Amazon Prime Video is more than a side benefit of a Prime membership — Amazon is building out the streaming service to stand on its own.
Jeff Bezos saw Prime Video “as an opportunity to build a media company,” not just as an offshoot of Prime, Prime Video head Mike Hopkins told Reuters on Wednesday.
Amazon has worked towards that vision for four years. Prime Video became the largest ad-supported streaming service in the U.S. in January after it started peppering movies and shows with ads by default for its 115 million U.S. subscribers. Prime Video comes with Amazon’s $14.99 per month Prime membership; as of January, opting for no ads costs $2.99 extra per month.
Most subscribers chose not to pay more per month for ad-free viewing — only 15% opted to pay extra. The switch to ads had no impact on Amazon’s overall subscriber count, according to a Hub survey, and could bring in $1.3 billion in ad revenue this year and $2.3 billion next year, according to Wall Street research firm MoffettNathanson.
“Virtually overnight, Amazon Prime Video dramatically transformed the video advertising ecosystem,” said Mark Loughney, a Hub senior consultant. Jeff Bezos. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
Amazon framed the shift to ads as a way to keep investing in Prime Video. Amazon MGM Studios had its biggest year in 2023 with 68 Emmy nominations for original content like “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
Nielsen’s June TV and streaming report found that though Prime Video was not as popular as Netflix and YouTube, it came out ahead of Hulu, Disney+, and Peacock. The Prime Video original series The Boys drew 4 billion viewing minutes in June.
When it comes to PC gaming, a great mouse and keyboard is a must. Unfortunately, these peripherals can sometimes be quite pricey, especially if you shop what some of the bigger brands have on offer. But during Prime Day 2024, you’ve got a great opportunity to save a significant amount on a customer-favorite mouse and keyboard set that consistently hits the bestseller list at Amazon.
The Redragon S101 gaming keyboard and mouse value combo set is currently discounted by 30% thanks to a clippable coupon applied at checkout. That makes it just $28 for both an LED keyboard and mouse with some sweet RGB lighting and precision aiming that should help you become a whiz at your favorite PC video game.
But don’t stop there. Prime Day has plenty of great deals on offer right now. As the last day of the sale wears on, consider adding a gaming chair or a gaming desk and level up your setup for less.
Redragon S101 gaming keyboard and mouse value combo set: $28 ($12 off)
Amazon
Gaming mice and keyboards can routinely go for hundreds of dollars. But they don’t have to, as evidenced by this Redragon keyboard and mouse combo. It’s got everything you need to take your gaming to the next level without spending a fortune. Normally an already-reasonable $40 at Amazon, you can clip the on-page coupon now for 30% off to get both items in a combo package for $28 during Prime Day 2024.
The keyboard is black with RGB backlighting you can customize to your liking. In addition to its full set of keys (including a numpad), it features 12 multimedia keys and eight control keys, so you can easily manage settings on the fly.
The mouse has a fun red lighting scheme that stays on while you move it (don’t worry, you can turn it off if you want) and matches the keyboard’s vibe. It’s got adjustable DPI settings as well, so you can fine-tune its sensitivity to your play style. And with six programmable buttons, you can assign all your favorite commands and macros.
The best part? This combo is compatible with pretty much any Windows setup, so you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues. And with the ergonomic design and durable construction, you can game in comfort for hours on end.
If you need a high-quality gaming keyboard and mouse that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, this Redragon combo is definitely worth checking out. Grab this top Amazon Prime Day 2024 deal while you can.
Brittany Vincent has been covering gaming, tech, and all things entertainment for 16 years for a variety of online and print publications. She’s been covering the commerce space for nearly a decade. Follow her on Twitter at @MolotovCupcake.
One of the pinnacles of summer is Prime Day — Amazon’s two-day super sale where you can score mega savings on basically everything on the site. It’s consumerism at its finest. Just walking down the street, you’ll hear excited murmurs and the happy laughter of friends telling each other about all the super deals they got on Prime Day.
Because if there’s one thing we can’t resist as a society, it’s a good discount. No matter if you need a new television, vacuum cleaner, pink ice cube trays in the shape of bunnies or not, Prime Day makes you act in ways you normally wouldn’t. And all because it’s on sale.
And I’m no different. I love to shop a good sale, especially now that I’m moving and have a few actual needs. Even if I didn’t have a list of items to buy, I’d still find an excuse — any excuse — for retail therapy.
Amazon
From July 16 to July 17, you’ll save on top brands and best-selling products. Rarely do all of these items go on sale at the same time, which makes Prime Day so special. Prime Days usually feature discounts of up to 40%, so you better get your carts ready.
Of course, there are the classic television and electronic deals that your dad may love…but I’m looking for big trends that are on sale, including TikTok favorite recs and more.
If you’re looking to shop Prime Day 2024, but don’t know where to start…here are my favorite deals from Amazon you can shop today! But hurry, Prime Day is only two days long.
I know I said no electronics…but what about appliances? This CREAMi has gone viral because you can make the yummiest of yummy homemade ice cream, gelato, smoothies, and more with no effort involved. Save the trips to ice cream parlors for overpriced scoops… My mom has one and loves it (and yes, the ice cream is really delicious.)
CHI carries salon-quality hair products and tools at extremely reasonable prices. They’re one of my favorite hair brands on the market — are tried and true, have been around for years, are a staple at salons, et cetera. The Spin ‘N Curl makes curling your hair super simple (especially for those like myself who simply can’t use a wand) and quick. If you want beachy waves or big ringlets in no time, this is for you.
Dermatologist-recommended Youth To The People is my go-to skincare brand. From someone who’s tried everything that’s skincare related, Youth To The People’s Air Whip Moisture Cream is lightweight. It’s a great pre-makeup moisturizer, and it’s $12 off.
We’re all making sure our skin is in good shape this summer– and that starts with sunscreen. Yes, unfortunately, your mom and dermatologist are right. You will indeed get wrinkles and skin cancer if you refrain from the sunscreen train. This mini pack is great for your purse or beach bag this summer (and it’s $12 off!)
Hot air stylers are all the rage right now for a reason: better for your hair, quick-n-easy to use, and eliminates the need for separate hot tools. The Shark FlexStyle is a fan-favorite dupe of the Dyson AirWrap, and functions just as well at half the price…plus that extra discount for Prime Day.
We’ve all fallen for the teeth-whitening gimmicks. I’ve done it countless times and always go back to old faithful: Crest Strips. This whitening kit comes with 20 strips and a light to maximize your results. I don’t often plus teeth whitening kits, but this is worth the $30 discount.
Don’t waste your money on expensive speakers that will only break in a year’s time. Amazon Alexa-powered devices are great for room-to-room speakers. Plus, if you buy multiple, you can sync them throughout your home. I love my Echo and they’re always heavily discounted on Prime Day
These alarm clocks will seriously change your life. A clock that helps you develop a healthy sleep routine with customizable options fully curated to your schedule. With multiple sleep sound options, a gentle awakening setting, and a design made for your bedside table…this clock is all you’ll ever need.
