A buyer’s market: What to get during Prime Big Deal days

The Prime Big Deal Days event is Oct - this year It s like the little brother of Amazon s actual Prime Day sale in July with pages of Prime member-exclusive deals to sift through Related Articles Google s Play Store shake-up looms after Supreme Court refuses to delay overhaul of the monopoly Solar and wind power has grown faster than electricity demand this year summary says Why fears of a trillion-dollar AI bubble are growing Transportation Secretary says establishment shutdown adds stress on air traffic controllers Ticker Social Shield Administrator Frank Bisignano is named to the newly created position of IRS CEO Company bids less than a penny per ton in biggest US coal sale in over a decade Amazon bills this as a holiday shopping event but for deal-conscious consumers it s solely a good time to get a price break on popular products I like to say it s a buyer s industry around this time of year says Trae Bodge the shopping expert at TrueTrae com That s because it s not just Amazon rolling out deals Target s Circle Week sale is Oct - and the Walmart Deals event is Oct - Best Buy s members-only event runs now through Oct As you gear up for deal days it s key to think about what you need check prices and set your shopping budget We ll help you consider which categories to buy or skip Why big sales matter Sale moments like this are more pivotal than ever for consumers on a budget says Bodge Average consumer prices were up year-over-year in August according to the latest inflation evidence from the Bureau of Labor Statistics but in general everything feels expensive right now In the United States of consumers released rising prices as their biggest concern followed by tariff policies in the McKinsey ConsumerWise Global Sentiment Survey The material was collected in April-May and the list of choices included immigration political polarization atmosphere change and other key issues While cheaper meat and milk would be great a good price on a new vacuum may have to tide you over Early deals are in effect On Amazon we ve spotted worthy early deals on items like the Roku streaming stick a pack of Crest D Whitestrips a Dyson bladeless fan a vintage-looking cooler from Coleman and a -inch LG QNED TV If what you want isn t on sale yet save the item in your wish list and note the pre-sale price take a screenshot even Refer to that or a price tracker when it s time to buy What to buy on Prime Big Deal Days There are several categories you can count on for deals as you build your shopping list Based on our coverage of past Prime Day sales we have a hunch the product we re watching listed below each category will see a price break Take note of these current prices now so you ll be able to spot a good deal when you see one Toys Knocking out toy purchases is a logical way to get ahead of the holiday curve says Bodge And according to Amazon s press materials you can expect deals on the brands kids love like Lego Fisher-Price Magna-Tiles and Tonies Kids like bikes scooters and board games too With toys you can buy now and save for Christmas Product we re watching Magna-Tiles classic -piece set Amazon price at the time of writing Name-brand tech like Apple Prime Day sales are known for good deals on gadgets and Amazon often sells Apple products cheaper than Apple does The regular price of the just-released AirPods Pro earbuds is for example but Amazon may take a scant bucks off this hot new product for the sale Check out AirPods Pro still available on Amazon at the time of writing or AirPods for the chance to save more Look for deals from other popular brands such as Beats Sony Samsung LG and Sonos Reputable tech brands would be remiss to skip a sale with this much attention Product we re watching Apple iPad -inch Wi-Fi model with GB price on Amazon at the time of writing Small home and kitchen appliances Need a new air fryer stand mixer coffee maker or vacuum cleaner this season Prime Big Deal Days is a great time to get gadgets that make life easier Product we re watching Ninja -cup programmable coffee brewer in stainless steel price on Amazon at the time of writing Everyday essentials Do you need pet food shampoo paper towels socks or granola bars Use Prime Big Deal Days Target Circle Week and Walmart s sale to replenish the stuff that runs out at a discount It could be the the bulk guilt-free way to get in on the October sale action On Amazon you can deal with to the buy it again tab in your cart then scroll through past purchases Product we re watching Larabar cashew cookie pack of bars price on Amazon at the time of writing What to skip during Prime Day in October A few product categories may not be worth your time or money during Prime Big Deal Days Consider skipping Large appliances furniture and mattresses Steer clear of the big household items like a new bed or refrigerator you d typically buy around Labor Day Those were just on sale so I wouldn t even look at them right now says Bodge Off-brand electronics Gadgets from brands you don t know well or items without a great number of reviews may lack quality Plus a deal on something already priced low may not be as valuable Take advantage of good discounts from tech brands you trust Look for items that come with a warranty and good customer system Winter apparel You re not going to find clearance-level deals on apparel predicts Bodge Instead try for later in October or wait for Black Friday sales in November when various more clothing brands roll out deals How to confirm good deals on Big Deal Days All the sale activity can be dizzying for consumers Bodge says A little research can level you out You can refer to your screenshot of the product price before the sale You can also spend a sparse minutes on a site like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel to check the price of products sold on Amazon over time and confirm the quality of an advertised markdown Another price history hack Ask AI for the going rate of a popular product I tried this on ChatGPT for the base iPad and got results that say somewhere around is a common price for the GB Wi-Fi model among retailers in contemporary weeks despite the Apple Store price of Look for less than that at Amazon and other stores on Prime Big Deal Days or leave it But just because it s a good time to buy stuff doesn t mean a new tech product fits into your budget Slow down take a breath and be methodical about what you buy advises Bodge If you miss the chance to save this time we have a hunch Black Friday will bring another dizzying set of deals More From NerdWallet The U S Leadership Has Shut Down What Now How to Save on Tickets to Live Events in How to Fit Charitable Giving Into Your Budget Tommy Tindall writes for NerdWallet Email ttindall nerdwallet com The article A Buyer s Area What To Get During Prime Big Deal Days originally appeared on NerdWallet