Amazon's October Prime Day requires a Prime membership, but the company is handing out free 30-day trials to anyone who doesn't already have one.
Prime Big Deal Days runs October 6-7 this year, covering deals in 35 categories from brands like Apple, Bose, Dyson, Lego, Nike, Samsung, and Sony, plus discounts on Amazon's own hardware such as Echo speakers, Fire TVs, and eero routers. Access is gated behind an active Prime subscription, which normally costs $14.99 a month or $139 a year. Anyone without a current membership, or whose account has lapsed for at least 12 months, qualifies for a free 30-day trial that covers the entire sale window. Young adults and college students get a standing 50 percent discount, paying $7.49 a month instead.
The free trial is really a conversion funnel. Amazon is betting that shoppers get hooked on two-day shipping, Prime Video, and Grubhub+ perks before the trial clock runs out and the $14.99 monthly charge kicks in. It is also a reminder that Prime Day is now a brand name for two separate sales events a year, and the October edition has quietly become the informal start of Black Friday shopping.
If you only want the TV discount and plan to cancel before the bill hits, set a reminder now. Amazon does not make that easy.