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For a long time, Amazon has been known as a search engine for people ready to buy. Over the last year, with new features such as Amazon Live, they seem to have gradually positioned themselves as a discovery-based platform. That’s traditionally been the realm of search engines such as Google and social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
It seems that social media platforms and online marketplaces are each heading in each other’s direction. If consumers are lucky, they’ll meet somewhere in the middle and end up making the way that we all shop in 2023 more streamlined and fun.
Over the last few years, influencer marketing has become a critical (and very valuable) part of online commerce. The influencer marketing business model has exploded from $1.7 billion in 2016 to $13.8 billion in 2021. Industry analysts predict that this year it will reach $16.4 billion.
And where do all those influencers call home? TikTok, that’s where.
OK, not just TikTok, but also other short-video-format heavy platforms such as Facebook and YouTube as well. Accelerated by the restrictions imposed by the long pandemic, they have all contributed to an exciting new way of effortlessly transitioning from social media engagement directly to shopping for favorite, influencer-recommended products.
TikTok signaled their eCommerce intentions with a recent announcement about a new partnership program designed to assist US merchants with advertising on their app by positioning the TikTok For Business Ads Manager as a home base for their TikTok-based marketing.
TikTok For Business allows merchants to create and manage TikTok campaigns without leaving their own native eCommerce platforms.
As importantly, they can do it by engaging with users right out at the tip of the spear, those users interacting with high-profile marketing trends.
Now, #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt has become both a trending hashtag and a place where products become viral eCommerce legends.
TikTok for Business is ground zero for influencers and online sellers looking to find what people are talking about, and, more importantly, buying.
The growing #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt hashtag movement doesn’t beg customers to make purchases. Instead, it just shows how cool these trending new products are. And it’s working! TikTok also has a “For You Page” that they say is intended to work as an online “matchmaker” between content and a curated audience.
At the same time, the same thing is happening on Amazon’s marketplace but in reverse!
Amazon just launched Inspire, “a new, personalized in-app shopping feed designed to make it easy to explore new products, discover ideas, and seamlessly shop content created by other customers, influencers, and brands (you) love.”
Sound familiar?
It should. It’s very similar to the experience that a TikTok user would have. Browsers (and not necessarily shoppers) could scroll through curated photos and videos tailored to their selected interests and engagement.
What’s groundbreaking about this new app is Amazon’s seeming willingness to create a platform for users who might not even be interested in shopping. That’s a business model that I’m not sure Jeff Bezos saw on the horizon.
Users of the Inspire app can swipe through the content to simply see what’s out there, get inspired by something new, cool, or crazy, and of course, make purchases with just a few clicks.
Amazon, along with several other large Ecommerce marketplaces, has decided that the long-held acceptance that their platforms were unapologetically for “shopping” had run its course. Now, they’re building entertaining ecosystems that also allow for shopping.
Amazon’s Inspire isn’t available for desktop applications. Instead hinting at the intended functionality as well as the demographic, it’s only available as an app for IOS and Android.
Amazon says it will roll out to select customers in the U.S. in early December, with the projected goal of completing U.S. accessibility completed in a few months.
Marketplace Pulse recently referenced “Prime Day is the best example of social commerce,” with videos tagged #primeday2022 viewed over 52 million times on TikTok.
It seems that very soon, a better representation of “social commerce” might just be groups of Amazon Inspire users passing their phones back and forth, alternately “liking” and making purchases from a marketplace formerly known for its single-minded focus, and let’s admit it, lack of fun.
In all my time on BookTok, there have only been a few novels that actually earned the hype. The algorithm crams book after book down your throat but then, surprisingly, you find one that’s well worth the wait. In this instance, I’m talking about Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
I read this a few years ago and forced everyone in my immediate circle to do the same the second I turned the last page. From start to finish, it’s flawless. It’s a fictionalized epic based on the notorious drama behind Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac. It’s as if you interviewed the tumultuous, mystical band and they left nothing on the table.
The book follows Daisy Jones, a mesmerizing artiste who was clearly born to be a star. It leads us through the 60’s along her inevitable rise to fame. Daisy had the looks, the voice, and the attitude — sleeping with rockstars and dabbling with drugs. At the same time, the band The Six led by the angsty Billy Dunne are taking off. When an eagle-eyed producer matches Daisy with The Six, the world is forever changed.
Amazon Prime
Cue the drama. The merger of Daisy Jones + The Six goes on to impact the music industry as their internal drama becomes public. The tale twists and turns until one final concert at Chicago’s Soldier Field signals the end of their time together.
