I cancelled my Netflix subscription and signed up for Amazon Prime a few years ago. The streaming service was the main reason I switched. Free shipping and other benefits were extra perks for me. I have not subscribed to the ad free option. So far, the ads have not been annoying enough to make me switch.
I agree that the free shipping option is probably enough to pay for the Amazon Prime subscription. I do not pay for many streaming services. If someone has several streaming services, they may wish to determine for themselves if the cost of Amazon Prime is worth it over the others.
We have had Amazon Prime for many years. We live in a fairly rural area with little shopping options other than a Walmart about 15 miles away. We use almost all of the features available to Prime members and have a Prime credit card that we only use at Amazon for an additional 5% savings on all purchases. Free shipping alone more than pays for the annual membership fee. Another great perk is Amazon Pharmacy rolled out a couple of years ago. I have early stage glaucoma and the eye drops are very expensive. Last I saved over $900 using Amazon Pharmacy instead of my insurance online PBM. This is a great unknown benefit to many Prime members and very simple to use. Great for retirees on limited incomes.
We will definitely be keeping Amazon Prime Membership!!!
Another consideration for making the $139 annual fee more palatable is to consider getting the Amazon Prime no annual fee Visa from Chase. You get 5 points for every dollar spent on Amazon. I did quick math to figure you would have to spend slightly less than $3000 per year to receive enough points to cover the annual cost of Prime.
I just applied myself because there is currently a $200 gift card promotion.
When Prime was offered, it was the only way we could get things shipped to Hawaii at reasonable cost or for ‘free’ (free is not quite correct because NO COMPANY carries items across the country or the ocean for free).
Anyway, then I started seeing times when things could not or would not be shipped here. Then the shipping times got worse.
By the way, it is next to impossible to have Lithium solar batteries shipped here without the price being doubled or.
Just the other day I saw where Amazon is ready to open their distribution center on Oahu. Things may change, we will see. We currently have an Amazon office at the Kona Airport, but I have no idea how big, maybe just a small sorting area because we only have 150,000 people on the whole island.
I also have taken advantage of the streaming and movies, etc, which when coupled with the need for shipping, it was a win-win.
Time will tell if I hang on, but IF we could get solar batteries here cheaply just one battery could save me $500, so yeah I would continue my membership.
I had Prime several years ago. I got it for the video, not the shipping. Since I had it I tried several times to order an item, only to be informed on the order page that the item was not eligible for free shipping! I never saw any exemptions mentioned when I signed up. I did not order the items from Amazon and I would never sign up for PRIME again!
I signed up for Prime when they acquired Whole Foods, and as a regular WF shopper I save about $300/yr there alone. I also shop regularly on Amazon, so the $139 is easily worth it. I don’t use the other perqs very much (TNF, some movies), so they’re gravy.
For free shipping – if an order is $35+, the shipping is free. So I’ll just order when I reach that dollar value. And for some vendors, they don’t ship from Amazon, so you end up paying their shipping cost anyway.
yes, if it doesn’t skyrocket out of my budget. I love amazon prime and the benefits that I have but I am a senior and I am on a fixed income so as long as my budget can cover the cost I am and will remain a prime customer.
I think clark couldn’t be more wrong about Amzon prime. It is def NOT worth the money.
It nudges you to buy more: “Free shipping” + fast delivery can lead to impulse purchases and higher overall spend.
Cost creeps up: The membership fee can feel steep if you’re not using multiple benefits regularly.
Shipping isn’t always “2-day” anymore: Many items are fast, but plenty are 3–7 days (or longer) depending on item, location, and inventory.
Not everything is included: Some items have shipping minimums, surcharges, add-on requirements, or longer delivery windows even with Prime.
Prime Video can be frustrating: A lot of content is now rent/buy or requires add-on channels, so “included with Prime” feels smaller than it used to.
Ads on Prime Video (depending on plan/region): Some regions have ads unless you pay extra to remove them.
Returns aren’t always effortless: Drop-off can be easy, but restocking fees, return windows, or “ship it back yourself” can happen on certain items/sellers.
Third-party seller variance: Quality and customer service can be inconsistent versus buying directly from Amazon.
Grocery perks may not matter for you: Whole Foods/Amazon Fresh benefits depend heavily on where you live.
Digital benefits you may not use: Music, Reading, Photos, Gaming—nice, but easy to ignore (and then you’re mainly paying for shipping).
Account sharing is limited: Household sharing works, but it’s not as flexible as people assume.
I canceled prime months ago because I finally got fed up with it. I’m paying for 2 day shipping, and getting late shipments most of the time. I don’t want any of the “extras”, I just wanted fast and free shipping. All these extras just drive up the cost. Btw, any order over $35 is FREE shipping. Also, IMO…since they let all that Chineese knock off crap into the site, Amazon has basically turned itself into another Temu. I loved Amazon for years, I have Alexas all over my house. Even have a Amazon Alexa Show on my desk. Ever since Bezos left, the company is doing what companies do when the big cheese leaves…do anything they can to screw the customer while raising shareholder “value”…ie stock price. At this point, I only pay for prime for a month (at the most) at a time when I know I will be doing alot of online shopping. Once I’m done ordering and cashing in my Amazon Visa Prime points, I cancel prime. Oh well…u know what they say…all good things…
Yes to all you’ve said. My Prime expires in 7 days. I cancelled it a few weeks back (knowing it would run through then end of the subscription time). But I was on Amazon, and my cancellation was…cancelled. So I re-cancelled. I hope Amazon isn’t messing with me.
Prime Video isn’t that great. I dont’ use Prime music. Most of what I order is doesn’t require immediate shipping.
I’ll live with combining my orders to reach the $35 minimum for free shipping.
I might feel differently if Bezos were a better person. I’ve never had a Costco membership (store is 35 min away), but I’m considering one…
I will keep it for the free shipping. I compare it to Walmart + and Amazon usually comes out cheaper. I have the OnePay card for Walmart so I get 5% back either way. Wish the OnePaY computer app was not so kludgy. Alo have the free delivery from Walmart which is great as we usually buy two weeks of groceries at a time.
I thought the same about the free shipping, but then, with a regular Amazon (non-Prime) account, orders over $35 ship free.
Also, some items/vendors still charge shipping, even with Prime (look carefully at your order before hitting “submit”). Not everything is free shipping at all on Prime!