Amazon to increase Prime Membership fee to 119

[usnuzuloose]

Tax?

Good question, not sure I am very upset as they just took the money from my account with out my knowledge of doing so. I never signed up for it. I used it once and I bought enough for the free shipping. I made them reimburse the money. I never got an email for the charge either. They charge tax for fees?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

They charged me 107.99.

Good question, not sure I am very upset as they just took the money from my account with out my knowledge of doing so. I never signed up for it. I used it once and I bought enough for the free shipping. I made them reimburse the money. I never got an email for the charge either. They charge tax for fees?

ETA: Strike that looks like CA is charged for taxes on Prime Membership as well as other states. My state doesn't charge tax on Prime Membership so it's actually the first time I've heard of that.

It shouldn't have tax--least it never has for me--for the membership renewal.

But yours looks like a different issue. Did you sign up for a trial period and then never cancel after that? Did you get something that included free months of Prime and never cancelled it?

They don't e-mail when it is time to renew..at least they don't for me. Maybe it's how I have it set up which is it automatically drafts from my account each year in June.

 

[kymom99]

ETA: Strike that looks like CA is charged for taxes on Prime Membership as well as other states. My state doesn't charge tax on Prime Membership so it's actually the first time I've heard of that.
It shouldn't have tax--least it never has for me--for the membership renewal.

But yours looks like a different issue. Did you sign up for a trial period and then never cancel after that? Did you get something that included free months of Prime and never cancelled it?

They don't e-mail when it is time to renew..at least they don't for me. Maybe it's how I have it set up which is it automatically drafts from my account each year in June.

You can request a reminder but theycwont automatically send one.

Similar thing just happened here with webroot through Best Buy. I got an email saying it would auto renew the end of may. I didn't remember signing up for auto renew so upon looking into it I found out they do this as a "convenience" and you have to opt out of it. Well there is no easy way to opt out. I had to actually call on the phone. I was irritated about this. I'm sure it was somewhere in the fine print but I still think it's underhanded.

 

[Ben E N]

I still don't think you get what I was saying. I'm not arguing against features, etc. You're arguing something that I'm not even talking about.

Your initial statement was "only gets you into their stores" That is not correct. I have now said multiple times that the value of the membership is subjective. But what is not subjective is that Costco is more than just a store-you may not use the perks that your Costco membership gets you but that doesn't mean they don't exist. It doesn't matter if you can get X somewhere else-that doesn't mean that Costco doesn't have other perks.

That's like saying Amazon Prime only gets you 2-day shipping. Sure lots of people use Prime for the shipping (just like lots of people go to Costco's warehouses to shop) but people also use it for Prime Video, Prime Music, Photo Storage, etc all of which are features of being a Prime member just like Costco travel, free shipping for a variety of items, warehouse shopping, used to be photo development (our local store's machine went out 5 years ago and they advised at that time that locations that have the photo would still do it but once the machine broke that was it), etc are features of Costco.

*As an aside I'm an AAA member, a Costco member, a Direct Buy member, and an Amazon Prime member. All memberships currently hold value (though Direct Buy is one that we've only used to get our fridge so far) even though some features are overlapped. As far as subscriptions go we currently have Netflix, Kindle Unlimited (bought and renewed at 40% off on Prime Day) and currently CBS All-Access though we will be cancelling that one once we finish the leftover episodes of the new Star Trek show, (ETA: we also have cable tv). Again all subscriptions currently hold value even though some features are overlapped. I wouldn't cancel my Netflix subscription just because I can get movies and tv shows through the library for instance. I use the library in conjunction with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. If the price of any of my memberships or subscriptions reached a certain amount where I saw no more value in their features or perks then I would opt to not renew or cancel them.

You bring up perfectly valid points, and I hope I am not upsetting you by replying to them. I am having fun getting into it in a pretty worthless thread and think nothing less of you for doing the same.

That said, the statement I made was 100% correct. If you buy a Costco membership with your last remaining dollars, you get a plastic card, and nothing else. That card allows you to walk into their stores, as I stated. I suppose you get free samples, which I omitted, but you are allowed to take nothing else out of their stores unless you pay for it. Want their discounted gas? You have to pay for it. Cheaper car rental? Extra charge. Your membership, once again, only got you into the stores, as I stated and you disputed. Everything else costs extra. (Oh shoot, I did forget that you get a free quarterly ad/magazine, so there is something.)
In contrast, a Prime membership gets you access to thousands of shows, movies, and songs, all free of charge outside of your initial investment.
Once again, hopefully for a final time, I am not arguing that you should go with one or another, just trying to show why the Amazon rate is justifiable. I am sorry if you or anyone else takes issue with my pointing out how their membership compares to other places.

