Summer sales battle benefits shoppers and retailers

PITTSBURGH — This weekend might be a good time to find a deal, with Amazon and big-box retail stores trying to one-up each other with summer sales events.

Amazon’s annual Prime Day, taking place June 21-22, will face more competition than ever this year.

“We actually have two million deals available for our Prime members this year,” said Amazon’s Kate Scarpa.

Target’s Deal Days and Walmart’s Deals for Days both kick off Sunday, one day before the Amazon sale.

Best Buy, Kohls and others are also promoting sales.

“As we all know, when there are more retailers in the field, the more consumers win because you have more choices,” said Samantha Gordon of Consumer Reports.

Some retailers are highlighting their sales as “no membership required” — a dig at Amazon’s Prime Day, which is only available to Prime members who pay for a yearly membership or sign up for the 30-day free trial.

CNET senior managing editor Dan Ackerman cautions that limited-time deals can lead to impulse purchases.

“You should definitely have a list of things you’re potentially interested in and not just search around the site looking for something to buy,” he said.

Once you’ve made a list, analysts suggest reviewing advertised discounts and comparing them across multiple retailers before logging on to shop.

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