I shop for a living – this is how to search Prime Day deals to save money

There's no feeling quite like bagging one of the best deals available on Prime Day. Today and tomorrow, Amazon are reducing some of our most-loved, but also most expensive, appliances by up to 80%. If you don't want to miss out or waste your money, there are some tips and tricks that the experts use.

This Prime day, even more so than the last, I've seen a lot of incredible deals. Some, like the incredible saving on this Vitamix blender, are obviously good value. Others, however, aren't worth your time. I was excited when I saw one of my favorite French presses was on sale, but it's only a dollar off. That's the kind of purchase that can wait for Black Friday.

Lucky for you, it is my job to sift through sales, finding the best deals and savings, so I have a few tips and tricks to ensure that you're making the most of these big deals. 

Our team of expert shoppers already have lots of pages showing you the best Amazon Prime Day deals, but if you want to know how to shop Amazon Prime Day sales like a professional, look no further.

Quick links to Prime Day

Sometimes, you just need to know where to look, so we've put together a list of links to the places you'll want to check out Before you go, you need to know a couple of things. Many of these offers are only for Amazon Prime members, so you'll need to be a member to shop some of the biggest and best discounts. We've also seen some counter-sales from other big retailers. 

If you just want to be pointed in the right direction, here's what's on offer:

• Amazon Prime Vacuum Deals: up to 60% off vacuum brands like Dyson and Shark
• Amazon Prime Coffee Maker Deals: up to 50% off Keurig and Nespresso
• Amazon Prime Blender Deals: as much as $250 off Ninja and NutriBullet blenders
• Amazon Prime Air Fryer Deals: more than $200 off Instant and Cosori fryers
• Amazon Prime Stand Mixer Deals: more than 30% off KitchenAid and Cuisinart
• Amazon Prime Bedding Deals: more than 70% off sheets, comforters, and more
• Walmart Holiday Kickoff: up to 60% off a huge range of home goods
• Best Buy Outlet Event : 50% off refurbished appliances and tech

Search with purpose

Before I even look at a sale, I think about my home. Throughout the year, I have a note app on my phone, where I add things that I would like to upgrade or add to my home, but can't quite justify buying in the exact moment that I think about it. Then, when Prime Day or Black Friday rolls around, I'm ready with a list of products to look for. Searching with a purpose means you're less likely to get lost or mentally fatigued, scrolling through pages of deals which simply aren't relevant to you.

I realise the advice about keeping a long-term note might be coming a bit late, especially given that Prime Day has started, but you can do a mini scan of your home now. If your vacuum has been kicking out almost as much dust as it picks up, now is the time to switch it for a new vacuum that's on sale. If you've had the same bedding for ten years, this is your chance to pick up some more bedding with Amazon's deals. 

It also helps to search for the precise product you want. Sometimes the generic 'vacuum deals' pages don't have the very best deals. If you scroll a little, you can find the same product in a different colorway for hundreds cheaper. For example, the Miele Triflex HX1 is $599 in blue, but the exact same vacuum in gray is just $355, saving you more than $240.

Dyson Ball Animal 2 | Was $749.99, now $379.99 at Amazon
If you have pets or long hair, look no further than this Dyson deal. The 40% discount means that you'll save over $200 on one of the best vacuums on the market. Our experts said 'it's an icon in its own right' and is effective across a range of floors, steps, and crevices.

You can read more in our Dyson Ball Animal 2 review

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Vitamix Explorian E310 | Was $369, now $189.95 at Amazon
Vitamix blenders never get cheaper than this. In fact, this is the lowest price we've ever seen for the Explorian. It's a professional-quality blender, which is especially good at crushing ice.

You can read more in our Vitamix Explorian blender review

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Mellanni Queen Sheet Set | Was $50.97, now $29.72 at Amazon
These sheets run from twin to California king, and with 40 different colors and patterns there's a design for everyone. The set has have hundreds of thousands of positive reviews. 

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Trust the experts

Once you have a purpose to approach the sale with, take advice from the experts. It's our job to watch sales, test products, and let you know what's good and what's not. We've been thinking about Prime Day and checking Amazon for months. As soon as deals started dropping, we let you know on our early deals page. 

We also keep an eye on the price of products, so if and when it hits an all-time low, we will shout about it. We also know if it's been discounted by more before, so whether you should wait until Black Friday for a better price.

I'll give you an example. Say you need a new blender, if you go on Amazon and search 'blender', your search results will look like mine. There are 3,000 blenders to scan through and, with a quick scroll, I've seen some good deals, but also some misleading ones.

As an expert shopper, I test, review, and write about blenders and a range of products for a living. I know which brands are good and which models are worth buying. If you just buy a blender without all the in-person experience, you have no indication whether it's the right one for you and whether it will suit your home and needs.

Luckily, the experts have written buying guides and reviews for every appliance. If you read what we have to say, we'll let you know everything we found out from our in-person experiences whilst also telling you whether a deal is good or not.