 

[smiths02]

Good question, not sure I am very upset as they just took the money from my account with out my knowledge of doing so. I never signed up for it. I used it once and I bought enough for the free shipping. I made them reimburse the money. I never got an email for the charge either. They charge tax for fees?

ETA: Strike that looks like CA is charged for taxes on Prime Membership as well as other states. My state doesn't charge tax on Prime Membership so it's actually the first time I've heard of that.

It shouldn't have tax--least it never has for me--for the membership renewal.

But yours looks like a different issue. Did you sign up for a trial period and then never cancel after that? Did you get something that included free months of Prime and never cancelled it?

They don't e-mail when it is time to renew..at least they don't for me. Maybe it's how I have it set up which is it automatically drafts from my account each year in June.

I'm sorry usnuzuloose. I got an e-mail yesterday about my renewal in June (unprompted). It looks like I also set up an e-mail to remind me a few days before the money is actually charged to my credit card. (I would probably be taken aback if it was tied to a debit card and I was not given a reminder!)

My experience with Amazon is that they are very good about refunds, cancellations, and even defective merchandise (one Kindle). I hope that holds true for you and for the Prime membership itself.

 

[smiths02]

You bring up perfectly valid points, and I hope I am not upsetting you by replying to them. I am having fun getting into it in a pretty worthless thread and think nothing less of you for doing the same.

That said, the statement I made was 100% correct. If you buy a Costco membership with your last remaining dollars, you get a plastic card, and nothing else. That card allows you to walk into their stores, as I stated. I suppose you get free samples, which I omitted, but you are allowed to take nothing else out of their stores unless you pay for it. Want their discounted gas? You have to pay for it. Cheaper car rental? Extra charge. Your membership, once again, only got you into the stores, as I stated and you disputed. Everything else costs extra. (Oh shoot, I did forget that you get a free quarterly ad/magazine, so there is something.)
In contrast, a Prime membership gets you access to thousands of shows, movies, and songs, all free of charge outside of your initial investment.
Once again, hopefully for a final time, I am not arguing that you should go with one or another, just trying to show why the Amazon rate is justifiable. I am sorry if you or anyone else takes issue with my pointing out how their membership compares to other places.

Agreed, for some of us, Amazon Prime isn't just discount shopping or free shipping.

As I stated before, our Netflix bill is $167.88 a year just to stream their content on multiple screens. Netflix would not be enough for us without cable. So we would add something like Hulu which would cost us $95.88 a year. So paying $99-119 for Amazon Prime doesn't seem that bad.
Whereas discount car rental or gas (at a store nearly 40 miles away) has no value for me.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

You bring up perfectly valid points, and I hope I am not upsetting you by replying to them. I am having fun getting into it in a pretty worthless thread and think nothing less of you for doing the same.

That said, the statement I made was 100% correct. If you buy a Costco membership with your last remaining dollars, you get a plastic card, and nothing else. That card allows you to walk into their stores, as I stated. I suppose you get free samples, which I omitted, but you are allowed to take nothing else out of their stores unless you pay for it. Want their discounted gas? You have to pay for it. Cheaper car rental? Extra charge. Your membership, once again, only got you into the stores, as I stated and you disputed. Everything else costs extra. (Oh shoot, I did forget that you get a free quarterly ad/magazine, so there is something.)
In contrast, a Prime membership gets you access to thousands of shows, movies, and songs, all free of charge outside of your initial investment.
Once again, hopefully for a final time, I am not arguing that you should go with one or another, just trying to show why the Amazon rate is justifiable. I am sorry if you or anyone else takes issue with my pointing out how their membership compares to other places.

I'm not the least bit upset.

What I am having trouble is getting you to understand what I'm pointing out. Obviously you are not getting what I'm getting at.

 

[afan]

I'm not the least bit upset.

What I am having trouble is getting you to understand what I'm pointing out. Obviously you are not getting what I'm getting at.

While they both have their perks, the only thing a Costco membership gets you without spending more of your money is the free samples, which is only useful if they ate out and something you want.

Costco's membership gives you access while Amazon's prime gives your video, ebooks, photo storage and free shipping. I can use all but the free shipping without paying more out of my pocket.

I have both memberships and use the Amazon one far more between the videos and the shipping but Costco gives me access to the eye Dr I like and cheaper contacts than I can get elsewhere, which is why I keep it. Oh and for the churro too. I would miss them both for totally diffetent reasons because again you're comparing access to buy stuff at Costco vs actual stuff I can use without buying at Amazon. Comparing tp Netflix and Hulu makes much more sense.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

While they both have their perks, the only thing a Costco membership gets you without spending more of your money is the free samples, which is only useful if they ate out and something you want.

