If you really want to shut down porch pirates for Amazon packages, use a secure Amazon Locker if there's one close enough to your home. Amazon Locker lets you send packages to a lockbox in an external and secure location. You can pick up packages whenever you like, within three days after the arrival of a package.

Many of the deals that Amazon is advertising for its Prime Big Deal Days this month aren't your typical holiday gifts. To be sure, the company describes the sales event as "epic deals ahead of the holiday season" (note the "ahead" here).

If you're counting down the days until Amazon's October Prime Day (only five), we've got good news: there's no need to wait. You can start shopping today, Oct. 3, and take home some early Prime Day deals with major savings.