Some people shop during major online sales, and other people give shoppers advice so they spend their money on the best products possible. I identify as the latter. I’ve been editing deals content for almost a decade (the first Amazon Prime Day I covered was back in 2019), so I know what’s worth paying attention to during these “events.” Still, each one is a little nuanced—and right now, the Amazon Big Spring Sale is taking place.
Like Prime Day it’s multiple days long and there are countless items marked down. What’s mainly different about the ABSS, as we call it in the biz—besides the fact that you don’t have to be a Prime member to partake—is the timing. Here’s what’s currently worth jumping on, and what I’d advise you hold off on buying.
SHOP THE AMAZON BIG SPRING SALE
❌ Large appliances
Everyone is on their own timeline when it comes to replacing large appliances (who’s to say your refrigerator isn’t running?). If that’s you, go ahead and get what you need—but if you’re simply looking for deals on large appliances in preparation for that moment when you actually have to invest in something new, you might want to wait.
Historically, holiday weekends (think Labor Day and Memorial Day) have been some of the best times to buy big appliances at a discount. Black Friday is also an ideal time to shop for ‘em, because many retailers are trying to sell inventory and make room for upgraded products in the new year.
WHAT I’D RECOMMEND: Wait it out and opt for smaller appliances; there are tons on sale right now (many of which have been tested and reviewed by the GH Kitchen & Cooking Lab), such as the beloved Ninja CREAMi Swirl, the Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer, and the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven.
❌ Mattresses
Again, only you can decide whether it’s time for a new mattress—and, yes, there are many high-quality beds on Amazon that the GH Textiles Lab has tested—but right now isn’t the best time to find major mattress discounts on the site. (If you are in the market, one of our faves, Saatva has a great deal right now). Again, holiday weekends are better time to buy directly from Amazon, with an emphasis on Labor Day.
WHAT I’D RECOMMEND: Shop cozy bedroom essentials instead, because a lot of them are on sale. Check out this discounted Brooklinen sheet set that our Textiles Lab loves, and even the famous Coop pillow that Taylor Swift uses.
❌ Products from third-party sellers
It’s easy to overlook the small details while shopping during Amazon sale events—but it’s important to pay attention to the seller. Most of the time, the item should be shipped and sold by Amazon.com (bonus points if the brand has been registered with Amazon’s Brand Registry and has its own storefront).
WHAT I’D RECOMMEND: While shopping for things like beauty products and personal care items, especially, I’d recommend checking the price box on the righthand corner of the product page to see who the seller is. Here are some Good Housekeeping Institute-tested products shipped and sold from Amazon:
❌ Single-use gadgets that you’ll probably only use once
Don’t get me wrong: I love a cool kitchen gadget. That’s probably why I have tons of them crowding my cabinets—have you seen this pancake batter dispenser?! The downfall with these is that most are specifically designed to perform one task only, which means there’s a good chance it’ll immediately become clutter. Even if they’re on sale (and thrilling to use!), they might not be the best use of your hard-earned cash.
WHAT I’D RECOMMEND: Instead, try finding deals on things that have multiple uses, like a nice Dutch oven you can cook dinner and bake dessert in, a portable blender you can use for smoothies or dressings, and a nice cutting board you can also serve a charcuterie platter on.
Oh, and if you’re wondering, I’m personally adding the Ninja CREAMi Swirl to my cart. There’s nothing like enjoying an ice cream cone after a long day of online shopping, right?
Amanda (she/her) is a writer and editor covering deals, trends and sales. She has almost a decade of experience in digital journalism, including more than five years in e-commerce at brands like Bustle Digital Group and TODAY. Amanda has a bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in journalism from Ramapo College of New Jersey. When she’s not working, you can find her writing songs.