Now, years later, a rising journalist gets the chance to hear their sides of the story. It’s equal parts sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
The story is so addictive it can’t be missed. So if you’re not a reader, you’re in luck. The upcoming TV adaption debuts on March 3, 2023 on Amazon Prime. The 10 episode miniseries is already garnering buzz with a promising cast.
Riley Keough, daughter of the late Lisa Marie Presley and granddaughter of Elvis, will play the lead Daisy and Sam Claflin (Me Before You) will play Billy. Other notable names are Suki Waterhouse and Camila Morrone, who you may also know as Leonardo DiCaprio’s ex-girlfriend.
I can already feel a 70’s-style resurgence on the horizon. This is Gen-Z’s Almost Famous, without a doubt. The way the TikTok community will never be the same after this miniseries premiers. I don’t even know if SHEIN has enough bell bottoms in stock for the trend-hungry consumers.
Sometimes, you can sniff a trend from a mile away. Call me crazy, but I just know we are all going to obsess over the It Girls from Daisy Jones — just like we did with Euphoria. Get your record players out, here are the top trends Daisy Jones & The Six will reignite:
A Curtain Bang Resurgence
No one did curtain bangs and blowouts quite like the women of the 70’s. Whip out those Revlon blow dry brushes (or Dyson Air Wraps for the blessed) and cut your front pieces. We are aiming for bombshell hair and wispy bangs.
Remember, blow dry the top parts and front pieces of your hair away from your face to get the utmost volume.
The Bell Bottom
Honestly, I live for bell bottom jeans. While the baggy jean look has reigned for months, sometimes I like a little shape in my jeans. I’m not talking about anything crazy like skinny jeans, but a fitted thigh is all I need.
I guarantee you that every cast member of this show will at one point rock a pair…and I equally promise that every store will be pushing the 70’s favorite jeans by April.
Band Tees
I can totally see a revival of retro band tees coming back into Urban Outfitters. The oversized vintage-style tee is all the rage, so slap on a picture of the Rolling Stones logo and you’re in business.
Nothing says “I’m with the band” quite like a vintage-inspired tee. This one from Urban is exactly what I’m talking about.
Amazon Prime
Record Players
Remember that era in 2014 when everyone went out and bought a Crosley record player with Tumblr-recommended aesthetic records like The Neighbourhood and The 1975? I just have the weirdest inkling that we are on the cusp of roaming around record stores yet again.
There’s no shame, my dining room wall is covered in vintage records I bought on a discount at my local record store. Bring on all the vinyl for me.
Fur Vests
Anything fur-lined really. A fur vest is the ultimate accessory for your weekend outfit. Seriously, I act differently when I wear a fur vest. Add a pair of sunnies and you’re a rockstar with other places to be.
My personal rec is this Free People fur vest that’s perfect for literally any occasion.
The transition to college can be tough for any young adult — especially if they attend one 7,000 miles away from home.
Courtesy of Yami
That was the case for Alex Zhou, founder and CEO of online Asian marketplace Yami, who came to the U.S. from China to attend Kansas State University in the college town of Manhattan, Kansas in 2007.
“For almost five years, I didn’t have access to Asian food, restaurants or grocery stores,” Zhou tells Entrepreneur. “It was really inconvenient, and I noticed a lot of my classmates who came from Asian countries experienced the same problem.”
Post-graduation, Zhou moved to LA, where there’s a large Asian population. Surrounded by a bounty of Asian restaurants and brick-and-mortar stores like H Mart, the lightbulb went off: Maybe I can start an ecommerce company to carry Asian products and brands, Zhou thought.
Ecommerce certainly wasn’t a new concept at the time. In China, there was Alibaba; in the U.S., eBay and Amazon were long-established players. And with more and more Asian students and immigrants coming to the U.S., Zhou realized there was a real market for his idea.
Zhou established Yami, formerly known as Yamibuy, in 2013. Today, the ecommerce retailer boasts two million customers (one in 10 Asian Americans use the platform, Yami found by examining customer and census data) and more than 300,000 SKUs of Asian snacks, food, beauty and health products, home appliances, books and more.
Additionally, even though the majority of U.S. Asians live in California, New York, Texas, New Jersey and Washington, Yami’s seeing its most rapid growth not in those states, but in college towns like Raleigh, North Carolina and Tempe, Arizona — a testament to Zhou’s original mission.
“In the beginning, I was just trying to serve all the Chinese students studying in the United States.”
Back in 2013, as a fresh college graduate, Zhou had no idea how to run a business. So he started from scratch: researching everything from products and costs to website development.
