The October Prime Day sale is on, with Amazon hosting it from Oct. 6 through Oct. 7. The deals are already available. This event was previously called the Prime Early Access Sale, and it spans two days. Its timing means it largely overlaps with Black Friday offers, which gives it the feel of a sneak peek rather than a separate occasion.
Every year in early October, about a month and a half before Black Friday, Amazon runs a 48-hour sale for its Prime members alone. It began in 2022, and because it follows the same format as Amazon’s flagship Prime Day event, it is commonly known as October Prime Day.
The sale begins at 3:01 a.m. ET (12:01 a.m. PT) on Tuesday, Oct. 6, and ends at 2:59 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 8 (11:59 p.m. PT on Oct. 7). There’s no need to hold off on saving until Oct. 6. Right now, Amazon is running a number of deals, which include:
- Up to 65% off select Amazon gadgets like Fire TV Sticks and Echo smart speakers
- A free $30 credit on select Echo devices
- A free $5 Prime Big Deal Days credit for every Amazon Now order of $25 or more through Oct. 3 (up to $25 total)
- Four free months of Amazon Music Unlimited (three months for non-members)
- Four months of Audible Standard for 99 cents/month plus a free $20 Audible credit
- Save $20 on Grubhub orders of $30 or more with code DEALS20 through Oct. 5
- A free $1,500 gift card when you buy or lease a new car with Amazon Autos through Oct. 7
Everyone shopping online can sign up for three months of Kindle Unlimited at no charge before the sale begins, without needing to hold a Prime membership.
Amazon’s blog post promises “millions of deals across fashion, electronics, beauty, toys, and more.” Some of those deals are limited-time offers called “Today’s Big Deals” that drop daily at 3 a.m., 11 a.m., and 4 p.m. ET, with discounts of “up to 50% or more” on trending products and new releases. This list covers a wide range of items, including cameras, espresso machines, headphones, TVs, laptops, floorcare, kitchen appliances, power tools, collectibles, sensory toys, party supplies, Halloween costumes, thermostats, LED lighting, toys, building sets, and cleaning products.
October’s Prime Day comes before Black Friday, and the deals on that day typically pale in comparison to what follows it. The reasoning behind this is straightforward:
- Almost every retailer runs a Black Friday sale, so the selection is wider.
- Black Friday deals are open to everyone, not just Prime members.
- Retailers want to clear old inventory ahead of the new year, so they push prices lower.
The two events share common ground, particularly when it comes to Amazon devices. Many of the discounts on the Echo, Kindle, and Fire TV that appear during October Prime Day resurface again in November.
Prime members who wish to get the most out of their subscription, avoid the disorder of Black Friday, or prevent an item from selling out before the holidays should still take a look at October Prime Day. Buying gifts ahead of late November or early December is another argument for shopping now.
Because these two events run together, the sense of urgency gets reduced somewhat. October Prime Day offers a chance to get fall necessities at a lower price, though those deals frequently show up again during November.
Source material: “Everything you need to know about October Prime Day, according to someone who covers it every year,” Mashable.
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