuesday that "investors should be mindful of potential market swings in the coming weeks," and that "capital preservation or phasing-in strategies can be effective in navigating near-term volatility." While valuations are no doubt extended, there's no guarantee a major market top is near, and the AI trade may have room to run as the technology evolves.
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Financial Planners Share 4 Warren Buffett Tips To Take With a Grain of Salt
Warren Buffett is one of the most successful investors of all time. His long-term success, consistent returns, and timeless advice have inspired millions of investors. But while many of his investing principles are sound, they aren't always suitable for everyday investors. Read More: Try This: GOBankingRates spoke to financial planners to share Buffett's investing tips to take with a grain of salt. Here's where they recommend taking Buffett's advice with caution and why your financial plan may need a different approach. 'Never Invest in a Business You Cannot Understand' This sounds like no-brainer advice. But here's what many people miss: Buffett's investment decisions come from extensive due diligence, something that everyday investors don't have the time and tools to replicate. 'While it sounds like common sense, the challenge is that Buffett has access to deep research, management insights, and analytical resources that most individuals simply don't,' said Eric Blake, founder of Blake Wealth Management. 'The average investor doesn't have the time or tools to analyze a company's balance sheet, competitive moat or management quality in the way Buffett does.' 'It's Far Better To Buy a Wonderful Company at a Fair Price Than a Fair Company at a Wonderful Price' Buffett's focus on quality makes sense. But again, identifying 'wonderful' companies requires deep research and a strong understanding of the stock market. Most average investors don't have the time and experience to value companies. Trying to replicate Buffett's advice could lead to costly mistakes. For this reason, index funds often make more sense. 'That's why many of our clients — especially women who are retired, divorced, or widowed — should likely prioritize simplicity, transparency, and diversification through professionally managed portfolios and index-based strategies over picking individual stocks,' added Blake. 'Just Do Index Funds' Even Buffett's most democratized advice, 'just do index funds,' needs careful consideration. 'Many people cannot handle the volatility associated with the S&P 500 index,' said Jeremy Finger, founder of Riverbend Wealth Management. 'I was down 55%-plus in the 2008-'09 crash. Down 49% in 2000-2002. Down markets can be especially devastating if you are withdrawing money for retirement.' 'Not everyone has the emotional investing stability that Mr. Buffett has. Even if they think they do, many sell when it is down and hope to get back in later.' This emotional selling destroys long-term returns faster than any market crash. 'Only Buy Something That You'd Be Perfectly Happy To Hold If the Market Shut Down for 10 Years' While investors should always think long-term, not everyone can afford to wait a decade to see returns. 'Most of our clients can't afford to think in purely decades-long terms when they also have short-term spending needs or rely on their portfolio for retirement income,' Blake added. This is why many financial planners apply the '5-year rule.' If you'll need to spend the money within the next five years, it probably doesn't belong in the stock market. 'Buffett's advice is powerful, but context always matters. What works for a legendary investor managing billions with a 100-year view isn't always what works for someone planning the next 20-30 years of retirement, especially when that income needs to be reliable, tax-efficient and personalized,' Blake noted. More From GOBankingRates Clever Ways To Save Money That Actually Work in 2025 This article originally appeared on Financial Planners Share 4 Warren Buffett Tips To Take With a Grain of Salt Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
