6 mistakes to avoid on Amazon Prime Day 2026

The offer mentioned below for the Prime Visa is no longer available.

Ready your shopping list: Amazon Prime Day starts today. The sale kicks off on June 23 and runs through June 26. This particular shopping event has become known for discounts on electronics, entertainment items and household essentials, among other categories.

But, there are a few scenarios where you should think twice before clicking add to cart. While convenient, impulse buys can quickly add up, and items with constantly-changing prices may not all be at their lowest this week.

Also, only Amazon Prime members are eligible for the savings — a membership that typically costs $139 per year, or $14.99 per month (although you can get a free 30-day trial, as long as you haven't been a member in the last 12 months).

Whatever you're on the hunt for this Prime Day, CNBC Select has rounded up our top mistakes to avoid during the sale that can help you stretch your dollar. Here's what you should know as the sale heats up.

If you shop a lot on Amazon, the Prime Visa card (see rates and fees) could be a strong addition to your wallet. Its cash-back options are relatively high: You'll earn up to 5% back at both Amazon and Whole Foods, plus 2% back on gas, restaurants and more. That's one of the reasons the card makes our top pick for shopping on Amazon.

Additionally, between June 11 and July 9, you can get a $200 Amazon gift card instantly upon approval for the Prime Visa card.

You do need to be a Prime member to qualify — which costs $139 per year — but the card itself doesn't charge an annual fee.

There’s one catch to Prime Day: Sales are limited to Amazon Prime members. If you're put off by the $139 per year (or $14.99 per month) membership charge, there are some ways to get a free Amazon Prime membership.

If you're new to Prime, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial using a valid credit card.

If you're a college student or a young adult (between ages 18 and 24), you can sign up for a free six-month Prime for Young Adults trial membership. (You'll have to verify your student status or provide age verification to complete the sign-up.)

Additionally, if you don't already have the Prime Visa, applying for and being approved between June 11 and July 9 could mean earning the $200 Amazon gift card promotion, which could help offset the membership fee.

However you get your membership discount, make sure to set a reminder to re-evaluate later, or your membership will begin or renew automatically.

Amazon is known for fast shipping. But if your Prime Day purchases aren’t urgent, you could earn rewards or discounts by being patient.

The brand allows you to opt in by choosing the "free no-rush delivery" option at checkout. When you do, Amazon will either apply a discount to your order or automatically give you a credit that can be redeemed on future purchases once your order ships.

These No-Rush rewards can be used to shop for select digital products, including video downloads, Kindle, eBooks, Digital Music and more, and they'll be automatically applied at checkout.

Amazon’s Prime Day deals are often tempting, but the online superstore is not the only seller in the game.

Many stores and sites, including Target and Walmart, will also offer discounts during these times to compete with Amazon's sales. Some stores may be offering better deals on certain products than Amazon is, so it's worth taking a look to save you some money.

Knowing this, comparison shopping is essential. Using a tool like Google Shopping can help you see options from across the internet, and even some local in-person retailers.

Prime Days are big, but it's hardly the online retailer's only sale of the year.

Prices change often on Amazon, so it's a good idea to use a tool that can help you see what an item has cost over time. A price tracker can help you make an informed decision and get the best deal — we like camelcamelcamel's simple price chart visuals available on millions of products, as well as the ability to sign up for email alerts on the lowest prices.

You might want to wait before you buy on some items. Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales are known for deals on electronics, and Black Friday is a great time to grab toys, kitchen gadgets, and dinnerware.

Navigating sales as vast as Amazon sales days without a list can be overwhelming — and easily lead to overspending. 

Ahead of the sale, make a list of the items you’re searching for that are well-priced during this time of year. Prime Days can be a great time to stock up on household essentials like home, pet and baby products. Create a list and stick to it as you shop.

Instead of scrolling endlessly through discounted items, bookmark products you’ve been eyeing or add them to a wishlist. You can sign up to be notified when the item goes on sale and skip the temptation brought on by browsing the sales.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every Amazon Prime article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of Amazon Prime products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

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