Amazon to increase Prime Membership fee to 119

[jujubiee4]

Hits new customers in May and existing customer renewals in June.

Right now for us the benefits still outweigh any negatives but I noticed more stores price matching
so will keep an eye out for the future. I do enjoy the prime offers though.

*sigh* I remember the days when it was 79 a year...that was only 4 years ago.

https://www.cnet.com/news/amazon-to-raise-prime-membership-in-us-to-119-from-99/

 

[trenty]

20% is a big hike. I know of noone who gets a 20% raise in salary. I may cancel on principal.

 

[Meglen]

Dang.. well I hope they include Music unlimited with the price hike.

 

[Lvsdisney]

The problem is that the original $79 was just a random (prime) number and amazon found that it was losing too much money. So Amazon increased the price in the hopes that it wouldn't continue to be a huge loss, and I'm guessing $99 wasn't cutting it. So up to $119 it is. I pay $11.99 every month for Netflix, so at $119 prime is STILL cheaper than netflix and I get free shipping and other benefits. I still see the value, so we'll continue (though we just renewed in March).

 

[Ben E N]

Dang.. well I hope they include Music unlimited with the price hike.

That would be nice, but I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. The money from it also pays the record companies, regardless of whether the user uses it or not, so it would be a big expense that no everyone would use.

 

[CrankyDad]

We use amazon a ton so the cost is worth it just for free shipping. The video and music we don’t use often, so just a bonus.

If you don’t order from the much, I totally agree that Netflix or another service is a much better offer. But we must get 5-10 items a month from Amazon and that free shipping is huge for this household.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I just counted 45 items since Halloween. And I'd say that's about average for 6 months. If I valued shipping even at $2 per item and just had 75 items total for a year I'd say it's worth it. I also use the music for massage clients and unlimited photo storage. The free books when I remember is nice, too.

The biggest thing is convenience. Having 3 kids and one being a 5 month old it sure beats going from store to store looking for odds and ends. I also utilize Target store pick up pretty frequently but it doesn't replace Amazon.

 

[superme80]

As annoyed as I am, I will renew. It still is worth it to me.

 

[wendow]

As annoyed as I am, I will renew. It still is worth it to me.

This is me. I've been a Prime member since Prime began. While I don't love the price hikes, I also know I use the heck out of my prime membership and paying for shipping would cost me more each year. Plus since we were prime from the beginning, we were grandfathered into the original benefits which allowed four people to use the benefits. My mom plus my dh's company are on our prime membership. My dh works for a nonprofit and money is tight. Our prime membership is small but they do benefit, as does my mom, as do we. I'll pay the extra $20 year.

 

[pinkxray]

I have a three year old and one year. I buy everything I can at Amazon just to avoid lugging two kids out to the store. But recently have seen a drop off in good pricing on what I need or it being included in Prime. I don’t use anything other than the free shopping. I will not be renewing for $119. My membership is due is in May and after thinking about it last night I am wondering if I even want to renew for the $99 one last time. Lately I have been taking advantage of Walmart more and now Target seems to be getting into the 2 day shipping too.

 

[CouponGirl]

I have a three year old and one year. I buy everything I can at Amazon just to avoid lugging two kids out to the store. But recently have seen a drop off in good pricing on what I need or it being included in Prime. I don’t use anything other than the free shopping. I will not be renewing for $119. My membership is due is in May and after thinking about it last night I am wondering if I even want to renew for the $99 one last time. Lately I have been taking advantage of Walmart more and now Target seems to be getting into the 2 day shipping too.

Same here, I really just use it for the shipping. With more stores offering free 2-day shipping or having free drive up pickup, I’ve found myself using prime less these past few months than I had previously. I will evaluate how much I am using it before I have to renew, but it may no longer make sense for me to continue my membership (even if there wasn’t a price increase - the price increase just got me to evaluate my current usage).

 

[Ben E N]

The fact of the matter is Jeff Bezos did not become the richest man in the world by random luck. I am sure weeks worth of analytics were done to figure out that this price increase will help them. It will drive some people awat, sure, but not 20% of them. Those that stay in the program will most likely order more to justify the higher cost.
Still a better deal than a Costco or Sam's membership, which only gets you into their stores - you still have to drive there and home yourself.

 

[Hikergirl]

Considering I have gotten 4 free months of Prime this year, I have no problems paying more next year. Besides, it is still worth it for me, I do most of my shopping on Amazon so Prime pays for itself in shipping costs.
The movies, and the monthly free books are just a bonus. I do pay for unlimited music so I may re-think about that though.

 

[Dakota731]

I won’t renew. So many things are add on items which drives me crazy. I do subscribe and save each month and that’s it. And I was not even happy with that this month - they packed my candy and laundry detergent side by side! A lot of items are cheaper on Walmart.com anyways

 

[TwoMisfits]

I'm another subscribe and saver and family present shopper. Since all the big box stores do free shipping deals from Nov 1 to Jan 1, I can buy from them for all the Xmas gifts (in fact, the last few years, I have split my shopping b/c of better deals elsewhere). S&S has gotten worse, so if I lose it, I lose it...but $10/month to ship S&S does break my "brain threshold"...

I never use the books, the photos, or the music, except to listen to a Xmas album when that comes around (but that's not a dealbreaker)...and if I have more bennies, I don't need them b/c I don't even know them...

But I do have til next Jan to see if they (or I) change my mind on this new ridiculous price increase...

 

[scrapquitler]

we have had Prime for half price for the last four years thanks to our college student. I'm not complaining at all about paying $119 for it starting in September when it's time for us to renew it. I place about 12-15 Amazon orders a month and I feel that its still worth the $119 price for me to not have to go to the store to buy kitty litter and cat food and carry them in from the car.

 

[kymom99]

So if I sign up for prime through my son's school email account, can I still use my email address for shipping confirmation?

 

[gottalovepluto]

20% is a big hike. I know of noone who gets a 20% raise in salary. I may cancel on principal.

Amazon. Amazon does. They’ve turned their subscription purchase from “discretionary” to “practically necessary” for many subscribers. Genius. (I’m not even a subscriber!)

 

[elgerber]

So if I sign up for prime through my son's school email account, can I still use my email address for shipping confirmation?

No, it goes to the school email address.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Considering I have gotten 4 free months of Prime this year, I have no problems paying more next year. Besides, it is still worth it for me, I do most of my shopping on Amazon so Prime pays for itself in shipping costs.
The movies, and the monthly free books are just a bonus. I do pay for unlimited music so I may re-think about that though.

4 free months? How?