Best golf Prime Day deal: Save over 40% off the Callaway 300 Pro golf rangefinder
Ama
The Callaway Golf 300 Pro Slope Laser Rangefinder is a favorite (understatement) of CBS Essentials readers, with good reason. This 4.7-star-rated rangefinder is from one of golf’s top brands, offers superior magnification and accuracy, and also attaches to a golf cart or stand bag leaving you hands-free while in play.
Regularly priced at $300, this Amazon best-selling Callaway rangefinder is just $170 during Amazon Prime Day — over 40% off. It includes a premium carry case with a carabiner and elastic quick-close band.
Save 43% on our bestselling electric spin scrubber
Amazon
The Labigo electric spin scrubber is one of our favorite electric scrubbers on the market, and also one of our bestselling products on Amazon. Originally $71, the electric scrubber is marked down to $40 for Prime Day.
The spin scrubber comes with four brush heads, including one small and large flat brush, a dome brush and a corner brush, the latter of which is great for scrubbing your baseboards.
What also helps with getting into hard-to-reach places is the scrubber’s adjustable base, which can be extended up to 3.5 feet, and a scrub head that can be rotated. These features will give you the ability to scrub high and low in your home, from the bottom of the tub to the crown molding that lines your ceilings. The scrubber can last up to an hour and a half on a single charge.
Lightning deal alert: Score an extra-large beach tent for 45% off
Amazon
Get some much-needed shade at the beach with this family-size beach tent from Oileus. It’s only $55 during Prime Day, which is a steal considering its size, features and the fact that we are at the height of beach season. It’s such a good deal that 85% of shoppers have already claimed the discount, so act fast before this deal disappears! This is a much better deal than the super popular Shibumi Shade, which is only 13% off (with coupon) for the sale.
The tent can accommodate four people at once (two adults and two kids) and comes with two windows for ventilation as well as two mesh pockets, which is convenient for storing essentials such as water and your phone. What’s more, it’s super easy to transport to and from your car with the included bag.
Lightning deal alert: Save 20% on a nonstick saute pan from Caraway
Amazon
Famous for making “nontoxic”, nonstick cookware, Caraway is discounting their versatile saute pan for Prime Day. Originally $145, the saute pan is now $116. At the time of this post, only 30% of shoppers have claimed this deal, so there’s still time to score this 20% discount!
The Caraway nonstick saute pan is ceramic and free of PFOA, PFAs, heavy metals and more, which may put some home cooks at ease. This is compatible on multiple cooktops, including gas and induction, and can survive temperatures up to 550 degrees in the oven. What’s more, it comes in a range of eye-catching colors, ranging from mustard to pink.
A deal for DIYers: Save 46% on a Dewalt cordless drill and impact driver tool kit
Amazon
Originally priced at $239, this Dewalt cordless drill and impact driver bundle is now $129 during Prime Day.
In addition to these two, top-rated and versatile tools, the tool kit comes with two rechargeable battery packs, a battery charger and a durable yellow and black Dewalt carry bag. The cordless drill features a two-speed transmission (0 to 450 RPM and 0 to 1,500 RPM). Both tools utilize an ergonomic handle and a compact design, so they’ll fit into tight areas.
Both tools also have LED lighting built in, so you get better visibility in your work area with minimal shadows.
This versatile and durable Dewalt combo kit is rated 4.7 stars by Amazon reviewers — based on more than 50,000 reviews.
Limited-time deal alert! Save 40% on a Keurig K-Mini coffee maker
Amazon
Coffee lovers rejoice! This little Keurig coffee maker is $40 off for Prime Day, taking the price down to $60 (from $100).
The coffee maker boasts more than 76,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. It can brew between six to 12 ounces of coffee at once, and because of its relatively compact size (it’s only five inches wide), it’s great for people with small kitchens. The Keurig K-Mini also comes in six fun colors, including green, red and pink. Take advantage of this discount before it disappears.
Save big on golf balls: TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x golf balls
Amazon
Amazon Prime Day features some of the best golf ball deals of the year, making this a smart time to stock up starting with the TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x golf balls.
TaylorMade’s seamless ball features layered construction and a cast urethane cover. The ball delivers high speed, high launch and a soft feel. The ball’s expanded core delivers increased speed.
Rated 4.8 stars by enthusiastic Amazon shoppers, these TaylorMade golf balls are on sale for $34, reduced from $50.
Get the Kyy 15″ portable monitor for 48% off on day one of Prime Day
Amazon
Originally $136, this portable monitor is now $70 for Prime members. To ensure the greatest savings, make sure you add the available $10 coupon before checkout.
The Kyy 15″ portable monitor delivers stunning visuals. It has an advanced IPS screen with a 178-degree wide viewing angle and HDR, as well as surprisingly bright colors. Its eye-care features, including blue light reduction and flicker-free technology, are a great addition to its list of perks too.
Its ultra-slim profile, measuring just 0.3 inches and weighing a mere 1.7 pounds, makes it great for taking along with you to work on the go, but it also makes a good addition to your home setup as well, especially if you want a permanent second screen for your laptop.
The monitor comes with a scratch-proof smart cover made of PU leather, which not only protects the display but also doubles as a stand with two grooves for adjustable viewing angles. It can be used in both landscape and portrait modes, and its built-in speakers, and user-friendly menu control wheel sweeten the deal.
Save 32% on Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
Apple/Amazon
Apple’s best sounding wireless earbuds are currently the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation). Amazon has dropped the price on the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) for Amazon Prime Day, they’re on sale for $169, which is a 32% price drop from their usual $249 price.
Our top pick in our 2024 Apple AirPods buyer’s guide, these Apple earbuds include spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and impeccable noise-canceling technology. Featured in our six best wireless earbuds with spatial audio in 2024 roundup, this iteration of Apple’s popular AirPods Pro offer touch controls on the stems, and you can choose between a USB Type-C or Lightning-compatible charging case.
These earbuds can be used for anything from a sweat session at the gym, to completely immersive music, TV and movie audio experiences.
Woah: Save 36% on the Bissell SpinWave Hard Floor Pet Expert Robot
Amazon
If you’re in search of shiny floors, the Bissell SpinWave Hard Floor Expert Pet Robot is for you. While many robot vacuums clean hard wood floors, this model comes with a special solution to add shine to your floors. You can save 36% on this Amazon Prime Day deal, which cuts the price to $139.
It uses a two-tank cleaning system to both vacuum and mop your floors. Its dry vacuum cleaning mode uses dual spinning edge brushes and a rotating brush roll with suction up to 1500 Pa, so you can sweep up debris before deploying the mop. The mop portion uses rotating, replaceable mop pads to clean tile, linoleum and sealed hard floors.
While there are few smart components to this mop and vacuum hybrid, it does feature a soft surface avoidance feature that keeps it from bumping into chairs, tables and other obstacles.
