Amazon

The last few Black Friday shopping seasons have resulted in Walmart, Target, Best Buy and others rolling out aggressive free shipping offers to compete with Amazon. Well, this time around, it may not help. In a surprise move, this morning Amazon has announced free shipping for all this holiday shopping season.

While Prime members will still get two-day expedited shipping, along with other perks, Amazon is doing away with the usual $25 minimum order requirement starting today. This is a big move that is sure to shake-up Black Friday unlike ever before. More below.

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If you’re like me, then you likely have multiple Amazon packages coming to your house every week. Ok, hopefully, you’re not like me. But, in case you are, sometimes it’s a little crazy to get packages every day (or every other day) from the online shopping giant.

With the holidays coming up, you might want to make sure that you’re home when important things come. Amazon’s new program can help with this. It’s called “Amazon Day”, and it lets you pick a specific day for your packages to be delivered.

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Amazon has officially opened the doors on its latest “4-star” retail location in Denver, Colorado. This week’s unveiling comes just over a month after Amazon opened its first storefront in SoHo. It’s been a busy 2018 for the online giant as it’s increased its presence in the brick and mortar retail space after years focused solely on e-commerce.

While more brands are moving away from costly storefronts, Amazon is continuing to make a significant investment in this space: first with its acquisition of Whole Foods, and now its expanding 4-star and Go locations. So what exactly is Amazon up to? Head below for more.

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It’s finally November and the Black Friday shopping season is upon us. This morning Amazon has officially unveiled its Countdown to Black Friday 2018 storefront. As always, this will be Amazon’s one-stop location for all of the season’s hottest deals along with various gift guides curated and top picks for the holiday season.

Amazon is continuing its annual tradition of offering Prime members early access to Lightning deals and more through Cyber Monday. There’s also expected to be a number of Alexa-only offers, too. You’ll want to bookmark the Countdown to Black Friday 2018 storefront, as it will be the best place to keep track of Amazon’s hottest deals over the next month. Head below for more details.

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It’s time for a fresh batch of Anker deals at Amazon this morning. Headlining is the new Anker USB-C PowerPort II 49.5W Wall Charger for $29.59 when promo code ANKERB23 is applied during checkout. It just recently hit Amazon with a $37 price tag; today’s deal is a new Amazon all-time low. With new USB-C-equipped iPads expected tomorrow, this is a great way to quickly power up all of Apple’s latest devices. Still using a legacy port? It also has a USB-A port and ships with an additional adapter. Anker’s USB-C lineup has stellar ratings across the board.

More Anker deals at Amazon:

• eufy Security SpaceView Baby Monitor: $120 (Reg. $170)
  • w/ code EUFYMM88
• Nebula Mars II Portable Projector: $370 (Reg. $500)
  • w/ code BESTMARS
• PowerDrive Duo 30W USB-C Car Charger: $22 (Reg. $26)
  • w/ code ANKERB27
• Quick Charge 3.0 60W 6-Port USB Wall Charger: $26 (Reg. $33)
  • w/ code ANKERB26
• 2-pack iPhone Xs Max Screen Protectors: $8.50 (Reg. $10)
• 2-pack iPhone XR Screen Protectors: $8.50 (Reg. $10)
• 10-ft. MFi Lightning Cable in various colors: $9.75 (Reg. $13)
  • w/ code ANKER392

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After being acquired by Amazon last year, Whole Foods quickly moved to offer a variety of Prime member perks. This ramped up during Black Friday as Amazon began placing its Alexa devices in Whole Foods locations. To further sweeten it, you could take advantage of Black Friday pricing in-store throughout Thanksgiving week. With a full year under their belt, we’re expecting Amazon and Whole Foods to once again partner up for some notable discounts come this Thanksgiving week. Head below for a quick roundup of everything we know to date about the Whole Foods Black Friday plan this year.

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Amazon recently became the official retailer of Shark Tank-backed products. When you visit Amazon LaunchPad, you’ll find over 70 items that have been featured on the hit ABC reality show, with more being added every week.

