Martin Lewis Sounds Alarm Ahead of Amazon Prime Day
Financial guru Martin Lewis has warned shoppers to stay sharp before Amazon Prime Day kicks off just after midnight on Tuesday, July 16. The two-day sale blitz, running until the end of July 17, promises hefty cuts on everything from air fryers and headphones to Amazon gadgets like Kindles, Echos, and Ring doorbells.
Don’t Fall for Fake Discounts
Lewis urges buyers to watch out for sneaky price tricks. UK law requires that products must be sold at a certain price for at least 28 days in the previous six months before being slashed for a sale. This rule aims to stop retailers from hiking prices just to slash them later – a classic bait-and-switch.
How to Spot Genuine Deals
“Check how long the item has been at its full price,” Lewis says. One lifesaver is CamelCamelCamel, a website that tracks the price history of Amazon products. This lets you see if that ‘massive discount’ is truly a bargain or just smoke and mirrors.
“For example, a Breville Barista coffee machine was listed at 38% off for £350, but back in February it was just £301,” Martin revealed. “Sites like CamelCamelCamel help you dodge fake deals.”
Heads Up on Delivery Changes
Lewis also flagged new delivery tweaks. Since June, Amazon has raised the free delivery minimum from £25 to £35 for non-Prime members. To dodge delivery fees, add a cheap item (some as low as 22p) to your basket to hit the threshold. Or, try a free trial of Amazon Prime – just remember to cancel before it rolls into a paid subscription.
Stay savvy this Prime Day and don’t let flashy price tags fool you!
