18 Smart Amazon Hacks That Will Save You Hundreds

Everyone knows and loves Amazon, but did you know there are ways to save money on this popular shopping app? Whether you’re a ‘window shopper’ or you have a shopping habit that makes neighbors wonder if you’ve taken up a job at Amazon, there are many ways to save on Amazon products.

These secret Amazon hacks will save you hundreds of dollars and make shopping on Amazon even more fun.

Let’s dive in!

1. Join Amazon Prime

Even though it costs money ($12.99/month), you’ll receive many benefits from joining Prime that pays you back more than the monthly membership:

  • Free 1-day, 2-day, or same day delivery on select products
  • Free two-hour grocery delivery
  • Savings on prescriptions that insurance doesn’t cover
  • Access to Prime Video
  • Access to Amazon Music Prime
  • Access to Amazon Photos to store your photos
  • Access to Prime exclusive deals
  • Try Prime Wardrobe and try on outfits, only paying for what you keep (returning the rest)

2.    Watch your delivery times

If you have Amazon Prime and your shipment doesn’t arrive within the 2-day promised window, call Amazon and let them know. They’ll do one of two things for you:

  • Extend your Prime membership for a month ($12.99 value)
  • Give you a $10 credit to use on your next Amazon purchase

Either way, you save $10 – $12.99 just by tracking your shipments. If you buy from Amazon often, keep a running list of your orders and when they should arrive.

3.    Look for Amazon coupons

Don’t shop on Amazon without looking for coupons. Many are right in front of you when you’re looking at the product. You’ll see a tag that says ‘coupon eligible’ or ‘save $X with this coupon.’ You must activate the coupon to use it, so don’t forget.

Amazon also has a coupon page. Just browse to the page before shopping. Make sure you’re logged into your account and click ‘clip coupon’ to use it on your next order.

4.    Abandon your cart

This trick works at many stores, but it works especially well at Amazon. If there’s something you have your eye on, add it to your cart, but don’t checkout. Amazon will kindly remind you of your ‘abandoned cart’ via email.

Here’s the trick. Because Amazon prices change often, you’ll be able to snag the item at a lower price, if it drops. You’ll automatically be notified and can save money and buy your item.

5.    Look at your color options

When you look at items on Amazon, you’ll notice each color or style has different prices. If you don’t have your heart set on a specific color or style, look for the less expensive options. Sometimes you can save up to 50% just by choosing a less popular color or style.

6.    Check out the Amazon warehouse

The Amazon Warehouse offers steep discounts on the most popular items. Most items in the warehouse are either returned and can’t be restocked or were slightly used. The products are listed by category so it’s easy to shop for the items you want.

We think the best deals are in electronics, kitchen, and home improvement, but there are many categories to choose from to score some great deals.

7.    Shop with a cashback app

If you shop on Amazon through a cashback app, such as Ibotta, you can earn rebates on your Amazon purchases. If you shop on the mobile app or through the Chrome extension, you automatically earn the rebates.

If you buy outside of the app or extension, just upload your receipt to your Ibotta account and earn the rebates.

8.    Choose no rush shipping

If you aren’t in a hurry to get your Amazon order, choose the ‘no rush delivery’ at checkout and you’ll get one of two things:

  • A discount posted immediately to your order
  • A credit for a digital product, such as a movie

9.    Watch for lightening deals

Every day Amazon offers new lightning deals, which are the equivalent of flash sales. They offer a limited number of deals and once they’re gone, they’re gone. You’ll see a countdown on the deal so you know how much time you have left, but if something catches your eye, but it early because they’re known to run out before the time expires.

10. Open an Amazon Prime Card

If you have good credit, apply for the Amazon Prime card and earn cash back on your purchases. They change the cashback promotions periodically, so always check on the latest offers. You may earn 5%- 6% cashback on Amazon purchases or have other valuable deals available only to Amazon Prime cardholders.

11. Join Amazon Prime Student

If you’re a college student, join Amazon Prime Student using your .edu email address and you’ll get six months of Prime for free, and then pay 50% of the regular price. Students get most of the same deals ‘regular’ Prime members receive, but you also get:

  • Showtime for $0.99 a month for one year
  • Amazon Music Unlimited for $0.99 a month
  • Free 2 months of Kindle Unlimited
  • Up to 90% off textbooks

12. Get free Kindle books

If you love to read on your Kindle or any device, you can borrow up to 10 books at a time from the Kindle Prime library. You won’t find the latest releases, but there is a good selection of books that you can ‘borrow’ and it costs nothing, not even a trip to the library.

13. Use Amazon Subscribe and Save

Instead of late-night Target runs that turn into hundreds of dollars spent when you went it just for toothpaste, use Amazon Subscribe and Save. When you buy personal products, baby products, pet supplies, groceries, office supplies, healthcare items, or household supplies, subscribe to receive regular delivery.

Save up to 15% on the items and receive them in regular intervals. You can skip orders or cancel at any time, but it not only saves you money on the products you buy regularly, but it keeps you out of Target or other stores where you may impulse buy.

14. Use the Amazon Trade-In program

If you have old devices you don’t use, you can trade them in for Amazon gift cards. If you have an eligible device, such as phones, tablets, video games, or other electronics, you can receive money for them towards your next Amazon purchase.

You can even turn in items that no longer work, but you’ll receive a lower credit for them than if you have working devices.

15. Share your Prime membership with household members

You can add one adult who lives with you to your Prime membership for no charge. Not only does the other member get free shipping, but he/she also has access to free video streaming, Amazon Music, online photo storage, and free Kindle books.

16. Use the % off trick

Rather than filtering your search results by lowest to highest price, enter a specific discount you’re looking for in the address bar. First, navigate to the category you want to shop in and add &pct-off=30-50 to the end of the address (just copy and paste it).

This brings up the items in the category you want to buy in that are 30 – 50% off. You can change the numbers for the percentage off you would like.

17. Receive an Amazon registry completion discount

If you sign up for the Amazon Baby Registry, you’ll receive an Amazon Registry completion discount 60 days before your baby’s due date that’s good for up to 60 days after your baby is born. Non-prime members receive a 10% discount and Prime members receive a 15% discount on eligible baby items.

18. Earn Amazon gift cards for free

If you join marketing research companies and answer their surveys, watch their videos, or try their products, you can earn free Amazon gift cards. Most companies, like Swagbucks, pay you in points that you can convert to cash or gift cards to stores like Amazon.

Save Lots of Money on Amazon

Shopping at Amazon can be a lot of fun, but the costs add up. Rather than spending money needlessly, use the Amazon hacks above to save tons of money. Even if you join Prime, you’ll likely more than make your money back given all the discounts and special deals Prime members receive.

Always look for coupons, sort your products from lowest to highest price, and see what offers Amazon has available, including Subscribe and Save. With so many deals available and the option to skip or cancel any memberships at any time, it’s easy to save money at Amazon when you need it the most!