Amazon’s October Prime Day, officially called Prime Big Deal Days, runs Tuesday and Wednesday, October 6 and 7. It’s 48 hours of sales, and the best deals are for Prime members only.
If you’re not a member, you can still get in. Amazon gives new members a 30-day free trial, and you get the same deals and perks as everyone else.
Start your free 30-day Prime trial →
Why this sale is worth your time
October Prime Day is the unofficial start of holiday shopping. Amazon says there are millions of deals across more than 35 categories, from toys and kitchen gadgets to beauty, home, and Amazon’s own devices.
New deals drop three times a day: midnight, 8 a.m., and 1 p.m. Pacific. On the East Coast that’s 3 a.m., 11 a.m., and 4 p.m. Many of them are limited quantity and disappear once they sell out, so it pays to check in more than once.
Some early deals are already live, so you don’t have to wait until Tuesday to start looking.
Get the grandkids’ gifts done in October
This is where Prime earns its keep for me. You can ship gifts straight to the grandkids, nieces, and nephews with free fast shipping, no wrapping paper on the kitchen table and no line at the post office in December.
Toy prices are often at their lowest before the holiday rush, and the popular ones sell out early. If NeeDoh is on anyone’s list, I wrote about why you’ll want to grab it now in this hot toy post.
What else comes with Prime
The sale gets you in the door, but the membership comes with plenty you’ll actually use. During the free trial you get all of it:
- Free fast shipping on millions of items
- Prime Video for movies and shows (just in time for Hallmark-movie season)
- Amazon Music and Prime Reading
- Grubhub+ for food delivery
- Whole Foods savings for members
- Amazon Photos to back up all those pictures of the grandkids
How the free trial works
New members get 30 days free. Sign up before Tuesday, shop the sale, and your packages arrive while you’re still in the trial.
If you decide to keep it, Prime is $14.99 a month or $139 a year. If you don’t, turn off auto-renew in your account before the 30 days are up and you won’t be charged. Either way, you got the Prime Day prices.
A couple of other options worth knowing about:
- Got a kid in college? Prime Student comes with a longer free trial, then half price. Send them the link.
- On SNAP or Medicaid? Prime Access starts with a 30-day free trial, then costs about half the regular monthly price.
Three things to do this weekend
Make your list. Write down who you’re shopping for and what you’re looking for. It keeps you from buying things just because they’re on sale.
Start your trial now. Don’t wait until Tuesday morning. Sign up this weekend so you’re ready the minute deals go live.
Check the early deals. Some of the best prices show up before the event starts.
The sale is only 48 hours. If you’ve been on the fence about Prime, this is the week to try it for free.
What’s on your Prime Day list this year? Tell me in the comments.
A quick note: some links in this post are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases and sign-ups at no extra cost to you. Prices, dates, and trial terms are set by Amazon and can change, so check the details when you sign up. Thanks for supporting Christmas Hearth.