How to shop the best deals on Prime Day and beyond, per our team

Here at Post Wanted, we pride ourselves on producing content to best inform you on a topic everyone can relate to — what products and services are worth your time and your hard-earned coin.

We work around the clock, full time, to research the hottest new launches, the buzziest of products (to review and demonstrate how we use them), specially curated gift guides we piece together (with recommendations we’d actually buy), and — to everyone’s delight — the best act-fast sales to grab.

With Amazon Prime Day on the horizon debuting this July, we’re treating it as our Super Bowl. You’ll find dozens of shopping guides posted on the New York Post Shopping. But, for the first time ever, we’re giving you an exclusive look at how we narrow down products and deals that mosey on into our well-crafted articles.

How do I shop on Amazon Prime Day?

Products that are retailed and directly sold on the platform by Amazon, especially Amazon-branded products, “can be expected to be sold at aggressively low prices, which will be a great boon for consumers and will probably turn out to be the most popular items to shop for during Prime Day,” Yoni Mazor, co-founder and chief growth officer of GETIDA, a firm that audits and reconciles tens of billions of transactions for Amazon sellers worldwide, told The Post.

Be sure to take time to read each product’s description, take note of the review count, and shop around using Amazon’s latest smart search tool. Before you type, it auto-fills with a handful of trending purchases that can help steer you in the right direction.

Can anyone shop Prime Day?

Yes, you’ll need an Amazon Prime membership to shop Prime Day deals. Sign up for your free trial to unlock access to future retailer promotions, events, and special offers. After your 30-day trial, Amazon Prime will cost you $14.99 a month or $139 a year.

With your Amazon Prime membership, you’ll also have access to Prime Video to stream your favorite movies and shows.

Editor’s note: Because our team uses affiliate links within content, we may make a commission when you click or purchase from one of our links.

Our Deal-Hunting Process

Just because a product or service is marked down from its original retail price doesn’t mean it’s a *good* deal (to our standards, at least). A good deal also doesn’t have to be the highest percentage off its original price, either.

The Post Wanted team has a firm grasp on what products our readers like, spend their money on, and run to when it’s on sale. That said, a 20% off deal on, say, a Breville espresso maker, is oftentimes more of a hot-button deal than a 50% off deal on a lesser-known brand.

Our seasoned team of commerce reporters, partnerships managers, and editors work hand-in-hand to test products, talk through consumer shopping habits, and research what’s trending — all of which has allowed us to know what’s a good deal and what’s worth your money.

When sourcing top deals, we first ask the question, “What makes a good deal?” Unlike some other publishers in the space, maybe some who cut wires or are good at housekeeping, we don’t have a 10-page “best practices” kit for relaying deal coverage to our readers. Instead, we act like each of you: we go on an online marketplace like Amazon, scour the internet for what’s trending or practical, and then speak from our years of research or personal experience trying the brand or product.

“Any product or service that’s more than 35% off is something I begin to get excited about,” P.J. McCormick, our resident deals writer/reporter, shared. “There’s less of a chance that markups happen.”

On the topic of markups, it’s important to remember that not all deals were created equal. From years of experience covering deals, we find it critical to discover what an item’s original price is, which may differ from what an online retailer claims it to be. So, not every seemingly good deal is actually even a “deal” in the first place.

“We keep a close eye to original retail pricing and unfortunately, some retailers uptick their pricing to make it seem like you’re getting a good deal,” McCormick added. “Your best bet is to copy and paste the product you’re looking for into Google Search to see if it’s cheaper at competing outlets. But, remember to factor in your Amazon Prime account — if you have one — as you’re likely not paying for shipping most of the time.”

Equally as important is brand reputation, the number of customer reviews (and of course our reviews), and how popular the product is. Ahead, the Post Wanted team outlines what each major retailer is known for, how to track down great deals, and what to possibly skip on.

Our tips for finding a good deal on Amazon

For Amazon specifically, the retailer will note how frequently the item is purchased. You may see a line underneath the product name reading “6K bought in the last month.”

Don’t let the thousands of products Amazon has to offer discourage you, either. “The ‘Today’s Deals’ section isn’t particularly well-organized, so don’t fear scrolling and scrolling because you can strike gold as you get further down the page,” McCormick tipped off.

