As an editor, how do you gear up to cover one of the biggest shopping events of the year?
Sophie Shaw: Preparing for Prime Day starts weeks in advance, from content strategy meetings to sussing out which products will actually have deals worth shopping for. The latter consists of brand outreach and parsing through a behemoth spreadsheet from Amazon. We're lucky to be among the first to have eyes on what will be on sale, but the timing of when the deals drop and what the actual markdowns are oftentimes differ from the press materials we're provided. This means no matter how prepared we are, it comes down to a game-time play. I write copy and select deals ahead of time as much as possible, and along with getting plenty of sleep the days before, maybe popping on a refreshing sheet mask the morning of (I'm a beauty editor, after all) and staying hydrated throughout the sale, this sets me up for success. It really is a test of endurance once these multiday shopping events kick off!
What sets CNN Underscored’s Prime Day coverage apart from other sites?
Mike Andronico: Almost every deal we recommend is backed by our own hands-on testing, expert research or years of price tracking. This results in a quality-over-quantity approach that only surfaces truly standout savings on things we actually use and love. Our highly curated roundups are complemented by engaging first-person pieces where we don't just recommend deals — we also tell you what we're buying ourselves.
What deals are you most excited about?
Amina Lake Patel: Every Prime Day, some of the deals I’m most excited about are on home goods (and I’m not just saying that because I’m a home editor). I always tell people to avoid buying a vacuum at full price whenever possible because top-of-the-line models (including cordless stick vacuums and robot vacuums) are often on sale throughout the year — even more so on Prime Day. Some of my favorite deals are usually on kitchen products. Buying small appliances like Vitamix blenders and KitchenAid stand mixers on Prime Day will often save you a good chunk of change. I’m personally excited about the air fryer deals this year. I got rid of my dedicated air fryer a few years ago while testing out a multicooker, but I’m ready for a change and am on the lookout for a large-capacity air fryer that can make meal prepping more efficient. In general, though, Prime Day is an excellent time to buy seasonal products. Whether your summer plans involve hitting the beach every weekend, tending to your garden, hosting friends and family in your backyard or simply staying cool and comfortable, you can expect to find all kinds of summer essentials on sale.
What are some common mistakes shoppers make on Prime Day?
Tamara Kraus: One big mistake is taking Amazon's prices at face value. Not everything that’s marked as “on sale” is actually a good deal, which is why our deals team has a rigorous process to ensure readers are actually getting a discount worth shopping. We look at an item's price history and contextualize the deal for the reader too. Is it the lowest price ever? The lowest price this year? Another key thing that people may not know: Other retailers may be offering competing deals that are just as good, if not better than Amazon’s Prime Day price, so make sure to look at other major retailers during Prime Day too. Also, don’t buy something just because it’s on sale. Evaluate whether you really need something or just want to purchase it because it’s discounted. Pro tip: Prime Day is a great time to stock up on household essentials you were going to buy anyway, so that’s always a smart shopping strategy.
