Tips every Amazon addict should know

There was a time when online shopping seemed absurd, even dangerous. People are afraid to enter their credit card numbers into a browser window, hidden fees are the norm, and fraud issues are paramount.

Few people are afraid of shopping online these days, causing the store/mall closure crisis we face today. It’s all thanks in large part to one internet network: Amazon.

Love it or hate it, the Seattle-based company has done more to make online shopping more mainstream than anyone. Amazon sells almost anything, delivers your goods fast (especially if you’re an Amazon Prime member), offers services like video and music streaming, plus makes an entire line of tablets, e-readers, and smart speakers. Its web and app options make it possible to shop on any platform.

Skeptics might say that this is all Amazon’s “show” in the world. That is exactly. It’s one more way Amazon is providing convenient shopping options.

If you drink Amazonia Kool-Aid, check out the tips below. It’s all here for one reason and one reason only: to help you get the best out of your shopping experience. Whether it’s better priced, faster shipping (with or without drones), or extensive purchasing options, we’ve got them.

1. Smile for Charity

Shopping for yourself doesn’t mean you can’t give a little too. The AmazonSmile program makes that easy. Always visit the site by visiting smile.amazon.com, even on a mobile browser. Set it in your bookmarks/favorites. On desktop, use AmazonSmile 1Button for Chrome or Amazon Smile! so that Firefox browser add-ons are prompted/forced to use Smile when visiting Amazon.

Then, choose one charity from the one million 501(c)(3) public organizations listed. When you purchase an eligible product, 0.5 percent of the purchase price will go to your favorite charity. You get zero tax benefits, but you still get what you bought and your favorite charity benefits. Charity, go to org.amazon.com to sign up.

2. Prime with a Partner

If you’re paying for Amazon Prime, you’re not going it alone. The cost of that Prime account can be shared with another adult member of your family, plus up to four children under the same roof. The kids don’t even need an Amazon account. That is a smart way to keep holiday shopping a secret but still get all the savings on two-day shipping.

Amazon Prime Share includes Amazon Video with all members linked, not to mention Prime Early Access (which provides 30-minute early access to Lightning Deals) and Kindle Owner’s Lending Library. Adults have access to Amazon FreeTime parental controls to ensure kids don’t engage in anything they shouldn’t.

Go to the Amazon Household website and click Add Adult/Teen/Child to set it up. You will need their email address used on Amazon, and it will ask the adult to share credit or debit card information.

3. Approve Teen’s purchases in writing

The newest addition to Prime Household is Amazon Teen, which gives kids 13 to 17 more freedom to shop but allows parents to approve their purchases before it’s charged to their card.

4. Prime-ary Gifts

If your dearest Amazon addict isn’t a member of the immediate family, give Prime a gift for a year ($119) or three months ($39) to anyone with an address email. The gift membership comes with all the Two-Day Shipping benefits, streaming video and music, borrowing books on Kindle, etc. If the person is already a Prime member, they can exchange what you paid for the Amazon gift card.

5. Get Prime for Free (for a while)

A money-saving game to play: Amazon Prime comes

with a free 30-day trial. Use it during the holidays for free shipping when you

shop the most, then cancel before you’re charged.

Better yet, be a student. With Prime Student, you get

Prime for free for six months and at half price afterward ($59 per year only,

or charged monthly at $6.49 per month if you plan to cancel early).

Adult Prime members who become parents can sign up for

Amazon Family (formerly known as Amazon Mom). There are no specific big savings

on Prime’s price this way, but parents do get exclusions, such as 20% off

diaper subscriptions.

6. Don’t get trapped by Prime

Because Prime offers such great shipping deals, you can sometimes order an item from Amazon that’s overpriced to get it faster.

If you can wait more than two days, look for the same object for sale from third-party sellers that don’t offer Prime shipping. If their reviews are good and you don’t need the item right away, you can save a few dollars.

Prime members willing to wait more than two days can also earn money on things like digital purchases in the future.

7. Where is the warehouse?

What happens to all those products that are inevitably returned to Amazon? The gems are no longer “new,” but good enough? They’re often found on Amazon’s Warehouse Deals page, where you’ll find “deep discounts on open-box products, like new and pre-owned.”