Part of the process? Taking a stroll through the very Asian markets he’d noticed on arrival to study their customers and jot down brand names, some of which would become eventually become Zhou’s own suppliers.
Zhou’s strategy was a success, but as Yami grew, so did some of the challenges along with it. In the early days, when Zhou couldn’t afford to hire employees, he would work from 6 a.m. to midnight, driving around to pick up the inventory nobody wanted to deliver to his still-young company.
Then, around 2015, when Yami was really gaining momentum and could afford to hire, Zhou had to figure out how to convince people working at Google and Amazon to join his startup.
Through it all, the founder had to consider how to sustain Yami’s growth. “In the beginning, I was just trying to serve all the Chinese students studying in the United States because I understood their pain point,” he says. “I knew what they wanted.”
Leveraging word of mouth was key from the start. The right product can generate a lot of organic takeoffs, Zhou says, using the example of social media.
“Let’s say somebody bought instant noodles from Japan,” Zhou explains. “Then he or she posts on social media: ‘Oh my God, look at what I bought.’ Then their friend is going to ask [where they bought it from]. This is our classic customer acquisition channel — to this day.”
“The strategy changes a little bit [when] customers aren’t familiar with the product.”
In recent years, Yami has expanded beyond its Asian customer base, and doing so requires a shift in tactics, Zhou notes.
“When we step into this space, the strategy changes a little bit because these customers aren’t familiar with the product,” Zhou says, “but they’re influenced by the rising Asian pop and food culture.”
Especially in U.S. coastal cities, it’s not uncommon for people to incorporate Asian cuisines into their weekly meal rotations, Zhou explains, and part of Yami’s success with its non-Asian customer base relies on its ability to connect with those potential buyers.
To that end, Yami works with Asian chefs and restaurants to acquire Asian-food lovers. The company also partners with Asian content platforms to draw in people who are fans of Asian pop culture like K-pop, K-drama, anime and more.
“Every single customer wants a world-class experience. Improving the customer shopping experience is on our mind every day.”
Another major growth milestone? Yami’s opening its East Coast warehouse, which will enable shipping times that rival Amazon Prime‘s across the U.S. — an average of just 2.6 days, Zhou says.
“Retail is retail,” Zhou explains. “Every single customer wants a world-class experience. Improving the customer shopping experience is on our minds every day. That’s why we [opened] our West Coast warehouse first, and now our East Coast warehouse — so we can ship the packages to our customers faster.”
Yami also has its own fleet of vehicles; in LA, orders placed in the morning can be delivered the same day, and those placed in the afternoon can be delivered the next day.
In dealing with so many cross-border products (95% are imported from Asia), Yami has to contend with a sometimes-complicated supply chain. That’s why it’s made data and AI a cornerstone of its strategy — using the technology to forecast demand and personalize marketing to customers.
“You never solve the problem if you just think about it.”
To other founders hoping to break into the ecommerce space as successfully as Yami has, Zhou suggests keeping two things in mind. First, you have to zero in on your niche.
“It’s too late [to start the next Amazon],” Zhou says. “Amazon already dominates the entire ecommerce space. But there are still new ecommerce companies coming up every day. If you look at all of these [new] companies, there’s always something distinct about them. For example, Yami — Amazon is big, but it’s not doing well with Asian supply chains. It’s not doing well with Asian products.”
But perhaps the most important piece of advice, according to Zhou? Just take that first step.
“Sometimes [potential founders] think too much — but they never put their thought into action,” Zhou explains. “You never solve the problem if you just think about it.”
The holiday season is posting lower than expected sales numbers, as customers are curbing their spending amid rising costs due to inflation. Steve Futterman has the details.
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With Christmas just a week away, Americans are rushing to complete their holiday shopping and shipping amid a surge in prices due to inflation. Danya Bacchus has more on the last minute frenzy.
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The U.S. Postal Service says first class mail and packages should be shipped by Saturday to arrive in time for Christmas. Kris Van Cleave takes a look at the holiday shipping crunch.
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It’s already been a busy year for Ri-Ri. With her new singles for the Wakanda Forever soundtrack releasing, an impending album, and a Super Bowl halftime show on the horizon, she’s non-stop. Following suit, Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty Fashion Show debuted on Amazon Prime last night and it was every bit as showstopping as you’d expect.
It’s not your traditional fashion show with models gliding down runways to a crowd of high-profile names in fashion; it’s a full on production. No crowd was involved whatsoever, but hundreds of models and big names in both the music, fashion, and film industries showed off the new Savage collection.
