Is Amazon Prime worth it?

[travelsheep]

I've been a prime member and while I probably don't take full advantage its been quite useful. I'm not sold on "prime day" I never see any major deals other then amazon branded products.

Companies who didn't sell all their "fulfilled by Amazon" old stock on Prime Day still need to move their stock to avoid the painful long term storage fees. Therefore many items that did not sell are actually reduced only AFTER Prime Day. Always check the price history.

However, sometimes there's great deals on Prime day, but this year I only was able to scout one (a battery powered drill from a German brand, half priced), and was hesitant to buy during the day, and then it was sold out when I was ready to buy in the evening... bummer.

 

[Plutonius]

I have a simple question to ask that I have been debating for some time now. Is Amazon Prime worth having? I have always felt having their free shipping on orders would be very useful;however, I have gone back and forth on this and cannot decide one way or another, so I could really use some advice from users who do have the service. Do you find yourselves using Prime frequently enough to make it worth having? Also, is their movie streaming service any good? How often do they upload new movies to their platform? If there are any other notable perks to having Prime that are worth mentioning, please describe them so I can better know what exactly I’ll be getting and if I would use those services. Thanks for your help!

Cheers!

we've saved substantially more on shipping every year compared with what we pay for the Prime membership.

just for the savings on shipping

Shipping alone is more expensive

I got Amazon Prime mainly for the free shipping.

Shipping alone is worth it for me

I don't have Amazon Prime and I usually don't pay for shipping from them (orders of $25+ depending on the season, ship for free). The orders usually don't come in two days but it comes in less than a week.

With the number of 3rd party sellers on Amazon, you also have to pay attention to the shipping even if you have Prime.

If people have Prime, they also feel that they have to order on Amazon. Amazon in many cases is no longer the cheapest when ordering online so it's costing people money to lock themselves to Prime.

 

[poorcody]

Fleabag? The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel? Transparent?

Bosch too.

I've had Prime many years. The combo of free shipping, Prime Video, and Prime Music I find actually a pretty good value. I definitely buy more from them with it, which makes me wonder if I'm screwing myself a little in that sense. However, since the Whole Foods purchase, I save pretty close to the full Prime fee each year just shopping there, so the value has increased over time for me.

But I also think I shop around less and might find cheaper prices. On the other hand, it's hard to beat Amazon's customer service, return policy and ease, and overall reliability.

 

[SuperMatt]

Amazon Prime is not a good value. $13 a month is over $150 a year for free 2-day shipping. You have to order at least 2 shipments from Amazon every month just to "break even" on shipping. However, what if you don't buy 2 items a month? What if you want to buy stuff from another company? $13 for nothing that month!

You can still get free shipping on lots of stuff from Amazon (and many other vendors) if you're willing to wait an extra day. 99% of purchases are not urgent. You are locking yourself in to one vendor psychologically too. "Well I spent $13 on Prime this month so I need to order at least 2 shipments from Amazon just to break even! Better order 3 or 4 or 5 to make it count!" Amazon claims their typical customer buys $600 of stuff a year, with Prime members buying $1400 of stuff (on top of the membership fee). So, you are buying way more stuff from them than you normally would, and you're paying over $150 a year for the privilege.

If you don't think Amazon is raking in the dough through these memberships, look at the fact that they broke even or lost money for years until Prime... now they routinely turn a profit.

 

[JBGoode]

Amazon Prime is not a good value. $13 a month is over $150 a year for free 2-day shipping. You have to order at least 2 shipments from Amazon every month just to "break even" on shipping. However, what if you don't buy 2 items a month? What if you want to buy stuff from another company? $13 for nothing that month!

You can still get free shipping on lots of stuff from Amazon (and many other vendors) if you're willing to wait an extra day. 99% of purchases are not urgent. You are locking yourself in to one vendor psychologically too. "Well I spent $13 on Prime this month so I need to order at least 2 shipments from Amazon just to break even! Better order 3 or 4 or 5 to make it count!" Amazon claims their typical customer buys $600 of stuff a year, with Prime members buying $1400 of stuff (on top of the membership fee). So, you are buying way more stuff from them than you normally would, and you're paying over $150 a year for the privilege.

If you don't think Amazon is raking in the dough through these memberships, look at the fact that they broke even or lost money for years until Prime... now they routinely turn a profit.

Why do you think the benefit of Prime is only 2 day shipping?

