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Are Amazon’s Month-To-Month Prime Memberships Ever Worth The Extra Money?
Consumerist ^ | 04/19/2016 | Chris Morran

Posted on 04/24/2016 2:45:45 PM PDT by goldstategop

If you’re a regular shopper on Amazon and want the shopping benefits of Prime, it makes more sense to go with the full-year plan instead of the month-to-month option. Yes, you’ve got to pay $99 all at once for that membership, but that ends up significantly less expensive than the $131.88 you’d spend over the course of the year.

Depending on what you buy, and how quickly you need it, you may want to consider ditching Prime altogether. Amazon recently made it more difficult for non-Prime members to qualify for free shipping, raising the minimum order to qualify for free shipping on most (non-book) purchases to $49. Book purchases only need to hit the $25 mark to qualify.

So if you’re regularly making purchases that pass the free-shipping threshold and don’t mind waiting a few extra days for delivery, then maybe the money you’re spending Prime could be put to better use elsewhere.

(Excerpt) Read more at consumerist.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Music/Entertainment; Society
KEYWORDS: amazon; amazonprime; chrismorran; consumerist
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I signed on Amazon today for Prime and I balked at the $99 annual fee because it was too much but the $10.99 a month subscription was a no-brainer with two-day free shipping. The reason behind Amazon's move? Here's why:

"Important: Regardless of whether you try the $10.99/month full Prime access or the $8.99/month Prime Video access, make sure to keep track of when that month renews so that you’re not paying for months you don’t want or need."

Good news for lower income folks like me. Its worth just to save on shipping alone and to take advantage of the deals for Prime members. As Jeff Bezos wrote, "Amazon Prime is so good, you'd be irresponsible not to join."

1 posted on 04/24/2016 2:45:45 PM PDT by goldstategop
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To: goldstategop

Either way, it’s a great deal. I prefer to pay the $99 up front as I don’t like to deal with monthly payments when I can help it.

Make sure you take advantage of all the the Amazon Prime features like streaming music, TV shows and movies on demand, and unlimited storage for photos.


2 posted on 04/24/2016 2:48:38 PM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: goldstategop

It’s a great deal. We order items that are hard to find in the desert all the time so we save on shipping. The kids use the video service all the time as well. We cut cable a little after the first Faux debate so we are getting our money’s worth.


3 posted on 04/24/2016 2:48:50 PM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Caipirabob

Video streaming service is now stand-alone for $8.99 a month so now you can just get streaming video without having to sign onto the rest of Prime.


4 posted on 04/24/2016 2:50:29 PM PDT by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever))
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To: goldstategop

It pays for itself in about 3-4 months with the amoint of shopping i do on Amazon.


5 posted on 04/24/2016 2:53:11 PM PDT by usafa92 (Trump 2016 - Destroying the GOPe while Making America Great Again)
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To: goldstategop

For me, I get my moneys worth and break even at Christmas with the free 2 day shipping. That makes the rest of the years Prime membership free. Shipping, music, movies and cloud storage, etc... Well worth the $99.


6 posted on 04/24/2016 2:53:32 PM PDT by SunTzuWu
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To: SamAdams76

I agree about the discount, if you can afford it, its better to pay a year up front.

But if your budget doesn’t allow it, paying over time is great too and there’s no commitment to stay though Amazon is betting long-time customers will stay with them because of the free shipping and benefits only Prime members get.


7 posted on 04/24/2016 2:54:16 PM PDT by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever))
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To: goldstategop

I have to admit that I make up for the shipping in the first couple of months. I’ve started watching programs on their prime as well.

I think it’s as good a deal as Netflix. Plus the shipping.