The show begins with the Fenty Queen herself, wordlessly summoning everyone to pay attention – the show has begun. In partnership with Amazon, every look was linked to the screen as they were shown, giving you instant access to purchase the Fenty set. Seamlessly transitioning from look to look, the beats change and the focus turns to a different model.
What perhaps tainted the night was the inclusion of Johnny Depp, whose addition struck controversy. It indeed begs the question, why include a controversial fallen star? It somehow overshadowed the entire event without even trying.
While the event is the antithesis of the old Victoria’s Secret wings and glitz, Rihanna’s spin was edgier and cinematic. You can view her new collection on the Savage x Fenty website, but for now, here are my faves:
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 27: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals attempts to catches the ball as Chauncey Gardner-Johnson #22 of the New Orleans Saints defends during the first half of a game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on October 27, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
JONATHAN BACHMAN / Getty Images
Week 7 of the NFL season kicks off tonight on “Thursday Night Football” when the New Orleans Saints (2-4) face off against the Arizona Cardinals (2-4). But don’t look for this NFL game on TV — it’s streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. Here’s what you need to know to watch.
For the complete 2022 NFL season schedule, check out this guide put together by our sister site CBS Sports.
Catch a sneak peak of Taylor Swift’s new album ‘Midnights’ tonight on ‘Thursday Night Football
Swifties and football fans, unite! Tonight’s “Thursday Night Football” game will feature the long-awaited premiere of the teaser trailer for the pop star’s new album, “Midnights.”
According to Swift’s Instagram announcement, regarding the trailer, fans should be able to catch their first official glimpse of “Midnights” somewhere around the third quarter of tonight’s game.
True to its name, the album itself drops at 12 a.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 21, and is available for preorder.
How to watch ‘Thursday Night Football’ on Amazon Prime Video
Joshua Bessex/Getty Images
Starting with the 2022 NFL season, live “Thursday Night Football” games will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. This marks the first year of an 11-year deal between the NFL and Prime Video, meaning you can catch “TNF” games now through 2033 on the retail giant’s streaming platform.
Play-by-play legend Al Michaels, late of “Sunday Night Football,” and Kirk Herbstreit, best known as an analyst for ESPN’s “College GameDay,” will have the calls. Amazon has updated its X-Ray feature, which enables real-time stats, enhanced replays, trivia, player analysis, polling and merch shopping while you stream the games.
A subscription to Amazon Prime typically costs $15 monthly or $140 annually. Eligible students, EBT, Medicaid and other select recipients of government assistance can score a 50% discount on the service.
If you’re only interested in Prime Video and want to pass on the rest of Amazon Prime’s benefits, you can also subscribe solely to Amazon Prime Video’s streaming library for $8 per month. Not ready to commit to a new subscription? Amazon offers new subscribers a 30-day free trial, so you can watch live NFL action all month long, plus check out other TV shows and movies offered by Prime Video.
NFL Plus
Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post/Getty Images
If you want to watch NFL games exclusively on your mobile device or tablet, NFL+ has you covered. Starting at $5 per month or $30 annually, an NFL+ subscription gives you mobile or tablet access to live local and primetime regular season and postseason games, live game audio for every game and more. You’ll also get live out-of-market preseason games across a broader range of devices.
We’ve found the best TVs for watching NFL football (based on user reviews) including TV from top brands such as Samsung, LG, and Sony. Keep reading to see the best deals on the best TVs you can get for the 2022 NFL season.
55″ Samsung Q70A QLED 4K smart TV: $900
Samsung
Here’s a great deal to get you started: This 55-inch Samsung QLED is on sale at Samsung for $200 off.
No matter what stream of the game you’re watching, this QLED TV lets you watch the game in upscaled 4K resolution thanks to its machine-based learning AI. The smart TV also features apps, streaming services and advanced controls. Plus, it’s compatible with most voice assistants.
Transform your TV into a piece of art when you’re not watching football. The Frame smart TV has a built-in motion sensor that activates your device to display your favorite pieces of art in 4K resolution whenever you enter the room. No matter if you’re admiring Hopper’s “Early Sunday Morning” or jamming along to Carrie Underwood’s Sunday night football intro, this QLED TV produces 100% color volume in the DCI-P3 color space, which is the format for most cinema screens and HDR movies for television. (Translation: Colors on this TV will be more vivid and true-to-life.)
Watch NFL stars battle it out in gorgeous color and luminosity with this 75-inch Samsung 4K TV. The TV features low lag rates and minimized blur, so you’ll always be able to keep up with the plays. The 4K smart device also provides tailored recommendations for streaming and live TV with an on-screen guide.
