Amazon, Target and Walmart all have big October sales, but which one is the best?
Editor's Note
If you want to get an early start on your holiday shopping, three major sale events are happening this week. A few years back, Amazon launched a fall Prime Day, which it has since rebranded as Prime Big Deal Days. It runs from Oct. 6 to 7 this year.
Not to be left out, Target and Walmart are also running their own fall sales this week. Each retailer is offering slightly different discounts on electronics, luggage and more. Here, we'll break down how to maximize your existing memberships and credit card offers to determine which sale is best for you to shop.
Here are the basics of each sale:
| Amazon Prime Big Deal Days | Target Circle Deal Days | Walmart Deals & More | |
|---|---|---|---|
Dates | Oct. 6 to 7 | Oct. 6 to 7 | Oct. 5 to 11 |
Start time | 12:01 a.m. PDT on Oct. 6 | TBD | Midnight EDT on Oct. 5 |
Membership requirements | Yes, Prime | Yes, free Target Circle | None |
Early access | Early deals already live | Oct. 5 for those who pay for Target Circle 360 membership | N/A |
Paid membership cost | Amazon Prime: $139 a year or $14.99 a month | Target Circle 360: $99 a year or $10.99 a month | Walmart+: $98 a year or $12.95 a month |
Notable shopping portal rates | N/A | 2% cash back via TopCashback | 10% cash back via ShopBack |
Amazon Prime Big Deal Days
The Prime Big Deal Days event kicks off at 12:01 a.m. PDT on Oct. 6 and runs through 11:59 p.m. PDT on Oct. 7. Keep an eye out for three daily drops at midnight, 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. PDT each day from brands like Shark and Anker.
Related: Check your offer: Save up to 50% on Amazon purchases using just 429 Amex points
Early deals are already up for some items. In my account, I'm seeing 28% off Apple AirPods Pro 3 and 60% off the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD.
At $139 per year (or $14.99 per month), Amazon Prime is the most expensive of these three retail memberships. It offers perks like free delivery, a free Grubhub+ membership and access to Prime Video streaming. Because this sale is the only one of the three mentioned sales unavailable to nonmembers, it's best for existing Prime members, especially those looking for discounts on Amazon devices.
Related: Amazon Prime members can save 20 cents per gallon on gas every Friday through January
TPG tip: The no-annual-fee Prime Visa offers cardholders 5% back on Amazon purchases and can also earn 10% or more back on select brands during Prime Big Deal Days (terms and conditions apply). In my Amazon account, I'm currently seeing early Prime Visa bonus deals with 10% back on items, including select Canon cameras and lenses, Ring doorbells and Amazon Ember TVs.
The information for the Prime Visa has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Target Circle Deal Days
The Target Circle Deal Days event also runs from Oct. 6 to 7 and requires a membership to access the deals. However, Target's deals are available to members of its free Target Circle loyalty program. If you haven't joined yet, new Target Circle members who join before Oct. 6 can get 15% off their first purchase.
Members of the paid Target Circle 360 membership tier get early access to the sale on Oct. 5. A Target Circle 360 membership costs $99 per year (or $10.99 per month) and includes free shipping and same-day delivery, as well as an extra 30 days for returns. (The free membership mainly offers targeted bonus deals.) Those who enroll in an annual Target Circle 360 membership between Sept. 27 and Oct. 10 will receive $50 in Target Circle Rewards. If you've been considering a paid membership, now would be a great time to sign up because these limited-time offers make the annual membership fee much cheaper.
Here are a few Target Circle Deal Days discounts to look forward to:
- 40% off select clothing from Target brands, including A New Day, Universal Thread, Cat & Jack and Goodfellow
- Up to 40% off Crocs shoes
- Up to 65% off Vera Bradley
- Up to 40% off select Dyson vacuums
- Up to 40% off toys, including select Barbies
- Up to 40% off tech and gadgets, including laptops from HP, Acer, Lenovo and Dell
- 40% off holiday outdoor lights, tree skirts, trees and wreaths
TPG tip: The no-annual-fee Target Circle™ Mastercard offers a 5% discount on Target and target.com purchases. Those who apply for a Target Circle card between Sept. 27 and Oct. 10 and are approved will receive $75 in Target Circle Rewards.