What to shop on Amazon? The retailer is excellent for smart TVs, streaming equipment, and seasonal items. “Summer brings upon great deals on air purifiers, fans, and air conditioners,” McCormick noted. “Typically, home security items and Apple tech are typically on great deals worth buying for Amazon.”

Seek household essentials on Amazon as well, like garbage bags and mops. These less-than-$25 items are usually ones you repurchase anyway, so you may as well save some of your hard-earned coin while you can.

Now, here’s how to shop on Amazon like a pro. The Post Wanted team values brand reputation, the number of customer reviews (and of course, our reviews), and how popular the product is (“6K bought in the last month…) to gauge quality and longevity. “Overall, we look at how well the product performs in general,” McCormick said.

Our tips for finding a good deal at Walmart

“Walmart features a lot of larger products for rollbacks because it’s a huge big-box store,” McCormick said. Think appliances, treadmills, and bed frames.

They also feature great deals on video games and cameras, bicycles, pools, and grills as well. At this retailer, you’ll want to search for physically large items in particular.

Similar to Target, Walmart doesn’t feature as many great deals for apparel. Walmart’s material is typically not as nice as Target, either. “Beauty items tend to be of lesser quality and not as desirable as premium options you may find at Amazon,” he added.

You can also sign up to be a Walmart+ member to unlock benefits similar to that of a Prime membership.

Our tips for finding a good deal at Wayfair

If there’s one thing we know about Wayfair, it’s that the retailer features flash sales daily. You’ll typically find markups of up to 80% off.

“Between and in addition to those flash sales, Wayfair hosts regular major sales, especially on rugs,” McCormick added. “Sleeper sofas and outdoor furniture sets are huge markets for Wayfair as well.”

Pay extra attention to minor household accents like doorknobs, lighting and throw pillows. When on sale, these items can be great finds as well.

As a rule of thumb, anything more than 50% off is considered a “Wayfair steal” in our eyes. However, this varies with the product you may be looking for. For example, take some time to sort through its minor kitchen appliances, even though the online retailer’s bread and butter is larger furniture items.

Our tips for finding a good deal at Target

Among all items, Target is an excellent destination for toys and both indoor and outdoor furniture. The retailer is also great for outdoor games, grills, pool accessories, inflatables, and lawn chairs.

“They’re pretty sturdy and a good value for the price,” McCormick added.

You may want to skip Target’s apparel in most cases. “They’re budget-friendly but you’re not going to really find a $20 shirt for $10,” McCormick explained. “Tech items typically don’t have regular sales but you’ll have to shop around during major deal events.”

What’s more, on events like Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, Target typically price-matches Amazon.

You can also sign up to be a Target Circle member to unlock benefits similar to that of a Prime membership.

A glimpse into our readers’ shopping habits

Post Wanted shoppers are like our built-in shopping besties. They tend to have their eyes on fantastic deals we spotlight, trending items that are circulating the market, and those everyday, must-haves that can sometimes be hidden gems.

We have a healthy amount of year-round shoppers who love brands like DEWALT and vacuums like BISSELL, Dyson, Roomba, and Shark. Our reader base tends to add seasonal items to their carts, like pool vacuums in the summer and snow blowers in the winter.

As we move into the summer, we see a lot of traction with sunscreen, pool toys and games and even above-ground pools themselves. Outdoor furniture sets and grills are popular as well.

Interior items, like cooling sheets, are popular as well.

Amazon shoppers love great beauty deals, especially on SPF, hair masks and shampoos. Apple tech is a product category our readers love when we post about them, especially on AirPods and sometimes a MacBook). “They also love a home essential win, like vacuum or hand tool,” McCormick highlighted.

For over 200 years, the New York Post has been America’s go-to source for bold news, engaging stories, in-depth reporting, and now, insightful shopping guidance. We’re not just thorough reporters – we sift through mountains of information, test and compare products, and consult experts on any topics we aren’t already schooled specialists in to deliver useful, realistic product recommendations based on our extensive and hands-on analysis. Here at The Post, we’re known for being brutally honest – we clearly label partnership content, and whether we receive anything from affiliate links, so you always know where we stand. We routinely update content to reflect current research and expert advice, provide context (and wit) and ensure our links work. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.