Your TV should sound like you’re in the stadium. The Samsung 4K Neo QLED includes top-of-the-line features, including a premium audio technology called object-tracking sound (OTS). With OTS, your television analyzes the action on screen and tries to replicate a surround-sound experience without any external speakers. The Samsung 4K Neo QLED also features a built-in Alexa assistant.
The 65-inch Sony Bravia XR OLED 4K TV features a cognitive processor meant to deliver intense contrast with pure blacks, high peak brightness and natural colors. Thanks to its Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, the screen is the speaker. This smart TV comes with access to Google TV, and works with most voice assistants.
75″ Amazon Fire TV Omni series 4K smart TV: $840 with Prime
Amazon
This 75-inch Amazon Fire TV offers a 4K UHD display and enhanced color and clarity thanks to Dolby Vision. The TV also supports voice control with Amazon Alexa. It’s high-quality picture quality and large size make this TV a solid choice for football fans — plus it’s hard to find such a big screen at such a low price.
This 65-inch Samsung QLED TV features 8K resolution, Quantum Matrix Technology Pro for a colorful and luminous picture, and an anti-reflection layer that minimizes glare and reduces unwanted distractions. While the NFL games won’t be broadcast in 8K this season, owning this TV will make sure you’ll be able to catch the first 8K NFL broadcast, whenever it happens. (It will use its AI smarts to upscale NFL games to 8K, however.)
At just 32 inches, this budget-friendly Toshiba TV is suited for small spaces like bedrooms or offices. It runs Amazon’s Fire TV platform, so you can stream new shows from Hulu, Netflix and more without plugging in extra equipment. You can also watch live TV on this device.
See every game in all its glory with this 50-inch TCL set. The 4K TV features QLED technology, 4K resolution and Dolby Vision. All those features together improve the sharpness, brightness, color and contrast of an image.
Amazon Fire 4-Series TV 55″ 4K TV with Alexa built in
Amazon
A mid-size television, 55 to 65 inches along the diagonal, is the ideal size for many living rooms. The best viewing distance for a 55-inch 4K TV, such as this model, is between 4.5 and 7 feet. That leaves enough space for people to get up and walk by for more snacks from the gameday spread.
If you just need more screen, this 86-inch LG should fill up your space. It has a 4K UHD resolution and works with Alexa and Google Assistant. This large TV is sure to show you every inch of the big game.
Buying your first TV so you can watch the Super Bowl on a big screen? If you’re already used to a certain interface, switching can be tough, especially if you’re not particularly tech savvy. Fans of the super-simple Roku platform should look for a TV — like this TCL model — with a built-in Roku system. Plus, the picture quality of this 6-Series model is stunning for the money.
Best streaming devices for watching the 2022 NFL season
Roku devices, Amazon Fire Sticks and more ways to stream the 2022 NFL season, plus tons of great shows and movies.
Roku Express 4K+
Roku/Amazon
Among the streaming hardware giants, the Roku Express 4K+ boasts the most options and apps, including NFL-friendly streaming services such as Hulu, YouTubeTV and FuboTV. It’s Apple AirPlay compatible as well, enabling you to connect your iPhone or iPad to the TV. (You can learn more about Roku here.)
Apple devotees, or anyone with an Apple One subscription bundle, should consider watching NFL live streams on an Apple TV 4K. The device is equipped with Dolby Vision, a new-and-improved Siri-enabled remote and SharePlay, which enables you to enjoy the game with a group of pals. After the games wrap, you can take advantage of Apple Arcade gaming or stream a movie from your favorite streaming service.
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K is a streaming device that will appeal to anyone with an Alexa-enabled home. Say goodbye to pouring through channel menus. You can switch back and forth between games with the device’s voice remote (“Alexa, turn on the AFC Championship…”). It offers 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+ in addition to Dolby Atmos audio, plus access to thousands of channels, some of which are free.
If you want to catch NFL games without paying for a cable or streaming subscription, an indoor HD digital TV antenna is the way to go. For just $29, it’ll deliver any live-aired, free-TV NFL games in your area, plus all the other over-the-air content available in your area. Just connect the antenna to your set, and watch. It’s the 20th century TV-viewing experience with 21st century technology.
Amazon is kicking off its two-day Prime Early Access sale on Tuesday, with the retailer offering discounts on products ranging from Peloton to KitchenAid appliances. But before buying, it’s key that you do your research to make sure that deal is as good as it looks.