The information for the Target Circle Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: The best credit cards for Target purchases
Walmart Deals & More
Walmart's Deals & More event kicked off at midnight EDT on Oct. 5 and runs through Oct. 11. In addition to being the longest sale, it's also the only one where no membership — free or paid — is required to access its deals.
That said, Walmart+ members get perks like free delivery on orders of at least $35, free shipping with no order minimum and a complimentary Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium subscription. An annual Walmart+ membership costs $98 per year (or $12.95 per month). (Remember, if you have the American Express Platinum Card®, you get up to $155 back each calendar year as an up to $12.95 monthly statement credit to cover a monthly Walmart+ membership, subject to auto-renewal; Plus-Ups are excluded, and enrollment is required.)
Related: A guide to the Amex Platinum Walmart+ benefit: The membership that pays for itself
The sale offers up to 40% off tech, up to 50% off home, up to 30% off toys and more. We're seeing Apple AirPods 4 for $79 (normally $129.99) and Dyson V8 cordless vacuums for $299.99 (normally $449.99), among other deals.
TPG tip: If you're a Walmart+ member, the OnePay CashRewards Card* earns 5% cash back** on Walmart purchases (online or in-store). Nonmembers earn 3% back on Walmart purchases with this card.
*The OnePay CashRewards Card is issued by Synchrony Bank pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.
**Cash back is earned as points on purchases made with your OnePay CashRewards Card, which can be redeemed as a statement credit or as a deposit into a OnePay Cash account. See OnePay Reward Terms at www.onepay.com/rewards-terms for details.
Related: The best credit cards for Walmart shopping
Travel deals to shop
Here is how a few TPG travel essentials compare at each retailer:
Apple AirTag (4-pack)
- Buy from Amazon: $89 (normally $99)
- Buy from Target: $99.99 (not on sale)
- Buy from Walmart: $89 (normally $99)
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
- Buy from Amazon: $199 (normally $299)
- Buy from Target: $199.99 (normally $299.99)
- Buy from Walmart: $299 (not on sale)
Anker Nano Power Bank
- Buy from Amazon: $29.99 (not on sale)
- Buy from Target: $19.99 (normally $26.99)
- Buy from Walmart: $29.99 (not on sale)
How to stack rewards
On top of the rewards you may earn on your credit card, shopping portals like Rakuten and American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping let you stack additional cash back, airline miles or transferable points at various online retailers, like Target and Walmart. (Unfortunately, Amazon doesn't participate in programs like this.) To earn the rewards, you must click the portal's link, but it's easy to check which offers the highest rates through an aggregator like Cashback Monitor.
It's also worth checking in your credit card app to see if you have any targeted credit card offers for statement credits at these retailers. Just be sure to opt in and use the right card when you go to pay at the retailer's site.
Related: The ultimate guide to Chase Offers
If you don't have the retailer's store card or any other credit cards with targeted offers, then your best bet is to pay with a credit card that offers either bonus points or miles at online retailers or simply a multiplier on all purchases.
Related: The best credit cards for online shopping
Bottom line
In most cases, the best sale to shop this week is at the retailer where you already pay for a membership or have a store credit card to maximize savings through free shipping perks or cash-back rewards.
If you don't yet participate in any of these programs, you'll likely save the most by shopping at Target since joining its free Target Circle membership by Oct. 5 can get 15% off your first purchase. (Plus, you can stack cash back through various shopping portals.)
However, if you have a specific item in mind you're hoping to purchase, it's worth taking the time to compare prices at each store and see which offers the best discount.
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