To be clear: This is not a Dr. Dillamond in Wicked or Mr. Tumnus in Narnia situation. Guildford is not half man, half beast: He can turn into a fully neighing, trotting, stable-sleeping steed. It’s blatantly absurd, but he’s not this universe’s only shape-shifter. Just 10 minutes into the show’s first episode, Jane’s lady’s maid and innermost confidant Susanna (Máiréad Tyers)—yep, the same one recovering from the clap—morphs from woman to hawk. (No, not that one.)
“Did I mention that, in this world, some people can transform themselves into an animal?” the show’s narrator offers. We learn that both Susanna and Guildford are Ethians: humans who can take animal form and are often hunted by pure-blooded people known as Verities. If you hadn’t figured it out yet, this is meant to be a metaphor for the Protestant-Catholic conflict in Tudor England. And in case you were wondering, according to the series, Anne Boleyn was Ethian—“An animal both in and out of the sack,” Guildford’s father (Rob Brydon) quips.
Henry VIII has largely exiled the Ethians from polite society and made it illegal for regular folks to fraternize with the group, meaning they often have to scrounge and steal in order to survive. It’s unclear how, exactly, an Ethian is detected because they can shape-shift at their own whim—a man takes to his grizzly bear form during a barside brawl; a woman shifts out of her existence as a lap dog named Petunia to alert King Edward (Jordan Peters) that he’s being poisoned. But that same courtesy doesn’t extend to Guildford, who has never had control over when he begins to—sorry—horse around.
The series, which is primarily directed by Jamie Babbit, does quick, if a bit confusing, work explaining what Guildford’s condition means. Ethianism skips generations but is typically triggered in puberty during a moment of high emotion. For Guildford, that was on the day of his mother’s murder. Ethians can’t choose which animals they morph into, which is nasty luck for the man turned bug who gets squashed under the boot of the sinister Lord Seymour (Dominic Cooper). With no authority on his own shape-shifting abilities, Guildford is cursed to be horse by day, man by night. While the sun is out, Jane can use her husband as a means of transportation and after it sets, he gets taken for a different kind of ride. Which they do in a literal stable, by the way.
Always nice to sign up with one of these deals. You can use up your No Rush Credits on this as well.
Be sure to set yourself a reminder to cancel before renewal if you don’t want to pay full price. Reports are that you’ll have to wait until you’re into the second month to cancel if you want to get both months for the $.99.
As product experts, a large part of our job here at WIRED is to help you get the best products at the best prices. That includes helping you find great deals during massive sales events like Black Friday and, of course, Amazon Prime Day. If you’re looking to get the best price on that gadget that’s been sitting on your cart for months, it’s important to know when to pull the trigger—and when not to. Other than a handful of good early Prime Day deals, now is almost certainly the time to hold your fire.
Amazon, Walmart, and other major retailers tend to jack up pricing on all sorts of products that have long since sunk below their manufacturer’s suggested retail price ahead of a major sale. That way once you see it on the big day it looks like a really great deal—even when it would have been impossible to buy the product at the inflated price displayed even if you had tried. This isn’t a new phenomenon, and it’s not limited to online sellers. A Harvard business professor wrote a paper about the phenomenon in 2018. There have been unsuccessful class action suits against classic brick-and-mortar retailers like Kohl’s and JCPenney over the practice.
We do our best to guide you through this sale-price chicanery with our daily coverage and Prime Day posts, but we can’t do it all alone. There are plenty of ways you can prepare as a savvy buyer to get the best gear and still keep your budget intact, from timing your moves to grabbing last year’s best. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to follow now, and throughout the year, to save some serious dough.
Price Tracking Tools
If you’re focused on prices and shopping on Amazon you should be using a price tracker to keep a close eye on product price drops (and jumps). The best options are Keepa (the one I use most often) and CamelCamelCamel. Both trackers are free and work across all the top browsers. (You can read our in-depth guide for more tips to find the best Amazon deals.)
While it’s true these tools are primarily for Amazon shopping, where Amazon goes many other retailers tend to follow, often including manufacturer sites. If you’re shopping outside the Amazon universe, there are some other good price tracking tools worth checking out, including deals sites like SlickDeals, Honey, and Pricerunner.com.
While none of these tools or specialty sites is perfect, they can all be helpful in keeping you aware of what is a good deal and what isn’t.
Pick Your Moment
While price tracking is key, it’s important to know the best times of year to shop. As mentioned above, you’ll generally want to hold back on buying big-ticket items, especially tech gear, just before a major sales event like Amazon Prime Day, which this year is scheduled for July 16 and 17.
The same is generally true for other big-store events like Wayfair Day, as well as general sales based around holidays like Labor Day and Presidents Day. Not only is the product you’re after often being sold at a higher price than it would be during the big sale, it may well be jacked up to its highest price of the year.
On the other hand, Black Friday (and Cyber Monday) sales tend to work the opposite way, becoming more of a monthlong free-for-all than a one- or two-day event. We often see prices dropping across product categories for weeks before Black Friday as retailers court folks aiming to get their holiday shopping done early.
If you’re looking for TVs, soundbars, and home theater deals, you may also see a lot of sale fanfare ahead of the all-important “big game,” aka the Super Bowl. Brands and retailers figure you’ll want a solid big screen and good sound not only for the game itself but also for the halftime show, the puppy bowl, and those gazillion-dollar commercials. That said, with the Super Bowl following a slew of big shopping events, and right after new TV models are announced, these deals aren’t always what they seem.
Amazon Prime logo displayed on a phone screen and Amazon logo displayed on a screen in the background are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on July 26, 2022.
There will be early Prime Day deals, and there are must-see deals at Amazon that you can take advantage of right now, even before Prime Day 2024 officially starts. Read on to learn more about Prime Day 2024, including when we expect early and day-of Prime Day deals to go live on Amazon.
Pro tip: If you’re a first-time Prime Day shopper, be sure to check out our Prime Day guide, which outlines everything you need to know about the retail giant’s biggest sale of the year.
What will be on sale for Prime Day 2024?
Already, Amazon has announced there will be “great deals on brands like Clinique, Allbirds, and Kiehl’s.” Back-to-school deals have been announced as well. You can save up to 40% off Amazon Basics school supplies and dorm staples and up to 40% off Amazon Essentials crew necks, hoodies and joggers. Amazon will likely preview more Prime Day 2024 deals as we get closer to the big shopping event.
In our experience covering Prime Day, we also expect discounts on Amazon-branded tech and home goods, including Kindles, Fire TVs and streaming sticks, Echo speakers and more. Plenty of non-Amazon items will be on sale too, including robot vacuums, coffee makers, air fryers and loads of tech products.
Like with last year’s Prime Day sale, Amazon is offering a handful of invite-only Prime Day deals. Amazon has announced you can save up to 40% off Sony wireless headphones, 30% off the Peloton Original Bike+, up to 60% off a Citizen Chronograph Watch and 40% off a Speedo Champion Signature Swim bundle — all as invite-only deals.
When will Prime Day 2024 deals go live on Amazon?