The promotion is Amazon’s second Prime-linked shopping event this year, offering some holiday deals earlier than usual in hopes of convincing cautious consumers to open their wallets. With inflation running at a 40-year high, more Americans are cutting back on spending, denting sales at Amazon and other retailers.
Amazon is billing the two-day event as providing hundreds of thousands of discounts to its members of its Prime shopping club. But, as in its regular summer Prime Day event, this latest sale may offer the steepest discounts on Amazon’s own products, such as Kindle and Alexa devices.
At the same time, recent research indicates that some discounts available on Amazon might be less attractive than they appear. Some merchants even claim their products are selling at a discount when they’ve actually increased the price, researchers at the University of Florida, University of South Carolina and Arizona State University found. And some sellers appear to raise their “original” prices so that their “discounts” will subsequently look steeper, prior research indicates.
“The misleading discount displays that we discovered are difficult for shoppers to detect because that would require tracking both prices and the presence of discount displays over time,” Jinhong Xie, a professor of marketing at University of Florida and one of the co-authors of the new study, said in an email to CBS MoneyWatch.
“However, shoppers can avoid this trap by checking prices more thoroughly before they buy,” Xie added.
Here’s what to know about Amazon’s Prime Early Access sale.
What time does Prime Day start in October?
The event kicked off at 12 a.m. Pacific time on October 11 (3 a.m. Eastern time) and will run through the end of the day on October 12.
What does Prime Early Access mean?
The two-day event is aimed at convincing Amazon Prime members to start their holiday shopping early on the site. Like its summer Prime Day event, the two-day sale is also geared toward convincing people to sign up for Amazon’s Prime membership, since the deals are available only to Prime members.
Do I have to be a Prime member to qualify for discounts during the event?
Yes, the promotion is only available to people who have signed up for the Prime membership plan, which costs either $14.99 a month or $139 for the year.
However, people can sign up for Amazon’s 30-day free Prime trial and cancel before the time period is up. After the 30 days, they’ll be charged either a monthly fee or the annual dues.
What is on sale during Prime Early Access?
The retailer is touting savings of up to 70% on some of its own devices, such as the Echo Dot bundle with Amazon’s smart plug, which is selling for $17.99 during the event. Amazon says that is 72% lower than its regular price of $30.98.
Other brands that are on sale during the event include:
Up to 50% on headphones from makers such as Bose, Sony and JBL
Up to 50% off on toys from Hasbro
Up to 45% on vacuums from iRobot and Shark
Up to 15% off Peloton products, including its original Bike, which is on sale for $1,225, down from $1,445
Kitchen items such as appliances from KitchenAid and Cuisinart are also on sale
How do I know I’m getting a good deal?
The most important step is to research prices for a product you are interested in.
One website that’s frequently used by bargain hunters is CamelCamelCamel, a price-tracking service. You’ll have to sign up for the site’s free login, but after that you can enter an Amazon URL for a product and the service will give you the price history for that product.
For instance, this three-pack of Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap is promoted as a Prime Exclusive Deal, selling for $8.47, or a discount of 42%. And putting the URL into CamelCamelCamel shows that the product recently sold at $14.48, but that its price also dipped as low as $7.56 in October 2021 via a third-party seller.
How to score $10 in freebies at Prime Early Access
There are some ways to get a little extra purchasing power during Amazon’s Prime Early Access.
For instance, if you buy a $50 gift card from Amazon or other brands — including restaurants like Panera and retailers such as Gap — you’ll get a future $10 promotional credit on your account.
What should I avoid buying during Prime Early Access?
According to experts at BlackFriday.com, there are two categories where you may be better off waiting for bigger sales during Black Friday events in November: TVs and computers. They recommend holding off on buying a TV, laptop or other computers until next month, when steeper discounts may be available.
Forget about Black Friday. Holiday shoppers are already hunting for the best deals.
Half of this year’s gift givers say they plan to start shopping by the end of October, according to a Bankrate survey. That’s why Target rolled out its Deal Days event this week, slashing prices up to 50%. It was timed just days ahead of Amazon’s highly anticipated Prime Early Access Sale.
“Retailers definitely have an arms race to reach shoppers while a shopper still has her or his money to spend on holiday items,” said Burt Flickinger, managing director for Strategic Resource Group, a retail consulting firm.
About 40% of holiday shoppers say inflation will impact their purchases, with many choosing to buy fewer gifts and at a discount, according to the Bankrate survey.
Consumers are going to find the best deals on clothing, consumer electronics, TVs, consumer audio and books, Flickinger said.
