Amazon's October Prime Day is here, and this is how you get involved

It's Amazon Prime Day... again?! Yes, that's right; Amazon's second major deal day of the year is upon us, just as fall really gets underway.

Amazon Prime Big Deals Day takes place across October 7 and 8, and is set to deliver some enormous discounts on tech deals across the spectrum, covering smartphones, tablets, processors, headphones, earbuds, super-fast chargers, and everything in between.

Of course, the big question is whether you start shopping now, or save yourself for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which are just starting to loom into view in November. Either way, Prime Big Deal Days is here right now, and you'll definitely find a tech bargain or two to snap up.

What is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days?

Discounted tech is the best

Not content with holding one enormous sales extravaganza, in 2023, Amazon launched a whole new event in the fall called Prime Big Deals Days. The big difference between Prime Day and Prime Big Deals Day is that one takes place in the summer, and one takes place in the fall.

This year, the Prime Big Deals Day event takes place on October 7 and 8. And that's just it: it only lasts for 48 hours. It's more streamlined than Prime Day, which, let's face it, should be called Prime Week at this point, given how long it hangs around.

Not that we're complaining—who doesn't love picking up bargain tech?

You need to be a Prime member to get the October Prime Day deals

Sign up to get the best deals

As said, you need to be a Prime member to take up all of the crazy October Prime Day tech deals (and any other deals, for that matter).

Sign up for Amazon Prime with your account, and all the deals will begin to appear on October 7 and 8. However, you don't have to fully commit. Instead, you could opt for the free 30-day Amazon Prime trial, then cancel your account at the other end.

Just remember to set a reminder to cancel your subscription before you're charged at the end of the month.

Also, there are a few ways to get Prime for less, like being a student or maybe through your cell carrier plan. And if you do sign up, don't skip all the amazing Prime account perks that most people ignore. There are so many!

5 Prime Day shopping tips that never fail

You'll never miss a real deal again

Now, I love a tech bargain as much as the next person, but I'm also keenly aware that sometimes, all is not as it seems.

That's why there are a few Prime Day shopping tips every bargain tech hunter needs to know:

1. Add to your cart and check for discounts: Don't want to buy stuff you don't really want? Add the tech you're interested in to your Amazon cart and see if it ends up discounted. If it does, all good. If not, also all good.
2. Price trackers: Unfortunately, "fake deals" on Prime Day are all too common. These are when prices are artificially inflated before the event to make discounts appear larger. This is a common problem around Black Friday. Use sites like Camel Camel Camel to make sure it's really a discount.
3. Price comparison sites: Many retailers now discount products to match Amazon during its big sales to try and compete. There is a chance you may find whatever you're about to buy cheaper on Walmart, Best Buy, or otherwise. Take a moment to check before you hit buy.
4. Bundle deals: Watch out for bundled sales packages. Amazon often packages up some of its hardware into unique deals you won't find on other sites, and these can lead to bigger overall discounts.
5. Use a cashback credit or debit card: If you can, try and use an account that offers cashback on purchases, or maybe accrues reward points or something similar. It might not be loads, but hey, it all adds up.

The biggest tip is just to remain calm. You probably don't need most of the stuff going on sale during Amazon's October Prime Day event—focus on the stuff you really need, and you'll come away with actual bargains, not just random stuff.