3 Tricks for Getting Even Better Deals on Amazon Prime Day

The countdown is on! Amazon Prime Day is July 16th-17th, so prepare your must-have list. During the two-day sale, consumers can save big bucks and score the hottest deals on apparel, household goods, patio furniture, electronics, small kitchen appliances, toys and more.

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Thousands of merchants participate in the widely anticipated event that rivals Black Friday in terms of savings, and to help you shop like a pro, here are various tips for getting the best deals .

Become an Amazon Prime Member for Free or a Discounted Rate

To access the mega sale, you must be an Amazon Prime member. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial if you’re not a member. If you don’t cancel after the trial membership, you’ll be charged $14.99 a month. You can pay a lower monthly fee if you’re on SNAP or Medicaid. For more information, go to Prime membership plans and check out the offers. In addition, college students and non-students between the ages of 18-24 can get a six-month free trial.

Download the Amazon App

During the sale, Lightning Deals are offered-this can also happen throughout the year. The deals are for limited promotions and happen quickly, hence the name. They typically last a few hours or until the item sells out. The app lets members see Lightning Deals before they’re live. When you find one you’re interested in, use the app to create a “Watch this deal,” which will send you notifications when it’s about to be active.

You still have a chance if the item you want is sold out. Click the “Join Waitlist” button on the site or app. If customers who have the product in their cart for 15 minutes have yet to purchase the item, it’s deleted and you’ll receive an alert if you’re next in line.

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Use a Free Amazon Price Tracker

With millions of deals, Amazon Prime Day can be overwhelming, but a helpful tool is the free Amazon Price Tracker camelcamelcamel . To ensure you get the best price, create an account and paste the link to the item. Information about the product will pop up, including the lowest recorded price and the average price. You can also sign up for Amazon price drop alerts through the tracker. In addition, retailers will have sales to compete with Prime Day, so price check around.

Sign Up For Prime Invite Only Deals

Another way to save and get ahead of the sales is to sign up for Prime Invite-Only Deals leading up to the event. To find Invite-Only Deals, view the deals page . Go to the product detail page and select request invite. Since there is a limited amount of products, not everyone will be notified about all the deals they sign up for, but if you are chosen to take advantage of the discount, you’ll get an alert.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 3 Tricks for Getting Even Better Deals on Amazon Prime Day