• Best deals overall: on everything you would need
• Best bedding deals: on sheets, mattresses, and comforters
• Best vacuum deals: on cordless, upright, and robot vacuums
• Best appliance deals: everything you need in your kitchen, from toasters to slow cookers
• Best coffee maker deals: for a caffeine fix to rival your barista's

Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer | Was $159.99, now $119.95 at Amazon
Our experts placed this at the top of our best air fryer roundup. Scrolling through Amazon, you would easily miss the fact that it's quick, quiet, and has effective odor-erasing technology.

You can find our more in our Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer review

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Hoover ONEPWR Pet Max | was $309.99, now $183.99 at Amazon
You might recognise the Bissel name, but there are some things you should know before adding this to your cart. This is the vacuum our Head of E-Commerce actually uses in his home. It's brilliant, but not easy to de-tangle the roller if it fills with hair.

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Cuisinart Precision Stand Mixer, 500W, Black, SM50BU | Was $210.58, now $162.35 at Amazon
There are some incredible deals on iconic stand mixers, but when we tested this, we thought it was a close rival to KitchenAid's Artisan. At just over $150 it's an incredible bargain, kneading with easy and mixing like a professional.

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Shop around

In response to Prime Day, lots of other large retailers have launched their own sales. Both Walmart and Best Buy have some huge discounts, which are better than Prime Day's in some instances. Again, we know that this can get tiring, which is why our shopping team have also written roundups of the best deals on all the appliances in each sale. You can follow links to our roundup of the best deals at Walmart and the biggest discounts at Best Buy, or look for yourself.

Dyson V8 Vacuum Cleaner | Was $419.99, now $249.99 at Walmart
You know I love a Dyson discount and $170 off an extremely capable model is hard to miss. It might be an older iteration of their cordless design, but it's still extremely good across a range of floor types. It's also one hundred of dollars more expensive at Amazon.

You can find out more in our Dyson V8 review

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ORFELD Slow Juicer | Was $299, now $144.99 at Walmart
We haven't tested this yet, but cold press juicers start at hundreds of dollars. This has hundreds of five star reviews and has nearly $150 off. I've heard brilliant things about it and read all the reviews, so it comes highly recommended.

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Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker | Was $279.99, now $169 at Walmart
Last Prime Day the Ninja Creami went out of stock everywhere. The fact that it's such a good price now makes this possibly the most exciting deal at Walmart. It's quick and a good investment for homemade ice cream. 

You can find out more in our Ninja Creami review.

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Samsung Bespoke French Door| Was $2,789.99, now $1,999.99 at Best Buy
Made from stainless steel, this smart refrigerator can cover all your kitchen needs. It has a water dispenser and ice maker, perfect for large families. The huge $790 discount is not to be missed.

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LG Top Control Tub Washer| Was $1,499.99 , now $649.99 at Best Buy
Post-party cleanup has never been so easy than with this washer. It has QuadWash technologies, using an extra two spray arms to ensure a thorough wash of your grubbiest dishes. It comes with a useful app for tracking wash cycles, too.

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Treat yourself

I've preached practicality, but sales are also the time to treat yourself. There are lots of little luxuries and nice-to-have appliances which it's hard to justify at full price. When they're on sale, it's much easier to get yourself, or someone else, a special something. With Christmas and Thanksgiving around the corner, now could be a good time to buy a present in advance. Prices will creep up near to the festive season, so plan ahead. 

Phillips Essentials XL| Was $179.95, now $99.95 with Amazon Prime
Not only is this an incredible deal, it's also a brilliant appliance. We tested this recently and loved it. Easy to use with excellent results, it's a must-have, especially with more than 53% off.

Our Philips Essential Air Fryer XL review has more information.

KitchenAid Artisan 5 Quart | Was $459.99, now $379.95 at Amazon
Our Head of E-Commerce calls this 'the best stand mixer in the world' and it's on sale. Whilst I've classified this as a luxury buy, once you have one, you won't know what you did without it. This excelled at mixing cake batter, dough, and whipped cream. It's available in 23 colors too.

You can find out more in our KitchenAid Artisan 5 Quart review.

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Philips 3200 Series Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with LatteGo | Was $999.99, now $599.99 at Amazon
Although I firmly believe coffee makers are an essential, to some, they are a luxury. This is our top pick out of all the coffee makers on the market. It froths milk like an expert and knows how to pull the perfect shot. When you thought things couldn't get better, I want to say it's the cheapest we've ever seen it.

You can read more in our full Philips 3200 Series review.

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Breville 3X Bluicer | was $399.95, now $149.98 at Amazon
If you want a blender and a juicer in one product, this is the perfect option. It's easy to use, powerful, and has five different speed settings. Amazon's RRP is cheaper than Breville's, with extra reduction on top, it's a great deal.

You can find our more in our Breville 3X Bluicer review.

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FAQs

Final thoughts

Shopping the Prime Day sales are just like shopping in thrift shops and in-person sales. It can be messy, stressy, and chaotic if you don't know what you're doing. However, if you navigate the sales with expert guidance then you'll be able to find what you're looking for, whilst bagging the best deals available. If you follow our tips, tricks, and look at our pages, you'll be sure to get a deal that you won't regret.