Getting the Most out of the Amazon Employee Discount in 2022
As an Amazon employee, you have access to an exclusive perk: the Amazon employee discount! This guide will walk through all the details so you can maximize the savings on Amazon purchases.
A Sweet Deal for Employees
After 30 days of employment, you become eligible for a 10% discount on items sold and shipped by Amazon, up to $1000 in purchases per calendar year.
That translates into $100 in potential savings annually! While $100 might not seem like much compared to your regular wages, getting an extra 10% off is still a great perk that can add up over time.
Just imagine:
- A $500 electronic device now costs you $450
- A $200 coffee maker is now $180
- A $50 pair of shoes is now $45
You‘re basically getting paid to shop on Amazon – not a bad gig!
The discount applies across all of Amazon‘s sites including Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, Amazon Books, and Amazon Fresh. Any physical goods shipped directly by Amazon are fair game.
Now let‘s go over the fine print so you can shop the employee discount like a pro!
Nitty Gritty on the Discount Details
Before using your employee code, it‘s good to understand exactly what it can and can‘t be used for:
Eligible Purchases
- Most products sold and shipped by Amazon.com
- This includes everything from electronics, kitchenware, books, toys, clothing, groceries, etc.
- Amazon devices – Kindle, Echo, Fire tablets, Ring doorbell cameras
- Amazon private label brands like AmazonBasics
Ineligible Purchases
- Digital products, movies, music, ebooks
- Alcoholic beverages
- Items sold by third-party sellers
- Amazon Prime membership fee
- Already discounted or on-sale items
- Gift cards or certificates
Also good to note – the discount cannot be combined with any other coupons or promotions at checkout. You can only benefit from one discount.
But it can be applied on top of Amazon‘s regular sales and deals. So keep an eye out for "Lightning Deals" and discounts on bigger ticket items to maximize the 10% off!
How To Use Your Employee Discount
As a company insider, Amazon will assign you a unique 10-digit employee discount code that you‘ll need to enter at checkout.
Here‘s how to access it:
- Login to your Amazon A to Z employee account
- Click on your "Profile"
- Scroll down below your name and employee photo. You‘ll see your special code.
- Copy or take note of the code.
- On Amazon when checking out, click "Add a gift card or promotion code"
- Paste in or enter your employee code, then click "Apply".
You should then see the discount immediately applied to your subtotal and final charge. Easy peasy!
Now let‘s explore how different shopper types can really cash in on the employee discount.
For the Budget-Conscious Shopper
If you‘re someone who prefers to penny-pinch and plan purchases carefully, the employee discount is right up your alley.
Here are some smart ways to use it:
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Wait for sales. Since the discount can‘t be combined with coupons or other promotions, exercise some patience. Hold off on purchases until items you want go on sale – then stack the 10% on top!
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Price track items. Use free price tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel to monitor price drops on expensive wishlist items. Adding the extra 10% discount on a deal will feel even sweeter.
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Stick to essentials. Focus the discount on consumable household items you need to restock often anyway – paper products, cleaning supplies, personal care items, over-the-counter medicines, pet products. The 10% off recurring purchases adds up quickly.
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Set up Subscribe & Save. You can apply the employee discount to monthly Subscribe & Save deliveries of toilet paper, laundry detergent, or other repeat purchase items. One less bill to worry about!
Using the employee discount for everyday essentials is an easy way for budget hawks to save.
For the Coupon Lover
If you‘re obsessed with finding the best coupons, promos, and stacking savings, you‘ll love strategizing with the employee discount:
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Maximize Prime Day. Amazon‘s biggest sales event is a coupon lover‘s paradise. While you can‘t combine the employee discount with Prime Day Lighting Deals, you can stack it on top of the many regular discounts and promotions happening. Prime Day is the perfect opportunity to splurge and max out your $100 in annual savings.
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Don‘t forget cashback. The employee discount can be used along with cashback offers through Rakuten, TopCashback, Amazon Shopper Panel, and more. Just shop through the cashback site then apply your employee code at checkout for additional savings.
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Buy discounted gift cards. Use the discount to buy gift cards for other retailers and services for up to 10% off face value. Then use those gift cards yourself for a money-saving double dip.
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Share with friends. Having trouble using up the full $1000 discount? Offer to gift friends and family discounted items with your code, as long as they repay you. You rack up the savings together!
Coupon lovers will have a blast plotting how to effectively pair the employee discount with other ongoing promotions.
For the Bulk Buyer
Big bulk shoppers will love the extra 10% discount toward hitting their $1000 annual limit quickly:
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Stock up on snacks. Take advantage by buying bulk cases of your favorite munchies – granola bars, chips, pretzels, nuts, candy. Great for office treats or your own Netflix binges!
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Buy household supplies in bundles. Toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, cleaning wipes, laundry detergent, dish soap – essentials you need anyway so may as well buy bundles at 10% off!
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Max out baby supplies. If you have a little one at home, use the discount on jumbo packs of diapers, wipes, and formula to always have enough on hand.
