Now that summer is here, there's an important shopping event you'll want to mark on your calendar: Amazon Prime Day 2024. This year, the massive two-day sales event returns on Tuesday, July 16 and Wednesday, July 17, 2024. We expect to see some of the best prices of the season, with thousands of items at steep discounts.

Whether you're looking for a new TV, laptop, home goods or pet supplies, Amazon Prime Day 2024 is the best time to buy. In addition to incredible savings, Prime members can also enjoy exclusive access to lightning deals and early promotions.

CBS Essentials is here to help you prepare, providing answers to everything you need to know about the event, including what Amazon Prime Day is, when to expect it, how to get 50% off a Prime membership and more.

Be sure to bookmark this page for all things Prime Day, including the best deals and savings it has to offer.

What is Amazon Prime Day 2024?

Amazon Prime Day is an annual sales event for Prime members. During the sale, you'll find significant discounts across a wide range of products, from electronics and home appliances to everyday home essentials. Prime Day spans multiple days and has been known to feature flash sales, limited-time offers, and special promotions.

Some of the sales and deals on offer include:

• Lightning Deals: These blink-and-you'll-miss-it deals are up for grabs until the item is sold out.
• Spotlight Deals: These deals are usually on in-demand products and last for a longer period.
• Exclusive Launches: New products are often launched on Prime Day, with Prime members getting priority access.
• Invite-only Deals: These Prime Day deals require you to request an invite ahead of time; not all Prime shoppers will get invites. Amazon has announced you can save up to 40% off Sony wireless headphones, 30% off the Peloton Original Bike+, up to 60% off a Citizen Chronograph Watch and 40% off a Speedo Champion Signature Swim bundle -- all as invite-only deals.

Amazon usually starts to promote Prime Day well in advance and will often give shoppers a look at some of the deals that will be available before the event officially begins. It's a good idea to watch for announcements or sign up for notifications directly from Amazon to stay updated on any special offers that might be part of Prime Day 2024. 

When is Amazon Prime Day 2024?

The dates for Prime Day 2024 have been officially announced, with the event slated to take place on Tuesday, July 16 and Wednesday, July 17, 2024. This falls in line with past years, as Amazon Prime Day has historically taken place during the second week of July.

When was Amazon's first Prime Day?

Amazon's first Prime Day sale was held on July 15, 2015. It was created to celebrate Amazon's 20th anniversary and was marketed as a "one-day only event filled with more deals than Black Friday, exclusively for Prime members around the globe." 

The event was so successful that Amazon chose to make Prime Day an annual occurrence. Since then, the shopping holiday has expanded to include new categories and festivities, including free concerts.

What happens on Prime Day?

On Amazon Prime Day, you can shop a wide variety of deals and discounts by heading to Amazon and checking the deals landing page. Many of these deals will go live at midnight. Some of those deals will sell out before the next morning, so this is one sales event that's worth staying up late for.

You can tap the button below to check out all the deals at Amazon now, ahead of Prime Day 2024.

Why is Prime Day two days long?

Prime Day was conceived as a one-day celebration, but Amazon has since expanded it to two days. This gives Amazon the chance to sell more items and offer additional deals and discounts for anyone looking to browse. More time means customers have a longer window to browse as well, all of which helps to drive sales.

Two days also means customers all over the world and across different time zones can participate, while Amazon has more time to fulfill orders and put other items on sale. Since competitors have begun offering multi-day sales around the same day as Prime Day as well, Amazon has the chance to match what others are doing with a similar duration. (Walmart will often match Amazon pricing during the event, and vice versa.)

Are the same Prime Day deals live for both days?

During Prime Day 2024, deal availability will vary. Some deals will be available for both days, while others will be short-lived or exclusive to one of the two days. It's best to keep checking back to see which deals are up for grabs when you're ready to shop, but if you see something you want it's a good idea to grab it before it goes out of stock. Some of the best deals will sell out in minutes.

Are Prime Day deals only accessible for Amazon Prime members?

Yes, Prime Day deals are exclusively for Amazon Prime members. The sale helps Amazon attract new subscribers and rewards existing ones at the same time. Prime Day is promoted as a part of having a Prime membership, along with faster shipping, streaming media, and more. Prime members also get exclusive discounts. 

If you plan to shop the sale, make sure you have a Prime membership. If you don't have a Prime membership, Amazon is currently offering a limited deal. Right now, you can get 3 months of Prime for just $7.50 per month. (Note that some shoppers are seeing a different introductory offer.)

After that, Prime membership costs $15 per month or $139 annually. There are also discounts available for students and recipients of qualifying government assistance programs (SNAP, Medicaid).

How often does Amazon Prime Day happen?

Amazon Prime Day is an annual event. It happens once per year and it has happened nine consecutive years so far, typically taking place in mid-July, though the exact dates may vary.

Thinking about becoming a Prime member? We've got all your Prime Day 2024 answers covered — plus early Amazon deals you can snag right now on home, fitness gear, tech and more.

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