How to Save Money on Amazon: 15 Tricks Most Shoppers Do Not Know

I used to think Amazon always had the best prices on everything. Then I discovered that I had been overpaying on hundreds of purchases without even realizing it. The day I installed a price tracking browser extension and saw that a product I had just bought at full price had been 35 percent cheaper just two weeks earlier was the day I decided to learn every trick available for saving money on Amazon. In this guide I share the 15 most powerful strategies I discovered so you never overpay on Amazon again.

Amazon is the world’s largest online retailer and for good reason. The convenience is unmatched, the selection is enormous, and prices are often competitive. But Amazon is not always the cheapest option and even when it is you can almost always pay even less by using the right strategies.

Most Amazon shoppers simply search for what they want, check the price, and click buy. This approach leaves significant savings on the table. The shoppers who consistently pay the least on Amazon know how to use price tracking tools, subscribe and save discounts, coupon clipping, and timing their purchases strategically.

In this complete guide we share 15 proven tricks to save money on Amazon that most shoppers never use.

Why Amazon Prices Change Constantly

Before getting into the tricks it helps to understand how Amazon pricing works. Amazon uses dynamic pricing which means prices change constantly based on:

• Competitor pricing from other retailers
• Time of day and day of the week
• Demand and seasonal trends
• Inventory levels
• Your browsing and purchase history
• Whether you have Prime membership

A product’s price on Amazon can change dozens of times per day. This constant fluctuation is actually good news for savvy shoppers because it means there are always opportunities to buy at a lower price if you know how to find them.

15 Tricks to Save Money on Amazon

1. Use CamelCamelCamel to Track Price History

CamelCamelCamel is a completely free website that tracks the price history of every product on Amazon. Before buying anything check its price history to find out:

• What is the lowest price this item has ever been?
• Is the current price actually a good deal or has it been cheaper recently?
• Has the seller artificially inflated the price before a sale to make the discount look bigger?

How to use it:

1. Go to camelcamelcamel.com
2. Copy the Amazon product URL and paste it into the search bar
3. See the complete price history chart
4. Set a price alert to be notified when the price drops to your target

This single tool can save you hundreds of dollars per year by ensuring you only buy when the price is genuinely at or near its historical low.

2. Install the Honey Browser Extension

Honey is a free browser extension that automatically finds and applies coupon codes at Amazon checkout. It also has a Droplist feature that tracks items you want and alerts you when prices drop.

How it works:

1. Install Honey free at joinhoney.com
2. Shop on Amazon as usual
3. At checkout Honey automatically searches for available coupon codes
4. The best available code is applied automatically
5. You save money without doing anything extra

Honey users save an average of $126 per year with zero additional effort.

3. Use Subscribe and Save for Regular Purchases

Amazon Subscribe and Save lets you set up automatic regular deliveries of products you buy repeatedly. In exchange for the automatic delivery commitment you save between 5 and 15 percent on every order.

Best products for Subscribe and Save:

• Household essentials (toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies)
• Personal care items (shampoo, soap, toothpaste)
• Pet food and supplies
• Coffee and pantry staples
• Vitamins and supplements

The important thing to know: you can cancel Subscribe and Save at any time with no penalty. Many people set up the subscription to get the discount then cancel after the first delivery if they do not want the recurring order.

4. Clip Digital Coupons Before Buying

Amazon has a coupons page where sellers offer percentage or dollar amount discounts that you activate by clicking a Clip coupon button. These discounts are then automatically applied at checkout.

How to find coupons:

1. Go to amazon.com/coupons
2. Browse available coupons by category
3. Click Clip on any coupon you want
4. The discount applies automatically at checkout

You can also look for the Clip coupon button directly on individual product pages. Many product listings have a visible coupon offer below the price that most shoppers completely miss.

5. Buy at the Right Time of Year

Amazon offers its biggest discounts during specific times of the year. Timing major purchases around these events can save 20 to 70 percent:

Sale Event	Typical Month	Best Deals
Prime Day	July	Electronics, home goods, everything
Black Friday	November	Tech, appliances, clothing
Cyber Monday	November	Electronics, software, toys
January sales	January	Holiday items, winter clothing
Back to school	August	Electronics, stationery, bags
Spring sale	March/April	Home, garden, outdoor

Plan your big purchases around these sale events rather than buying at full price between them.

