To (Amazon) Prime or Not?
By maezee
@maezee (41988)
United States
November 20, 2019 10:11am CST
I got a free 30 day trial of Amazon Prime and I have been using it like crazy for Christmas presents. The free shipping has been extremely convenient, especially since hardly anything on Amazon offers free shipping. Am I using it more since it’s free shipping? Well, yes, but for items I would need to travel to the store for anyway.
Normally Amazon Prime is $12 a month or $99 per year. That gives you free shipping on Amazon Prime items (which seems like a lot of stuff is), access to their Amazon Prime TV thing (I have no idea what’s on there, I am assuming movies, so you know I will never use that part).
Most shipping for small items is 5.99. So if you have two iAmazon Prime items shipped per month, you get that membership fee back.
This is why I am having a hard time deciding what to do with this. Keep it for a few months? Cancel it because I don’t really “need” it and it will probably just inspire me to buy more things I don’t need? Also, do I want to support the Amazon Machine?
I often do online orders at Target or Walmart for necessities like toilet paper, paper towel, shampoo, laundry detergent, so if I kept this membership maybe I could do it with Amazon instead?
This is the dilemma I am having. What do you think? Do you have Amazon Prime? What’s your argument for or against it?
9 people like this
9 responses
@snowy22315 (179751)
• United States
20 Nov 19
Prime has a lot of benefits, although I get free shipping on the majority of my orders because they are big enough..If I get a great deal on it..I will consider it though.
3 people like this
@FourWalls (67384)
• United States
20 Nov 19
They had a Veterans Day special, $40 off a year’s Prime membership for veterans. I didn’t go for it. I don’t order enough or watch enough to justify the price. I think it’s like one of those membership stores like Costco or Sam’s: if you have a big family or use things that would justify buying in bulk, then it may be worth it. I never found the membership price to justify what I bought there.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (67384)
• United States
21 Nov 19
@maezee — I don’t know if Amazon sells bulk. There are grocery stores and regular stores like Wal-Mart selling things in bulk now, so I see no need for the “membership store.” Lots of people do have the need, though. I’m just not one of them.
@Fleura (30169)
• United Kingdom
20 Nov 19
I have never gone for it, but then I don't buy that much from Amazon. In fact these days I actively try to avoid them and buy things from local stores instead, unless I really can't find things elsewhere.
I imagine it's like most of those subscription things - they try to get everyone to sign up for the free trial in the hope that most people will forget and will then go on to pay for it indefinitely and hardly ever use it. Depends how much you buy from there. You certainly can use it for bulk buys of household goods like toilet rolls, one friend does that. And I guess swapping one giant retailer for another (Walmart/Amazon) isn't quite the same moral dilemma as turning your back on small local stores.
1 person likes this
@samysotelo18 (7744)
• Mexico
20 Nov 19
well you could maybe keep it for the season? Like to get your christmas presents and stuff
2 people like this
@Butterfingers (66583)
• India
20 Nov 19
I tried amazon prime but still we need our order to be of specific amount while ordering pantry.
2 people like this
@sprite1950 (30452)
• Corsham, England
21 Nov 19
I have had Prime for some years now and on balance I think it is worth it for next day deliveries. I pay in one hit (which hurts a little) but it's only once a year. My only gripe is that many of the items I want to buy are not eligle for prime but the free shipping costs are great. Their movies are ok but I prefer Netflix.
@Marilynda1225 (82589)
• United States
20 Nov 19
I've had Amazon Prime for many years and love it. I like online ordering and having things come straight to my door. In addition to free shipping the Amazon Prime offers plenty of good music as well as more than just movies for tv.
I don't know what your shopping habits are but I love Amazon Prime.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (44420)
• Staten Island, New York
25 Nov 19
Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can save at Whole Foods. Not sure if you have this store where you live.