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Prep emergency kits. Get bulk discounted prices on first aid kits, batteries, flashlights, bottled water, and non-perishable food to store and be ready for emergencies.
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Fill the pantry. Hit up Amazon Fresh grocery delivery to stock up on canned goods, pasta, sauces, snacks, spices, beverages – everything you‘d buy at the supermarket anyway but now for less!
For giant bulk shoppers, the name of the game is to buy as much as possible with the discount before that yearly limit resets.
For the Impulse Shopper
Even for those who tend to shop impulsively, the employee discount can still make spontaneous purchases feel a bit less guilty:
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Finally buy those gadgets. Give in to the temptation of fun new tech like drones, 3D printers, or smart home devices now marked 10% off! It feels less impulsive and more justified.
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Get luxury beauty products. Treat yourself to nicer hair, skin, and makeup items than you normally would – all a bit cheaper for employees. A little luxury for less!
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Upgrade the wardrobe. Revamp your closet and buy trendy clothes and shoes for the new season at a discount. Maybe even splurge on that designer item you‘ve eyed for a while.
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Decorate the home. Perk up your living space by buying cute furnishings, art prints, cozy textiles, and home accents at irresistible discounted prices.
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Try unique kitchen gadgets. Add to your arsenal of fun cooking tools and appliances like air fryers, sous vide sticks, cocktail mixers – made more affordable with the code.
While the discount won‘t fully curb impulsive shopping habits, it makes the splurges feel a bit less impulsive.
For the Remote Shopper
For those who live far from physical stores, the employee discount is an amazing perk for easy online access to almost any item.
As a remote shopper, you can use the discount to:
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Get fresh groceries. Amazon Fresh makes it easy to shop quality perishable foods like produce, meat, dairy and have it reliably delivered to your door.
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Buy meal kits. Meal delivery kits from Amazon like Factor make cooking gourmet recipes at home completely effortless for busy remote folks.
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Access rare specialty items. Amazon‘s massive online selection means you can buy niche or exotic ingredients not found locally, now for less.
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Fill wardrobe gaps. Without nearby malls or shops, quickly fill in wardrobe needs like swimsuits, coats, formalwear at discounted prices.
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Get household essentials. No more making special trips to stores when you can conveniently order household supplies online and save 10%.
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Build a well-stocked pantry. Make fewer trips to stores by buying shelf-stable pantry goods in bulk online for less with the employee code.
No matter how remote your location, the employee discount brings pretty much anything you need right to your door for less.
More Amazon Employee Perks
While the discount on Amazon purchases is surely the most utilized employee benefit, there are plenty more ways working at Amazon can save you money:
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Employee cell phone plans – Special deals from major carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile makes staying connected more affordable.
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401(k) match – Amazon contributes matching funds up to 4% of annual compensation helps build retirement savings.
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Health insurance – Full-time employees get medical, dental and vision insurance starting day 1 to cover the whole family.
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Maternity and parental leave – Up to 20 weeks paid leave for new moms and 6 weeks for partners helps reduce financial stress.
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Amazon Career Choice – Pre-paid 95% tuition for career-relevant courses leads to higher future earning potential.
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Flexible spending accounts – FSA and HSA accounts let you set aside pre-tax money for healthcare expenses.
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Commuter benefits – Set aside pre-tax funds through Amazon to cover public transportation to work.
While not as exciting as 10% off purchases, benefits like these enable Amazon employees to save and protect their hard-earned income in several ways.
The employee discount is just one of many perks that can provide Amazon employees financial benefits now and down the road in a variety of circumstances.
Tips for Making the Most of the Discount
As you can see, an Amazon employee has plenty of ways to utilize this exclusive perk across all shopping needs. Here are some top tips for maximizing your yearly $100 in savings:
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Check your discount balance periodically in your Amazon A to Z account so you know how much you have left.
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When buying expensive electronics or devices, use the discount on top of any other deals or sales happening.
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Stock up on regular household essentials or grocery items you normally buy – just get them at 10% off.
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Hold off on purchases until holidays like Prime Day or Black Friday when prices drop, then apply discount.
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For parents, take advantage by buying bulk baby supplies like diapers, wipes, and formula at a lower cost.
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Gift friends and family members certain purchases using your code so you quickly hit the $1000 max.
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Split bulk purchases or Subscribe & Save deliveries with roommates to maximize savings.
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Always double check that items are sold and shipped by Amazon before assuming discount eligibility.
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Set price drop alerts through Camelcamelcamel so you can grab limited-time Lightning deals at just the right time to stack the employee discount.
An Exclusive Savings Opportunity
Having access to special insider pricing is an invaluable employee benefit that translates into real savings. Whether you‘re buying gifts, restocking essentials, or treating yourself, the Amazon employee discount helps stretch your budget a little further.
Now that you know all the discount details and savings strategies, it‘s time to start shopping and saving! Enjoy this special perk which is only available to Amazonians.