Reasons to keep Amazon Prime?

[MoodyBlues]

Yesterday I did something I never thought I'd do: canceled Amazon Prime. I've had it since its debut. I tolerated its rare price increases because I heavily used Amazon for shopping.

Very long story short, 8-9 months ago I checked out Chewy.com. Not only were their prices better, but they were consistently the same. So, for example, I no longer had to plod through dozens of pages looking for my specific cat litter brand/variety/size to find the best price--if I could find it at all--and weed out any that weren't Prime.

Chewy has been amazing! I have my standard order of pet supplies on auto-ship, and month-to-month the total price is virtually the same. And free shipping. So no hassle!

So I started analyzing cost vs reward for the way I'm now using Prime, and decided it was no longer worth its $120 (or whatever its current price is) annual fee.

Its other features, such as 'unlimited' streaming of TV show and movies, which are not actually unlimited, I almost never use.

My current Prime expires on 04/14/19. Can anyone think of any compelling reasons to renew? Maybe features/services I'm not aware of?

Just FYI, during my protracted illness, when I was absent from AF for over two years, I broke my Amazon shopping 'addiction.' I used to order 2-3 times a week, everything from screwdrivers to kitchen faucets. But when I was sick I couldn't do anything, including shopping online. Somehow...afterward, buying stuff just didn't seem that important any more, so pet supplies and an occasional gift were my only remaining purchases from Amazon. Now, with Chewy...well, there's not much left!

 

[lunatic59]

If I watch one Prime movie a month, it pays for itself. But, honestly, I like the expedited shipping convenience more than anything else. I don't use Prime for any TV, but then again, I don't use TV for much TV anymore .

I'm sure as soon as your membership expires you'll be inundated with deals to come back. Maybe they'll do a year for $50, just to lure you back?

 

[Deleted User]

I tend to sign up for Prime, and cancel it before the month is out. Feel a bit like a freeloader, but then I look at how much Mr Bezos is worth, and don't feel so bad about it

 

[Hadron]

Oh, they let you do that repeatedly? I've never signed up for it once, and when I do use them I get hacked-off by the endless Prime promotions if you try to buy anything, and the way they make option to carry on without signing-up as inconspicuous as possible.

Tell you what, if Amazon start treating their workers properly then you can start feeling bad about taking advantage of their system .

 

[Deleted User]

Yeah I suppose there is the treatment of the workforce, which I can't say I'm too impressed with.
I don't usually have the need for next day delivery, but on the odd occasion I do, I'll sign up for Prime, then cancel it the next day. They haven't ever prevented me from re-signing up.

 

[Clementine_3]

I have had it since for a long time and do use it for movies and TV-ish shows like Mrs. Maisel (love it!), they also give me a free Kindle book every month. The books aren't always great but they are free lol. I also have a credit card that gives me 5% back on all my Amazon purchases, not a bad deal. Shopping is the main draw, they do have decent prices on most stuff and it comes right to the door, I hate shopping so I do love that.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I have had it since for a long time and do use it for movies and TV-ish shows like Mrs. Maisel (love it!)

I don't like watching TV/movies on devices, not my phones, not my tablet, not even my biggest laptop screen. Although all my TVs are 'smart' TVs, they're all connected to DirecTV, so I've never even tried watching online stuff on them. (Not sure how that setup would work.)

they also give me a free Kindle book every month. The books aren't always great but they are free lol.

I have a Kindle Fire HD 8.9" that I rooted (so it looks and functions like a real Android device). I tried reading a book on it and realized I prefer actual books, with pages to thumb through, and which live in my bookcases with hundreds of their friends.

I also have a credit card that gives me 5% back on all my Amazon purchases, not a bad deal.

I have the same card and its cash back admittedly added up quite nicely, when I was ordering a lot. But it's been sitting with a zero balance for months now.

Shopping is the main draw, they do have decent prices on most stuff and it comes right to the door, I hate shopping so I do love that.

Yes! That's what drew me to Amazon, back in the last millennium, in the first place. But now, as noted above, I just don't get excited or even motivated thinking about buying things. This Christmas, for example, instead of sending Amazon gifts to my grandsons, I put money in their college funds. *shrug*

 

[Milo Willamson]

I have youtube to hold into my favorite shows, and I will catch them up much later, when I need a break from my direct tv for a long haul, I have my cellphone - do not want a mental breakdown and get a tablet for what? Even though I could download every app I have though, off the google machine. It is one of those type of emergencies for me though..


I do not watch t.v. yet I tape several shows.

 

[Clementine_3]

I don't like watching TV/movies on devices, not my phones, not my tablet, not even my biggest laptop screen. Although all my TVs are 'smart' TVs, they're all connected to DirecTV, so I've never even tried watching online stuff on them. (Not sure how that setup would work.)

I have a Roku hooked up to my not smart TV, I watch everything through that, never on my phone or laptop (except quick stuff). YouTube TV, Amazon, MLB and NHL all stream over/through the Roku. I can Chromecast too but hardly find the need.

