What to buy on Amazon Prime Day 2017

Mark your calendars, power up your electronic device of choice and dig out your wallet — Amazon Prime Day is coming.

Amazon.com has confirmed the savings event will kick off at 9 p.m. EST on July 10 and run until 3 a.m. EST on July 12. For 30 hours, the e-commerce giant will release “hundreds of thousands of deals exclusively for Prime members,” according to a recent press release. Here’s what to know about getting the most value out of Amazon Prime Day.

[See: 10 Money-Saving Websites to Check Before Shopping.]

What is Amazon Prime Day? For those of you who missed the last two holidays, here’s the lowdown: Amazon Prime Day is the site’s biggest savings event of the year. During the course of the holiday, hundreds of thousands of limited-time deals across all product categories are released sporadically. This year’s Prime Day will be “the best deal in the history of shopping,” said Greg Greeley, Amazon Prime’s vice president, in a press release.

Click through the gallery below for some of the best deals you’ll find on Amazon Prime Day.

FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2016 file photo, the new Google Pixel phone is displayed next to a Google Home smart speaker, left, following a product event in San Francisco. Google’s new smart speaker is at once a secretary, a librarian and a radio. If all this sounds familiar, it’s because Amazon has been at it for about two years. Its Echo speaker can do what Home does and more, thanks to Amazon’s head start in partnering with third-party services such as Domino’s Pizza and Fitbit. But Home is smarter in a few other ways, as it taps what it knows about you from Gmail, Maps and other Google services.  (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Amazon devices. This Prime Day, “the best deals and savings will be on Amazon’s own products,” says Carson Yarbrough, consumer insights specialist at Offers.com. Last Prime Day, some of the best and most popular deals were on the Amazon products, including the following. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
This July 29, 2015, file photo made in New York shows Amazon's Echo, a digital assistant that continually listens for commands such as for a song, a sports score or the weather. Starting Thursday, March 17, 2016, Amazon’s voice assistant will tell you how well you slept and how much more exercise you need, at least if you have a Fitbit fitness tracker and an Alexa-compatible device, such as Amazon’s Echo speaker and Fire TV streaming devices. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
$50 off Amazon Echo This July 29, 2015, file photo made in New York shows Amazon’s Echo, a digital assistant that continually listens for commands such as for a song, a sports score or the weather. Starting Thursday, March 17, 2016, Amazon’s voice assistant will tell you how well you slept and how much more exercise you need, at least if you have a Fitbit fitness tracker and an Alexa-compatible device, such as Amazon’s Echo speaker and Fire TV streaming devices. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
This Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 photo shows the Amazon Fire TV, center, and Fire TV Stick, left, streaming TV devices in New York. Your streaming TV options just got better and cheaper. Features that once required a $100 device can now be had for as little as $30. A cheap device is fine for getting TV shows and movies from most popular services onto a big-screen TV, as long as it’s a regular, high-definition set.(AP Photo)
$30 off Amazon Fire TV The AP file photo shows the Amazon Fire TV, center, and Fire TV Stick, left, streaming TV devices in New York. Your streaming TV options just got better and cheaper. Features that once required a $100 device can now be had for as little as $30. A cheap device is fine for getting TV shows and movies from most popular services onto a big-screen TV, as long as it’s a regular, high-definition set. (AP Photo)
Amazon's Kindle Oasis, far right, the company's sleekest, lightest e-reader, which sells for $290, is shown in comparison with two earlier Kindle models, the Voyage, left, at $200, and the Paperwhite, on sale for $100, center, Thursday, April 28, 2016, in New York. The Oasis, meant to be a luxury e-book reader, is designed strictly for reading, without Facebook, streaming video and other distractions common on full-functioning tablets. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
$30 off Amazon Kindle Paperwhite In this AP file photo, Amazon’s Kindle Oasis, far right, the company’s sleekest, lightest e-reader, which sells for $290, is shown in comparison with two earlier Kindle models, the Voyage, left, at $200, and the Paperwhite, on sale for $100, center, Thursday, April 28, 2016, in New York. The Oasis, meant to be a luxury e-book reader, is designed strictly for reading, without Facebook, streaming video and other distractions common on full-functioning tablets. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
An Amazon Fire kids' edition tablet is displayed, Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, in New York. This $100 tablet bundles a $50 Kindle Fire with a colorful protective bumper, a year of FreeTime Unlimited and a two-year guarantee that if the tablet breaks the company will replace it for free. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Amazon Fire tablet for $33.33 In this AP photo, an Amazon Fire kids’ edition tablet is displayed, Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, in New York. This $100 tablet bundles a $50 Kindle Fire with a colorful protective bumper, a year of FreeTime Unlimited and a two-year guarantee that if the tablet breaks the company will replace it for free. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Panasonic Plasma HDTV's are shown at a press preview, Thursday, March 29, 2007, in New York. Panasonic has ten new plasma TV's for 2007, including 42, 50, 58 and 103-inch models. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Televisions. During Prime Day 2016, Amazon stocked “more TVs for Prime Day than they did for Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined,” said Amazon spokesperson Julie Law, in a press release. Prices didn’t disappoint. Top deals included:
– $139.99 for a 40-inch 1080 LED TV.
– $299.99 for a 43-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV.
– $549.99 for a 55-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart TV.
– $99.99 for a 32-inch LED TV. This year, the company has hinted at exceptional deals on HDTVs from a variety of brands. According to a company press release, “Amazon is planning one of its largest total volume TV deals in history with a record level of inventory.” (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Don't overlook the Prime Video benefit.  Among the thousands of movies and TV shows you get free access to, there are originals such as Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle. (Thinkstock)
Streaming services. Amazon has already unveiled several pre-Prime Day deals on Amazon streaming services, available through July 11, including the following. (Thinkstock)
Woman listening to music on headphones (Getty images)
99 cents for four months of Amazon Music Unlimited (Thinkstock)
$10 in Amazon credit when you stream qualifying titles through Prime Video (Thinkstock)
The 8.9-inch Amazon Kindle HDX tablet computer is shown at left next to the 7-inch Amazon Kindle HDX, right, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013, in Seattle. Amazon has refreshed its line-up of tablets with the new devices, which are significantly faster and lighter than the previous generation. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
40 percent off a Kindle Unlimited membership This AP photo shows the 8.9-inch Amazon Kindle HDX tablet computer is shown at left next to the 7-inch Amazon Kindle HDX, right, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013, in Seattle. Amazon has refreshed its line-up of tablets with the new devices, which are significantly faster and lighter than the previous generation. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Warehouse deals. Year-round, Amazon offers deep discounts on open-box, returned, used and certified refurbished products. Last Prime Day, Amazon discounted Warehouse deals by an additional 20 percent for a total savings of up to 40 percent. Keep an eye out for equally enticing Warehouse deals during Prime Day 2017. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Any items you’ve been interested in buying. You’re certain to find fantastic deals across all categories on Prime Day, so if there’s a certain purchase you’ve been eyeing, now may be the time to act. To find deals on items you’ve been interested in buying, you can create a personal shopping list of your top items on Amazon.com with your Prime account and get notified as soon as these products go on sale. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
(1/12)
FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2016 file photo, the new Google Pixel phone is displayed next to a Google Home smart speaker, left, following a product event in San Francisco. Google’s new smart speaker is at once a secretary, a librarian and a radio. If all this sounds familiar, it’s because Amazon has been at it for about two years. Its Echo speaker can do what Home does and more, thanks to Amazon’s head start in partnering with third-party services such as Domino’s Pizza and Fitbit. But Home is smarter in a few other ways, as it taps what it knows about you from Gmail, Maps and other Google services.  (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
This July 29, 2015, file photo made in New York shows Amazon's Echo, a digital assistant that continually listens for commands such as for a song, a sports score or the weather. Starting Thursday, March 17, 2016, Amazon’s voice assistant will tell you how well you slept and how much more exercise you need, at least if you have a Fitbit fitness tracker and an Alexa-compatible device, such as Amazon’s Echo speaker and Fire TV streaming devices. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
This Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016 photo shows the Amazon Fire TV, center, and Fire TV Stick, left, streaming TV devices in New York. Your streaming TV options just got better and cheaper. Features that once required a $100 device can now be had for as little as $30. A cheap device is fine for getting TV shows and movies from most popular services onto a big-screen TV, as long as it’s a regular, high-definition set.(AP Photo)
Amazon's Kindle Oasis, far right, the company's sleekest, lightest e-reader, which sells for $290, is shown in comparison with two earlier Kindle models, the Voyage, left, at $200, and the Paperwhite, on sale for $100, center, Thursday, April 28, 2016, in New York. The Oasis, meant to be a luxury e-book reader, is designed strictly for reading, without Facebook, streaming video and other distractions common on full-functioning tablets. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
An Amazon Fire kids' edition tablet is displayed, Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, in New York. This $100 tablet bundles a $50 Kindle Fire with a colorful protective bumper, a year of FreeTime Unlimited and a two-year guarantee that if the tablet breaks the company will replace it for free. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Panasonic Plasma HDTV's are shown at a press preview, Thursday, March 29, 2007, in New York. Panasonic has ten new plasma TV's for 2007, including 42, 50, 58 and 103-inch models. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Don't overlook the Prime Video benefit.  Among the thousands of movies and TV shows you get free access to, there are originals such as Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle. (Thinkstock)
Woman listening to music on headphones (Getty images)
The 8.9-inch Amazon Kindle HDX tablet computer is shown at left next to the 7-inch Amazon Kindle HDX, right, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013, in Seattle. Amazon has refreshed its line-up of tablets with the new devices, which are significantly faster and lighter than the previous generation. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

