19 time-saving and money-saving Amazon shopping tips to help you become a shopping expert!

(This article has been updated and was originally published on November 27, 2020)

Amazon has become synonymous with online shopping. The company started in 1994 and was originally just an online bookstore. It has grown and grown over the years and now sells almost all kinds of goods you can think of. But for this reason, Amazon's platform is not always easy to get started. However, savvy shoppers are able to get first-hand discounts and offers. Here are some tips to help you save time and money and make the most of the Amazon platform.

1. Use Amazon App for offline price comparison

The Amazon Shopping App (for Android and iOS systems, free download) allows you to compare the prices of any item you see offline with the prices on Amazon. After installing the app, scan the product barcode to check the prices on Amazon to see if it is more cost-effective to buy online. Scan barcodes to work best, but you can usually match them with normal photos of the product.

Use this feature, click the Amazon Lens tool icon to the right of the search bar (looks like a dotted square with circles). Then, point the camera at the item or barcode you want to search for and scan it.

2. Focus on brands and areas of interest

Think of Amazon as your Twitter and Facebook account—Follow the events and brands you are interested in. Click the "Follow" button on the Amazon Brand Store page and you can quickly get updates when they launch new products and see more recommendations from them.

3. Digest more offers

In addition to the eye-catching offers on the home page (and almost everywhere else on Amazon), you can find discounts from two specific locations: Check Amazon Warehouse for return items in good condition; Check Amazon Sale (Amazon Outlet), look for new products with a discount of 30% or more. It's worth checking these two pages regularly.

4. Register instant price reminder

Maybe you want to buy a certain item, but you will only buy it if the price drops below a certain threshold. There are many add-ons and extensions that can track Amazon prices for you, and CamelCamelCamel is one of the best options we have found. It can track prices over time, send reminders when prices drop, and more. After signing up, you can use this free service online or access it through a browser plugin if you prefer.

5. Receive delivery updates via text messages

What Amazon does well is that at every stage of the shipping process, you will know the location of the item you are waiting to be delivered. However, if you are on the move or do not have an internet connection, logging into the website to view updates can be troublesome. As an alternative, you can sign up to receive SMS alerts. Simply visit the Receive Shipping Updates via SMS page and follow the instructions.

[Related: Alexa can now notify you of Amazon's promotions 24 hours in advance]

6. Ensure order safety

If you don't trust your neighbors or roommates, consider delivering your merchandise to Amazon Locker instead of your doorstep. There are many such secure lockers in urban areas, and you can choose the most convenient location. They also allow you to pick up the goods at any time without having to wait for delivery at home.

7. Use coupons

For some people, the days of cutting paper coupons from emails are not over, but Amazon has been digitized a long time ago and has a dedicated coupon page where you can find all kinds of them. Same discounts and specials, from toilet paper to fruit strips and other daily necessities. You can easily use the button below to "cut" any coupons directly from the page. Amazon will automatically apply these discounts when you are ready to checkout.

8. Looking for hidden offers

In addition to Amazon's own coupons, you can find plenty of extra discount codes online – if you know where to look. We found some very attractive offers on Offers.com, RetailMeNot, Dealio and SlickDeals’ Amazon section. So click on the link to start saving money.

9. Select slow delivery

Part of the reason people sign up for Amazon Prime members is to receive the goods faster. But for those items you don't need in a hurry, check whether the platform offers digital points (you can use it to buy movies or music) as a more relaxed delivery option. These offers Amazon calls the No-Rush Shipping Program will change over time.

10. Lease textbooks

If you are a student, you are lucky. Load a textbook on Amazon and you will usually see a "rental" option near the usual "buy used" and "buy brand new" options. This allows you to pay a lower fee to borrow a book until the end of the semester. After that, you can use free shipping to return textbooks to Amazon.

Related: See how Amazon prepares for Alexa's space journey]

11. Looking for special offers for the same day

The "Today's Special" link is located at the top bar of Amazon's website, but it's easy to ignore. Click it to view the most discounted items on the website. To be a real step ahead, sign up for a daily special offer email, which will send you the best offer, not the other way around.

12. Complete your wish list

Your Amazon wishlist is a great way to track what you want—or inspire people who want to buy something for you. And Chrome and Firefox's official Amazon browser plugin allows you to add items from any website to your wishlist - you don't have to struggle to find that item on Amazon.

13. Follow friends' wish list

Never rack your brains to find the perfect gift again. Instead, browse your friend’s Amazon wishlist and pick one thing from it. Go to Amazon's Your Friends page and click Send Message so they can share it with you.

14. Subscribe and save

The Subscribe and Save program allows you to sign up for regular delivery of items you order frequently, such as toothpaste and tape. As the name implies, you can tell Amazon the quantity you want and how long it will take to receive new goods, and in exchange you can save money.

15. Unlimited photo storage

If you have signed up for a Prime membership, you can also get Prime Photos, a digital image storage space that provides unlimited storage space for your photos. You can upload pictures from your phone or computer using the official Amazon app. In addition to photo storage, you can also view other Prime membership benefits you enjoy and make sure you make the most of your membership.

16. Tracking your spending

You can generate reports of items you ordered in the past based on a specific time period—just go to the Order History Report page on Amazon. This can save money by giving you a better understanding of how much you have spent and what you spend on so that you can budget for future purchases accordingly.

[Related: The budget is boring. These tips make it easier. ]

17. Comments on free products

The Amazon Vine program will send you free items in exchange for your comments on the website. However, this service is limited to invitations. To get an invitation, you must first “continuously write helpful comments and build a professional reputation” on Amazon’s page. So, write as many helpful and insightful comments as possible and you have the hope of gaining a place in the club.

18. Extend your family account

With Amazon Household, you can add up to two adults and up to four children to the same Prime account—as long as everyone lives at the same address. This means you'll all share the same fast delivery, Prime Video access, and various other privileges, with just $99 a year in subscription fees.

19. Donate to charity

Finally, you can do something good without sacrificing any job or your own income. If you start your shopping journey from the Amazon Smile portal, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the total purchase price to the charity of your choice. If you are prone to forget, this Chrome extension ensures that you always start with the Amazon Smile website.

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