Amazing Amazon Black Friday hack: Get a $200 gift card and up to 25 percent cash back
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It's officially holiday gift-buying season, meaning you're probably looking for ways to stretch your budget. What if I told you you could add $200 to it with just a few clicks?
Read more: Amazon's early Black Friday device sale just dropped — with some historic-low prices
You'd probably say there were strings attached. Sort of yes, but also sort of no: If you're an Amazon Prime subscriber (non-subscribers, keep reading), you can get a $200 gift card when you sign up for the Prime Rewards Visa Card. Assuming you qualify, approval happens in about the time it takes to read this paragraph — and the gift card is provided instantly, meaning you now have $200 to spend on anything Amazon sells.
This is a no-annual-fee Visa, so there's literally zero cost to you. And there are benefits beyond the gift card: You get 5 percent back on nearly all Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, 2 percent back on restaurants and gas and 1 percent on just about everything else.
Amazon also runs Prime Card exclusives from time to time, with up to 25 percent back (in the form of Amazon credit, which is processed after your purchase) on select items. Right now, for example, you can get 10% back on some already-discounted electronics:
Amazon Echo Show 8 (1st-gen): $54 after 10% back
Amazon Fire HD 8: $40.50 after 10% back
Roku Streaming Stick 4K: $26.10 after 10% back
OK, but what if you don't have the aforementioned Amazon Prime subscription? There's still a gift-card option when you apply for the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card, though it's $100 instead of $200. And while that card does offer cash back, it doesn't qualify for the bonus exclusives.
Speaking of Prime, I think it's worth the $119 price of admission, at least for most folks. In addition to fast (meaning two-day, one-day and sometimes even same-day) shipping on most products, you get a boatload of media: Prime movies and TV shows, a different batch of PC games every month, a modest but diverse music library, a rotating selection of e-books and digital magazines and so on.
So here's a thought: If you sign up for a subscription now, then grab the Prime Rewards Visa, you'd be paying $119 and receiving $200 — meaning this gift card more than covers the cost of the subscription.
Newcomers can sign up for a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial, though I don't know if you can also get the Prime Rewards Visa as part of that trial or you have to be a full-fledged paying subscriber. My guess is it's the latter.
Amazon has run this gift-card promotion before, but usually it's for $75 or $100; recently it stretched to $150, but I've never seen it hit $200. My question to you: What will you buy with all that sweet, sweet free money? Here are just a few ideas:
TV deals:
Insignia NS-24DF310NA21 24-inch HD Fire TV, $100 (was $170), amazon.com
TCL 32-inch 3-Series HD Roku Smart TV, $160 (was $230), amazon.com
TCL 40-inch HD Smart LED Roku TV, $230 (was $350), amazon.com
Amazon Fire TV 50-inch 4-Series 4K Ultra HD smart TV, $330 (was $470), amazon.com
Hisense 75A6G 75-inch 4K Ultra HD Android Smart TV, $710 (was $950), amazon.com
Samsung 75-inch Class QLED Q70A Series 4K Quantum Smart TV, $1,498 (was $2,300), amazon.com
Samsung 85-inch AU8000 Series 4K Smart TV, $1,498 (was $2,200), amazon.com
Headphones and earbud deals:
Sony "Extra Bass" Earbuds (MDRXB50AP), $20 (was $50), amazon.com
Majority Teton Bluetooth Soundbar for TV, $50 (was $60), amazon.com
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus, $100 (was $150), amazon.com
Jabra Elite Active 75t True Wireless Earbuds, $153 (was $209), amazon.com
Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones, $100 (was $200), amazon.com
Jabra Elite 85h Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones, $178 (was $250), amazon.com
