After being long-term Amazon customers, my spouse and I finally yielded to temptation and became Amazon Prime members last autumn. At an annual cost of $119, or roughly $12.99 per month, Amazon Prime offers members a slew of benefits, including free two-day shipping, unlimited access to Prime Instant Video’s vast array of movies and TV shows, and the opportunity to borrow from the impressive stock of the Kindle Lending Library.
Before our subscription, we were regular customers of Amazon, always holding our orders until they crossed the free shipping threshold of $35, but then waiting up to two weeks for our purchases to arrive. As our membership renewal approached, we reassessed the value we found in the service and debated whether to carry on paying for the yearly subscription.
PRO: EASE OF USE
Fast, two-day shipping was the crowning gem for us in the suite of Prime benefits. Life is frenzied for two working professionals like us, so sparing a trip to the store for a single item we need, is a monumental relief. The time saved in not running errands but having items delivered to the door in two days is a significant advantage.
We foresee the convenience of Amazon Prime only amplifying once we add a new baby to our family. No midnight provisions dashes for diapers, wipes, formula or other necessities due to sudden shortages.
CON: PRICELINESS
The most notable downside of Amazon Prime is the expense. At $99, up from $79 a few years prior, it requires a significant financial commitment. But considering the volume and frequency of our orders, we would have spent notably more on accelerated shipping costs in the past year had we adhered to the two-week delivery window.
In my eyes, Amazon Prime is likened to membership or subscription services like Costco and Netflix. It couples the perks of competitively priced goods and unlimited TV show and movie streaming. As such, we feel it has a clear edge over its counterparts.
PRO: COST-EFFECTIVENESS
Amazon Prime offers highly competitive pricing, even in spite of no longer having the sales tax exemption in California.
PRO: HANGING ONTO YOUR PURSE STRINGS
Dodging those niggling unplanned trips to big-box stores like Target feels like a significant saving. Being forced to retrieve that one item often ended with me spending way more than necessary on unneeded things. I credit Amazon Prime for significant savings in superfluous purchases.
I now buy only what I need and nothing more. Superfluous items that caught my eye at sales or things I might need later don’t make it into the shopping cart anymore. This change in shopping habits surely compensates for the $99 fee, right?
After our review, we chose to stick with our Amazon Prime membership. By canceling our Netflix membership, which cost us $8.99 a month or $107.88 a year, the Amazon Prime subscription virtually paid for itself.
Is an Amazon Prime membership something you have or consider the $119 annual fee worthwhile? What other subscription services do you feel comfortable investing in?