For some small business owners like Alen Harikian, the holiday outlook is bleak. His family has owned Speers TV for more than 30 years, but he says big box retailers have made it harder for his shop to get popular TVs, and he can’t compete with their low prices.
“If I buy a Samsung TV, let’s say for $500, a week later, Amazon or Best Buy is selling it for $399,” Harikian said. “So I’ve lost $100. So it just doesn’t make sense.”
The bigger retailers are also staffing up. Amazon announced it’s hiring 150,000 workers ahead of the holiday rush. Walmart’s hiring 40,000 workers because it’s already staffed with more permanent positions this year — a trend that’s expected to continue.
“Companies still need a lot of extra help during the holidays,” said Andrew Challenger, senior vice president of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement and career transitioning firm. “But in this scenario, some companies are going to be asking people to stay.”
Ja’Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals walks off of the field against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 25, 2022 in East Rutherford, NJ.
Cooper Neill / Getty Images
The 2022 NFL season is in full swing, and “Thursday Night Football” has a new streaming home this year: Amazon. Keep reading to check out how to stream all the Thursday NFL football action, including tonight’s Week 4 matchup between the Miami Dolphins (3-0) and Cincinnati Bengals (1-2).
When does the Miami Dolphins – Cincinnati Bengals game start?
Week 4 of the NFL season starts tonight on “Thursday Night Football.” The Miami Dolphins – Cincinnati Bengals game will stream live on Amazon Prime Video on Sept. 29 at 7:00 p.m. EDT (4:00 p.m. PDT).
For the complete 2022 NFL season schedule, check out this guide put together by our sister site CBS Sports.
Where can you watch the Miami Dolphins – Cincinnati Bengals game?
If you’re used to casually turning the TV on to catch weekly “TNF” games every season, you should know that the world of NFL streaming has changed this year. After a few years of being available simultaneously on up to three platforms, “Thursday Night Football” will now stream live games exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
How to watch ‘Thursday Night Football’ on Amazon Prime Video
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Starting with the 2022 NFL season, live “Thursday Night Football” games will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. This marks the first year of an 11-year deal between the NFL and Prime Video, meaning you can catch “TNF” games now through 2033 on the retail giant’s streaming platform.
Play-by-play legend Al Michaels, late of “Sunday Night Football,” and Kirk Herbstreit, best known as an analyst for ESPN’s “College GameDay,” will have the calls. Amazon has updated its X-Ray feature, which enables real-time stats, enhanced replays, trivia, player analysis, polling and merch shopping while you stream the games.
A subscription to Amazon Prime typically costs $15 monthly or $140 annually. Eligible students, EBT, Medicaid and other select recipients of government assistance can score a 50% discount on the service.
If you’re only interested in Prime Video and want to pass on the rest of Amazon Prime’s benefits, you can also subscribe solely to Amazon Prime Video’s streaming library for $8 per month. Not ready to commit to a new subscription? Amazon offers new subscribers a 30-day free trial, so you can watch live NFL action all month long, plus check out other TV shows and movies offered by Prime Video.
NFL Plus
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If you want to watch NFL games exclusively on your mobile device or tablet, NFL+ has you covered. Starting at $5 per month or $30 annually, an NFL+ subscription gives you mobile or tablet access to live local and primetime regular season and postseason games, live game audio for every game and more. You’ll also get live out-of-market preseason games across a broader range of devices.
We’ve found the best TVs for watching NFL football (based on user reviews) including TV from top brands such as Samsung, LG, and Sony. Keep reading to see the best deals on the best TVs you can get for the 2022 NFL season.
55″ Samsung Q70A QLED 4K smart TV: $900
Samsung
Here’s a great deal to get you started: This 55-inch Samsung QLED is on sale at Samsung for $300 off.
No matter what stream of the game you’re watching, this QLED TV lets you watch the game in upscaled 4K resolution thanks to its machine-based learning AI. The smart TV also features apps, streaming services and advanced controls. Plus, it’s compatible with most voice assistants.
Transform your TV into a piece of art when you’re not watching football. The Frame smart TV has a built-in motion sensor that activates your device to display your favorite pieces of art in 4K resolution whenever you enter the room. No matter if you’re admiring Hopper’s “Early Sunday Morning” or jamming along to Carrie Underwood’s Sunday night football intro, this QLED TV produces 100% color volume in the DCI-P3 color space, which is the format for most cinema screens and HDR movies for television. (Translation: Colors on this TV will be more vivid and true-to-life.)