Best of all, they’re usually still eligible for Amazon Prime shipping, and if you don’t like an item, you can still return it. Similarly, you can find deals at the Amazon Outlet store that are almost hidden.

8. Today’s Deals on Amazon

Amazon’s best deals on new products are found under the “Today’s Deals” link at the top of any Amazon page. This section has Deals of the Day and Limited-Time Lightning Deals (where you only get hours or minutes to grab a product on sale). There are always lots of announcements, but if you use the Amazon apps on your phone, use the hamburger menu () and select Today’s Deals to see the deals on the go.

9. Same day delivery = Joy

In certain cities, over 8,000 of them, you can get same-day delivery on select items. Prime members in those regions get the same free shipping on qualifying orders over $35. Order at noon, and your package will be delivered by 9 pm, seven days a week. Order in the afternoon or evening, and get free one-day delivery. See if your city is included.

If you need something even faster, Amazon Prime Now offers one- to two-hour delivery, from staples and home electronics, and selections from Whole Foods (but it kills delivery from restaurants). Prime Now’s delivery footprint is more limited than the same day; Enter your ZIP code to see if you can get it.

10. Product registration

You can think of a subscription to something entertaining, like a magazine or streaming video services, where you get something new and different. With Amazon’s Subscribe & Save, you get the same items over and over again, but they’re the ones you always need: cleaners, cats, dog food, razors, toilet paper… Cheetos.

Get 15% off products that fit the bill if you sign up for five or more per month. You can cancel whenever you want; No yearlong commitment will force you to have, for example, diapers of the same size for a year. Wondering if it will work for you? Check the page of each eligible entry.

11. Get Virtual Dash Button Repair

Once there were things called Amazon Dash buttons, a physical button you put in your house to push whenever you wanted to order again. Amazon killed them because no one used them.

You can still use the Dash button virtually, which Amazon frames as personalized shortcuts to re-order all your favorite products. Access the on-screen Dash button if you already have an Amazon Echo with a display, like the Echo Show. Visit your Dash Buttons page on the web (pictured), populated by things you’ve bought in the past and almost as silly as physical buttons.

For whatever reason, Amazon still sells the Dash Wand, the $19.99 barcode scanner that lets you scan and order products. Better yet: use Alexa to order or re-order any item if you have any Echo devices just by saying “Alexa, re-order [product name].” It’s the simplest thing to do. Just be sure to set up a confirmation code in your Alexa app to prevent family and friends, and enemies from abusing the voice purchase feature.

12. Card returned to you

Amazon has a ton of cards that make it worth the shopping. Amazon Card Store is for shopping only at Amazon but offers special prices. Prime members get 5 percent back when they purchase Prime-only items. Amazon will also give you a $60 gift card when you sign up if you qualify for one.

The Amazon.com Rewards Visa card from Chase can be used anywhere and collects points. If you’re a Prime member, you get 5 points per dollar spent on Amazon and Whole Foods, 2 points per dollar at restaurants, pharmacies, gas stations, and $1 for all other purchases. (If you’re not a Prime member, you can still get the card, but only get 3 points for every dollar purchased at Amazon.) A hundred points earn you a dollar to spend on Amazon. Traveling abroad? There are no foreign transaction fees.

Since Amazon “purchases” made with points don’t earn you more points, it’s best to redeem your points for a gift card or return it via Chase. Points do not work for items like digital downloads and some subscriptions and groceries.

You can also link other credit cards like American Express, Discover, Citi, and more to your Amazon and Shop With Points accounts.

13. Amazon Add-Ins Have No Mins

“Add-ons” are additional items that Amazon sells for very cheap prices, often under $5. They’re so small that Amazon likes to ship them with other orders. If your cart is under $25 at checkout, Amazon will save additional items on your next purchase of $25 or more, but lately, I’ve been able to add about $20 with just add-ons and order as you like. Look for the blue Add-on banner on products while searching and shopping.

14. Get Shipping Refunds For Late Items

When you order items using Amazon Prime, you expect two-day shipping to be guaranteed. What’s even more important is getting one-day shipping if you pay extra for it. Check to make sure there is a green “Guaranteed Delivery” date on the item at checkout. If not, well, you get it when you get it.

