Amazon Prime: An Online Shopper’s BFF
Recently, a good friend of mine posted on Facebook asking whether or not Amazon Prime was worth signing up for. At $79 annually, it’s something that many people would have to plan around to save room in the budget. Personally, I could not live without Amazon Prime and I feel like it’s a fantastic investment. Why you ask?
Free Shipping
And not just free shipping – free two day shipping! I have placed an order in the morning on a Monday and received it by Tuesday afternoon. It is fast, efficient, and best of all FREE! This article outlines a great example of how shipping works for Prime vs. Non-Prime orders:
Here’s what you would pay for various shipping methods without an Amazon Prime membership:
Standard Shipping (5-8 business days) $3.99 per shipment charge $.99 per book $.99 each for the DVD and CD, for a total of $7.95; however, there’s a good chance that this order would cost over $25 and thus qualify you for free Super Saver Shipping.
Two-Day Shipping (2 business days) $9.99 per shipment charge $1.99 for each item, for a total of $17.95; with Amazon Prime, two-day shipping is free.
One-Day Shipping (1 business day) $12.99 per shipment charge $4.99 per book $3.99 each for the DVD and CD, for a total of $30.95; Amazon Prime one-day shipping for this order would be $3.99 per item, for a total of $15.96.
If you were to use two-day shipping on this same type of order five times throughout the year, the savings on shipping alone would more than equal the $79 membership fee. As one Amazon Prime member put it to the Tecca team, the internet was created to indulge instant gratification, and free two-day shipping is about as close as it gets!
Kindle Owners Lending Library
I was able to read all of the Harry Potter books absolutely free of charge (and about ten years too late, but I digress), along with two of the Hunger Games series (I caved and purchased one of them on my own). It’s a great way to catch up with some great books absolutely free of charge. With Amazon Prime, you get one free rental per month.
Instant Streaming
I’ll admit that I don’t take advantage of this one, but with Amazon Prime, you have access to thousands of movies and TV shows instantly on your computer. If you ever wanted to catch up on that series all of your friends are talking about (for me, that’d be Downton Abbey), now’s your chance.
Amazon Student and Amazon Mom
If Amazon Prime isn’t for you, the Amazon Student and Amazon Mom programs offer something similar if you are a student or a mom. With these programs, you don’t have access to free streaming video (you’re supposed to be studying/raising children, not watching movies!), but you do get free shipping benefits, as well as exclusive deals and promotions depending on your account type. Amazon Student members are eligible for the shipping benefits for six months and receive deals and promotions exclusive for students. Amazon Mom members receive the Amazon Prime shipping benefits for three months, with the ability to extend by earning an extra month of free shipping for every $25 spent in the Baby Store. Amazon Mom members also receive discounts and exclusive deals on various baby products.
Do you have Amazon Prime? Do you think it’s worth the cost? What’s your favorite aspect of the program?
Check out these popular posts:
