Last holiday season over 80% of online shoppers used Amazon at least once. As the retail giant continues to grow in popularity that number will only go up. So this year, before you doing any Christmas shopping on Amazon be sure you know about my insider hacks that will save you both money and time. From getting paid when your package arrives late, to knowing the absolute best date to start your free Prime trial, these 5 hacks will change the way you shop this holiday.

Get CASH When Your Amazon Package Arrives Late

Due to high traffic and bad weather, Amazon will inevitable fail to meet their 2-day Prime shipping promise.

Did you know that Amazon will often give you a $5 or $10 credit (or a month of Free Prime) when your package arrives late? Facts.

You can start a chat session in your own (like I did below) and score the easiest $5 you’ll ever earn.

See Also: No Longer Getting Prime 2-Day Shipping? (Here’s What To Do About It)

Ask Alexa About Killer Deals

We all know you can ask your Alexa enabled device to do all kinds of nutty and hilarious things, but have you ever asked her “what deals were available”?

You’ll definitely want to try it this Black Friday and Cyber Monday as she’ll have some some exclusive Alexa promotions available that can save you up to 50% off in many cases.

A few smart things to ask her include the following:

Electronics

“Alexa, what are the Black Friday deals on Samsung TVs?”
“Alexa, are there Cyber Monday discounts on Apple AirPods?”
“Alexa, show me Black Friday deals on gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox.”
“Alexa, what are the best Cyber Monday deals on smart home devices like the Echo Dot?”

Home Appliances

“Alexa, find Black Friday deals on KitchenAid mixers.”
“Alexa, are there Cyber Monday discounts on Roomba vacuums?”
“Alexa, what are the best Black Friday deals on refrigerators?”
“Alexa, show me Cyber Monday deals on coffee makers.”

Fashion and Beauty

“Alexa, are there Black Friday deals on Nike sneakers?”
“Alexa, show me Cyber Monday discounts on Levi’s jeans.”
“Alexa, what Black Friday deals are there on skincare products?”
“Alexa, find Cyber Monday deals on hair styling tools like Dyson or Revlon.”

Toys and Games

“Alexa, what are the Black Friday deals on LEGO sets?”
“Alexa, are there Cyber Monday discounts on board games for families?”
“Alexa, show me Black Friday deals on Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels.”
“Alexa, find Cyber Monday deals on Nerf guns.”

Shop in the “Resale Warehouse”

Amazon Resale Deals can save you big this year on electronics, video games, kitchen stuff, and laptop computers.

The items sold in the “warehouse” are all products that have been returned to the Amazon return center for various reasons.

Once returned, an Amazon return specialist does a 20-point inspection to verify the product’s working condition and it’s then sold at a BIG discount.

Deals range from 15% off the original price all the way up to over 60% off.

Look for stuff in the “Used – Like New” category to ensure you save cash and the gift recipient is none the wiser.

See Also: The 37 Coolest Things to Buy on Amazon for Under $25

PRO TIP: START PRIME TRIAL ON NOVEMBER 27th

By starting your 30 day free Prime Trial on November 27th you’ll get 30 minute early access to all Black Friday and Cyber Monday lightning deals. The 30 minute early access that comes with Prime is a HUGE benefit. This is because everyone can preview the deals 24 hours ahead of time. But only Prime members get the 30 minute head start to swoop up a specific deal. So non-Prime members can easily miss out on a deal as inventory will often disappear quickly during the 30 minute early access period.

It’s also a great 30 days to save on your holiday shopping because you’ll score free 2-day shipping on everything plus get access to Prime Video for your holiday movies. You can cancel Prime on December 26th if you wish and call it a huge WIN.

Take Advantage of Extended Holiday Returns

Many Amazon shoppers don’t realize that they extend their 30-day return window for the holidays.

Specifically, anything bought between October 1 and December 31st can be returned to Amazon all the way up until January 31st.

So anything bought in early October, or during the Black Friday madness, can be returned over 2 months later.

You can even take your Amazon returns to Kohl’s and they’ll box it up, print the shipping label, and return it to Amazon for FREE.

See Also: All 37 Popular Stores That Offer Extended Holiday Returns

Avoid Overspending with Amazon Reload

If you have a history of overspending on holiday shopping and always open the January credit card bill with one eye closed, you should check out Amazon Reload.

It’s a free service that lets you easily set aside a specific budget for your Amazon purchases so your holiday spending stays in check.

Now that sounds to me like a Christmas to remember.

Ask the Reader: How are you saving money on your Christmas shopping this year? Let me know in the comments below.

By Kyle James

Kyle James( Owner/Founder )

I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)