Watch NFL stars battle it out in gorgeous color and luminosity with this 75-inch Samsung 4K TV. The TV features low lag rates and minimized blur, so you’ll always be able to keep up with the plays. The 4K smart device also provides tailored recommendations for streaming and live TV with an on-screen guide.
Your TV should sound like you’re in the stadium. The Samsung 4K Neo QLED includes top-of-the-line features, including a premium audio technology called object-tracking sound (OTS). With OTS, your television analyzes the action on screen and tries to replicate a surround-sound experience without any external speakers. The Samsung 4K Neo QLED also features a built-in Alexa assistant.
The 65-inch Sony Bravia XR OLED 4K TV features a cognitive processor meant to deliver intense contrast with pure blacks, high peak brightness and natural colors. Thanks to its Acoustic Surface Audio+ technology, the screen is the speaker. This smart TV comes with access to Google TV, and works with most voice assistants.
This 75-inch Amazon Fire TV offers a 4K UHD display and enhanced color and clarity thanks to Dolby Vision. The TV also supports voice control with Amazon Alexa. It’s high-quality picture quality and large size make this TV a solid choice for football fans — plus it’s hard to find such a big screen at such a low price.
This 65-inch Samsung QLED TV features 8K resolution, Quantum Matrix Technology Pro for a colorful and luminous picture, and an anti-reflection layer that minimizes glare and reduces unwanted distractions. While the NFL games won’t be broadcast in 8K this season, owning this TV will make sure you’ll be able to catch the first 8K NFL broadcast, whenever it happens. (It will use its AI smarts to upscale NFL games to 8K, however.)
At just 32 inches, this budget-friendly Toshiba TV is suited for small spaces like bedrooms or offices. It runs Amazon’s Fire TV platform, so you can stream new shows from Hulu, Netflix and more without plugging in extra equipment. You can also watch live TV on this device.
See every game in all its glory with this 50-inch TCL set. The 4K TV features QLED technology, 4K resolution and Dolby Vision. All those features together improve the sharpness, brightness, color and contrast of an image.
Amazon Fire 4-Series TV 55″ 4K TV with Alexa built in: $430
Amazon
A mid-size television, 55 to 65 inches along the diagonal, is the ideal size for many living rooms. The best viewing distance for a 55-inch 4K TV, such as this model, is between 4.5 and 7 feet. That leaves enough space for people to get up and walk by for more snacks from the gameday spread.
If you just need more screen, this 86-inch LG should fill up your space. It has a 4K UHD resolution and works with Alexa and Google Assistant. This large TV is sure to show you every inch of the big game.
Buying your first TV so you can watch the Super Bowl on a big screen? If you’re already used to a certain interface, switching can be tough, especially if you’re not particularly tech savvy. Fans of the super-simple Roku platform should look for a TV — like this TCL model — with a built-in Roku system. Plus, the picture quality of this 6-Series model is stunning for the money.
Best streaming devices for watching the 2022 NFL season
If you want to watch “Thursday Night Football” on your TV, you’ll need a smart TV or a streaming device. The following Roku devices, Amazon Fire TV sticks and more will help you stream the entire 2022 NFL season.
Roku Express 4K+
Roku/Amazon
Among the streaming hardware giants, the Roku Express 4K+ boasts the most options and apps, including NFL-friendly streaming services such as Hulu, YouTubeTV and FuboTV. It’s Apple AirPlay compatible as well, enabling you to connect your iPhone or iPad to the TV. (You can learn more about Roku here.)
Apple devotees, or anyone with an Apple One subscription bundle, should consider watching NFL live streams on an Apple TV 4K. The device is equipped with Dolby Vision, a new-and-improved Siri-enabled remote and SharePlay, which enables you to enjoy the game with a group of pals. After the games wrap, you can take advantage of Apple Arcade gaming or stream a movie from your favorite streaming service.
Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K is a streaming device that will appeal to anyone with an Alexa-enabled home. Say goodbye to pouring through channel menus. You can switch back and forth between games with the device’s voice remote (“Alexa, turn on the AFC Championship…”). It offers 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+ in addition to Dolby Atmos audio, plus access to thousands of channels, some of which are free.
If you want to catch NFL games without paying for a cable or streaming subscription, an indoor HD digital TV antenna is the way to go. For just $29, it’ll deliver any live-aired, free-TV NFL games in your area, plus all the other over-the-air content available in your area. Just connect the antenna to your set, and watch. It’s the 20th century TV-viewing experience with 21st century technology.
The only catch? You can’t use it to watch “Thursday Night Football.”