Zihnic Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, $45 with on-page coupon (was $70), amazon.com
JBL Live 660NC Wireless Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones, $100 (was $200), amazon.com
Video game deals:
Motorola Moto G Stylus, $270 (was $300), amazon.com
Apple Watch Series 5 GPS + Cellular with Milanese Loop, $459 (was $759), amazon.com
Fossil Men's Gen 5E 44mm Stainless Steel Smartwatch, $149 (was $249), amazon.com
TCL 10L Smartphone, $190 with on-page coupon (was $250), amazon.com
Smart home deals:
Facebook Portal Smart Video Calling 10-inch Touch Screen Display, $114 (was $180), amazon.com
Kasa Smart Plug HS103P2, $13 (was $20), amazon.com
Linksys AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Router Home Networking, $119 (was $130), amazon.com
Honeywell Home RTH9585WF1004 Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat, $99 (was $169), amazon.com
August Smart Lock Pro + Connect Hub, $155 (was $230), amazon.com
Kasa Full Color Smart LED Bulb, $10 (was $22), amazon.com
TP-Link N300 WiFi Extender(TL-WA855RE), $15 (was $30), amazon.com
Vacuum deals:
Coredy R750 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $200 with on-page coupon (was $321), amazon.com
OKP K7 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $158 with on-page coupon for Prime members only (was $439), amazon.com
Deenkee DK600MAX Robot Vacuum, $150 (was $200), amazon.com
Shark Rotator ZU632, $328 (was $380), amazon.com
iRobot Roomba i6+ (6550) Robot Vacuum, $550 (was $800), amazon.com
Fashion deals:
Satina High Waisted Leggings for Women, $14 (was $20), amazon.com
Anne Klein Women's AK/1868GBST Premium Crystal-Accented Gold-Tone Bangle Watch, $51 (was $150), amazon.com
Herou Womens Mock Turtleneck, $15 (was $29), amazon.com
Ouges Women's Open Front Cardigan, $20 (was $29), amazon.com
Save up to half off select Ray-Ban and Oakley Sunglasses, amazon.com
Save up to half off Watches from Invicta, Timex, Tommy Hilfiger and more, amazon.com
Kitchen deals:
Gooseneck Electric Kettle, $33 with on-page coupon (was $55), amazon.com
Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro Countertop Convection Oven, $224 (was $350), amazon.com
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron 5 Piece Set, $90 (was $150), amazon.com
Ultrean 8.5 Quart Air Fryer, $90 (was $130), amazon.com
Airpro Pasta Maker Attachment, $72 (was $128), amazon.com
RTGraphics Whiskey Stones (six piece), $9 (was $20), amazon.com
Beauty deals:
Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager Machine, $150 with on-page coupon (was $300), amazon.com
Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer And Volumizer Hot Air Brush, $35 (was $60), amazon.com
AquaSonic Duo Dual Handle Ultra Whitening Wireless Charging Electric Toothbrushes, $50 (was $70), amazon.com
HoMedics Compact Pro Spa Collapsible Footbath with Heat, $40 (was $50), amazon.com
Svcouok Fast Heating Hair Straightener Brush, $32 (was $36), amazon.com
Handcraft Grapeseed Oil, $14 (was $19), amazon.com
Bedding deals:
SafeRest Queen Size Premium Hypoallergenic Waterproof Mattress Protector, $21 with on-page coupon (was $35), amazon.com
SafeRest King Size Premium Hypoallergenic Waterproof Mattress Protector, $23 with on-page coupon (was $38), amazon.com
Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator, $20 with on-page coupon (was $30), amazon.com
Bedsure Fleece Blanket Twin Blanket in Black, $20 (was $27), amazon.com
Shark HE601 Air Purifier, $300 (was $450), amazon.com
Lemomo Grey Blackout Curtains, $35 (was $44), amazon.com
Bedsure Satin Pillowcases Standard Set of Two, $10 (was $13), amazon.com
Y-Stop Hammock Chair Hanging Rope Swing, $27 with on-page coupon (was $40), amazon.com
Save up to 30 percent off on Casper mattresses and more, amazon.com
Save up to 20 percent off T&N mattresses and more, amazon.com
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