Amazon Prime Day 2024 deals will go live on Amazon on Tuesday, July 16, with new deals added constantly until midnight on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. But early Prime Day 2024 deals are live right this very moment.
Best pre-Prime Day 2024 deals at Amazon right now
Amazon currently has plenty of summer deals and terrific prices available to shop now ahead of Prime Day 2024. Check some of our top picks below.
Featuring a three-stage cleaning system, the iRobot Roomba Vac Essential robot vacuum can handle carpets and hard surface floors like a pro. The robot vacuum also has three levels of suction power, so you can choose between a more thorough clean and quiet operation.
We like that the iRobot Roomba Vac Essential can be scheduled to clean automatically in neat rows, or can start cleaning via Alexa voice commands. There’s also a spot-cleaning setting where the robot will spin in place for up to two minutes.
It cleans for up to 120 minutes on a single charge and automatically returns to its base when its battery is low. The vacuum will alert you when its filter or brushes need replacing.
Regularly $250, you can get this budget robot vacuum for just $224 at Amazon now ahead of Amazon Prime Day 2024.
Shark AI Ultra voice control robot vacuum: $300 (save 50%)
Amazon
This powerful robot vacuum is an expert at lifting dirt from a variety of floor types, from carpet to hard floors. Thanks to its self-cleaning brush roll, it can power through hair, debris, pet hair, and other nastiness with the greatest of ease.
It cleans in a grid pattern that takes multiple passes over the dirtier parts of your home so you get a deep clean. It can map your home using 360-degree LiDAR vision as well, so it knows where it should be headed and avoids obstacles all on its own.
Plus, when it’s full, this vacuum empties itself back at its base, where it can hold up to 60 days of detritus. Its bagless base means no pricey add-ons, either. All you have to do is empty the reservoir when it’s full.
Set a cleaning schedule, tell your vacuum to clean on command, or adjust settings with the robot’s voice control options. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant for quick setup, so it’s good to go when you’re ready to issue commands.
Amazfit GTR 3 Pro smartwatch: $120 (save 20%)
Amazon
This budget-priced smartwatch is as classy as they come. It offers just about all the same functionality you’d expect from its pricier cousins, albeit without some of the fancier health monitoring options. It’s still a great option if you want communication and fitness features.
It boasts a 1.45-inch round HD AMOLED screen that offers plenty of real estate and comes in multiple watch band styles. Currently, this sale applies only to the black leather or “Infinite Black” styles.
It’s water-resistant and includes a built-in barometric altimeter to track altitude and air pressure, with a built-in GPS and heart rate monitor within. The watch has more than 150 sport modes to help you track activity as well as calories burned, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, stress levels and breathing rates.
Of course, you can make and receive calls, text and play music from the watch as well, making it an excellent choice for anyone needing it for communications as well as fitness purposes. All this for just $120? You can’t beat it.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite: $250 (save 24%)
Amazon
Looking for a budget-friendly Android tablet that doesn’t compromise on quality? The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a compelling choice. It offers a great balance of features and value, and it’s on sale for an attractive price right now.
It features a vibrant 10.4-inch touchscreen display and runs on the Android 12 operating system. With an impressive battery life of up to 15 hours on a single charge, you can use it for long periods without worrying about constantly recharging.
It works with the Google Play Store, so you can use any app your heart desires (if it’s available there) and comes with the included Samsung S Pen stylus that lets you take notes, sketch or navigate the device instead of using your fingertips.
Apple AirPods (2nd generation): $99 (23% off)
Apple
The second-generation Apple AirPods may not be the latest model, but they’re still one of the most sought-after earbuds on the market. These are some of the most versatile earbuds you can buy if you’re a regular iOS user. But beyond that, these are great earbuds that are perfect for tossing in your bag and heading out into the world. They just connect when you need them. There’s no frustrating need to pair them.
These 4.7-star-rated earbuds boast more than 24 hours of total listening time with the wireless charging case, fool-proof one-tap setup for Apple device owners and a low-latency wireless connection for full immersion when consuming movies and music. If you need an everyday set of earbuds that look and feel premium, these are a great and affordable option.
Why we like the Apple AirPods (2nd Generation):
Their clear and high-quality sound makes for immersive listening.
They feature a one-tap setup and intuitive controls for better convenience.
They have an impressive battery life of over 24 hours with the charging case, and quick charging for on-the-go.
Keurig K-Mini coffee maker: $60 (40% off)
Amazon
If you’re running out of counter space in your kitchen, adding a new appliance can be difficult. But you probably won’t have that problem with the Keurig K-Mini — this single-serve pod coffee maker measures just 4.5 inches wide, 12.1 inches tall and 11.3 inches deep. It brews up to 12 ounces of coffee in just minutes.
This 4.5-star-rated Amazon bestseller is available in six colors.
Dewalt 20V Max cordless compact drill kit: $99 (45% off)
Amazon
This compact cordless drill and driver kit is one of the best deals that you can score right now. It’s currently a whopping 45% off. The kit includes a high-performance 20V drill with two batteries, a charging station and a carrying bag.
“We recently gifted our son the DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill as he’s a new homeowner, and we (and he) couldn’t be happier with the choice,” an Amazon reviewer shares. “It’s incredibly powerful, making even tough drilling tasks a breeze for him as he settles into his new place. The battery life is impressive, allowing him to tackle multiple projects without constantly recharging. One of the standout features is the ergonomic design, which makes it comfortable for him to use for extended periods.”
Get it now for $99 (regularly $179).
What we like about the Dewalt 20V cordless compact drill kit:
It has earned an impressive 4.8-star rating on Amazon with over 40,000 reviews,
It’s an excellent entry-level drill set.
It comes with two batteries so you can use the drill for all-day projects.
The Rockland Melbourne 20-inch expandable carry-on spinner is made out of ABS, a lightweight and durable plastic. It features multidirectional double spinner wheels with telescoping handles, along with interior zip and mesh pockets. Choose from multiple colors. Price varies by color. Right now, you’ll get the best deal on the carry-on in the shade purple, it’s currently 58% off.
“I was able to fit a lot more than I thought in this little suitcase,” an Amazon reviewer shares. “It’s easy to maneuver and even with the extension added to it it’s small enough to fit airplanes’ carry-on requirements.”
It usually sells for $140, but right now you can buy this carry-on for just $66.
Why we like the Rockland Melbourne 20-inch carry-on:
The carry-on meets size restrictions for most major airlines, including United, American, Delta, Southwest and Allegiant.
It earned a 4.5-star rating on Amazon with more than 8,500 reviews.
The ergonomic handle and seamless spinner wheels make it easy to maneuver.
Rachel Center is a writer with more than eight years of experience creating lifestyle content for brands such as Better Homes & Gardens, Real Simple and Apartment Therapy.
Prime Video is also included with your membership. There are some killer originals, like Fallout and The Boys in addition to other movies and shows. Purchased separately, Prime Video costs $9 per month. Note that these plans are with commercials. If you’re a Prime member and you want to go ad-free, it’ll cost another $3 per month.
Finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about Amazon’s members-only event, Prime Day. The annual “holiday” has outperformed both Black Friday and Cyber Monday in years past, but not every Prime Day deal is actually a bargain. The WIRED Gear team always covers the event to make good deals easier to find—our coverage is unique in that we only write about deals on products we have personally tested and can verify are great buys rather than flooding our posts with questionable random brands. This year, Prime Day is in July. Official dates have not yet been announced, though we anticipate the sale will fall on a Tuesday and Wednesday in the middle of the month. Early Prime Day deals are usually available in the days leading up to the sale, and we’ll have the best for you here.
Amazon Day
Overwhelmed by the sheer number of boxes at your door? (Honestly, as a product reviewer, same.) Amazon Day lets you schedule all of your deliveries to arrive on a certain day of the week. Rather than dealing with a box or two at a time on multiple days, you can get one package with all of your orders on whichever day you prefer. If you use Amazon Day, you aren’t locked in. That means if you’re ordering something you need quickly, you can still opt for the fastest shipping method. Amazon Day is a good way to cut back on cardboard (and your carbon footprint).
Exclusive Deals
Even outside of Prime Day, Amazon Prime members are eligible for special members-only discounts. That might mean a few bucks off your portable charger purchase, a 20 percent off coupon to use on dog food, or better prices on new Amazon devices. Individual discounts vary, but we see these sorts of promotions pretty frequently—and, as with Prime Day, not all of them are good.
Early-Access Lightning Deals
Both during and outside of special events like Prime Day and Black Friday, Prime members get early access to select Lightning Deals. You will be able to shop 30 minutes before other customers. Whether Lightning Deals are worth your money is another discussion entirely, but it’s a perk worth checking out.
No-Rush Rewards
If you don’t need your order to arrive right away, sometimes at checkout you’ll see the option for free No-Rush Shipping. Usually, choosing No-Rush Shipping gets you a free $1 digital credit to use on things like ebooks, digital games, movies, and the like. The rewards sometimes expire after a certain duration. I’ve used No-Rush credits to get as much as $10 off digital games on release day. Since video game discounts are rare, especially right after release, this can be lucrative if you time it correctly (and don’t mind waiting for your purchases to arrive).
Grubhub+
Amazon Prime members get free access to Grubhub+, which includes free delivery on orders over $12, plus an assortment of Prime-exclusive discounts at various restaurants throughout the year.
Amazon Fresh
Amazon Fresh lets you order groceries via Amazon and get them delivered to your door. It’s not available in all areas, but it is a different way to shop if you’re trying to avoid in-person trips. You also get a selection of products from Whole Foods available through Amazon Fresh. Somewhat confusingly, there are similarly named physical Amazon Fresh grocery stores in some cities.
Since Amazon bought Whole Foods several years back, you can usually find picks from Whole Foods store brands within Amazon’s grocery services. It might make a good way to try something new or stock up on items you already like.
Amazon Household
For families, Amazon Household is a good way to share benefits between multiple people. You can share membership perks with two adults, four teens, and four adults. Parents can use Amazon Household to approve teens’ orders or set up parental controls on kids’ content.
Amazon First Reads
Each month, Prime members can check out Amazon First Reads. That’s two Kindle books from the selection for free. Non-Prime members can get their two books for $2 apiece. As a reminder, you can read Kindle books even if you don’t have a Kindle device, thanks to the free app available for phones and computers. We also have a buying guide to help you pick the right Kindle.
Prime Reading
In addition to First Reads, Prime members get access to tons of Kindle books via Prime Reading. There are more than a thousand items to choose from. Aside from books, you can access audiobooks and magazines, plus comics via Comixology. WIRED senior editor Michael Calore mentioned Prime Reading as one of his quarantine lifesavers in this Gadget Lab podcast episode.
Prime Gaming
Every month, Prime members are eligible for various rewards via Prime Gaming (formerly known as Twitch Prime). This includes in-game loot in a variety of popular games, free game downloads, free downloadable content (DLC) and expansions, and more. You also get a free Twitch subscription—which sounds like you can watch Twitch for free, but “Twitch subs” are actually subscriptions to individual Twitch streamers, and they normally cost money. With the free subscription you get from Amazon Prime, you can support channels you enjoy—creators make some money off the subscription, but it won’t cost you anything extra.
$10 off Game Preorders
This discount used to be much better, but it’s still worth looking into if you are in the market for a new video game. Occasionally, Prime members can receive $10 off when they preorder a game. Eligible titles show up here when they’re available. Some video games also have free Release Date Delivery—just look for that shipping option when preordering a game.
Prime Try Before You Buy
Buying clothes online can be an arduous process. Prime Try Before You Buy (formerly Prime Wardrobe) offers a selection of items you can try on at home before committing. Pick out what you want and you’ll get it for a week. If it’s a winner, you can keep it. If it’s not a perfect fit, you can return the items for free. I prefer to use this method when pieces are already discounted, since the price you’ll pay if you decide to keep something is whatever the price was at checkout.
Unlimited Online Photo Storage
Prime members get access to unlimited full-resolution photo storage, and 5 gigabytes of video storage as well. You can store, print, and share photos using the Amazon Photos app and back everything up to the cloud. If your account ever loses Prime status, you’ll need to pay at least $2 per month to keep storing your photos and videos, so this shouldn’t be your primary backup method. You might want to consider using one of these options as well.
Discounted Amazon Kids+
Amazon Kids+ (formerly FreeTime Unlimited) is Amazon’s content service for kids. The service is compatible with several iOS, Android, and Amazon devices, like Fire Tablets. It essentially provides a bevy of parental controls whilst giving kiddos access to age-appropriate shows, books, games, and the like. Kids+ costs $8 per month, but Prime members can snag the subscription for $6 per month (or $79 and $48 per year, respectively).
Additional Perks for Specific Customers
Expecting a new addition to your family? Select Prime members can claim a free Baby Registry Welcome Box by creating a registry that has at least $10 worth of purchases (by themselves or others). Learn more here.
Select wireless carriers have special cell phone plans for Prime members. Members also get 10 percent back as a credit each month. These plans aren’t for everyone—and your current provider may be cheaper—but they could be a good option for those seeking prepaid, inexpensive phone service.
Amazon Prime Day is arguably one of the most confusing shopping holidays in existence. It’s not even a “day”—the members-only event spans 48 hours. Amazon also promises “millions of deals,” but the displayed discounts are often misleading—or outright false. Some deals are actually available to people who don’t subscribe to Prime. Add in the frenzy of limited-time Lightning Deals and you’ve got a recipe perfect for spending too much money.
Fear not! We’re here to help. WIRED’s Gear team is familiar with common shopping pitfalls, and I’ve been a deals writer for nearly a decade. What time do sales start and end? How do you tell whether a deal is actually a deal? We pooled our collective knowledge to get you prepared for Amazon Prime Day.
Updated June 2024: We’ve updated this story with additional details about Prime Day, which is set for sometime in July 2024.
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more.
When Is Amazon Prime Day?
