Amazon Prime Day returns. Here’s how to seize the best deals

(NewsNation) — Amazon Prime Day returned Tuesday for the 10th year, offering deep discounts. But how do consumers know which deals are best?

The next 48 hours are considered the holy grail of Amazon sales, with 24 countries participating in Prime Day 2024. Deals started at midnight Tuesday and run through Wednesday and are only open to customers who pay $14.99 per month, or $139 per year, to receive free shipping and other perks as Prime members.

Shoppers are expected to spend roughly $14 billion during the two-day extravaganza, up more than 10% from last year, when Prime members bought more than 375 million items and saved a record $2.5 billion.

What are some bargain-hunting tips?

Inside Amazon’s warehouses, it’s busy with all hands on deck, and drivers will be even busier on the roads. Amazon said it always calls in extra help just for these 48 hours.

There are more than 35 product categories with discounts on tech devices, groceries, travel and clothes.

Here are some tips to maximize your savings:

• Add items to your cart and save them for later.
• Download the Amazon app.
• Use features like Amazon coupons and Alexa.
• Install a browser plugin for coupons.
• Ensure you’re getting the best deal by comparing prices.

Consumer Reports also offers a few tips: Sign up for invite-only deals available for a select group of shoppers, and join the waitlist on limited-time offers that are already sold out.

“One new thing this Prime Day is we have more deals from small businesses than ever, and that’s part of our commitment to the small business community,” said Beryl Tomay, Amazon’s vice president of transportation. “Over 60% of sales out of our store are from independent sellers.”

Rival retailers are also offering discounts

If you’re not interested in Amazon Prime Day, consider checking out rival retailers.

This year, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s and newcomers TikTok Shop and Temu launched summer promotions ahead of Amazon, hoping to siphon off some of the e-commerce giant’s savings-hungry shoppers. Meanwhile, Macy’s will be rolling out what it calls its “best summer deals” during an eight-day discount event that begins Tuesday.

Unlike Prime Day offers, Walmart’s discount event this month was open to everyone. However, the company sweetened the deal for its Walmart+ members by offering them early access.

Target only offered discounts to shoppers enrolled in its Target Circle loyalty program and used the weeklong event to promote a new membership program that aims to rejuvenate sales and traffic.

TikTok Shop, the e-commerce arm of the popular video-sharing app, opened its summer sales event to everyone. The event started July 9 and runs until Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.