Prime Day FAQs: The most common Amazon questions, answered

Amazon now has two Prime Day shopping events per year. The official Prime Day 2025 event took place from July 8-11, and there were thousands of outstanding deals to be had. The fall sequel — officially titled Prime Big Deal Days but unofficially dubbed October Prime Day — is going down Oct. 7 and 8. While it is happening under another name, the actual event is largely the same as its predecessor, and you’ll be able to find deals on virtually everything Amazon sells.

So, in anticipation of the event (which is already well underway with early deals), our shopping reporters scoured the internet for questions people often ask about Prime Day, and tracked down the answers. Whether you’re shopping for early Christmas gifts or finally buying that teal bath set your wife has been wanting, you’ll surely find something you want to purchase.

So, without further ado, let’s answer some burning Prime Day questions. 

What is Prime Day?

Prime Day is the name of Amazon's annual shopping event, which usually takes place in July. Amazon has been hosting the event since 2015, and it's become one of the biggest shopping holidays of the year. Prime Day 2025 was extended to a four-day affair, and retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy now host competing sales — such is the power of Amazon.

What is Amazon Prime Big Deals Day?

Amazon Prime Big Deals Day is a new fall shopping event specifically for Amazon Prime subscribers, promising huge discounts on tons of items across most categories on Amazon. Prime Big Deal Days started in 2022, and it's become an annual sale.

Is Prime Big Deals Day the same as Amazon Prime Day?

Technically no, but practically, yes. Amazon Prime Day is a summer sales event that takes place in July. Amazon has been doing this event since 2015. Back then, the event lasted a scant 24 hours, intending to cash in on FOMO. It has since expanded to a few days with deals happening before and after the event. 

Prime Big Deals Day is mostly the same thing. It’s a multi-day sales event, except this one is taking place in October instead of July. Shoppers will be able to find deals on tons of stuff strewn about the site from electronics to home goods and decor. The only difference between these two events is when they take place.

When is Amazon Prime Day and Amazon Prime Big Deals Day?

Amazon Prime Day happened from July 8-11, 2025. Amazon Prime Big Deals Day takes place on Oct. 7 and 8, 2025. 

Those are the dates of the official sales, but that’s not the only days where there will be discounts to shop. Many products will go on sale earlier and end those sales later than the dates listed.

So, it’s worth looking around before and after the official event dates as well, just in case. 

What will be on sale for Amazon Prime Big Deals Day?

All sorts of stuff. We won’t know the full extent of the sales until the actual event occurs, but if it’s anything like prior Amazon shopping events, you’ll be able to find products on sale in virtually every product category imaginable. Amazon has an early list of some of the products that’ll be on sale for the event, but we expect the list to grow rather substantially once the event starts. 

• 50% off select Amazon devices

• 40% off select kitchen appliances

• 65% off bestselling print books

• Up to 45% off Bose headphones, earbuds, and speakers

• Up to 40% off select apparel and footwear, including 50% off Zappos listings and 35% off select denim brands

• Up to 50% off vacuums from Shark and eufy

• Up to 50% off select Samsonite luggage

One thing we know for sure is that Amazon will have its own products heavily discounted for the event, including Amazon Echo devices, Amazon Fire tablets, the retail giant’s excellent Kindle devices, and more. If you’ve been hankering for a new Kindle or Echo device, they will definitely be on sale, and they’ll likely be the best deals of the year for Amazon Prime members. 

Do you have to be an Amazon Prime member to view sales?

No, the deals will be listed regardless of whether or not you’re a Prime member. You just won’t be able to shop all of them unless you have a Prime subscription. As the name suggests, you have to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sales. There will likely be many things on sale that you can purchase without a Prime membership, but if it’s a sale specific to the event, you won’t be able to take advantage of it without an Amazon Prime subscription of some sort. 

Is Prime Big Deal Days worth it?

We say yes, with some caveats. It's a common myth that Amazon doesn't actually offer bigger discounts during Prime Day, because popular products like AirPods, MacBooks, and Sony headphones are almost always on sale. However, even many so-called "always on" deals get even better during Prime Day. That said, Amazon and other retailers often inflate the savings to appear bigger than they really are.

A valuable resource for shoppers is CamelCamelCamel, an app that shows you the price history of Amazon products. Before pulling the trigger, check with CamelCamelCamel to make sure that you’re actually getting a good deal. If CamelCamelCamel shows that the item is that same price all the time, then it’s not really on sale, it just has a “sale” tag posted on it, and you’re probably not getting a good deal. 

Is my country eligible for Amazon Prime Big Deal Days?

According to Amazon, Prime Big Deal Days will be available in 19 countries. They include:

• Australia

• Belgium

• Brazil

• Canada

• Colombia

• France

• Germany

• Ireland

• Italy

• Japan

• Mexico

• Netherlands

• Poland

• Singapore

• Spain

• Sweden

• Türkiye (Turkey)

• United States

• United Kingdom

Are there discounts for Amazon Prime right now?

In terms of promotions for the subscription itself, there aren’t any Amazon Prime deals happening right now. You’ll have to pay the full price of $14.99 per month or $139 per year. However, Amazon does have Prime Access, a version of Amazon Prime that includes all of the perks for 50 percent off. This version of Amazon Prime is restricted to folks with EBT or other government assistance. Amazon doesn’t specifically list what the qualifications are, but you can click this link to fill out a form with the proper documentation to see if you qualify. 

In addition, Amazon offers no-cost 30-day trials (and 6-month trials if you're between the ages of 18 and 24). If you're not a Prime member, that means you can sign up for free. So long as you cancel in time, there's no cost for the membership.

• Sign up for Amazon Prime — 30-day trial, $14.99 per month

• Sign up for Prime for Young Adults — 6-month trial, $7.49 per month

What is the purpose of Amazon Prime Day?’

Historically, Amazon Prime Day was started in 2015 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Amazon and the 10th anniversary of Amazon Prime. There doesn’t seem to be a reason why the Prime Big Deal Days even exists in October, but it’s probably to preempt Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November. 

Otherwise, it depends on who you ask. If you ask Amazon, the company will tell you it’s a giant sales event meant to help save money for its Prime members. If you ask a cynic on Reddit, they may tell you that it’s a marketing ploy to get people to sign up for Amazon Prime membership, boosting numbers before the end of the year so its earnings reports look better. There’s even a conspiracy theory that these shopping events exist to move aging stock to make room for upcoming products.

None of these answers are necessarily wrong, they’re just difficult to quantify. Lots of retailers offer discounts on older products to clear space for new releases. However, the sales do actually save people money as Amazon says, so it’s one of those scenarios where everyone appears to be right to some degree. 

Can I return items purchased on Prime Day?

Yes. Buying an item on Prime Day or Prime Big Deals Day is no different than buying it any other time and the return policy is the same either way. Prime members can still benefit from free returns.

How do I contact Amazon customer service with a problem?

Like most big tech companies, Amazon will try to push you to its online self-service portal when you have a customer service problem. Amazon also recently introduced Rufus, it's automated AI assistant. If you want to get in touch with a real-live person, it can take some work.

To contact Amazon customer service, Prime members can try the following methods:

• Email [email protected] 

• Call Amazon at 1-888-280-4331

• Visit the Customer Service help page

• Contact Amazon Customer Service via social media via @amazonhelp on X, @amazon on Instagram, and www.facebook.com/Amazon

• Talk to Amazon's new AI assistant Rufus