Costco's membership gives you access while Amazon's prime gives your video, ebooks, photo storage and free shipping. I can use all but the free shipping without paying more out of my pocket.

I have both memberships and use the Amazon one far more between the videos and the shipping but Costco gives me access to the eye Dr I like and cheaper contacts than I can get elsewhere, which is why I keep it. Oh and for the churro too. I would miss them both for totally diffetent reasons because again you're comparing access to buy stuff at Costco vs actual stuff I can use without buying at Amazon. Comparing tp Netflix and Hulu makes much more sense.

Well I got that part. But that's not what the poster was initially saying which is all it got what you physically into a store. That's not factually true.

What it is is people are not comparing memberships and subscription services the same way.

Amazon is not the same type of platform (an online retailer with perks centered around the internet) than Costco (bulk warehouse retailer--brick and mortar).

Perhaps that's more my issue. Amazon is in no way intended to be like Costco and Costco is in no way intended to be like Amazon. If Amazon started out as a brick and mortar store perhaps it would be more discussion on what Amazon gives you for free and what Costco does not give you for free.

 

[afan]

Well I got that part. But that's not what the poster was initially saying which is all it got what you physically into a store. That's not factually true.

What it is is people are not comparing memberships and subscription services the same way.

Amazon is not the same type of platform (an online retailer with perks centered around the internet) than Costco (bulk warehouse retailer--brick and mortar).

Perhaps that's more my issue. Amazon is in no way intended to be like Costco and Costco is in no way intended to be like Amazon. If Amazon started out as a brick and mortar store perhaps it would be more discussion on what Amazon gives you for free and what Costco does not give you for free.

Your last paragraph sums it up, you can't compare them. Anyone can shop at Amazon without prime but I can't shop at costco or Sam's without a membership. (Excluding being able to use a Costco gift card).

Plus Costco's perks that you can use outside the store, like travel, still require you to spend money. That's where the comparison falters because Costco is still only getting you access, which was his point of it only gets you in the store. Prime gets me videos etc without paying more. They are two totally different types of things since anyone can shop at Amazon without prime.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Your last paragraph sums it up, you can't compare them. Anyone can shop at Amazon without prime but I can't shop at costco or Sam's without a membership. (Excluding being able to use a Costco gift card).

Plus Costco's perks that you can use outside the store, like travel, still require you to spend money. That's where the comparison falters because Costco is still only getting you access, which was his point of it only gets you in the store. Prime gets me videos etc without paying more. They are two totally different types of things since anyone can shop at Amazon without prime.

Ah ok.

So maybe let's reverse it and try not to compare things that don't make sense to compare with . I use my memberships and subscriptions without comparing them to each other. They each have their own purposes.

 

[Ben E N]

Ah ok.

So maybe let's reverse it and try not to compare things that don't make sense to compare with . I use my memberships and subscriptions without comparing them to each other. They each have their own purposes.

I fully agree there. Sorry to have brought it up in the first place. The beauty of a free market society is that places can charge as much as they want for their products, services, or memberships, and we get to pick at what price it is worth it to us. Costco and Amazon, as well as Disney, are all great examples of trying to find that perfect line of what people are willing to pay.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I fully agree there. Sorry to have brought it up in the first place. The beauty of a free market society is that places can charge as much as they want for their products, services, or memberships, and we get to pick at what price it is worth it to us. Costco and Amazon, as well as Disney, are all great examples of trying to find that perfect line of what people are willing to pay.

It's all good. No worries

 

[usnuzuloose]

ETA: Strike that looks like CA is charged for taxes on Prime Membership as well as other states. My state doesn't charge tax on Prime Membership so it's actually the first time I've heard of that.

It shouldn't have tax--least it never has for me--for the membership renewal.

But yours looks like a different issue. Did you sign up for a trial period and then never cancel after that? Did you get something that included free months of Prime and never cancelled it?

They don't e-mail when it is time to renew..at least they don't for me. Maybe it's how I have it set up which is it automatically drafts from my account each year in June.

No I did not sign up for the trial. I bought the one item and then in order to not pay for shipping I bought another item that I would noramally buy to get the free shipping. I knew I never wanted the membership. I have costco due to us having a business and save a lot of money that way. I have saved all the convos and email with them. Calif is getting taxed in all ways.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

No I did not sign up for the trial. I bought the one item and then in order to not pay for shipping I bought another item that I would noramally buy to get the free shipping. I knew I never wanted the membership. I have costco due to us having a business and save a lot of money that way. I have saved all the convos and email with them. Calif is getting taxed in all ways.

Hmm that's odd really. Glad you got it refunded though!