You also get free movies, TV shows, books, and music (and they have several good original shows). You are also privy to special offers that non-Prime members don't get such as interest free installment payments on some higher end products and even lower prices in some cases. I'm sure there are more, but those were the first that came to mind.

(And if you pay for yearly membership it's under $10/month)

 

[ptklenk]

I have a simple question to ask that I have been debating for some time now. Is Amazon Prime worth having? I have always felt having their free shipping on orders would be very useful;however, I have gone back and forth on this and cannot decide one way or another, so I could really use some advice from users who do have the service. Do you find yourselves using Prime frequently enough to make it worth having? Also, is their movie streaming service any good? How often do they upload new movies to their platform? If there are any other notable perks to having Prime that are worth mentioning, please describe them so I can better know what exactly I’ll be getting and if I would use those services. Thanks for your help!

Cheers!

I have had it for some time as well and wouldn't do without it. Best customer service in the world bar none. Good streaming service with many selections. Multiple subscriptions that are reasonable when combined with Amazon Prime. Music interface is MUCH more intuitive than Apple. This is a fair review: guide.com/us/apple-channels-vs-amazon-prime-channels,review-6333.html.
[automerge]1590862215[/automerge]

Why do you think the benefit of Prime is only 2 day shipping?

You also get free movies, TV shows, books, and music (and they have several good original shows). You are also privy to special offers that non-Prime members don't get such as interest free installment payments on some higher end products and even lower prices in some cases. I'm sure there are more, but those were the first that came to mind.

(And if you pay for yearly membership it's under $10/month)

SuperMatt does not have the facts correct.

 

[mpetrides]

Why do you think the benefit of Prime is only 2 day shipping?

You also get free movies, TV shows, books, and music (and they have several good original shows). You are also privy to special offers that non-Prime members don't get such as interest free installment payments on some higher end products and even lower prices in some cases. I'm sure there are more, but those were the first that came to mind.

(And if you pay for yearly membership it's under $10/month)

The free movies are largely older stuff I'm not interested in. Likewise, the free books are often from no-name authors and, while some of them are good, the rest are meh. Free music from Amazon Music is useless if you want to play music on your HomePods and is less than useless if you already subscribe to Apple Music, as I do.

And to top it Amazon's 2-day shipping isn't 2-day, it's more like 5-day these days. Sure, the pandemic is a convenient excuse but purchases from Walmart, Costco, Boxed.com, and even Chewy arrive as quickly if not more quickly--and they are dealing with the same pandemic issues. And those sites don't charge me a monthly fee to get "free" shipping. Furthermore, even before COVID-19 struck, Amazon was routinely failing to meet their shipping promises. See my earlier post.

(Admittedly the minimums for free shipping at some of these sites--most notably Boxed.com--are ridiculously high but the only things I order from Boxed are things I can't get anywhere else: hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, etc.)

As for the discount on annual Prime memberships, the problem is that if you get disgusted with Amazon's failure to meet their delivery promises midway through the year, you can not cancel your membership and get a pro rata refund. Using the pandemic as an excuse, Amazon has unilaterally suspended their delivery promises, yet I don't see them offering a refund to customers who do not buy into their excuses. Contractual obligations should work both ways, but Amazon doesn't seem to think so--you remain obligated but they don't. Not worth paying $130-150 a year for. No way.

 

[JBGoode]

The free movies are largely older stuff I'm not interested in. Likewise, the free books are often from no-name authors and, while some of them are good, the rest are meh. Free music from Amazon Music is useless if you want to play music on your HomePods and is less than useless if you already subscribe to Apple Music, as I do.

And to top it Amazon's 2-day shipping isn't 2-day, it's more like 5-day these days. Sure, the pandemic is a convenient excuse but purchases from Walmart, Costco, Boxed.com, and even Chewy arrive as quickly if not more quickly--and they are dealing with the same pandemic issues. And those sites don't charge me a monthly fee to get "free" shipping. Furthermore, even before COVID-19 struck, Amazon was routinely failing to meet their shipping promises. See my earlier post.

(Admittedly the minimums for free shipping at some of these sites--most notably Boxed.com--are ridiculously high but the only things I order from Boxed are things I can't get anywhere else: hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, etc.)

