After years of shopping on Amazon, my spouse and I finally decided to become Amazon Prime members last autumn. For $119 a year, or about $12.99 a month, Amazon Prime offers various perks like free two-day shipping, unlimited access to a vast collection of movies and TV shows on Prime Instant Video, and the ability to borrow books from the extensive Kindle Lending Library.
Before joining Prime, we used to wait until our orders reached the $35 free shipping threshold, which meant sometimes waiting up to two weeks for our items to arrive. As the time for our membership renewal approached, we took a moment to evaluate the benefits we’d enjoyed and discussed whether it was worth continuing.
**Pro: Ease of Use**
The best part of Amazon Prime for us has been the fast, two-day shipping. With both of us working full-time, avoiding those extra trips to the store for just one item has been incredibly convenient. The time we save by not running errands and getting everything delivered quickly to our door is invaluable.
We believe this convenience will become even more important when we welcome a new baby into our family. Not having to rush out for diapers, wipes, formula, or other baby essentials in the middle of the night because of a sudden shortage will be a huge help.
**Con: Cost**
The biggest drawback of Amazon Prime is the cost. At $119 a year (up from $79 a few years ago), it’s definitely a financial commitment. However, considering the number of orders we place and how much we used to spend on expedited shipping, the membership has saved us money over the past year.
In my opinion, Amazon Prime is similar to membership services like Costco and Netflix. It combines the perks of good prices for products with unlimited streaming of TV shows and movies, making it a better deal compared to other options.
**Pro: Cost-Effectiveness**
Despite no longer having a sales tax exemption in California, Amazon Prime still offers highly competitive pricing.
**Pro: Controlling Unplanned Spending**
Avoiding those last-minute trips to stores like Target has saved us a lot. Often, going to the store for one item meant coming back with several unnecessary things. With Amazon Prime, we only buy what we need, avoiding impulse buys.
This change in our shopping habits helps justify the $119 fee.
After going over everything, we decided to keep our Amazon Prime membership. By canceling our Netflix subscription, which cost us $8.99 a month or $107.88 a year, the Amazon Prime membership essentially pays for itself.
Do you have an Amazon Prime membership, or do you think the $119 annual fee is worth it? What other subscription services do you find valuable?