Prime Day 2025: Insider Deal-Hunting Masterclass
Find genuinely great deals (not just marketing hype)
Hello, Gorgeous!
It’s difficult to navigate the online world without coming across a lot of hype for Amazon Prime Day which starts today through the 11th (July 8-11, 2025).
While I’m no Amazon hype woman, I feel that I should cover this. I’ll be adding a few favorite picks as well. I’ll also be including a ton of great shopping info. In fact, you might want to bookmark this page for shopping tips for Black Friday*.
For those of you who have been waiting months to scoop up something special, I came up with some tips to know if you’re really getting a great deal.
Fake-O Deal Detection
The online world can feel like a swampland of come-ons and hate rhetoric vs. truly incredible information and individuals. I’ll try to help you cut through the BS to find the good stuff.
Red flags to set off your spidey senses
🚩 The “Was $699, Now $69 trick”
If the prices seem too good to be true it’s because they are. You can use sites like CamelCamelCamel.com to see if that $699 price ever actually existed. Bear in mind that while the site has been operating for over 15 years and are legit, a lot of their income comes from Amazon affiliates, in case that’s something that matters to you!
🚩 Endless Lightning Deals
Some scammy Amazon sellers slap a “Lightning Deals” name on pretty much everything. Real lightning deals are worth looking into because quantities are limited. Look for countdown timers and clearly listed quantities.
🚩 5-Star reviews all from the same time frame
These scream fake reviews. Here’s what you can do to better try to filter reviews. Sort all reviews by “most recent.” If they’re all from last week, it’s time to move on.
🚩 Previously inflated now drastically deflated prices
This one is so cheesy. Many less reputable sellers invent bloated prices and then drop them on Prime Day.
Green Flags = Genuine Deals
✅ If you’re fond of tracking prices, start paying attention to historical price tracking shows actual discounts
✅ Consistent positive reviews. It’s fine to ignore a few bad reviews since sometimes people gripe about shipping or packaging or even the weather. If a product has consistent positive reviews over 6+ months, it’s probably a decent item.
✅ Major brand having a rare sale. If you love a brand and know they rarely discount, it’s safe to assume this would be a great time for them to knock the price down a bit.
✅ Amazon's "Lowest price in 30 days" badge. Believe it or not, Amazon doesn’t lie about these things. It’s easy to score great deals this way.
Random: Check the sizes. I once stocked up on my favorite dish washing liquid (don’t judge) only to discover it was micro-sized.
💰 Where You'll Find the Real Deals
Because my life is basically a meme, it should be known that about two years ago I announced to anyone who would listen that I was off the phone upgrade treadmill and I would no longer upgrade my phone.
Then a car ran over my phone THE DAY BEFORE PRIME DAY.
Reader, I upgraded my phone. On Prime Day no less.
Moving right along. If you’re ready for a tech related splurge, this really is a good time for it since most of these deals are irresistible and legit.
So what should you be looking for?
Why they discount: Let’s face it, these items have high markup and seasonal demand
Best savings: Hair tools, skincare devices, makeup sets. I don’t know why. They just do!
Timing: Best deals drop Tuesday morning, Thursday evening
Why they discount: Clearing inventory for new models. It’s a pretty tried and true way of moving merch before the next big thing hits (virtual) shelves
Best savings: Air fryers, pressure cookers, coffee makers
Sweet spot: Mid-tier brands (not cheap with odd names containing only consonants, not most expensive either)
Why they discount: Impulse purchase territory (or phones run over by cars)
Best savings: Chargers, cases, headphones, smart home starters
Avoid: No-name electronics. There’s a high return rate for a reason
Why they discount: It’s easy. There’s zero inventory cost
Best savings: You’ll save the most on Kindle books (up to 90% off), audiobooks and magazine subscriptions. I recently stopped supporting a site I’d been shopping at for years since they tried to justify selling nauseatingly racist literature (drop me a line if you want to know who to avoid and why). Needless to say, I’ll be checking out Amazon’s offerings
Pro move: Stock up on books you'll read later - these prices won't repeat and it’s a well known fact that your pile of books grows best during summer months
🕒 PRIME DAY TIMING STRATEGY
When Deals Actually Drop
Midnight PST = New daily themes launch
6 AM EST = East Coast wakes up, fresh inventory and excellent for sleepy shopping
12 PM EST = Lunch break shopping surge
3 PM EST = Afternoon lightning deals peak
6 PM EST = Dinner break deals
9 PM EST = Evening couch shopping
The 3-Hour Rule
I love you. I respect your right to buy all the things. But might I suggest that you wait 3 hours before buying anything over $100. Prime Day FOMO is real, but many lightning deals cycle throughout the day with similar pricing and nearly identical deals.
Day-by-Day Strategy
Tuesday (Day 1): If I have one sacred truth to share, it is this: Browse and wishlist, don't buy
Wednesday (Day 2): Compare prices, buy essentials. I’ll be posting a great big list of things that might be worth your while tomorrow.
Thursday (Day 3): Best beauty and kitchen deals typically drop
Friday (Day 4): Last chance + clearance pricing
🔍 The Pro Deal Evaluation Method
Step 1: Do some research and a few searches. Here’s how:
Check the brand's official website - Compare prices. Is Prime Day actually cheaper?
Google "[product name] review" - What do experts say? I cannot begin to tell you how many times reviewers I trust surrounded a product with an avalanche of red flags and I bought it anyway. Don’t be me.
Search Reddit for "[product name] worth it" - Real user experiences
Check competitors - Target, Walmart, Best Buy…Are they matching prices?
Remember: The best deal is on something you were already planning to buy and can save big on now. Everything else is just really expensive stuff you snagged a discount on.
Okay, my beauties. I actually wrote a lot more on the topic but cut it down. Are you interested in more Prime Day/smart shopping tips, or should I save them for Black Friday instead? Let’s meet in the comment section to discuss
*OHMYGOD DID I JUST INVOKE BLACK FRIDAY?
**OMG. I invoked it 2x now.
PSA: I'm the worst at remembering to mention this, but some of these might be affiliate links. If you click and buy, I could earn a small percentage at no cost to you. I promise I only recommend things I'd tell my sister or best friend to buy - affiliate opportunity or not.
So what are you planning on buying (or is it nothing at all)? Let’s meet in the comment section to discuss!
Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋
Great info - thanks!