If you’re anything like me, you often wonder if the products that Sharks choose to throw their money at are any good, let alone successful. There’s no doubt that just being featured on Shark Tank provides plenty of exposure for budding businesses and entrepreneurs. But out of the inventions the Sharks themselves like enough to invest in, which ones do the consumers prefer? Below, we’ve rounded up five of the best-rated products with over 900 reviews in Amazon Launch Pad’s Shark Tank Collection.

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We are now on the eve of one of the most anticipated game releases in recent memory. Yes, we are all stoked for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Fallout 76, but it’s been 8 long years in the making for Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption 2. If you haven’t yet pre-ordered the game, there are loads of great deals out there today on console bundles from just about all major retailers, as well some great offers on just the game itself. Head below for everything you need to know to get the best value on your late Red Dead Redemption 2 pre-order.
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Earlier this week we detailed the best Black Friday rewards programs out there to enhance your holiday shopping experience. While these programs, which are mostly free deliver some notable perks, there are some other ways to save if you’re willing to go to the next-level this holiday season. Amazon’s in-house credit cards offer substantial rewards and cash back, which can be particularly enticing during Black Friday. The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card includes 5% cash back on all Amazon purchases along with added perks at Whole Foods and other retailers. Head below for a full breakdown.

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Following last month’s Amazon Go opening in Chicago, the online giant is back again with another autonomous grocery store. This time around, it’s in San Francisco. Today’s news completes predictions from analysts back in May that detailed Amazon’s plans to expand its cashierless locations across the United States. The sixth Go grocery store location sits on a pricey bit of real estate at 300 California Street in San Francisco, which is right in the middle of the financial district.

Along with today’s Go grocery expansion, Amazon is also rolling out grocery delivery and pickup for Prime members in an additional six cities. As its partnership with Whole Foods continues to grow, this popular perk is finding its way to more locations around the country. Head below for more.

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During the lead up to Black Friday 2018 we’ve been sharing tips and tricks on all of the most popular retailers to help you save money next month. While discounts will be running rampant throughout Thanksgiving week and beyond, there are plenty of other ways to lock in additional savings. Many retailers offer rewards programs that are free to sign-up for that deliver extra savings, free shipping and the like. Signing up for these perks now can help make Black Friday shopping all the easier. Head below for a quick guide.

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We’re just over a month away from Black Friday 2018 and the year’s biggest shopping event. Things are starting to heat up this evening with the official release of the Amazon Holiday Electronics Gift Guide. This annual announcement details the hottest tech at Amazon, giving us our first glimpse into the retailer’s plans for the holiday shopping season.

This year’s Amazon Holiday Electronics Gift Guide is highlighted by the usual selection of smart home gear, TVs, audio and budget-focused buys under $100. Head below for an in-depth look at what Amazon expects to be the hottest gifts of the year.

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This morning, Amazon has announced its newest Kindle E-reader, the next generation of its popular Paperwhite handheld. Long known as Amazon’s most popular device in its E-ink lineup, the new Paperwhite arrives on the scene today with a thinner and lighter design along with a waterproof case. Amazon is also sweetening the pot with six free months of Kindle Unlimited with purchase. The new Kindle Paperwhite is set to arrive on November 7th just before the holiday shopping season. Bundling the added subscription service is sure to make it a hit with Black Friday shoppers. More below.

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ABC’s hit show Shark Tank is now in its 10th season and funding more projects than ever before. Now Amazon is becoming the official Shark Tank retailer, making it the first place you’ll find official releases from the show. Along with this news, Amazon will also be offering a $15,000 credit to its cloud computing services for Shark Tank entrepreneurs to help get their storefront off the ground.

Amazon and Shark Tank have been intertwined for sometime. The reality show famously passed on funding DoorBot, the smart home doorbell which later went on to become Ring. Amazon purchased the brand earlier this year and its CEO has since become a regular guest on the show. Head below for more details on today’s announcement.

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Today we’re getting our first look at the Amazon Top 100 Toys List for 2018. This annual tradition delivers insight into what the online giant expects to be its best-sellers throughout the holiday season. With Black Friday 2018 just over five weeks away, it’s no surprise that Amazon is gearing up for the busiest shopping window of the year.

