Before clicking ‘buy’ on those last-minute Christmas gifts you’ve been mulling over on Amazon since November, save yourself some extra cash.
Martin Lewis has shared not one, but five fantastic ways to cut the price of your basket with the online retailer — in some cases, snagging you up to 70% off.
In the latest edition of his newsletter, the Money Saving Expert (MSE) founder ran through the different options, explaining: ‘The giant e-tailer has different sub-sites, let’s call them basement levels.’
According to Martin, doing your festive shopping through these can really ‘ramp down the price’. But to get the bargains, you need to know where to look…
Amazon Resale
The consumer finance guru’s first tip is to try Amazon Resale, which offers discounts of up to 50% (or potentially more) on returned goods.
Some products are slightly damaged, but as well as being pre-approved by the retailer, most are as-new or only show damage on the packaging — and there’s everything from laptops and tablets to kitchen appliances at ‘knockdown prices’.
Items on Amazon Resale – previously known as Warehouse – are categorised based on their condition: ‘acceptable’, ‘very good’ and ‘like new’, so at the very least, you’ll know what you’re getting.
To make the most of this ‘treasure trove of deals’, Martin recommends using his Discount Finder tool. MSE reader Susan did just that, telling the platform: ‘I bought a coffee machine for less than half-price. The box was bashed but the machine itself looked brand new. Bargain!’
Amazon Renewed
The money-saving opportunities don’t end there. Martin also urges customers to use Amazon Renewed, a sub-site that’s just for refurbished tech.
Like with Resale, the items here are all pre-owned, but they’ve been tested, restored, and often look like new. Better still, they all come with a one-year warranty.
If you’re on the hunt for previous generation models from Apple, Samsung or Dell, this is the place to be looking. And while discounts vary, current deals include £490 off the RRP on a Garmin Fenix 7X smartwatch, £50 off a Nintendo Switch, or £65 off a Playstation 5, so it’s definitely worth checking.
Amazon Outlet
Next up there’s Amazon Outlet, where you can find hundreds of brand new, excess items, which MSE says are typically priced 15% to 70% lower to clear.
It’s important to note that not everything on Amazon Outlet is discounted, with Martin noting it’s often somewhat ‘hit and miss’.
That said, with a Squishmallows fox currently on offer for £10 (originally £18), you may just find a gem or two to tick off your present shopping list.
CamelCamelCamel
‘Amazon can play fast and loose with what a discount actually is,’ Martin explains. ‘Is it off the recommended retail price, the normal selling price… or something else? And, if you don’t know what the discount’s off, is it actually a good deal?’
Rather than relying on your best guess, he recommends using the CamelCamelCamel price checking tool, which does all the hard work for you.
In one example found by MSE, a Fire HD 8 tablet was ‘55% off’ at £45, despite coming in at £40 two weeks ago.
Free Amazon delivery trick for non-Prime members
If you’re not a Prime member, Amazon charges for delivery on orders less than £35. So, if your total ends up falling somewhere between £20 to £25, Martin claims it ‘can be cheaper to add a small extra item than pay for delivery.’
As ever, MSE has a handy tool to help you out here; put the amount you need to get your order to that magic £35 into the Super Saver Delivery site, and you’ll see an array of items (many of which you’d probably end up buying anyway) to take you there.
Other ways to save on your Christmas shopping
Beyond Amazon, consumer champion Helen Dewdney – aka The Complaining Cow – has plenty of tips to help you cut the price of gifts and hosting this season. She tells Metro:
- Look out for clearance and outlets online. For example, Smyths, Argos and The Works have clearance sections on their sites that run all year round. Do an internet search on the word ‘outlet’ and any store you like to see if they have one. There are many big names that do this — ao.com, Marks & Spencer’s, Currys and Tesco are just a few.
- Check out early sales. Many companies start their ‘Boxing Day’ sales early and you may be able to get in some treats before Christmas.
- Keep an eye out for beauty advent calendar discounts close to Christmas Day. They will be heavily discounted, making the individual products really good value to use as last-minute presents or to save for next year.
- Use food apps, such as Shopmium or Checkoutsmart to get free and discounted food on items you wouldn’t normally purchase that can be used as presents in a hamper. You can also use these apps for your own food, of course!
- Some companies are paying customers for packaging which can be reused. This even includes items that would go into the recycling bin, such as empty bottles and containers. Declutter your home for old clothes, beauty containers and bottles and turn them into vouchers to use on gifts. For example, M&S, H&M, River Island and John Lewis all give £5 vouchers when you give them unwanted clothes or textiles, while Boots, Lush and John Lewis BeautyCycle give rewards (Advantage points, credit or vouchers). The Perfume Shop will give you 15% off a new fragrance, plus plant a tree, when you recycle any empty perfume bottle. Check the requirements for each scheme as they are all different in how they work.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
