Shoppers hoping to bag a bargain on Amazon Prime Day have been issued an alert by Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert (MSE): don’t assume the retail giant offers the best price. The annual sale, which normally takes place in July, has been brought forward this year and will run from 23 to 26 June. Deals are already appearing on products including Ring doorbells and Apple AirPods as part of Amazon’s early Prime Day offers.
“Amazon’s not always cheapest, even during a promo event – so use price comparison tools,” MSE advised. The team urged customers to check “shopbot” comparison tools such as Google Shopping and Price Spy to find the lowest online price on any given day. It also warned that some sites might favour certain retailers.
“Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert warns Amazon Prime Day shoppers to compare prices as rivals may offer better deals.”
MSE added that shoppers should look out for price-matching from competitors. “Check AO.com, Argos, Currys, John Lewis, Joybuy and others who may offer free extras such as a longer guarantee on some products,” the guidance said.
The Independent’s senior tech critic Alex Lee praised Sony’s WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones, calling their sound quality “mind-blowing” and noting 30 hours of battery life with noise cancelling on. Fitness writer Lauren Wingenwroth named the Garmin forerunner 970 the best running watch, saying it “combines all the running features and stats you could need with smartwatch features”. A Nespresso vertuo next coffee machine was also highlighted for its “sleek, space-saving” design and barcode brewing system.
Amazon Prime Day, which started as a one-day sale in 2015 to celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary, has grown into a multi-day event rivalling Black Friday. The event begins at midnight on 23 June and ends at 11.59pm on 26 June. Prime membership costs £8.99 per month, but Amazon is offering a free 30-day trial to new customers. Students and those aged 18 to 24 can get six months free plus a 50% discount. Amazon warns that after a free trial or membership period ends, it “will automatically charge for the next membership period”.