Imagine Prime Day—but for the run-up to the holidays.
Amazon is preparing to roll out pre-holiday bargains with the announcement of its Prime Early Access Sale in October. Members of Amazon Prime can tap into sitewide markdowns, potentially scoring a few standout buys before the main holiday shopping rush takes off.
After hosting its July Prime Day earlier in the year, Amazon’s Prime Early Access Sale acts as a second Prime Day-style event for bargain hunters.
What Is the Amazon Prime Early Access Sale?
Each year, Amazon stages a Prime Day event that grants Prime members special deals. The Prime Early Access Sale follows the same idea, giving Prime subscribers access to discounts ahead of the busy holiday shopping season.
When the Prime Early Access Sale starts, anyone with an Amazon Prime account can browse and buy sale items across the site.
When Is the Amazon Prime Early Access Sale?
The Prime Early Access Sale is scheduled for Oct. 11-12, 2022. Amazon describes the promotion as “two days of holiday deals,” positioning it as a brief opportunity to pick up presents for the upcoming festivities.
It’s an opening for shoppers to snap up bargains ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November.
How to Take Advantage of Prime Early Access Deals
To participate in Amazon’s Prime Early Access Sale, make sure you have an Amazon account with an active Prime subscription. Prime membership grants entry to Prime-only sales, as well as perks like free shipping and a bundle of exclusive Amazon services.
Newcomers can try a 30-day free trial. After the trial, membership is $14.99 per month (taxes may apply), though discounted rates exist for students and those on qualifying government assistance.
With a Prime account in place, visit Amazon’s site during the Prime Early Access Sale window to shop the deals.
What Prime Early Access Deals Can We Expect?
Details about the full slate of Prime Early Access discounts will emerge as the sale approaches. Still, Amazon has already revealed a few offers tied to the announcement.
Prime members can immediately access four months of Amazon Music for free (normally $8.99 per month) and Prime Video discounts up to 50% off. Amazon is also promoting Grubhub+ free for a year, a temporary promotion worth taking if you frequently order delivery.
Shoppers can also visit the Today’s Deals page for daily markdowns. We noticed 25% off Amazon’s Echo Home Theater Bundle and as much as $100 off Sony’s X-Series portable speakers.
Are Prime Day and the Prime Early Access Sale the Same?
While Amazon Prime Day and the Prime Early Access Sale are distinct events, they’re very much alike. Both are limited sales that present Prime members with exclusive bargains.
Prime Day usually takes place in late spring or early summer (this year it occurred July 12-13), whereas the Prime Early Access Sale is aimed at early holiday shoppers. As with any Prime event, participation requires an Amazon Prime membership.
Alex Johnson is a senior staff writer for Savinly covering technology.
