By Jay Bemis | Advertising Systems Inc.
First, it was one day, then two days, now it is four.
Amazon announced Tuesday that its annual Prime “Day” will grow to four days this year, from July 8th to the 11th.
At its start in 2015, Prime Day was a single-day summer sale meant to celebrate Amazon’s 20th anniversary. But in recent years, it became a 48-hour event, and now it’s getting double that extension.
Is Prime “Day” worth that much hype?
“The answer to this question largely depends on what you’re shopping for,” the editors at Forbes say.
“If you’re in the market for Amazon devices, tech and small appliances, you’ll likely find some great deals over Prime Day. The same goes for beauty and personal care essentials — Amazon has really stepped up its game in these categories over recent years.
“That said, there will inevitably be plenty of lackluster offers as well. We always recommend checking the price history of an item by using tools like CamelCamelCamel or checking other sites for price comparison before adding it to your cart. Our editors research the price history of every item we feature in our content, so shopping a Forbes Vetted Prime Day deals lists is another way to ensure you’re getting a good deal.”
Becoming an Amazon Prime Member
To take advantage of Prime “Day” deals, you must be an Amazon Prime member.
Annual memberships cost $139, after a 30-day free trial.
With a membership, you get access to the sale as well as plenty of other Prime member perks, such as special offers, free shipping, Grubhub+, Prime Video services and more. Some users, including students and eligible government assistance recipients, also may qualify for discounted memberships.
Last Year’s Prime Day Event
During Prime Day 2024:
- Independent sellers sold more than 200 million items, according to Amazon.
- Prime members in the United States chose to consolidate their deliveries on millions of orders during Prime Day, saving an estimated 10 million trips, “which results in lower carbon emissions on average.”
- Rufus, Amazon’s generative AI-powered shopping assistant, helped millions of customers shop Amazon’s wide selection “quickly and easily.”
Rufus can sniff out such topics as most popular gifts, plus track a customer’s order status and anticipated delivery dates.
Why Do We Keep Calling It Prime “Day”?
In the world of marketing, it’s all about the branding.
Because Prime Day has become synonymous with big deals and exclusive perks for Prime members — sort of how “Black Friday” can span a whole week (or more) in retail — Amazon fears that changing the name might dilute the recognition and hype Amazon has built over the years.
And there will be more hype in store: Amazon has run a similar savings event in October called Prime Big Deal Days. In recent years, it has also started running annual sales that are open to the general public, including the Big Spring Sale, Amazon Pet Day and the Summer Beauty Event.
Twenty countries will be involved in the July Prime Day event, including the U.S. and the U.K.
Other countries — including Brazil, Egypt, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — will get their own chance to celebrate Prime Day later in the summer, Amazon says.
“You don’t have to wait for Prime Day to find great deals on Amazon’s site,” Forbes notes. “The e-tailer is known for offering some of the best prices and widest variety of products online all year long.”
