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

Apple products have connected the world in a very profound way. From the smartphone revolution to the way we take in media, Apple has their hands in a lot of stuff and sells many different products. But what happens when we aren’t happy with an Apple product and need to return it? That’s when things can get a bit murky and it becomes important that we fully understand the Apple return policy. Here’s a full breakdown of the good things about their return policy and the things that aren’t so great.

6 Reasons Why Their Return Policy Sucks…

1. You Only Have 14 Days to Return Stuff

Yep, Apple only gives you 14 days to test out a product.

So make it quick and don’t let the item sit around gathering dust or you just might find yourself stuck with something that doesn’t do what you thought it would do.

Apple will refund you back to your original form of payment and I was told it could take up to 5 business days to get your money back.

PRO TIP: BUY FROM COSTCO

A 14-day return policy is ridiculous, so OUTSMART Apple and buy your next iPhone or iPad from Costco (if you’re a member). You’ll get a 90-day return window on all Apple devices so you can test it out thoroughly and not feel rushed to make a decision if it’s right for you. All that Costco asks you to do before you return it is perform a Factory Reset and Unlock your device.

2. Gotta Have Your Receipt

Apple claims that you MUST have your receipt to make a return.

But if you find yourself needing to make a return sans receipt, you stand a fighting chance of taking it back to the Apple location where you purchased it and asking for help.

I was told by an Apple Store employee that in many cases they will have evidence of your purchase in their system and can bring up your order history and make your return happen.

You can also call them at (800) MY–APPLE and they can pull up the purchase by gathering some information from you.

See Also: Amazon Return Policy: No More Confusion, Here’s EXACTLY How It Works

3. Some Stuff Can’t Be Return

While the majority of Apple products are eligible for a return, these things aren’t…

• Opened software
• Electronic Software Downloads
• Software Upgrades
• Apple Store Gift Cards
• Apple Developer Products
• Apple Print Products

Not a huge deal, but worth knowing.

PRO TIP: TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

I had an employee give me the great tip of downloading a trial version of any Apple software you’re considering buying so you know for sure it’s going to work for you before purchasing.

4. Returning an iPhone or iPad Doesn’t Cancel Your Wireless Account

Just because you return your iPhone or iPad, it doesn’t automatically mean your wireless service provider will cancel or update your account.

So make sure you call Verizon or AT&T (or whoever you use) and let them know so you don’t get charged incorrectly.

5. Apple Limits the Dollar Amount of a Cash Return

Apple has a limit on cash returns of $750.

Let’s say you pay cash for a $950 MacBook Air and decide a week later you don’t like it.

When you bring it back, Apple will only refund you $750 in cash and will mail you a check for the other $200 that will take up to 10 days to get.

Seriously Apple? You’re worth almost $3 trillion and you can’t give me all my cash back on a purchase? Weak applesauce.

6. Apple Pushes You Towards In-Store Return/Exchange

This is especially true when it comes to exchanges.

Several readers have made mention of this to me and the reason is because they DON’T want to pay the shipping charges.

So they tell you that you must return to an Apple Store to make an exchange or return.

Like John said in the comments, “The closest store to me is 80 miles at the price of gas that’s more then what a label costs.”

So do what John did and complain to Apple corporate and they’ll eventually agree to mail you a replacement product.

and Now 7 Reasons Why their Return Policy is Great…

1. You Can Return Opened Stuff

Get your new Apple products out of the box and give them a trial run to make sure you’re satisfied.

Just be gentle and keep that iPad, iPhone, or MacBook in “like new” condition in case you do need to return it.

This is especially important as Apple only gives you 14 days to return products.

Update: This one is probably headed to the “Suck” category as Apple now charges a 25% restocking fee on opened iPhones and iPads, and they’ll even nail you with a 15% fee on never opened boxes.

See Also: 17 Stores That Let You Return Used Items for a Full Refund

2. Stuff Bought Online Can Be Returned for FREE

Apple picks up the cost of returned shipping which is REALLY nice.

Most retailers these days stick you with the return shipping charges which is a real fun suck. But not Apple.

You can also return stuff bought online to your nearest Apple Store.

See Also: Apple Student Discount: What Is It and How Do You Get the Savings?

3. You Can Return a Gift Online or In-Store

To do it online, simply go into your Apple Account Page and select Return a Gift.

All you need to provide is the product serial number or order number to initiate the return which is AWESOME as you often won’t have a gift receipt.

The best part is that return shipping is completely FREE.

Also, it’s important to note that Apple will almost always be able to help you out if it’s been over 14 days since you were given the gift.