 

A little bit of Prime Day history. Amazon hosted the first Prime Day in 2015 to celebrate its 20th birthday, promising deals would rival Black Friday bargains. Consumers were largely unimpressed with the inaugural event, however, complaining that deals involved undesirable merchandise, offered mediocre savings and sold out too quickly.

Happily, Amazon Prime Day returned in 2016 with better deals and bigger savings. According to the online retailer, Prime Day 2016 was the biggest day in Amazon history, and shoppers saved double on deals compared with Prime Day 2015. The holiday included more than 100,000 discounts on electronics, apparel, shoes, jewelry, toys and more.

This year, Amazon Prime Day is set to be bigger, longer and more profitable than ever before. During the 30-hour event, the company is expected to offer discounts on more than 100,000 items across all categories, with new deals surfacing as often as every five minutes.

Thinking of joining the tens of millions of consumers hunting down deals on Amazon Prime Day? Be sure to open a Prime account before the event begins, since — as the name suggests — Prime Day is available exclusively to Prime members. If you’re not ready to commit the $99 per year (or $10 per month) for Amazon Prime membership, you have the option to sign up for a free 30-day trial as a first-time member.

Once you have your Prime Account set up, your next step should be to plan out a shopping list. Amazon has promised deals across categories, but past Prime Days have shown that certain types of products will enjoy especially attractive price cuts.

[See: 10 Signs You Shop Too Much.]

[See: 12 Shopping Tricks to Keep You Under Budget.]

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What to Buy on Amazon Prime Day 2017 originally appeared on usnews.com

WTOP Tech Guy Gregg Stebben says Amazon isn’t the only retailer who can benefit from this day:

July 11, 2017 | Gregg Stebben on Amazon Prime Day (WTOP)
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