As for the discount on annual Prime memberships, the problem is that if you get disgusted with Amazon's failure to meet their delivery promises midway through the year, you can not cancel your membership and get a pro rata refund. Using the pandemic as an excuse, Amazon has unilaterally suspended their delivery promises, yet I don't see them offering a refund to customers who do not buy into their excuses. Contractual obligations should work both ways, but Amazon doesn't seem to think so--you remain obligated but they don't. Not worth paying $130-150 a year for. No way.

Most of this is only your opinion regarding shows, movies, etc. I find a lot of good content and also read a free book or two and some graphic novels each month. I do not use Amazon music though as it doesn't have a lot of stuff I like. It may not be worth it to you, but I find it well worth it for $10/month as do many. I get my money's worth. It's chump change anyway.

I haven't had issues with 2 day shipping at all either with one recent exception. I've received stuff next day actually.

I also wouldn't expect any money back if I knowingly bought a non-refundable yearly membership and decided to quit in a hissy fit. 2 day shipping is the least of Prime's benefits in my opinion. I'm usually in no hurry to receive what I order, I just like that it's free. But hey, that's just me.

 

[jerwin]

This is probably a bad time to be considering delivery services. The demand on prime may well change these coming months as more brick and mortar stores reopen. If they stay open, amazon's prime shipping might return to normal. On the other hand, the prime business model has always been "don't use a tank of gas to shop for essentials, use us.". Free shipping means that amazon can be your first choice instead of "Is it worth four bucks more to buy this item on line."

I've bought (specialized) soy sauce on amazon, simply because I didn't want to go out of my way to the local asian market. If supporting local businesses is something that appeals to you, you're not going to use amazon. If the opening up process is erratic, epidemiologically unwise, and mail order continues to be how you get things, amazon should be judged along other mail order retailers.

If amazon has never been reliable enough to replace brick and mortar retailers, prime should be judged on its video services-- which IMHO, aren't as good as netflix. (That's assuming that the streaming quality and reliability is up to scratch.)

As for me, I
Don't have a car, so brick and mortar is more inconvenient.
Have great internet service, so streaming isn't a problem.
Live on a consistently reliable postal route, so 1-2 days was normal in pre-epidemic times.
so I'm probably an ideal customer.

Your situation differs, so maybe you aren't.

 

[mpetrides]

Most of this is only your opinion regarding shows, movies, etc. I find a lot of good content and also read a free book or two and some graphic novels each month. I do not use Amazon music though as it doesn't have a lot of stuff I like. It may not be worth it to you, but I find it well worth it for $10/month as do many. I get my money's worth. It's chump change anyway.

I haven't had issues with 2 day shipping at all either with one recent exception. I've received stuff next day actually.

I also wouldn't expect any money back if I knowingly bought a non-refundable yearly membership and decided to quit in a hissy fit. 2 day shipping is the least of Prime's benefits in my opinion. I'm usually in no hurry to receive what I order, I just like that it's free. But hey, that's just me.

Of course it’s my opinion. That’s what the OP asked for.

YOU may not have encountered problems with their 2 day shipping but I have—repetitively—as have my all my neighbors.

The “chump change” involved would pay for a full year of Apple Music plus either Apple TV+ or Apple Arcade. Or a full year of Disney+ plus six months of Apple Music. Or.... You get the picture. It isn’t chump change if you don’t perceive you get value from your purchase, especially when the same amount of money can give you greater perceived value when used to purchase other services instead.

And wanting to terminate a contract in which one party routinely fails to meet their obligations under said contract is not quitting in a “hissy fit.“ It is exercising one’s rights under contract in the face of breach thereof. It all depends on what you (or I) consider the crucial features under said contract. Considering that Amazon has always billed “free” 2-day shipping as the first and most salient feature of Prime, it is not unreasonable to hold them to their word on that, especially if “free” 2-day shipping is what caused you to enter into the contract in the first place.

As you said, YMMV. Speed of shipping isn’t important to you; it is to other people, myself included. Ancillary benefits like music and video are unimportant to me but they are significant benefits to others like you.

It all comes down to choices. You choose to pay for Prime because of the benefits it provides you. I choose not to pay for Prime and spend that money on services that provide more value to me. Diff’rent strokes, diff’rent folks.

 

[MPclk2006]

Amazon Prime is not a good value. $13 a month is over $150 a year for free 2-day shipping. You have to order at least 2 shipments from Amazon every month just to "break even" on shipping. However, what if you don't buy 2 items a month? What if you want to buy stuff from another company? $13 for nothing that month!

