Amazon’s lowest prices ever
Amazon Devices are typically amongst the top best-sellers. Amazon has positioned the Fire TV Stick and Echo Dot 3rd Generation to perform even better this year, as they were the most prominent deals at 8am (PDT). Both products are listed at their lowest prices ever, at $14.99 and $22.00 respectively.
This is the third shopping event in a row in which the price of the Fire TV Stick has fallen by $5. It was $24.99 on Prime Day 2018, $19.99 on Black Friday 2018 and now $14.99.
New this year is the Amazon Echo Show 5, a competitor to the newly rebranded Google Nest Home Hub. The Amazon offering has a smaller screen at 5.5”, compared to the 7” of the Google device.
Amazon’s product was introduced at little over a month ago at $89.99 but drops to $49.99 on Prime Day. This means the product significantly undercuts the Google Nest Home Hub by $29.01, $79 on Target and Walmart ($79.99 on Best Buy).
eBay takes the challenge to Amazon and its rivals
However, if Prime Day shoppers look to eBay, they will get a much better deal with the Google Nest Home Hub available for just $59.
This low price from eBay is sure to attract many shoppers and will disrupt the sales of Best Buy, Target and Walmart on this product. The Amazon Echo Show 5 however is still likely to be a hit, in spite of its smaller screen, as eBay will have limited supplies of the Home Hub, and the price remains $9.01 more than the Echo Show 5.
Also new this year, Amazon is promoting ‘Featured Lightning Deals’ on ‘top-tier’ brands. Supporting this is a Prime Day live feed which demonstrates the products. At 11am (EDT) these included the Google powered Chromebooks from Acer and HP, as well as the Ticwatch Smartwatch.
Apple becomes the battleground between retailers during Amazon’s Prime Day
Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart all ran deals on Apple products, particularly the iPad Pro.
Best Buy describes its iPad promotions as “Student Deals”. This may be in response to Amazon opening an ‘Off to College’ store which offers laptop and tablet deals to students.
A straight price comparison across multiple retailers is difficult to achieve while retailers alter deals based on colours, memory and specs (Wifi or Wifi+Cellular). However, in the small number of instances where a similar comparison can be drawn, Amazon has either the sole or joint lowest price.
Comparisons are much more easily drawn on the Apple Watch Series 3 (38mm - Space Grey). This is one of Walmart’s most prominent deals at $199 although, unfortunately for Walmart, Amazon also decided to promote it - and at $30 less. However, the Amazon deal appeared to be out of stock by 12.30pm (EDT). Best Buy and Target did not promote the product.