 

[NightAngel79]

I have a Roku hooked up to my not smart TV, I watch everything through that, never on my phone or laptop (except quick stuff). YouTube TV, Amazon, MLB and NHL all stream over/through the Roku. I can Chromecast too but hardly find the need.

And up until recently integrated smart OS's were only way to get 4k content. Luckily now you have 4k chromecast, fire TV, roku.
I do prefer smart TV functionality on my Samsung, moreso than using the apps on my Xbox.

 

[Hadron]

I have a Roku hooked up to my not smart TV, I watch everything through that, never on my phone or laptop (except quick stuff). YouTube TV, Amazon, MLB and NHL all stream over/through the Roku. I can Chromecast too but hardly find the need.

The only time I use my laptop or tablet for TV is when I'm away at a meeting somewhere and can't sleep - and then it's most likely something that I downloaded from a UK catch-up service in case I found myself in this position (I don't make much use of YouTube, don't have a Netflix or Amazon subscription, etc).

I very rarely watch video of any sort on a phone. Possibly that's why I'm not interested in the current fashion for large phones: I suffer the ergonomic drawbacks but get no advantage from them.

 

[Rico ANDROID]

I don't like watching TV/movies on devices, not my phones, not my tablet, not even my biggest laptop screen. Although all my TVs are 'smart' TVs, they're all connected to DirecTV, so I've never even tried watching online stuff on them. (Not sure how that setup would work.)

I have a Kindle Fire HD 8.9" that I rooted (so it looks and functions like a real Android device). I tried reading a book on it and realized I prefer actual books, with pages to thumb through, and which live in my bookcases with hundreds of their friends.

I have the same card and its cash back admittedly added up quite nicely, when I was ordering a lot. But it's been sitting with a zero balance for months now.

Yes! That's what drew me to Amazon, back in the last millennium, in the first place. But now, as noted above, I just don't get excited or even motivated thinking about buying things. This Christmas, for example, instead of sending Amazon gifts to my grandsons, I put money in their college funds. *shrug*

on i love screen-mirroring from my trusty android to my smartv! All my binge-watching i do direct to the tv

 

[dontpanicbobby]

Which credit card is that? %5 sounds good.
Reminds me of what US bank interest rates were before they got greedy.

 

[mikedt]

I've never had Prime, never even had an Amazon account.

 

[Unforgiven]

Go to Walmart to get a Cricut cutting blade. $12.99, out of stock, and they won't have it for a week. Hit Amazon. $6.50 and I had it the next day. Plus since I got a Roku I actually have an easy way to navigate Amazon's terrible video layout, so I watch a few shows.

 

[Clementine_3]

Which credit card is that? %5 sounds good.

Chase

easy way to navigate Amazon's terrible video layout

It is awful

 

[MoodyBlues]

Which credit card is that? %5 sounds good.

"Amazon Prime Store Card" is what it says on mine.

Reminds me of what US bank interest rates were before they got greedy.

No kidding.

I have an annuity I opened in the '80s that pays 4%. I'm so glad to have it! I can deposit/withdraw at will, no penalties or restrictions. It's the best investment I ever made.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Go to Walmart to get a Cricut cutting blade. $12.99, out of stock, and they won't have it for a week. Hit Amazon. $6.50 and I had it the next day.

Yeah...but. (Refer back to OP. )

 

[MoodyBlues]

I've never had Prime, never even had an Amazon account.

Is that somehow related to living in China, or something else?

I have to say, even though I'm ending my Prime account, Amazon is THE place to go for even the most obscure items. Plus, at least in my experience, their customer service is outstanding--and that's saying a lot, these days!

 

[Davdi]

I just cancelled my Amazon prime for the second time, There won't be a third time.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

DPB for President in 2020.

 

[psionandy]

DPB for President in 2020.

You know...it took me a stupidly long time to work out who DPB was... I tried googling... and got nothing... i was about to send you a message when i finally realised...

... DPB would get my vote.. regardless of if he has an Amazon Prime subscription or not.


We don't have Prime... The shipping savings would be marginal for us.. BUT if we did jump to it, we would end up cancelling our Netflix account, as there's only so much TV i can stream... and there's so much stuff in my queue that i haven't watched yet

 

[MoodyBlues]

I just cancelled my Amazon prime for the second time, There won't be a third time.

What prompted you to cancel? If you don't mind my asking.

 

[Dude905]

I love Prime and I have used Amazon a lot. I bought 38 items last year and many had discounts for them

 

[maire5]

Recently was told by someone that how they get their TV, etc. is to sign up for the free trial periods, then cancel. Then, someone else in the household uses a different name/email address to sign up again after they have moved on to another service and then come back again. They binge watch TV and movies and alternate between the different services that way, mostly using free trials. I recently signed up for Prime in relation to some order for the free shipping. I'm checking out what's available since it is the first time for me. We'll see how long I remain interested.