If it’s guaranteed but doesn’t arrive on time by 8 pm, you can sometimes get a refund on shipping. Or even a one-month extension on your Amazon Prime account if the order meets all the criteria. That works for Amazon Family and can only happen up to 12 times a year (or once during the Prime free trial).

15. Transactions in the technology of taking money from Amazon

There’s no shortage of places to trade in old technology like phones and tablets. Amazon also has an exchange program, and it can be used to earn money to spend on more things at Amazon, naturally (you get the Amazon code, not the cash). The original product does not have to come from Amazon to be eligible. Trade-in categories include Kindles, tablets, media players, Bluetooth and Echo speakers, cell phones, books, and video games.

16. Replace Stolen Packages

Occasionally, a package you order can get ripped off in transit (or right from your porch). You may not be completely SOL. There are many reports from customers on the web that they can replace it for free if you ask Amazon Customer Service!

It has to be sold directly from Amazon; you’ll need the tracking number and other info, which won’t work more than once (maybe twice). Amazon will track who it does this for, and it’s not dumb. But if an important item is lost, it’s worth a try.

Then at least upgrade your shipping security, making sure USPS, UPS, and FedEx require a signature to make the delivery. If you have one near you, try Amazon Locker for pick up (and return). If you trust Amazon, give Key a try, which lets deliverers enter your car, garage, or home when dropping packages.

17. Clip Some Coupons

Amazon has a set of coupons going on at the Coupons site. Clip any you might want to use; they are mainly household goods, but you can search by categories like Electronics, Toys, and Jewelry to find others. Savings of about 10 to 15 percent are automatically applied when you make a purchase. If you do not make a purchase, the coupon will not be used, and it will eventually expire.

18. Amazon Price Tracking

Amazon won’t notify you when a product you love goes super cheap (though if you check your Wish List a lot, that shows how much the price has dropped since you added it. ) Fortunately, there are many third-party options for price tracking.

19. Whole Foods Discount

Love shopping at Whole Foods, but I hate the prices? Amazon now owns the chain, and so comes with a new Amazon Prime benefit: you can now get 10% off sale items, plus other weekly discounts. You can use the Whole Foods Market app at checkout to get discounts; The app will also show what’s on sale. There is also two-hour delivery from Whole Foods, through Prime Now, in select cities. The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa card also offers 5% back on Whole Foods Market purchases.

20. Medicaid Discounts

If you’re on Medicaid, Amazon wants to help you (buy stuff) by offering Subsidy recipients a deal on Prime: just $5.99 a month, compared to $12.99 per month (or $119 per year) that everyone else pays. The same agreement applies to Electronic Benefit Transfer cardholders. This deal is good for four years with either card.

21. Give gifts

Amazon Giveaways is a method for vendors, sellers, and authors to give away a product as a drawing or prize, thus raising awareness. Each day, a giveaway subscriber can receive an email to see a few or go online to see the full list of giveaway dates and try their luck to win one or all of the giveaways. Sometimes you have to go through a video to get the option to click. (Pro tip: you usually have to watch the video, wait about 30 seconds.) When you don’t win, you will be able to buy the product at a reduced price. You bought a Powerball ticket, which is free to try, so what do you have to lose?

22. Pick a date, any date

Amazon Prime’s biggest claim on popularity among shoppers has always been free two-day shipping. That will soon change for many, as Amazon will ramp up its infrastructure to make one-day delivery the norm.

Unless you choose an Amazon date, when you pay at Amazon, you have the option to choose a day of the week for delivery that will become your default delivery date. Of course, you can change any time you check out to get a faster spin, but if you leave it on your special day off, you’ll know that everything you ordered in the previous six days will come at the same time. What seems like a good thing to you is a better thing for Amazon because it makes fewer shipments.

23. Cancel all those Primes

Sometimes, you don’t want to shop, even at Amazon. If you’re tired of emails and deals and discounts, you can always pull out. The steps to cancel your Amazon Prime account aren’t just existential; it’s pretty easy to do. After all, Amazon probably knows you’ll be back to spend more money without the discount.