8 posted on 04/24/2016 2:54:46 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (Ask Bernie supporters two questions: Who is rich. Who decides. In the past, that meant who died.)
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To: SamAdams76
I got several music albums last night. I get shipments in 2 days even on Sunday. I like getting books from there and have about 260 on my iPads.
9 posted on 04/24/2016 2:55:22 PM PDT by MamaB (Heb. 13:2)
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To: goldstategop

I guess I’m ignorant. What’s with this Amazon membership? I have bought some things from Amazon but never joined a club or signed up for anything or paid any fees to Amazon. Are you supposed to be a member to shop there? I’m clearly misunderstanding how it works.


10 posted on 04/24/2016 2:57:04 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: MamaB

We love Amazon Prime via the annual fee. The quick shipping and tons of items we cannot find in our small town make it truly worthwhile.


11 posted on 04/24/2016 2:59:15 PM PDT by varina davis (WHOEVER TELLS IT LIKE IT IS FOR 2016)
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To: goldstategop
Are Amazon’s Month-To-Month Prime Memberships Ever Worth The Extra Money?

If you plan a big set of purchases from Amazon during a specific month, yes. Otherwise, if you make purchases from Amazon year-round and you plan to use Amazon's video streaming service (a very credible alternative to Netflix), the regular yearly Prime Membership offers more for less money.
12 posted on 04/24/2016 2:59:29 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: Dilbert San Diego

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon.com#Products_and_services


13 posted on 04/24/2016 3:00:49 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: goldstategop
I do have Amazon Prime and have for years, I've been considering ditching it. Why?

First, since I live in a rural area with satellite internet as my only viable option, the Prime downloads are worthless because my data is restricted.

Second, because, since I live in a rural area, I don't get 2-day shipping anymore. Once they stopped using Priority Mail for PO Box addresses and started using Fedex-Smartpost, it routinely takes 10-15 days to arrive. Since my Mother lives nearby, but in a zipcode for a larger town, she DOES get things in 2 days, so I resort to sending them to her place if I need them faster, and driving 10 miles to her place to pick them up.

Anymore I'm wondering whether it's really worth it. If your are in a zipcode that FedEx-Smartpost gets there in 2 days, then it might be.

14 posted on 04/24/2016 3:01:00 PM PDT by Kay Ludlow (Government actions ALWAYS have unintended consequences...)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

You needn’t be a member to shop there.
But if you shop often enough to benefit from getting free two-day shipping for $99 a year, Prime is worth it. Plus, you get a whole lot more that just free shipping.


15 posted on 04/24/2016 3:02:06 PM PDT by sparklite2 ( "The white man is the Jew of Liberal Fascism." -Jonah Goldberg)
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To: usafa92

I think it paid for itself in the streaming music alone. It stopped me from buying CDs. I’m old fashioned and like full albums.


16 posted on 04/24/2016 3:03:45 PM PDT by CommieCutter
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To: Dilbert San Diego
I have bought some things from Amazon but never joined a club or signed up for anything or paid any fees to Amazon. Are you supposed to be a member to shop there? I’m clearly misunderstanding how it works.

I don't think it's necessary. You can shop as a a guest. The signup allows one click shopping, and a sign-in is needed to review products.

We use prime as the Amazon video selection is okay, plus the shipping. There is free music too. The quality of the streaming music is inferior, and a lot of classic pop/rock music aren't the original versions but one-offs or live performances of the songs.
17 posted on 04/24/2016 3:04:45 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit."-R.Reagan)
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To: goldstategop

If you have *any* kind of a student status [taking a course]....prime is $50./year

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-to-get-amazon-prime-for-half-the-price-2014-03-13


18 posted on 04/24/2016 3:06:41 PM PDT by Daffynition ("We have the fight of our lives coming up to save our nation!" ~ Jim Robinson)
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To: Daffynition

I don’t go to college, so its not an option for me. Attractive though.


19 posted on 04/24/2016 3:11:21 PM PDT by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever))
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To: Kay Ludlow

I live in a rural area and I usually get UPS to ship within a week of ordering.

I can live with the fact its a long way from most warehouses.


20 posted on 04/24/2016 3:13:05 PM PDT by goldstategop ((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever))
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