The Amazon Top 100 Toys List is filled with all of the usual big names, including LEGO, Melissa & Doug, NERF and many more along with various newcomers. Head below for more and our top picks.

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Earlier today, Amazon announced on its developer blog that it is providing new ways for Echo devices to communicate with smart doorbells and cameras. More specifically, developers now have access to three new APIs called Doorbell Event Source, Motion Sensor, and Alexa.RTCSessionController. It’s a move that is not too surprising considering that Amazon bought Ring, a pillar of the smart doorbell industry, earlier this year for around a billion dollars.

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Black Friday 2018 is rapidly approaching and some retailers are already divulging ads and shopping guides. Amazon is one of the most popular destinations for Black Friday shopping, so it’s imperative that you’re ready to go on the big day. Head below to find out how to prepare for Amazon Black Friday.

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This morning Amazon has announced that Whole Foods delivery and pickup is expanding in more cities around the United States. Today’s news brings this service to Annapolis, Cleveland, Louisville, North and Central New Jersey and Pittsburgh. Amazon is also rolling out additional coverage in the San Francisco bay area. More below.

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Amazon’s New World MMO RPG has been in development for a while now. But a new leak is giving us our first look at what is to come. While Amazon’s gaming endeavor has been a little bit underwhelming thus far, the early footage looks fairly promising.
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Update 10/4: LEGO’s new Darth Vader’s Castle is now available for preorder over at Amazon and will be shipping on November 26th.

Fresh off of debuting its newest line of sets, LEGO is back with another release. This time making the jump into the Hyperspace towards a galaxy far, far away, we’re getting a new Star Wars set just in time for the holidays. The new Amazon-exclusive set, Darth Vader’s Castle, stacks up to over 1,000 pieces and showcases the Sith Lord’s base of operations on Mustafar. Head below for more info and to find out how you can get your hands on the upcoming kit.

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After unveiling a seemingly endless amount of new hardware last month, Amazon has this morning announced a new streaming stick. The Fire TV Stick 4K arrives on the scene as a replacement for the older (and pricier) Fire TV 4K. It’s the first streaming stick to fully support both Dolby Vision and HDR10+. Today’s news comes just a week after Roku introduced its competitively priced Premiere 4K streamer. Amazon’s new device will retail for $10 more, but offers a handful of additional features plus a new Alexa-enabled remote. More below.

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Amazon seems to make everything with its AmazonBasics brand these days. You have charging cables, an Alexa-powered microwave, bed sheets, backpacks, and more made by Amazon’s in-house brand. Recently, Amazon expanded its product lineup to include memory foam mattresses, ranging from twin 8-inch beds to California king 12-inch offerings. They start at $130 shipped.

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Today, Amazon is opening its latest brick and mortar storefront. This time around, it’s in New York City in the SoHo neighborhood. Amazon’s latest physical location will exclusively feature goods with 4+ star ratings from its online storefront. Inventory will also be shaped by local shopping habits based on previous purchases in the area on Amazon.

Given that Amazon recently expanded its autonomous Go grocery stores, it’s no surprise that Amazon is moving towards additional locations. Today’s opening departs from previous bookstore locations with a wider-range of products. More details below.

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Amazon is currently offering a four-pack of second-generation Tile Bluetooth Item Finders for $27.99 shipped. Having just dropped from closer to $45, that’s good for a nearly 40% discount and the lowest we’ve seen it sell for at Amazon. These trackers pair to your smartphone and are perfect for adding to your keychain, backpack, luggage, or anything else you want to keep track of. A creative way to put these to use is adhering one to your TV remote, so locating it is just a few taps away. Nearly 7,900 shoppers have left a 3.9/5 star rating.

More smartphone accessories:

• AmazonBasics Coiled Lightning Car Charger: $9 (Reg. $12) | Amazon
• Huge SanDisk deals at Amazon from $27: Lightning drives, SD cards, SSD, more
• AUKEY 60W USB-C Wall Charger: $38 (Reg. $50) | Amazon
  • w/ code AUKEYD72  
• Pokémon Pikachu 5W Qi Charger: $20 (Reg. $40) | GameStop
• Protect your iPhone X/S with Amazon’s Leather Wallet Case in various colors from $7
• Kaiess 9-in-1 iPhone Camera Lens Kit: $8.50 (Reg. $17) | Amazon
  • w/ code PTEEYU77
• Epicka Universal 5-USB Travel Power Adapter: $15 (Reg. $22) | Amazon
  • w/ code L6QDF3YA
• Score two of Belkin’s Wemo Mini HomeKit Smart Plugs for $37 (Refurb, Orig. $70)
• RAVPower 10W Qi Charger: $20 (Reg. $30) | Amazon
  • w/ code GoWirels

Deals still live from yesterday:

• 9to5Toys readers can pick up Elevation Lab’s iPhone CordDock for $28 w/ this exclusive code
• Wrap your new iPhone XS in the OtterBox Defender Series Case for $22 (Reg. $35+)
• Lumsing 20W Quick Charge 2-Port Wall Charger: $5 (Reg. $11) | Amazon
  • w/ code DD654945
• Dodocool Wireless Transmitter Receiver: $11 (Reg. $20) | Amazon
  • w/ code 2SZVGGQE
• Caseology Parallax iPhone XS Case: $3 (Reg. $14) | Amazon
  • w/ code 80PDJATL
• Caseology Wavelength iPhone XR Case: $3 (Reg. $14) | Amazon
  • w/ code 80PDJATL

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This afternoon, Amazon took the stage at its Seattle headquarters to unveil a host of new hardware. Amazon is utilizing its new Spheres location for the first time in this regard. Today’s event includes a refreshed lineup of Echo speakers along with new auto accessories and more. Head below for additional details.

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Amazon continues its march to be a member of every part of your house with its latest plans to release at least 8 new Alexa-enabled devices by the end of this year. The online shopping giant has been integrating itself more and more with our lives and has plans to do so even further with things like a possible checking account-style product launch and more.

We’re set to see devices like microwaves, amplifiers, subwoofers, and more come from Amazon sometime this year, according to a new report. What does this mean for those shopping with the company? Keep reading for more information.

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J.Crew is known for its high quality clothing and accessories, however it can be a little pricey. They’ve now partnered with Amazon on a collection of both classic everyday pieces and trendier items such as camo sweatshirts. The collection will feature a range of items along with more affordable price points from just $13. The entire J.Crew Mercantile collection is also eligible for free two-day shipping for Prime members. You can find all of our top picks below.

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With Jet.com firing shots in Amazon’s direction just last week, Jeff Bezos’ company today introduced a new way to highlight small to medium-sized businesses that are owned and operated in the United States. The new portion of the online retail giant’s site is called Amazon Storefronts and offers over a million products provided by nearly 20,000 businesses from all 50 states. With categories such as Back to School, Pet Supplies, Kitchen, and more, Amazon Storefronts offers products that will appeal to many consumers. 
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Today, Amazon officially opened its first non-Seattle autonomous Go grocery store, this time setting up shop in Chicago. As we reported in the spring, Amazon has been hoping to aggressively roll out more storefronts over the last year. While the online giant is planning on introducing as many as six additional locations stateside over the next year. Today’s grand opening in Chicago marks the first location outside of Amazon’s Seattle headquarters and thus, a major step in expanding this project. More below.

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Amazon’s annual fall event is just around the corner and that means new devices for the holiday season. Last year we saw an expansion of its Alexa-enabled lineup with new Echo speakers. Over the last few months Amazon has refreshed its Fire HD lineup and introduced the new Fire TV Cube as well. So what can we expect at September’s event? Head below for our predictions.

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For many, the tradition of buying a Christmas tree is long-seated and can go back generations. My family, however, has always used pre-lit offerings as the cleanup is generally easier and the tree can be reused for years.

Amazon is trying to become a part of many family traditions it seems, and the latest the online shopping giant seems to be entering is the large Christmas tree business. This holiday season, you’ll be able to order a 7-foot live Fraser fir from Amazon, among other festive plants.

