Amazon Prime Day has grown to include competing summer sales from Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, making it similar to Black Friday in June. This expansion benefits shoppers but also increases the risk of fake deals.

Avoiding Inflated Prices

To avoid inflated prices, shoppers can use tools like CamelCamelCamel for Amazon products and CamelMart for Walmart products. These tools provide detailed price histories, helping shoppers identify genuine discounts.

For example, a Nespresso coffee maker advertised at 38% off for Prime Day was found to have sold for the same price from February through early June. The price increase just before Prime Day made the sale appear larger than it was.

Checking Sellers and Shipping

Before making a purchase, shoppers should check who is selling the item and who is shipping it. If the product isn’t sold directly by Amazon or Walmart, it’s essential to read the return policy, as third-party sellers may have different rules.

Grouping multiple items into one delivery can help reduce the risk of porch pirates, and Amazon may reward shoppers with extra cashback or credits for waiting a little longer.

Comparing prices across different retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, can also help shoppers find the best deals. Many items include free shipping, and competitors often match or beat Amazon’s prices.

Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.