Amazon has officially announced that Prime Day will be held in July. We believe, based on past sales, that Prime Day 2024 will take place on a Tuesday and Wednesday sometime in the middle of the month.
When Do Prime Day Deals Start?
The event officially begins at 3 am Eastern time and runs for 48 hours. WIRED will cover the best Prime Day deals from both Amazon and retailers that have competing sales. Some deals and sales will begin ahead of the official start time. (We’ll be covering those too.)
Are Prime Day Deals Only for Prime Members?
Officially, yes. You must be an Amazon Prime member to shop for Amazon’s Prime Day deals. There is a free 30-day trial available for new accounts. (Prime membership comes with a lot of perks, and we’ve rounded up all of them here.) The trial will let you get in on the sale—just remember to cancel your membership to avoid any subsequent renewal charges.
There are some discounts available if you’re not a subscriber (those deals might not be that great). But other major retailers like Best Buy and Target usually hold concurrent sales during Prime-exclusive sales events. Their prices are often close to what Amazon is offering on the same products, and sometimes they match the price. This is a good way to take part in the Prime Day Sale if you don’t want to support Amazon.
Walmart is launching a rival Walmart+ Plus Week sales event for members, running June 17–23, 2024. Like Amazon Prime, Walmart+ gives you free express delivery and some other perks, but costs just $98 per year. The deals include 20 cents off a gallon of gas at Exxon & Mobil stations nationwide, so you could pay off your entire annual Walmart+ membership by buying just 490 gallons of gas!
Is Prime Day Worth It?
It depends. For some items, Prime member-exclusive event prices tend to be some of the lowest we see all year. That’s especially true for Amazon hardware, like Kindles, Fire Tablets, Fire TV Sticks, and Echo devices, but there are other factors to consider. Prices fluctuate throughout the year, and some products are discounted quite often. Even if the price is good, a deal on a product that goes on sale all the time diminishes the overall quality of that deal.
The sheer volume of deals promoted by Amazon during sales like Prime Day is a blessing and a curse. The truly good discounts can be difficult to pinpoint—there’s so much stuff on sale that the overall selection can feel overwhelming. But there’s a good chance that the item you want will be on sale. We’ve seen some fantastic Prime-exclusive discounts in the past, ranging from dirt-cheap Kindles to elusive price drops on the Nintendo Switch. The tricky part is to find the diamonds in the rough.
WIRED covers legitimately good deals all year long, including during the Prime Day event. Our tips below will help you find those great discounts on your own.
How Do I Know Whether a Deal Is Good?
ABC: Always be checking (prices, that is). Researching an item’s price is the most important aspect of determining the quality of a discount. Don’t fall prey to deceptive marketing language and inflated MSRP prices—our tips only take a few moments. The easiest step is to take a second to Google the items you’re considering so you can see the price across multiple stores.
One tool we like to use is Camelcamelcamel, which tracks Amazon’s prices over time. Paste the Amazon link or ASIN (found in the Product Information section on the Amazon product page) into Camelcamelcamel’s search bar and you’ll be able to see an item’s lowest recorded price, its average price, and how frequently the price fluctuates. Some deals, such as Lightning Deals, are excluded from the pricing history, but it’s useful to see what an item has sold for in the past. We also like Keepa, which has an extension (available for multiple browsers) that shows the recent price history for products directly on the Amazon page so you don’t have to open a new tab.
Previously this benefit was only for one year, and rarely for two years. Grubhub+ includes $0 delivery fees on eligible orders over $12, lower service fees, 5% credit back on pick-up orders, and exclusive offers.
Amazon customers can now access Grubhub conveniently on Amazon.com and in the Amazon Shopping app, enabling them to order Grubhub while shopping on Amazon without having to download or switch to the Grubhub app. Visit amazon.com/grubhub to complete a food delivery order with Grubhub. Just make sure you activate the Grubhub+ ongoing offer first.
$25 Off $25+ Order
Prime members can save $5 on a Grubhub delivery order over $25 from now through June 2 with the code “PRIME5”. The code can be entered by Prime members during checkout when shopping Grubhub on Amazon.com or in the Amazon Shopping app, or the code can be automatically applied by clicking on a banner at checkout.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You should always check shopping portals such as Rakuten, TopCashback, RebatesMe and more for possible cashback.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is suing online retail giant Amazon, alleging in a pair of lawsuits that its “unfair and deceptive” business practices have violated both the state’s consumer fraud and antitrust laws. The two separate lawsuits come as the Federal Trade Commission is gearing up for an October 2026 trial against Amazon for alleged federal antitrust violations. …
They’ll come bearing gifts, as long as you don’t run away screaming first. They’re Amazon delivery drones, and in Arizona, their implementation/reign of terror is set to begin later this year…
Amazon on Tuesday debuted a new grocery delivery program for Prime members across the U.S., as well as a lower-cost option for people who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, the official name for the food-stamp program.
The cost of unlimited grocery delivery from Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh and other local grocers and specialty retailers is $9.99 a month, for orders over $35. The new delivery service is available in more than 3,500 cities and towns across the nation, and includes features such as one-hour delivery windows, Amazon said Tuesday.
Amazon said the cost for people who receive SNAP benefits is $4.99 per month. Food-stamp recipients need to have a registered Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, but don’t require a Prime membership to join the food delivery program. Prime costs $139 annually, or $14.99 per month.
The new service comes almost three years after Amazon ended free delivery for its Whole Foods customers, a decision that sparked some annoyance from customers at the time, the Washington Post reported. Meanwhile, rival Walmart offers unlimited grocery delivery as part of its Walmart Plus membership program, which costs $12.95 per month, along with a discounted service for food stamp recipients.
Other companies, like Instacart, charge fees that can start at $3.99 per delivery. Amazon said its new grocery delivery service “pays for itself” after one delivery per month.
“We have many different customers with many different needs, and we want to save them time and money every time they shop for groceries,” said Tony Hoggett, senior vice president of worldwide grocery stores at Amazon, in a statement.
Amazon said it is rolling out the program nationally after piloting it in three cities last year. More than 85% of trial participants deemed it a success, according to the company, citing convenience and saving money on delivery fees.
Including food stamp customers in the program is part of Amazon’s initiative to help provide affordable grocery services to low-income customers, the company added.
Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting.
Amazon appears to have nixed its Prime Video-only plan in the US and UK. Cord Bustersreports that the little-known subscription, introduced in 2016, is no longer available to new users in either country. Those trying to sign up for the previously $8.99 monthly plan (£5.99 monthly in the UK) are now directed to the landing page for a full Amazon Prime membership.
The Prime Video plan launched eight years ago, priced to undercut Netflix’s (at the time) $9.99-a-month subscription price for standard HD streaming on up to two devices. Although the option stuck around for close to a decade, Amazon increasingly buried it, making it impossible to sign up for on mobile devices. It was also increasingly difficult to find on desktops, where you had to navigate to an easy-to-miss “See more plans” section of the Prime sign-up page.