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This morning Amazon has announced the latest generation of its popular Fire HD 8 tablet that features always-on access to Alexa. As its name suggests, it keeps the same eight-inch HD display that sports over one-million pixels that’s powered by a quad-core processor. A camera upgrade is one of the most notable new features we’re seeing today. Amazon is also making a handful of improvements under the hood, although battery life has taken a step backwards on today’s release. More below.

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Just over a week ago we covered Amazon’s plans to halt its discounted video game pre-order pricing. The now-defunct offering gave gamers 20% off pre-orders, saving them in most cases about $12 per game since the majority of triple-A titles cost $60 at launch. The news is not all-bad though, Amazon will still offer a $10 credit for pre-orders of select titles, but customers will need to wait 35 days to get their money back and even at that point, it is an Amazon promotional credit.
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Well, you know when Amazon releases its Top 100 Toys of the Year list it likely means the summer is coming to a close. Fortunately, that also means we are just months away from the busy deal season where we see the lowest prices of the year on the hottest items out there. Amazon’s 2018 toys list is full of usuals like LEGO, Nerf, Melissa & Doug and Star Wars items, but we are also seeing some interesting STEM products from littlebits, Anki, Osmo and more.
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After first being announced back in May, Amazon’s Prime Book Box service is now available nationwide. This Netflix-for-books service is designed to deliver a new selection of titles to your kids every month. Its $23 price tag delivers 35% off the list price of each bundle, which includes either two hardcover books or four board books. Parents can decide which type of content is delivered each month based on their child’s interests. More below.

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Amazon offers the August Third Generation Smart Lock in silver for $99.39 shipped. That’s good for a $30 discount compared to Best Buy’s sale price and is a new all-time low at Amazon. For comparison, we last saw it discounted to $135. Tired of fumbling for your keys to unlock the front door? August’s smart lock supports keyless entry and more. Rated 4.5/5 stars from nearly 100 customers.

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Amazon’s Alexa is a great smart assistant for many tasks. You can use it to look up recipes, control smart home devices, and even watch movies or shows if you own a Fire TV product.

There’s also the ability to have it read stories to kids through FreeTime, and Amazon even sells a kid-friendly Echo Dot so your children can interact with Alexa without you around. FreeTime is about to get an update which could help protect children from hearing responses you’d rather not have them listen to.

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AnkerDirect via Amazon offers its new ROAV HydroClean Electric Pressure Washer for $119.99 shipped when promo code ANKERXLF has been applied during checkout. Regularly $200, this model just dropped to $150 with today’s deal representing a new all-time low. Anker has been expanding its home good offerings in recent months and that now includes this pressure washer. Features include a 1800W motor that provides 2100PSI, three nozzles, and a 26-foot hose. Early reviews are positive like the rest of Anker’s ROAV lineup.

Other notable Green Deals today include:

• Greenworks 40V Gold Box will green up your yard for less: Mower w/ 2 batteries $245, more 
• Pick up Panasonic’s top-rated eneloop AA Rechargeable Battery bundle for $15.50 
• Amazon is discounting Philips Hue bulbs by 20% in various styles, now $40 

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Amazon seems to be ever looking to expand its businesses. Just yesterday we reported on the potential Amazon has for acquiring Landmark Theaters, and today its rumored that Amazon is working on a device that has the ability to record live TV, letting users play content back on phones and other devices at a later time.

This rumored device will take on the likes of TiVo, and would potentially give the company a run for its money. Amazon, who produces its some of its own Prime content, could really benefit from this function.

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Etekcity (99% positive feedback from 221,000) via Amazon offers a four-pack of its Voltson Wi-Fi Smart Plugs for $33.69 shipped when promo code SV3WH9WY is applied during checkout. Regularly selling for around $40, today’s deal is a match of our previous mention and the best available. This is a great way to easily control outlets and make schedules for lights and more in your home. Rated 3.9/5 stars by over 1,300 Amazon customers.

Other notable Green Deals today include:

• Utilitech A19 LED Light Bulb: $5 (Reg. up to $10) | Lowe’s
• Keep your home and car spotless w/ Stanley’s Electric Pressure Washer: $135 (Reg. $175) 
• Anker Roav Electric Pressure Washer: $120 (Reg. $150) | Amazon
  • w/ code ANKERXLF

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