Just call Apple at (800) MY–APPLE and they can help you out.

You can either get an Apple gift card for the amount of the returned gift or you can do a product exchange for equal value.

4. You Can Exchange Items at ANY Apple Store

All Apple Stores in the U.S. can process your exchange, doesn’t matter where you originally bought it.

If you do an exchange for an item of lesser value, the difference will be added to an Apple Gift Card OR refunded to the original form of payment…your choice.

5. Extended Holiday Return Policy

Last year, Apple had a cool extended holiday return policy and they’re doing the same in 2024.

It works like this…

Any item purchased between November 8th and December 25th can be returned all the way up until January 8, 2025.

Anything bought after December 25th is subject to their regular return policy.

See Also: All 32 Popular Stores That Offer Extended Holiday Returns

6. Apple Bends Over Backwards for Damaged Items

If for some reason you get a damaged Apple product delivered to you, Apple has your back in a BIG way.

You can either take the damaged item to any Apple Store for a replacement or mail it back (at no cost to you) for a replacement.

Pretty standard stuff, right? But where Apple takes the prize is they’ll actually overnight ship the replacement product for FREE.

7. Download a Crappy App? Not a Problem

Have you ever paid $0.99 (or more) for an app only to have it be a total piece of crap?

Glitches on top of glitches. Or maybe it crashes more than your 81-year old Grandma in her Buick sedan.

I was told on my last trip to the Apple Store that they will actually give you your money back within 14 days of purchase.

To make this hidden gem in their return policy happen, you just need to visit the App Store support page and tell them you want your money back.

Ask the Reader: What’s been your experience with the return policy at Apple? Do you like it or has the 14 day return window been an issue?

By Kyle James

If you’ve ever been tempted to “cheap-out” and buy the “generic” Kirkland Costco batteries…I got BIG news for you. DO IT! Like every time you shop if you can. It turns out Costco actually contracts with a VERY popular name-brand battery manufacturer to produce their batteries for them. Same goes for their hearing aid batteries. Here’s everything you need to know about buying batteries from your local Costco.

What Batteries Does Costco Sell?

Costco currently sells the following batteries:

1. Alkaline Batteries

Not only do they sell the Kirkland brand but they also sell Duracell. They sell AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V sizes.

Much to my surprise, the Costco CEO recently divulged that Kirkland batteries are actually made by Duracell.

So why pay up to 35 cents more per battery with Duracell when you can opt for the Kirkland brand knowing that the quality is probably identical.

Is their a chance Duracell is producing a sub-par battery and putting the Kirkland label on it? Yes, of course.

But from personal experience, and from talking to others, I have found very little difference in quality and life expectancy.

Look at it this way, even if the Kirkland brand was only 80% as good as Duracell, you would still be ahead in terms of price.

See Also: All the Kirkland Items That Are Produced by Popular Name-Brands

2. Hearing Aid Batteries

Costco only sells their own Kirkland brand hearing aid battery. But they get rave reviews both in terms of price and how long they last.

Many reviewers actually said the Kirkland brand lasts 2-3 times longer than major brands like Rayovac and Power One.

Kirkland hearing aid batteries will cost you $0.23/each on average, while you’ll pay close to $0.50/each with the leading name brands.

I’ve also read that the Kirkland brand hearing aid batteries are made by Ray-O-Vac as of 2016.

Trying to track down if this is still accurate, let me know in the comments if you have any insider information on this.

See Also: Costco Hearing Aids: Who Makes Them and Are They a Good Deal?

3. Auto, Marine, RV, and Tractor Batteries

Costco no longer sells a Kirkland branded car battery as it’s been replaced in recent years by the Interstate brand.

Some people believe that the Kirkland car battery was such a good battery that Costco wasn’t making any money on them as they were lasting for 7+ years.

So, in comes the Interstate brand with a 3.5 year replacement warranty and according to Consumer Pete, an “optimized warranty period so that people’s car batteries will die outside the warranty period with no recourse.”

Buyer be warned.

I really wish Costco would bring back the Kirkland car battery as it was a GREAT thing for consumers.

Conclusion: Always Shop Smart

When buying batteries, there’s little evidence to suggest that buying the Costco store-brand is not the smart way to go.

But be warned that quality and life expectancy can quickly change.

This is especially true if Costco tries to lower their costs by skimping on the quality of their Kirkland batteries.

Ask the Reader: What has been your experience buying Costco batteries? Let me know in the comments section below, thanks.

By Kyle James

Photos courtesy of Costco.