The Prime Video plan never even got a price increase during that time, further illustrating how obscure Amazon apparently wanted it to remain. Now, it appears to be gone for good. Cord Busters says it was recently removed in the US and axed from Amazon UK earlier this week.
Your subscription should still work if you’re already on the Prime Video-only plan. But if you cancel it or switch to the full Prime membership, don’t expect to see an option to return to it.
Engadget reached out to Amazon to ask about the change. We’ll update this article if we hear back.
Nolan tasked Fallout showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet with threading that particular needle. The pair chose to center the series around three protagonists, played by Walton Goggins, Ella Purnell, and Aaron Clifton Moten, all of whom enter the story at a turning point in their lives. As a cowboy movie star turned ghoul, Goggins’ character is cold and lawless, a set of emotions you have to imagine stems from the loss he’s felt in the 219 years since the first bombs fell. Moten is Maximus, a former orphan who joins up with the paramilitary tech protectors in the Brotherhood of Steel and stumbles his way into a chance at greatness. Purnell is Lucy MacLean, a naive Vault Dweller who sets off into the Wasteland in pursuit of her kidnapped father (Kyle MacLachlan).
“All of the dilemmas the Brotherhood of Steel has faced over the years, the sort of quagmire of it all and the different angles they’ve taken, that’s all interesting,” Wagner says. “In most of the Fallout games, you start as a Vault Dweller, so that made total sense since, with the series, you start in a very small space and get to explore a crazy new world just like they are.”
The showrunners also made sure to include The Ghoul, an unplayable character in the games. “That just felt like something we all wanted to see, because they’re sort of the untouchables of the Fallout world,” Wagner says.
As a property,Fallout has always played with a sort of gallows humor, a satirical take on how awful and complicated life could be after total nuclear annihilation. That’s certainly true with the series, which balances heart-wrenching kid-delivered dialog about encroaching mushroom clouds with “aw, shucks” sex jokes and an almost comical amount of carnage. Wagner says setting the series’ tone was a bit of a tightrope act, since they knew it had to be a little bonkers sometimes and, at other times, deadly serious.
“We did edits of episodes where there were long stretches without comedy because that was what we felt like the story needed, and it was just like, ‘Gosh, that’s a lot of apocalypse,’” he jokes. “We wanted to make the apocalypse a place we all wanted to go to.”
For some viewers, though, it might feel like 2024 is already apocalypse-adjacent, making some of the show’s references and scenarios seem all too prescient. That’s all coincidental, Nolan says, since the show entered development in 2019, pre-Covid, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and prior to renewed hostilities in the Middle East. Still, he adds, making the series “always felt like an opportunity to poke a finger into a bit of an open wound for humanity, which is the fact that we still haven’t figured out if we’re going to make it or if we’re going to blow ourselves to smithereens.”
Humanity, Wagner says, is almost always in its “end is nigh” era. The apocalypse is a relative concept. For some people, the apocalypse happened when women got jobs or started wearing pants. “The world is constantly in a state of ending, and we’re constantly talking about it,” he says. “We’re all just narcissists who think we’re going to be there when the final curtain goes down.”
Presuming the world doesn’t end any time soon, though, Nolan says that the Fallout team does have a plan in place for where they want the show to go, if they’re lucky enough to get a second season.
“In television, though,” Nolan says, “you have to be careful not to leave too much down the road,” something he knows all too well as the creator of HBO’s beloved-then-canceled Westworld. “We just want to concentrate on making one great season of television. If it works well and there’s an opportunity to go again, I very much hope we get that chance.”
Charithra Chandran and Sebastian Croft want you to have fun watching their latest film. The duo are starring as best friends and potential lovers, Amelia Brown and Archie Arnold, in Prime Video’s coming-of-age romantic comedy “How To Date Billy Walsh.” Amelia and Archie roam the halls of Heathbrook Academy navigating their first experiences of love, lust and friendship breakups. Watching it feels like a blast from the past, like watching those classic rom-coms from the 2000s and early 2010s. “How To Date Billy Walsh” is quirky, light-hearted and a bit silly – all the perfect ingredients you need for a successful teen rom-com.
For those of you who know Croft from the critically acclaimed queer drama series “Heartstopper” – playing the manipulative and toxic Ben Hope – this role is a complete change of tone and might surprise you. “Archie is just a silly character,” he says. “It’s lovely to do something different. It’s so nice to play a warm and over-the-top character after diving into something quite different and very serious with “Heartstopper”.”
In recent years, we’ve seen a shift within British rom-coms – we are seeing a lot more diversity, something that was often missing in the 2000s and 2010s. Following on from the success of richly diverse romantic coming-of-age stories like “One Day”, “Rye Lane” and “Heartstopper”, “How To Date Billy Walsh” is another great example of inclusivity within the genre. For young people of colour and those within the LGBTQ+ community in the UK, there is so much good that comes from seeing themselves at the centre of these love stories and being desired.
Chandran is of British South-Asian descent and has always been very vocal about the need for greater diversity. She tells POPSUGAR UK: “We actually asked our director Alex Pillai [whose credits include “Riverdale,” “Bridgerton,” and “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina”] about how he chose the cast and it was always about selecting the best person for the role. However, I think if their personal identity can add to the role and make it richer, then that’s really beautiful.”
Image Source: Prime Video
She continues: “I think there’s something incredibly bold about having such a diverse group of individuals, both in the main cast and the supporting cast of this film, but also just making it seem really normal. This is the world that we live in today. This is how we want the world to be – and look how great it’s turned out.” Croft agrees: “It is normal! If you want to make a film like this, about what it’s like being a teenager and falling in love right now, this is the way to do it. We’re really owning diversity in this film.”
Many of us were first introduced to Chandran as the dutiful sister Edwina Sharma in “Bridgerton” series two. This year we have watched the actress transition from ensemble character to leading lady – from “How To Date Billy Walsh” to starring in the West End in “Instructions For A Teenage Armageddon,” and Chandran is taking it all in her stride. “There’s a sense of responsibility, passion, and an aspect of leadership as well,” she says. “For a lot of the cast, this was their first credit and the experience was really new to them. Sebastian and I took it upon ourselves to make sure that not only we were having a good time and doing our best work, but making sure that everyone else felt super protected and loved.” She adds: “That is a core part of leading a show that isn’t often talked about, because it’s behind the scenes.”
If you’re wondering if filming the rom-com was as much fun as it is to watch, the answer is a definite yes. Chandran reveals: “All the cast are super close because we shot half the time in the countryside in the north of England, we were fairly isolated so we all stayed together. It really did feel like we were boarding school together; we went on nights out and had dinner together pretty much every single day.” Croft adds: “There was a lot of mischief that went on.”
Starring in a rom-com was a bucket list for both Croft and Chandran. She muses: “As a young actor, being in a romantic comedy is the dream. Imagine looking back at your career 20 years down the line – we actually got to do a teen rom-com together.” Pretty iconic if you ask us.
“How To Date Billy Walsh” launches on Prime Video on Friday 5th April.
