Amazon Prime Early Access Sale 2022: Previewing the best deals for Amazon's second Prime Day event in October

Keep this page bookmarked for the latest tips to help you get the most out of Prime Day. BRENDAN MCDERMID/Reuters/Insider

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• The Amazon Prime Early Access Sale is on Tuesday, October 11 and Wednesday, October 12. 
• Amazon's second Prime Day 2022 event will offer special holiday savings and gift guides. 
• Deals include Amazon Music Unlimited, Gruhub+ memberships, Prime Video, and more. 

Amazon will hold the Prime Early Access Sale on October 11 and 12. It is the second Prime Day deal event in 2022. 

The Prime Early Access Sale lasts 48 hours and is available in 15 countries: the US, UK, Turkey, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Poland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Germany, France, China, Canada, and Austria. 

We'll be helping you find all the best deals as the sale approaches. Here's what we know about the Prime Early Access Sale so far, and what types of deals will be offered. 

What are the best deals for Prime Early Access Sale?

Amazon's Prime Early Access Sale will showcase deals across electronics, fashion, home, kitchen, pets, toys, and Amazon devices. 

Some deals are already available: You can get an Amazon Echo Dot for 99 cents with a free month of Amazon Music Unlimited (typically a $40 value). Gruhub+ is also free for the first 12 months of your Prime membership (typically a $9.99 value). 

There will also be a Top 100 list of most popular and giftable items, a toys gift guide featuring brands like Hasbro and Disney, and a home gift guide with brands like iRobot and Shark. 

How long do deals last?

While Prime Day lasts for 48 hours, it's important to understand that many deals do sell out quickly. For example, Lightning Deals are limited-time, limited-inventory discounts. They are Amazon's version of a flash sale — complete with a countdown clock — and last for just a few hours or until the item sells out.

Are Prime Day deals the same both days?

Over the 48-hour event, Amazon releases thousands of sales. There are some deals that span both days, but some deals sell out quickly. If you shopped the first day of Prime Day, you can expect a whole new set of fresh deals on the second day. 

Can you return Prime Day deals?

Yes, you can return Prime Day deals. Amazon's return policy for items bought during Prime Day is the same as it is any day of the year. The majority of items, including Amazon devices, can be returned in 30 days. However, there are some items you can't return, including grocery products and gift cards — so be sure to read the fine print. 

How to prepare for Prime Day

Sign up for Prime: As a reminder, only Prime members can participate in Prime Day. That said, you can sign up and take advantage of the free 30-day trial and cancel it after the event. If you plan to cancel your account after Prime Day, be sure to set a reminder. 

Start shopping now: With big sales events like Prime Day, it's easy to fill your cart with things you don't need. That's why we recommend setting a budget and a shortlist of specific items you want to buy in advance. Take the time to outline what items you want to buy, research them in advance, and then save them to your Amazon Wish List so you're ready to go if those items go on sale. 

Consider maximizing your rewards: The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature credit card is a no-brainer for anyone who does a lot of shopping on Amazon. In addition to receiving a $200 Amazon gift card for signing up before Prime Day, you'll get 5% back year-round on everything you buy from the site and from Whole Foods market, with an additional 10% to 20% back on select products. 

Quick tip: Before the big day, remember to update any relevant account information, including payment options and shipping addresses. Deals can go quickly, and it's best to make sure you're ready to go. 

Tips for finding the best deals on Prime Day 

Check the price history: The best Prime Day advice is to always compare historical prices with Prime Day prices. To understand if you're actually getting a good deal, use the free tool CamelCamelCamel. It is the most trusted Amazon price tracker available, and you can get notifications for price decreases for any product listed on Amazon.

Monitor lightning deals: Lightning Deals — flash sales that only last a few hours — are a big part of Prime Day, and you'll need to be ready to buy right away due to limited quantities. However, if the item you want does sell out, you can join the waitlist. If someone doesn't complete the purchase within 15 minutes, the deal is made available to the next person on the waitlist. 

Set up deal notifications: This is where coming with a plan for specific items you want to buy pays off. If you download the Amazon mobile app, you can set up deal alerts for the items you care about. First, you'll want to add the items to your Amazon Wish List. Then, all you have to do is open up the Amazon app and navigate to your Settings. From the drop-down menu, click Notifications. From there, turn on Your Watched & Waitlisted Deals. 

Double-check the specs: If you're hunting for gadgets and tech devices specifically, take a close look at the specs, especially if you're looking at refurbished older models. If you wouldn't buy the product at full price, you may want to rethink your purchase. General rule of thumb: It's a good idea to buy tech with specs with the future in mind, not just right now.

Look to sales outside of Amazon: Amazon isn't the only retailer offering deals during Prime Day. You may find the same items on sale at Target, Best Buy, and other major retailers. Beyond major retailers, dozens of brands host competing sales. 

Follow Insider Reviews: We've been covering Prime Day since its inception, and if you don't have time to prep, we've got you covered. We'll be surfacing up the best deals across the entire sale and keeping our coverage fresh and up-to-date. 

Best previous Prime Day deals

For reference, we kept tabs on the best Prime Day deals from Amazon's first 2022 sale in July. 

Prime Day Amazon deals

Amazon

Prime Day TV deals

Amazon

Prime Day Apple deals

Apple

Apple devices tend to be discounted throughout the year, but it isn't until events like Amazon Prime Day that they drop to particularly worthwhile prices. iPads, AirPods, Apple Watches, and more are expected to fall to their best prices of the year, from more retailers than just Amazon. 

Prime Day tech and gaming deals

Roku

Prime Day home and kitchen deals

Sodastream

Prime Day beauty and fashion deals

Braun

Prime Day toy and board game deals

Amazon