Amazon’s annual Prime Day event is coming back, and this year it’s happening a little earlier than usual. Scheduled for October 10 and 11, Prime Big Deal Days offers Amazon Prime members a chance to score significant discounts across a wide range of products. While Black Friday remains the undisputed champion of shopping events, Prime Day provides a compelling opportunity for early holiday shopping and deal-hunting.
A Shift in Amazon’s Sales Strategy
Traditionally, Amazon Prime Day took place in mid-July, becoming a highly anticipated summer event. However, recent years have seen Amazon diversify its sales calendar. Following the disruptions of 2020, the company introduced a fall Prime Day – the Prime Early Access Sale – and later added the Big Spring Sale earlier in the year. This year, Prime Big Deal Days will take place in October, marking a notable shift from the usual July timing.
What to Expect: Deals and Discounts
Prime members can anticipate a wide array of deals across various categories, including tech gadgets like headphones and TVs, home essentials such as vacuums and smart home devices, and much more. Keep an eye out for early deals, which are already available, and continue to monitor CNET for updated information and price drops as the sale gets closer.
Prime Membership Perks Beyond Discounts
Beyond the discounts themselves, an Amazon Prime membership unlocks a host of benefits. A recent addition is a free Grubhub Plus membership, which can provide a free McDonald’s 10-piece chicken McNuggets meal with qualifying orders (at least $20) placed through Amazon, the app, or Grubhub—this promotion ends on October 5.
A Look Back at Prime Day Dates
Amazon launched its first Prime Day in 2015, and the event’s scheduling has evolved over the years.
Here’s a quick recap of previous Prime Day dates:
- Prime Day 2015: July 15
- Prime Day 2016: July 12
- Prime Day 2017: July 11-12
- Prime Day 2018: July 16-17
- Prime Day 2019: July 15-16
- Prime Day 2020: Oct. 13-14
- Prime Day 2021: June 21-22
- Prime Day 2022: July 12-13
- Prime Early Access Sale 2022: Oct. 11-12
- Prime Day 2023: July 11-12
- Prime Big Deal Days 2023: Oct. 10-11
- Prime Day 2024: July 16-17
- Prime Big Deal Days 2024: Oct. 8-9
As you can see, Prime Day was generally scheduled for mid-July for its first five years before the pandemic disrupted the pattern in 2020. Amazon has since experimented with multiple sales throughout the year.
In 2024, Amazon continues its pattern of hosting both a July Prime Day and a second Prime Day-style event in October with Prime Big Deal Days, offering shoppers more opportunities to snag deals.
Prime Big Deal Days promises a chance to start your holiday shopping early—and save along the way. Keep an eye on CNET for the latest updates and the best deals as Prime Big Deal Days approaches.
Prime Day’s shifting schedule highlights Amazon’s efforts to maximize sales throughout the year, offering consumers multiple opportunities to find great deals. This year’s event will likely continue this trend, providing early access to holiday savings for Prime members.