Aaliyah Harry (she/her) is the associate editor at POPSUGAR UK. She writes extensively across lifestyle, culture and beauty. Aaliyah also has a deep passion for telling stories and giving voice to the voiceless. Previously, she has contributed to Refinery29, Grazia UK and The Voice Newspaper.
(Notable update 2/18/24: Amazon Prime student memberships are now available to all youth aged 18-24 even if they aren’t students. Other ages are eligible if they are students by verifying their student status.)
Amazon has a special Prime Student membership with a 6-month free trial, discounted monthly price, and numerous benefits like Grubhub+, cheap Amazon Music Unlimited, discounted Prime Video channels and more. We’ve mentioned many of these benefits individually, in this post we’ll do a full review.
Those age 18-24 are eligible automatically, even if they are not students. Those in other age groups will input the university name and graduation year during the signup process or you can instead input your .edu email address. (See this comment.)
Amazon has been hit with a class action lawsuit from Prime subscribers who claim that they were mislead when they were charged an additional fee to stream movies and TV shows without ads.
Amazon is being sued after raising Prime Video prices
The lawsuit says it’s deceptive to charge $3 extra after advertising Prime was ‘commercial free’ for years
Filed in California federal court on Friday, the proposed class action lawsuit “claims breach of contract and violations of state consumer protection laws on behalf of users who saw the terms of their subscriptions with Amazon change when it pivoted to making its ad tier the default for its over 100 million subscribers,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Amazon announced plans in December of last year to turn on ads for all Prime Video viewers, rolling this change out last month, immediately becoming the largest ad-supported subscription streamer.
Prime subscribers can pay an additional $2.99 per month to go back to viewing content without ads.
Amazon has been hit with a class action lawsuit for breach of contract for converting Prime Video to a service with ads and requiring customers to pay extra to remove ads.
The lawsuit argues those who paid for an annual subscription have been cheated and it was false advertising pic.twitter.com/0WMlPLSuYf
The issue at hand is that users who had previously signed up for annual subscriptions were impacted as well in an act that they claim was deceptive on Amazon’s part.
“For years, Amazon advertised that its Prime subscription included ad-free streaming of movies and tv shows,” the filing states, according to Forbes. “Like other consumers, Plaintiff purchased the Prime subscription, believing that it would include ad-free streaming of movies and tv shows. But it does not. Plaintiff brings this case for himself and for other Amazon Prime members.”
“Instead of receiving a subscription that included ad-free streaming of TV shows and movies, they received something worth less. They cannot enjoy ad-free streaming unless they pay an extra $2.99/month,” the suit states, according to The Wrap. “Thus, Amazon’s false advertisements harm consumers by depriving them of the reasonable expectations to which they are entitled. Subscribers must now pay extra to get something they already paid for.”
The class action suit is seeking at least $5 million as well as a court order that bans Amazon from engaging in further deceptive conduct on the behalf of users who subscribed to Prime before December 28, 2023.
Amazon is being sued after raising Prime Video prices 📺
The lawsuit says it’s deceptive to charge $2.99 extra after advertising Prime was ‘commercial free’ for years pic.twitter.com/o7vcVHRlJf
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy spoke out during the company’s fourth quarter earnings call to say that he believes that Prime Video would become a “large and profitable business” thanks to this add change. He went on to voice plans to continue investing in “compelling and exclusive content” such as “Thursday Night Football” and The Lord of The Rings.
“With the addition of ads on Prime Video, we’ll be able to continue investing meaningfully in content over time,” he added.
Amazon announced financial results for Q4 2023. To open the call with analysts, Andy Jassy spoke about Amazon’s progress in improving customer experiences, continued invention, lowering our cost to serve, and investing for future growth. pic.twitter.com/gl2XTeeyOW
USA Today reported that Amazon Prime Video sent an email to customers at the end of December notifying them of an “upcoming change to your Prime Video experience” before introducing “limited advertisements” to allow the platform “to continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time.”
“We aim to have meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers,” the email continued. “No action is required from you, and there is no change to the current price of your Prime membership.”
Amazon has yet to comment publicly on this lawsuit.
Now is the time to support and share the sources you trust. The Political Insider ranks #3 on Feedspot’s “100 Best Political Blogs and Websites.”
An Ivy leaguer, proud conservative millennial, history lover, writer, and lifelong New Englander, James specializes in the intersection of… More about James Conrad
It’s clear that Nicole Kidman has a deep affinity for women going through excruciating circumstances—Virginia Woolf in The Hours, domestic abuse survivor Celeste in Big Little Lies, undone Grace in The Undoing. Her Prime Video series Expats, which hits the streamer January 26, gives Kidman what may be her most harrowing role of all: Margaret, a mother of three whose youngest child mysteriously goes missing while the family is living abroad in Hong Kong.
“It’s never another day at work,” says Kidman of her proclivity for playing almost-broken women. “It’s a calling. It’s a pull. It’s intense, but it’s not a day at work.”
Based on Janice Y.K. Lee’s novel The Expatriates by, Expats was created by The Farewell’s Lulu Wang, who also directs every episode. Wang’s sweeping, expansive limited series follows Kidman’s grieving Margaret; Hillary, a successful yet unsatisfied wife played by Sarayu Blue; and cursed recent college grad Mercy, played by newcomer Ji-Young Yoo, as their lives intertwine in Hong Kong. Over the six-episode series, the three women grapple with the issues of race, class, privilege, religion and, most trenchantly, home as they navigate life away from their mother countries.
Vanity Fair sat down with Kidman and Wang at the Crosby Hotel, Kidman and Wang to chat about staying above water while tackling traumatic subject matter, lights and shadows, and the next generation of female directors.
Nicole Kidman as Margaret in Expats.
Amazon MGM Studios
Vanity Fair:Both of you have experiences that are expat adjacent. Nicole, you were born in Hawaii but grew up in Australia; Lulu, you were born in China and moved to the U.S. when you were a child. Did that inform how you approached the project in any way?
Lulu Wang: Definitely. It was one of the main reasons I wanted to do this series, because I saw it as an opportunity to really explore people in diaspora. Hong Kong in particular is such a vibrant intersection of people from so many different places with so many different backgrounds.
Nicole Kidman: I’d been to Singapore to visit my sister because she was living there with her husband and her kids at the time as an expat. Initially, she gave me the book because she went, “Oh, you have to read this. This is so my life.” I read it and I saw her trying to go back to see our family, my mother. I’m in America going through a similar thing, but not in the same way because I was born in the States. So there was something where I was like, “Oh, okay, this is still a part of who I am because I was born here.”
I think being an expat is primarily, you’re living somewhere temporarily. There’s a beginning or an end to it, you feel. So it’s always like, “Well, when is this going to end?” That was what was interesting to me. And then you have the relationships and then all of the family issues, because it’s primarily about family and home.
inExpats, Margaret is going through potentially the worst possible thing that could happen to a mother—not knowing what happened to her son, Gus. Nicole, how do you stay above water when tackling such heavy subject matter?
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