Thoughts on Amazon Prime

[gtmtnbiker]

[I thought there was an existing topic on Amazon Prime but couldn't find one]

I just recently signed up for a trial membership for Amazon Prime. I've used Prime before a few years ago and Amazon asked if I wanted to try it again so I accepted.

Amazon Prime gives you:
- free 2 day shipping on stuff sold by Amazon LLC
- free instant streaming of TV shows/movies
- free access to many books/newspapers on the Kindle

So I've been taking advantage of the 2 day shipping which is great. I also tried the streaming of TV shows/movies. The streaming interface works well. The issues I have is finding HD movies. It would be nice if Amazon had an HD filter that allows you to easily find HD movies/shows. I did not see such an option. Anyone have tips on finding HD shows/movies easily?

Over the weekend, my wife/I watched the movie The Edge The description says: "Also available in HD with Amazon Instant Video on Your TV"

I could not find the HD version of the movie. It would be nice if they had a link that you could click on to access the HD version.

The other issue I have with the streaming is that there is no close captioning. I like to enable it for some shows/movies if I have trouble understanding/picking up the dialogue.

I just recently bought the iPad 2 over the weekend so I plan to get the Kindle app and try out the free books section of the library.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the Prime membership with respect to the instant video and the kindle book library.

[Inazuma]

I've been an Amazon Prime member for a few years now. I shop at Amazon a lot so I end up saving money overall. It's especially nice for ordering small things. For example, I have ordered stuff like A/V cables and SD cards and shipping would have normally cost more than the items themselves.

The streaming movies/TV service is a nice bonus if I have a guest over who doesn't understand Japanese. I only watch Japanese TV shows and movies (outside of Youtube), so I have no interest in all of the American content on Amazon. I didn't even know about the streaming service until a couple of months ago.

Protip: If you are buying something from Amazon that has a subscription available, sign up for the subscription to save 15%, and then simply cancel it after you receive your first shipment. This works extremely well and Amazon never complains about it.

[MrPopo]

A Prime membership can really change your shopping habits. Guarenteed 2 day (and sometimes it comes in one day) means that as long as you don't need the product instantly you can purchase it off Amazon and know exactly when you're going to get it. I've shifted the majority of my shopping to Amazon so I can avoid going to stores and dealing with other people.

[J T]

I had Prime for a year because you get a free year if you are a student. It was the year I bought a house, so there was a ton of stuff to buy and it was great to not have to worry about shipping.

[gtmtnbiker]

Sounds like most people use it just for shipping and not for the video streaming or the library lending.

[Dakinggamer87]

Amazon Prime is pretty awesome!! Saves me some money

[k.vlaros]

Prime member for about 4 years now. Yes, it has changed how I shop. Anything that is not food, or clothes, or very heavy, I pretty much always check Amazon first. I know the UPS guy and his two backups by name.

The video thing is cool but so far outside of Amazon's business model that I wonder how long it will be around. There is enough on there that I would happily cancel my Netflix entirely if it were up to me. I don't really pop popcorn, lower the lights and sit still for a 'movie night' at home anymore. Streaming video is more like background or filler while something else is underway. For me, anyhow. But others in the house appreciate the wider selection on Netflix and that it's streamable via Wii.

[Hatta]

I'm cheap and patient, so I never had a problem with free super saver shipping. If it doesn't come in a week, oh well I've got plenty of stuff to keep me busy until it does.

If you're impatient, and buy 2 day shipping anyway, it might make sense to do Amazon Prime. But you have to be sure that you're saving money. 2 day shipping costs $2 per item in most cases, AP costs $80/year. So you have to buy 40 items off of Amazon in a year to break even. That's if, and only if, you were going to pay for 2 day shipping already.

[gtmtnbiker]

I'm cheap and patient, so I never had a problem with free super saver shipping. If it doesn't come in a week, oh well I've got plenty of stuff to keep me busy until it does.

If you're impatient, and buy 2 day shipping anyway, it might make sense to do Amazon Prime. But you have to be sure that you're saving money. 2 day shipping costs $2 per item in most cases, AP costs $80/year. So you have to buy 40 items off of Amazon in a year to break even. That's if, and only if, you were going to pay for 2 day shipping already.

You bring up some good points. I always do super saver shipping and didn't know that it was only $2 per shipment for 2 day shipping. So Prime is a good deal if you ship a lot and are willing to take advantage of the video/book service.

[MrPopo]

I'm cheap and patient, so I never had a problem with free super saver shipping. If it doesn't come in a week, oh well I've got plenty of stuff to keep me busy until it does.

If you're impatient, and buy 2 day shipping anyway, it might make sense to do Amazon Prime. But you have to be sure that you're saving money. 2 day shipping costs $2 per item in most cases, AP costs $80/year. So you have to buy 40 items off of Amazon in a year to break even. That's if, and only if, you were going to pay for 2 day shipping already.

o_O 2 day shipping is much more than $2 an item.