6. Compare the Price Per Unit Not the Total Price

Amazon shows products in many different sizes and quantities. The larger package is not always the better value. Always check the price per unit displayed in smaller text below the main price.

For example a pack of 48 paper towel rolls might seem more expensive than a pack of 12 but when you calculate cost per roll the larger pack is often 30 to 40 percent cheaper.

Always sort by price per unit when comparing similar products to find the true best value.

7. Check Third Party Sellers

When you search Amazon many products are sold by third party sellers not Amazon directly. These sellers often offer the same product at a lower price than Amazon’s own listing.

When buying from third party sellers:

• Check the seller’s rating (look for 95 percent or higher)
• Check the number of reviews (more is better)
• Make sure the item is sold as new if you want new
• Check that the seller is Fulfilled by Amazon for fast shipping and easy returns

8. Use Amazon Warehouse Deals

Amazon Warehouse offers used and open box products at significant discounts. These are items that have been returned, had damaged packaging, or are display models. The products are graded and described accurately.

Condition grades:

• Like new: essentially brand new just opened or returned
• Very good: minor cosmetic blemishes only
• Good: light use or cosmetic damage
• Acceptable: functional but visibly used

Electronics, kitchen appliances, and home goods from Amazon Warehouse can be 20 to 60 percent cheaper than new versions.

9. Add Items to Your Wish List and Wait

When you add a product to your Amazon wish list Amazon sometimes notifies you when the price drops. Honey and CamelCamelCamel also track wish list items.

The discipline of adding items to a wish list rather than buying immediately also helps reduce impulse purchases. Many items you add to a wish list you will find you do not actually want a week later when the impulse has passed.

10. Use Amazon’s Trade In Program

Amazon has a trade in program where you can exchange old electronics, books, video games, and other items for Amazon gift card credit. Items accepted include:

• Smartphones and tablets
• Video game consoles and games
• Books and textbooks
• Kindle devices
• Headphones and audio equipment

The trade in values are not always high but it is a simple way to get credit toward future Amazon purchases for items you no longer use.

11. Look for Lightning Deals and Gold Box Deals

Amazon runs limited time deals every day:

Lightning deals: Deeply discounted products available for only a few hours. Available at amazon.com/deals. These require quick action as they sell out fast.

Gold Box deals: Amazon’s daily deals updated every day at midnight. Significant discounts on a rotating selection of products. Visit amazon.com/goldbox daily to see what is on offer.

Setting a reminder to check these pages daily takes 2 minutes and can reveal significant savings on items you need or have been waiting to buy.

12. Share a Prime Membership

Amazon Prime costs money but it pays for itself if you use it regularly. To maximize the value:

Share with household members: Amazon Prime allows you to share your membership with one other adult and up to 4 children in your household for free.

Split the cost: Share the annual membership cost with a family member who lives separately. While technically against Amazon’s terms of service many people do this with close family.

Use the free trial strategically: If you only need Prime for a specific purpose like a Prime Day sale sign up for the free 30 day trial then cancel before being charged.

13. Use Amazon Gift Cards Bought at a Discount

You can often buy Amazon gift cards at a discount from:

• Supermarket loyalty programs (some offer extra points or discounts on gift cards)
• Gift card exchange sites like Raise or CardCash where people sell unwanted gift cards at below face value
• Credit card rewards programs that offer Amazon gift cards as redemption options
• Cashback apps that offer bonus cashback on gift card purchases

Buying $100 in Amazon credit for $85 through these methods gives you an instant 15 percent saving on everything you buy.

14. Check Amazon Renewed for Electronics

Amazon Renewed sells refurbished electronics that have been tested and certified to work like new. These products come with a minimum 90 day guarantee and include:

• Smartphones
• Laptops and tablets
• Headphones
• Smart home devices
• Kitchen appliances

Renewed products are typically 20 to 40 percent cheaper than new and backed by Amazon’s guarantee. For many electronics a certified renewed product is indistinguishable from new in actual use.

15. Use Cashback Credit Cards or Portals

Combine your Amazon savings strategies with cashback rewards for maximum savings:

Cashback credit cards: Many credit cards offer 2 to 5 percent cashback on Amazon purchases. The Amazon Visa card offers 5 percent cashback on all Amazon purchases for Prime members.

Cashback portals: Sites like Rakuten offer cashback on Amazon purchases (typically 1 to 3 percent). Simply log into Rakuten before visiting Amazon and earn cashback on everything you buy.

