Amazon has a lot of sales on Prime Day, which actually lasts two days. You might find yourself spending more money than you planned because of these sales. Here’s how Amazon might encourage you to buy more:
Countdown clocks
Amazon puts countdown clocks on some items, telling you that you have to buy quickly to get the deal. If you don’t buy before the clock runs out, you might miss out on saving money. But remember, you could also save money by not buying at all!
Exclusive merchandise
On Prime Day, Amazon offers special items only for Prime members, like a special “Frozen” themed comforter. If your kids love “Frozen,” you might feel like you have to buy it before the deal ends. Amazon wants you to think it’s a must-have, making you feel like you need to get it quickly.
Product limits
Amazon might seem like it has endless products, but on Prime Day, they limit some of the best deals. They show a progress bar that tells you how much of the product has already been sold. This does two things:
One, it makes the product seem scarce, like there aren’t many left. Two, it shows that many people have bought it, which might make you think it’s a popular and valuable item. This might make you want to buy it quickly, just like everyone else.
Amazon credits
Amazon is offering $10 credits for doing things like logging into the Amazon App for the first time, adding Amazon Assistant to your laptop, and shopping at Whole Foods. This is like getting free money that you can use on Prime Day.
Notifications and alerts
Once you have the Amazon App on your phone and Amazon Assistant on your laptop, you can use them to track deals. Set them up to notify you when Prime Day deals start. This way, you can keep doing your daily activities until it’s time to shop for a special deal.
Unlockable bonuses
Amazon makes shopping fun by offering bonuses like video games. For example, you can unlock a 20% discount on certain items by using a feature in the Amazon app called “View In Your Room.” This lets you see how a new chair or lamp would look in your living room using your phone’s camera.
If you see something that looks great in your room, you might feel like you have to buy it, especially with that extra discount.
Prime Day is a chance to save money on things you were already planning to buy. But remember, Amazon uses many tricks to try to get you to buy more than you planned. Be aware of these tactics and try to stick to your original shopping list.
If you do end up buying more, at least you’re getting it at a discount.