Prime Day Is a Price Trap — But These Deals Might Actually Be Worth It

Let’s be honest: Amazon Prime Day isn’t what it pretends to be. Every year, we’re bombarded with headlines and “deal roundups” that make it sound like Prime Day is a national holiday. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find something different: a pricing shell game that preys on impulse buyers.

Fake Discounts Are Everywhere

Take the Shark Pet Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, which Amazon claimed was 50% off from $299.99 to $149. But if you track the price using tools like CamelCamelCamel, it turns out that the vacuum was rarely (if ever) sold for $299.99 until just six weeks ago. Its real average price has hovered around $200. And here’s the kicker: that exact vacuum is available for $149 at Best Buy, Macy’s, Lowe’s, and Ace Hardware—with zero Prime Day hype.

This is a pattern. Amazon quietly inflates list prices right before Prime Day, drops them back down, and calls it a deal. That $179 Ninja air fryer for $119? It’s been $119 (or less!) every month since November.

Even Amazon’s own products aren’t immune. A bundle of smart glasses and a smart screen was promoted as 47% off ($449.98 down to $239.98), but it had been $299.99 since June. The supposed “discount” was created by jacking up the list price on July 1st—just in time for Prime Day.

Other Retailers Are Getting in On the Act

It’s not just Amazon. To keep up, Walmart Deals Week, Target Circle Week, and Best Buy’s Black Friday in July are all running at the same time. These sales can sometimes offer better, more honest prices—but only if you compare before you click.

We recommend the above-mentioned CamelCamelCamel, Keepa, or another browser extension of your choice to keep track of prices and figure out what the actual deals are.

Tech Deals That Might Be Worth It (If You Shop Smart)

Sony HT-S2000 Compact 3.1 Ch Dolby Atmos Sound Bar

Check the HT-S2000 out on Amazon

This is a great soundbar, but don’t pay retail. This model offers Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound in a compact design, with built-in dual subwoofers and a center channel for crystal-clear dialogue. Sony’s Vertical Surround Engine makes movies feel more immersive, and the Home Entertainment Connect App turns your phone into a remote.

It pairs beautifully with BRAVIA TVs, supports USB, optical, and HDMI eARC connections, and lets you stream music via Bluetooth or USB stick.

Bottom line: If you can catch this soundbar in the $298 range, it’s an excellent buy. But it often fluctuates back up to $499, so double-check the chart before clicking “Buy Now.”

Meta Quest 3S 256GB with Batman Arkham Shadow Bundle

Check the Meta Quest 3S out on Amazon

More storage = more games! The Quest 3S is Meta’s entry-level powerhouse, offering 2X the graphics power of the Quest 2. This bundle includes a full copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow and a 3-month trial of Meta Horizon+, their “all-you-can-eat” VR game subscription.

It supports mixed reality, so you can blend virtual objects into the real world. You also get multi-screen multitasking, a virtual theater mode, and smooth integration with Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.

At $70 off, this is one of the few Prime Week deals with a real, consistent discount. And the extra storage future-proofs you if you plan to go all-in on VR.

Apple AirTag (1-Pack)

Check out the Apple AirTag on Amazon

Not the most exciting Prime Day deal, but still worthwhile if you use them. A simple yet powerful tracker that integrates with Find My, supports Precision Finding, and keeps location data private. Great for keys, luggage—really anything you don’t want to lose.

Pricing reality: Normally about $24. Today’s deal knocks it down to $19.99 — the best we’ve seen since the holidays. A modest 17% off, but noteworthy given its usually stable price.

Black Friday Reborn in July

Prime Day isn’t really about helping you save money. It’s about making you feel like you’re missing out if you don’t buy something right now. For anyone who remembers shopping before the internet, this feels familiar. Black Friday used to mean long lines and early mornings. Now, it’s been reborn in July and it’s all about online urgency instead of in-store chaos.

Today, that pressure comes from timers, “limited quantity” tags, and invite-only deals. It’s FOMO, not value, that drives most purchases.

So take a step back. Do your research. Use price trackers. Compare with other retailers. Just because a product says it’s 47% off doesn’t mean the discount is real. If you’re going to buy something, make sure the deal is too.