You can still get free shipping on lots of stuff from Amazon (and many other vendors) if you're willing to wait an extra day. 99% of purchases are not urgent. You are locking yourself in to one vendor psychologically too. "Well I spent $13 on Prime this month so I need to order at least 2 shipments from Amazon just to break even! Better order 3 or 4 or 5 to make it count!" Amazon claims their typical customer buys $600 of stuff a year, with Prime members buying $1400 of stuff (on top of the membership fee). So, you are buying way more stuff from them than you normally would, and you're paying over $150 a year for the privilege.

If you don't think Amazon is raking in the dough through these memberships, look at the fact that they broke even or lost money for years until Prime... now they routinely turn a profit.

That’s one way to look at it, we do order a lot of stuff from Amazon but it’s not with the “i have to order to justify the ‘$13’ a month”. For us is more of a replacement of going to a store to get something, specially in a small town where some stores are not available or just dont carry some products you can get in a big city. Aside from the free shipping, we use Amazon prime video a lot too, right now I’m binge watching “The Americans” which I couldn’t find online elsewhere but it comes with Prime so that’s pretty good. I understand it can’t be for everyone but we like it.

 

[TiggrToo]

Amazon Prime is not a good value. $13 a month is over $150 a year for free 2-day shipping. You have to order at least 2 shipments from Amazon every month just to "break even" on shipping. However, what if you don't buy 2 items a month? What if you want to buy stuff from another company? $13 for nothing that month!

You can still get free shipping on lots of stuff from Amazon (and many other vendors) if you're willing to wait an extra day. 99% of purchases are not urgent. You are locking yourself in to one vendor psychologically too. "Well I spent $13 on Prime this month so I need to order at least 2 shipments from Amazon just to break even! Better order 3 or 4 or 5 to make it count!" Amazon claims their typical customer buys $600 of stuff a year, with Prime members buying $1400 of stuff (on top of the membership fee). So, you are buying way more stuff from them than you normally would, and you're paying over $150 a year for the privilege.

If you don't think Amazon is raking in the dough through these memberships, look at the fact that they broke even or lost money for years until Prime... now they routinely turn a profit.

So, free same day shipping and hundreds of hours of new original content is meaningless?

I'm addition I really don't think you know much about the company. For example in figures from 2017, Prime accounted for only about 5% of the revenue stream, Amazon Web Services was actually better at 9%. General retail was the biggest driver at 67%.

AWS is an incredibly important reason why the company is so successful. Even Netflix runs their entire Enterprise on AWS.

Amazon's AWS segment generated net sales of $25.7 billion and operating income of $7.3 billion in FY 2018, up from net sales of $17.5 billion and operating income of $4.3 billion in FY 2017. AWS sales and profit have consistently grown in the past three years. Although net sales from AWS are far below North America {Retail} figures, the two segments came very close to generating the same amount of operating income in 2018; 50.1% for AWS as compared with 49.9% for North America.

How Amazon Makes Money

Amazon’s biggest source of revenue is e-commerce, but cloud services currently generates the bulk of the company’s operating income.

www.investopedia.com

 

[MisterSavage]

You have to order twice a month? Lol, I do more than two a week usually.

And Prime Video has great original content. Upload was great and am going to watch The Boyz soon.

The Surprise Sci-Fi Movie That's Killing It On Amazon Prime Video - Looper

Amazon's Prime Video streaming service is carving out a little niche for itself as the premiere stop for quality sci-fi content. The Vast of Night, the surprise hit currently burning up the charts on Prime certainly fits into this pattern. Here's why you should check it out.

www.looper.com

 

[akash.nu]

Also nobody has mentioned about the free cloud storage available with prime.

 

[Fishrrman]

I don't need the cloud services.
I don't need the free movies.
I don't need next-day or two-day shipping.
If I want free shipping, I just wait until my order totals over $25.

Why pay them for anything more...?

 

[akash.nu]

I don't need the cloud services.
I don't need the free movies.
I don't need next-day or two-day shipping.
If I want free shipping, I just wait until my order totals over $25.

Why pay them for anything more...?

Don’t pay. It’s your money after all. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[millerj123]

I use it all the time. Subscribe and save, and random purchases. Prior to the lockdown we started often getting deliveries in two hours.

 

[TimothyL]

Yes it’s definitely worth it!