What to do with an Amazon Prime membership?

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
I noticed that my wife started getting some packages with Amazon Prime tape on the box a few days ago. I asked her about it, and she told me that she signed up for this Amazon Mom program awhile back that gave her a three month "free" Prime membership.

Naturally, she forgot to cancel the trial because she's been busy with the baby and she got billed $79 for a full year of Prime. Rats. We have Amazon Prime now until April 2014, and we now set it up not to auto renew.

So... Prime members... what do you use Prime for besides free 2 day shipping? I noticed that it has a half decent streaming movie collection, and that you get free book rentals once a month. I haven't been too impressed with the free book collection so far, though.

Do you have any good movies or books to recommend?
 

feralkid

Lifer
Jan 28, 2002
16,861
4,975
136
Streaming.

Check if you can "gift" free memberships to friends or family. Sometimes they allow 2 freebies.
 
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Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
Steaming + spend more money. Getting $10 items with 2 day shipping is awesome.
 

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
14,539
428
136
I order everything from amazon if i can now, it's cheaper and easier, not to mention the 2 day shipping is usually 1 day shipping for me anyway, if it's close it ships 1 day if it's far away they usually just overnight it.
 

twinrider1

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2003
4,096
64
91
Streaming.
Have you seen the show Justified? First 3 seasons are on Prime.
The Conversation is a GREAT movie.

Stuff.
I always check Amazon for auto parts. It's sometimes better than Rock Auto.
It's not always cheaper, but I have found good deals on toilet paper and paper towels. I buy in bulk and it sucks having a dozen paper towels fill up your cart when you're grocery shopping. I've also bought deodorant and shaving soap from Amazon.
Sometimes they'll have albums downloads for 25 cents.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,638
6,522
126
once you start ordering shit from amazon you will love prime. i got it around xmas time to save on tax and so i wouldn't have to go to the malls, and i order so much shit off of there. i just ordered razor blades for the mach4 off of there instead of getting them from the store.
 

Meractik

Golden Member
Jul 8, 2003
1,752
0
0
once you start ordering shit from amazon you will love prime. i got it around xmas time to save on tax and so i wouldn't have to go to the malls, and i order so much shit off of there. i just ordered razor blades for the mach4 off of there instead of getting them from the store.

but they charge tax now? (or is that not "everywhere", like I thought...)
 

trmiv

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
14,670
18
81
Stream. Watched the first 3 seasons of Justified, that alone was worth it.

Also I place a ton of orders on Amazon. If it's $2 cheaper on amazon than in the store, I just order it, and get it two days later.

Last is the subscribe and save with Amazon Mom. I just ordered a 234 pack of Pampers Swaddlers size 1 for $35.59 with subscribe and save. You get 20% off on subscribe and save baby items if you're a Prime member. Cool thing is, you don't even have to keep the subscription, you can just order it once and then cancel the subscription right after. I figure two-three shipments should get us through the size 1 though
 

Imp

Lifer
Feb 8, 2000
18,828
184
106
Ugh, they added a new warehouse in Canada or they're enforcing their "Free Shipping" time more now. I used to get 2 day shipping regardless because I live so close to a fulfillment center. My last few orders have taken about a week. We only got Prime a few months ago, so maybe it was that.
 

TheVrolok

Lifer
Dec 11, 2000
24,254
4,092
136
Stream. Watched the first 3 seasons of Justified, that alone was worth it.

I always forget to check Amazon streaming since I'm also a Netflix customer, but first 3 seasons of Justified? I've been meaning to watch.

Also, for the OP, like others I order essentially everything from Amazon these days and 2 day shipping is awesome.
 
Oct 20, 2005
10,978
44
91
I noticed that my wife started getting some packages with Amazon Prime tape on the box a few days ago. I asked her about it, and she told me that she signed up for this Amazon Mom program awhile back that gave her a three month "free" Prime membership.

Naturally, she forgot to cancel the trial because she's been busy with the baby and she got billed $79 for a full year of Prime. Rats. We have Amazon Prime now until April 2014, and we now set it up not to auto renew.

So... Prime members... what do you use Prime for besides free 2 day shipping? I noticed that it has a half decent streaming movie collection, and that you get free book rentals once a month. I haven't been too impressed with the free book collection so far, though.

Do you have any good movies or books to recommend?

FYI - if you don't want the amazon prime and have not used it's services since renewing, you can get a full refund I believe. Heck, I think you are even able to get a prorated discount if you talk w/ customer service.
 
Oct 20, 2005
10,978
44
91
Streaming.

Check if you can "gift" free memberships to friends or family. Sometimes they allow 2 freebies.

You should be able to give up to 4 family members prime shipping for as long as you have it. They won't get access to streaming though.
 

thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
9,032
125
106
Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End
was the last free Prime book I read. I've read a bunch of Prime books off there most being crap but that one wasn't half bad if you like zombie books.
 

datalink7

Lifer
Jan 23, 2001
16,765
6
81
Get an amazon credit card (which you'll pay off every month).

Order everything from Amazon.

Come Christmas time you'll have at least a couple hundred in free credit with which to buy Christmas presents for relatives (with free two day shipping). At least that's what I do.
 

weadjust

Senior member
Mar 28, 2004
636
0
71
I would rather the UPS guy haul and deliver a 30lb bag of dog food to my door. Amazon is cheaper (no sales tax here) and less hassle than going to petsmart.
 
Apr 20, 2008
10,067
990
126
Stream, stream, stream. Since I got it for $39 a year for being a student, I take advantage of it as much as possible. It's $3.25 a month for me, but now that I know what it brings, I'd likely pay $6.50 a month like you are for it.

I got Amazon Instant Video as well as Netflix on my Wii with a 720/1080P HDMI upscaler. The quality and massive selection between the two convinced my wife to drop cable. I haven't looked back!
 

RPD

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2009
5,109
600
126
Stream, enjoy 2day free shipping, get free books from the lending library.
 

Farang

Lifer
Jul 7, 2003
10,913
3
0
Streammmmmm.. selection is hit or miss. I've enjoyed Justified and Fringe for TV series. They've got some classic Bill Murray and Jack Nicholson on there as well
 

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
619
121
I order everything from amazon if i can now, it's cheaper and easier, not to mention the 2 day shipping is usually 1 day shipping for me anyway, if it's close it ships 1 day if it's far away they usually just overnight it.


Cheaper??? I just bought a HD camcorder on Ebay for 53 bucks doubt I could get the same deal on Amazon.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,081
136
When I'm not in school I watch movies and sometimes shows.

They have the first and second seasons of TNG in hd.
 

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
14,539
428
136
Cheaper??? I just bought a HD camcorder on Ebay for 53 bucks doubt I could get the same deal on Amazon.

If you want to go searching craigs list and ebay I am sure you can find shit much cheaper, but by that logic why pay for it at all? Just go dumpster diving until you find what you need for free
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
2 day shipping usually costs 10$-20$ minimum from other retailers. So, after 3-5 purchases through amazon per year, it makes up for the membership. Also nice is Amazon prices are pretty competitive with other retailers. 4$ upgrade to next day shipping on large items like appliances and machines is very nice especially if they are rarely stocked locally in stores or you don't have a large car/truck. I haven't made use of streaming yet... My brother bought membership and gifted me free membership as a family member. I don't know if your wife can take advantage of that. Maybe "split" cost of membership with a friend or two while they get their own memberships... Some of my friends buy large items like bulk diapers, paper towels, dog food, etc through amazon so that they don't have to fill their car up at the local stores.
 
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