X
Business
Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET independently tests and researches products to bring you our best recommendations and advice. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Our process

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

Close

How to set up Alexa to receive October Prime Day deal notifications

According to Amazon, over half of its customers use Alexa to help them shop.
Written by Maria Diaz, Staff Writer
Reviewed by Min Shin
Echo Show 8

An Echo device, like the Echo Show 8, can give you deal notifications when one of the items you're watching goes on sale.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

It's prime time to prepare your Amazon wish lists as we near the company's second biggest sale event of the year on Oct. 10 and Oct. 11. 

Also: The best October Prime Day deals you can buy right now

And if you're looking for help finding the best deals for October Prime Day, we have you covered, from the best selection of early deals you can see right now to walking you through how to sign up for exclusive invite-only deals

But if you are looking forward to the big event and already enjoy the features that an Echo speaker delivers through Alexa, you'll be glad to learn that you can set up the voice assistant to find the best deals on items that interest you during Prime Big Deal Days.

How to set up Alexa's deal notifications

What you'll need: This feature is available for Prime members in the US on newer Echo devices

1. Create your wishlists

It's time to start window shopping. Any Amazon product listing for which you're interested in receiving a deal notification should go in either an Amazon Wish List, your Amazon Shopping Cart, or the Saved for Later list. 

Also: How to switch to a Prime Student membership ahead of October Prime Day (and why you should)

Don't check out -- add them to one of these lists and keep them there. 

Amazon wish list

I created my Office wish list and added some products ahead of October Prime Day.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

2. Go to the Alexa app

Open the Amazon Alexa app, not the Amazon shopping app. We will turn on the deal alerts for Alexa, so we must access the voice assistant's settings. 

Alexa App

Go to the Amazon Alexa App to change the Settings.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

3. Go to the Alexa Settings

To access Settings, go to the More menu on the bottom right of the screen, then tap on Settings. 

More and settings

Tap on the More menu at the bottom right corner, and then go to Settings.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

4. Tap on Notifications

Scroll through your Alexa Settings until you find Notifications. Tap on it to access it and enable the deal alerts and receive deal notifications from Alexa.

Tap on Notifications
Maria Diaz/ZDNET

5. Select Amazon Shopping

This is where you can customize the notifications you receive on your Echo devices through Alexa. 

Also: Free October Prime Day: Get access to deals even if you're not a Prime member

Look for Amazon Shopping and select that one to access it. 

Select Amazon Shopping
Maria Diaz/ZDNET

6. Turn on Deal Recommendations

Turn on Deal Recommendations, a switch on the Amazon Shopping options. Ensure it is enabled or you won't get any notifications of any deals.

Enable deals recommendations
Maria Diaz/ZDNET

7. Ask, "Alexa, what are my notifications?"

Any time there's a deal on any of the items in your Amazon Wish List, Shopping Cart, or Saved for Later list, you will receive a notification on your Echo device. For Echo speakers, notifications appear as the yellow light ring on your device and a popup for Echo Show displays.

Also: Amazon will pay you in gift cards to recycle your old electronics. Here's the secret

All you have to do is ask, "Alexa, what are my notifications?" The voice assistant will then share any deals it's found so far. 

FAQs

How early will I receive a new deal from Alexa?

Depending on the deal, Alexa can have deals ready for you as early as 24 hours before a deal starts and will alert you with a notification to your compatible Echo smart device. 

Can Alexa show me deals for items I haven't saved?

Alexa can show and tell you about deals for items you haven't saved in your Shopping Cart, Wish Lists, or Saved for Later queue, but only when you ask it to share some of the deals you're looking for. As an example, if you're interested in keyboards, even though you don't have any in any of your lists, you can always ask Alexa, "What are the best deals on keyboards right now?"

Editorial standards