From the wheels turning on the Prime truck to free (and fast!) two-day shipping, there’s a lot to love about Amazon.
Whether you’re an avid shopper or visit the retail titan for the occasional odds and ends, considering a Prime membership is in your best interest.
Why Prime? Well, for starters, Amazon Prime Day 2024 is on the horizon. It’s the renowned two-day shopping event that occurs annually and features thousands of deals on must-have items. Think smart TVs, cookware sets, and more.
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A Prime membership is $139 a year, but you’re not only unlocking two-day shipping. However, if you’re a frequent shopper, you can dodge the standard $8 shipping and handling fee on every purchase, making it worth it even still.
However, if you love to crack open a new book or listen to podcasts and music often, you’ll be *extra* happy with your Prime membership. There are a slew of streaming benefits, which are all outlined below.
What is Amazon Prime?
First things first — what is the much-talked-about service? Amazon Prime is a paid subscription service that, in our opinion, triumphs over all the others. Its shopping benefits are second to none, and having a Prime membership is most commonly associated with free two-day shipping.
How much does an Amazon Prime membership cost?
A standard Amazon Prime membership is $139 per year or $14.99 a month. If you sign up for a free trial, Amazon will automatically charge your account for the next membership period.
If you’re a student at a two- or four-year college, you’ll qualify for Prime Student, which is $7.49 a month or $69 a year. You must sign up with your collegiate “.edu” email address.
If you don’t wish to use your collegiate email, you can provide an alternative proof of enrollment. This includes a photo of your current student ID, transcript, or tuition bill.
Is Amazon Prime worth It?
Ahead, the Post Wanted team rounded up the benefits you’ll unlock as a Prime member:
- Free shipping: You can opt for free Same-Day or One-Day Delivery, depending on the product.
- Unlimited grocery delivery: Prime members can add a grocery subscription that offers unlimited grocery delivery on orders more than $35 across Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and others.
- Prescription shipping and savings: You don’t have to visit your local pharmacy with One Medical, Amazon’s new way to fill your prescriptions from Amazon Pharmacy.
- Prime Video: You’ll unlock access to watch Amazon Original shows and movies, as well as thousands of other shows for free.
- Prime Video channels: If desired, you can add on popular streaming services like Discovery+, Paramount+, EPIX, NBA League Pass, and STARZ without a cable service. These platforms range from $4.99 to $14.99 a month.
- Amazon Music: Prime members unlock the retailer’s hefty music catalog, without ads. And, you can choose to upgrade to Amazon Music Unlimited for only $9.99 more a month.
- Amazon Photos: Uniquely, Prime members receive full-resolution photo storage and 5 GB of video storage to keep all of their memories well-organized. You can share your photos with up to five family members and display images on devices like your Fire TV, Amazon Echo Show, and Amazon Fire tablet.
- Amazon Kids+: Prime members have the unique ability to save on Kids+ at a discounted $4.99 a month to have access to kid-friendly books, educational games, and movies.
- Prime Day: Only Prime members can shop the annual two-day shopping event.
- Prime-exclusive deals: Prime members also have access to member-only deals.
- Prime Visa: Prime members are eligible for the Prime Visa card. It gives 5% back to Amazon, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, and Chase Travel. Additionally, you’ll receive 2% back at gas stations and restaurants, plus 1% on all other purchases.
- Free titles at Audible: Prime members receive a free Audible Premium Plus trial, plus two credits that can be applied to any books in the Audible library.
In addition to the list of benefits, there are other convenience-driven factors to consider. You won’t have to wait weeks for household essentials like cleaning products or diapers. Instead, you’ll only have to go without them for two days.
You’ll have peace of mind that Amazon will offer the most affordable price as well, most of the time. Big-box retailers like Walmart and Target typically price-match Amazon, so you’ll have access to what we call the *prime* pricing for most of your purchases.
Is shopping on Amazon Prime Day worth it?
“Amazon Prime Day is an annual sales event, exclusively for members of Amazon Prime,” Chris Beer, data journalist at GWI, shared with the New York Post. “Usually spanning a period of two days in the summer, it features a wide range of discounts and deals on products across various categories. Tactically filling a gap in the retail calendar, competing retailers now often have their own equivalent events around the same time.”
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
For over 200 years, the New York Post has been America’s go-to source for bold news, engaging stories, in-depth reporting, and now, insightful shopping guidance. We’re not just thorough reporters – we sift through mountains of information, test and compare products, and consult experts on any topics we aren’t already schooled specialists in to deliver useful, realistic product recommendations based on our extensive and hands-on analysis. Here at The Post, we’re known for being brutally honest – we clearly label partnership content, and whether we receive anything from affiliate links, so you always know where we stand. We routinely update content to reflect current research and expert advice, provide context (and wit) and ensure our links work. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
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