So… Is Amazon Prime Worth It?
Speaking as someone who has been a Prime member since 2009 I am more than happy to answer that question! Right now Amazon Prime is $99 a year and that might seem a lot initially, so let’s have a look at just what you get for that money.
Free Two Day Shipping
Yes, you do indeed get free two day shipping if you select an item that is either sold by Amazon or fulfilled by them. The carriers that come to me are UPS, FedEx, and USPS although I believe there are others used in some parts of the US.
Prime Video
Prime Video is totally free and is a perk of your Prime membership. Right now there are around 35,000 movies and TV episodes for you to choose from. That sounds a lot and in some ways it is, but it’s more a case of quantity not quality.
Having said that there are a significant number of movies and TV episodes that you will want to watch including many recent releases. You are likely to find something for everyone without too much trouble. You do sometimes get some trailers as an intro but there are no commercials during the program.
Video Add-On Subscriptions
Being a Prime member also allows you to add premium channels on a monthly subscription basis. You usually get a free week to try the channel out before the first payment and you can cancel at any time. Main channels include HBO, Showtime, STARZ, LMC, and Cinemax. There are however, many smaller offerings that may well be of interest.
You do not need to have a cable subscription to access any of these channels so it’s ideal for cord-cutters. Prices range from $3.99 for many of the minor channels to $14.99 for HBO. Starz is $8.99 and Cinemax $9.99 per month.
Prime Music
Prime Music is totally free and is a also a perk of your Prime Membership and there are approximately 2,000,000 songs that you can listen to and that library is growing. The songs are available on-demand and are ad-free. Again there is pretty much something for everyone and just about every genre you can think of is covered so whatever your musical tastes are you should be in luck.
Prime Photos
Prime Photos lets you have unlimited photo storage in the cloud. It too is free and is a perk of your Prime membership. According to Amazon the photos are organized automatically and are easily searchable. In addition, this benefit can be shared with up to five friends or family. They will also have unlimited storage in what Amazon calls “The Family Vault.”
Prime Pantry
Prime Pantry is one of the more interesting offers to members. There are thousands of items available and many that you will not find locally – especially if you don’t live in a big city. Basically, you fill a “box” by selecting the items you want and how full your box is will be shown at all times. You can stop when you reach 100% (you can stop at less than that if you wish) or you can carry on shopping and fill another box.
Because of the weight of the box there is a flat rate delivery charge of $5.99 per box and it is not part of the two day delivery system. Having said that, mine have always been delivered very quickly by FedEx.
Also…
You will find an increasing number of items and prices being offered to Prime members only. And if you are someone who likes “deals” then being a Prime member will also give you early access to many of Amazon’s “Lightning Deals.”
There are many other smaller perks you can take advantage of but those outlined above are the main ones.
So, What’s the Verdict?
Is Amazon prime worth it? Yes. Absolutely! All the benefits listed above and some of the best prices you will find.
What are you waiting for? Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial
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