Prime Day Is Best for Exactly One Type of Technology
Prime Day causes a lot of hype, but for the most part, it’s just hype. You log in and suddenly you’re bombarded with deals – this TV is 30% off, two security cameras for the price of one, and these headphones are $50, but only for the next 17 minutes. and oh, none of those deals are really that good . All this chaos overwhelms even the most seasoned online shopper, making it hard to know if you’re actually saving money at all . But there is one category that will undoubtedly stand out from the Prime Day noise with its design: Amazon-made technology.
For typical tech sales, most retailers want you to buy anything they can convince you to spend money on, whether it’s an iPhone or Android, Mac or PC, Xbox or PlayStation. They just want your money, and as much as they can, which is why traditional shopping events like Black Friday offer deals across the full spectrum of brands and manufacturers. But…
Amazon is both a store and a manufacturer
Amazon is different. While the company sells tons of products from a wide variety of manufacturers, it also manufactures its own technologies. If you’re looking for a new smart TV, Amazon will make it; if you just need a Smart TV streaming device, Amazon will make one too. For home security, you are protected by doorbells and Blink cameras. Alexa works with many of these devices, so why not control one of your smart speakers or screens with a personal assistant? Amazon Basics even makes a variety of accessories, from USB cables to batteries.
Amazon makes so much technology right now that it makes sense that the company would rather sell you its own version of the product than the competition’s. Instead of Roku, buy a Fire TV flash drive. Don’t buy a Fitbit, buy a Halo. Amazon seems to have comparable products in almost every category – they even make their own headphones (Echo Dots).
The quality of these products compared to the competition is certainly a matter of debate and I encourage you to do your own research before buying any tech product made by Amazon or another manufacturer. But whenever you search for a tech product on Amazon, especially during Prime Day, you will be presented with an Amazon alternative. It is only in the interests of the company to use this event to conclude large deals on their own products. While the company has early offerings listed on its website, Amazon device offerings are in the spotlight. For example, the day before Prime Day starts , Alexa devices are advertised up to 60% off, Amazon Halos up to 55% off , and Amazon Fire TV up to $350 off .
Amazon is still a marketplace and it’s good for them when you buy anything, so if you end up choosing a Samsung TV over an Amazon TV, it’s still going to be a sale, so you’ll still find plenty of deals on this prime. A day for non-Amazon devices. But Amazon products will be promoted the most and will likely receive the biggest discounts and promotions.
Don’t Impulse Buy Amazon Products
Attractive discounts and enticing product bundles aside, don’t buy an Amazon device just because it looks like a good deal. If you’re looking for a specific product made on Amazon and it’s on sale, great! This is a smart buy. If you were more interested in a non-Amazon device, but the Amazon version is now significantly cheaper, though, it’s not necessarily worth chasing value over the product you actually want to buy.
Take the time to learn the difference between the Amazon version and the competition. That’s good general advice for any Prime Day deal (or any major ticket purchase), but given how heavily Amazon will be promoting its own products on July 12 and 13, it’s especially important to keep this in mind. If you buy anything this Prime Day, I hope to get you deals on the best devices, whether Amazon made them or not.