These cashback strategies stack with your other savings. Using a 5 percent cashback card plus a Subscribe and Save discount plus a clipped coupon can mean saving 20 percent or more on a single purchase.

How Much Can These Tricks Save You?

Here is a realistic estimate of annual savings from consistently using these strategies:

Strategy	Annual Savings Potential
CamelCamelCamel price tracking	$50 to $200
Honey coupon codes	$50 to $150
Subscribe and Save	$30 to $100
Digital coupons	$20 to $80
Buying during sales	$50 to $300
Amazon Warehouse deals	$50 to $200
Cashback credit card	$30 to $150
Cashback portals	$20 to $80
Total potential	$300 to $1,260

The Ultimate Amazon Shopping Checklist

Before every Amazon purchase run through this quick checklist:

1. Check CamelCamelCamel to confirm this is a good price historically
2. Check amazon.com/coupons for available coupons
3. Look for the Clip coupon button on the product page
4. Check if Subscribe and Save is available and cheaper
5. Compare price per unit across different sizes
6. Check third party sellers for lower prices
7. Check if Amazon Warehouse has the same item cheaper
8. Consider whether this purchase can wait for an upcoming sale
9. Check Honey for additional coupon codes at checkout
10. Pay with a cashback credit card or through Rakuten

Going through this checklist adds 3 to 5 minutes to your shopping but can save significant money on every purchase.

Common Amazon Shopping Mistakes That Cost You Money

Buying immediately without checking price history
The most common and costly mistake. Always check CamelCamelCamel before any significant purchase.

Ignoring Subscribe and Save on regular purchases
If you buy the same products from Amazon regularly Subscribe and Save almost always offers a meaningful discount.

Not clipping digital coupons
Hundreds of products on Amazon have digital coupons that most shoppers completely miss. Always check before buying.

Assuming bigger always means better value
Always calculate price per unit when comparing sizes and quantities.

Buying Prime items that could be cheaper elsewhere
Prime delivery is convenient but the product might be 20 percent cheaper at a local store or competitor website. Always compare.

Not using cashback rewards
If you regularly shop on Amazon not having a cashback credit card or using Rakuten is leaving significant money on the table.

CONCLUSION:

Amazon can be an incredible tool for saving money when you know how to use it strategically. The shoppers who consistently pay the least are not necessarily the ones who spend the most time searching. They are the ones who use the right tools consistently: CamelCamelCamel for price history, Honey for coupon codes, Subscribe and Save for regular purchases, and cashback strategies on everything they buy.

Start with the two easiest tricks today: install the Honey extension (free, takes 2 minutes) and bookmark CamelCamelCamel (free, no signup required). These two tools alone can save you hundreds of dollars this year with almost no extra effort.

Which of these Amazon saving tricks are you going to try first? Share in the comments and let us know how much you save!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Amazon always have the lowest prices?
A: No. While Amazon is competitive on many products it is not always the cheapest option. Prices at warehouse stores like Costco, discount retailers, and local stores can be significantly lower for many products especially for groceries, bulk household items, and some electronics. Always compare before assuming Amazon is cheapest.

Q: Is it safe to buy from third party sellers on Amazon?
A: Yes with caution. Look for sellers with ratings of 95 percent or higher and at least 100 reviews. Choose items that are Fulfilled by Amazon rather than shipped by the seller directly for better customer service and return policies. Avoid sellers with few reviews or ratings below 90 percent.

Q: Does CamelCamelCamel work for all Amazon products?
A: CamelCamelCamel tracks price history for products sold directly on Amazon and by many third party sellers. It works for the vast majority of products on Amazon. Simply search by product name or paste the Amazon URL to see the price history.

Q: Can I use multiple discount strategies together on Amazon?
A: Yes and you should. Many savings strategies stack together. For example you can clip a digital coupon, use Subscribe and Save, pay with a cashback credit card, and go through a cashback portal all on the same purchase. Stacking strategies is how you achieve the biggest discounts.

Q: Is Amazon Prime worth the cost?
A: It depends on how often you shop on Amazon. If you make at least 2 to 3 Amazon purchases per month the free shipping savings alone typically justify the membership cost. Add in Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Reading, and exclusive Prime Day deals and the membership pays for itself for regular Amazon shoppers. If you shop Amazon infrequently consider using the 30 day free trial for major shopping periods and cancelling afterward.