Amazon, Target and Walmart: Which October Sale Is Best?

As a dad of four, I know the holiday shopping scramble starts earlier every year. The Points Guy reports that Amazon, Target and Walmart are all running major sales this week, starting as early as Oct. 5 and running through Oct. 11.

The question is: which one actually saves you money? I’ve got four kids, so I’m looking at electronics, luggage and toys—things that usually bust the budget. Here’s what The Points Guy breaks down for each sale.

Prime Big Deal Days (Oct. 6–7)

Amazon’s event requires a Prime membership, which costs $139 a year or $14.99 a month. The Points Guy says early deals include 28% off Apple AirPods Pro 3 and 60% off the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD. Deals drop three times a day: midnight, 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. PDT. If you already pay for Prime, this sale is worth a look, especially for Amazon devices. The Points Guy notes that the no-annual-fee Prime Visa can earn 5% back on Amazon purchases, plus up to 10% back on select brands during the event.

Target Circle Deal Days (Oct. 6–7)

Target’s sale is also Oct. 6–7, but you need a free Target Circle membership to access deals. New members who join before Oct. 6 can get 15% off their first purchase, according to The Points Guy. If you pay for Target Circle 360 ($99 a year), you get early access on Oct. 5. The Points Guy says joining between Sept. 27 and Oct. 10 gets you $50 in Target Circle Rewards, which makes that annual fee a lot easier to swallow. Plus, the no-annual-fee Target Circle Mastercard offers 5% off at Target, and new cardholders approved between Sept. 27 and Oct. 10 get $75 in Target Circle Rewards.

Walmart Deals & More (Oct. 5–11)

Walmart’s sale runs the longest—Oct. 5 through Oct. 11—and is the only one that doesn’t require any membership at all. The Points Guy reports deals like Apple AirPods 4 for $79 (normally $129.99) and Dyson V8 cordless vacuums for $299.99 (normally $449.99). Walmart+ members ($98 a year) get free delivery on orders over $35. And if you have an American Express Platinum Card, you can get up to $155 back each calendar year toward the Walmart+ membership, as The Points Guy notes. The OnePay CashRewards Card earns 5% cash back for Walmart+ members, 3% for nonmembers.

Which sale wins?

The Points Guy’s take: the best sale is the one at the retailer where you already have a membership or store card, because that’s where you’ll maximize free shipping and cash back. If you don’t belong to any program, Target’s free Circle membership with the 15% first-purchase discount is likely your best bet—and you can stack cash back through shopping portals like Rakuten (Amazon doesn’t participate in those). But if you have a specific item in mind, The Points Guy says compare prices across stores. For my family, I’m leaning Walmart: no membership required, and the Dyson vacuum deal is tempting because I’ve got a minivan with 190,000 miles and somehow that seems related to needing a vacuum.

• holiday shopping
• membership fees
• Prime Big Deal Days
• sale comparison
• Target Circle
• Walmart+