<p>In this Parent's Forum, I've seen Amazon Prime referred to a few time (for buying books and other items). For those of you that use or have tried it, what do you think; is it worth the cost? Besides the shipping benefits, have you taken advantage of the instant videos? Any other benefits? I copied the high level description of Amazon Prime off their web site below. Thanks!</p>
<p>Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime is a membership program that gives you and your family unlimited fast shipping, such as FREE Two-Day shipping and One-day shipping for $3.99 per item on all eligible purchases for an annual membership fee of $79. Amazon Prime members can enjoy instant videos: unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of 5,000 movies and TV shows through Amazon Instant Video at no additional cost. Eligible customers can try out a membership by starting a free trial.</p>
<p>Love Amazon Prime. It allows you to add people on and our adult kids are added on. They don’t even have to be on our account. We order tons of stuff on Amazon – coffee, appliances, books, etc. It more than pays for itself. I’ve ordered items that were very large and very heavy and paid no shipping. Love Amazon and love Amazon Prime.</p>
<p>I had my D set up a student account for Amazon Prime (free) last summer. It’s great. We used it again last week to get expedited shipping on a Kindle birthday present when the local stores were sold out. </p>
<p>Does anybody know how the expiration works? In other words, will they auto-charge the credit card to renew after a year?</p>
<p>You can setup alternate “pay phrase” account with address for your kid(s) at the college they are at. When they need stuff, just order and it will be there in about 2 days. Any household items like detergent, soap or shampoo can be ordered with free shipping, no need to buy it at home and lug them around when traveling to school. And usually these items are cheaper from Amazon than your kids buying them at local convenience store.</p>
<p>Another big Amazon Prime fan here. I find reading the customer reviews to be very helpful, and with rockbottom prices, free 2-day shipping, and no sales tax – what’s not to love? The dog has decided that our UPS delivery lady is a member of the family, and doesn’t bother to bark when she arrives. :)</p>
<p>Amazon has said they won’t autocharge at the end of the year. I believe you’ll be able to resign up again providing you still have access to the .edu account, but I’m not 100% certain on this or if it’s changed. (The no autoreenrollment charge is a definite though)</p>
<p>I love Amazon Prime! My son has a free student account, but the whole family uses it. Although we haven’t used this option, you can set up a pay phrases for each family member to shortcut shipping and payment information.</p>
<p>I don’t think they automatically renew you, but I do think they let you know it’s time. But I wouldn’t swear to that. Love that the dog considers the UPS lady family.</p>
<p>The non-student Amazon Prime automatically renews to the same credit card originally given. I would expect that the student version would require the updated student address info. I have used it a lot, but now with e-books, I will probably cancel my plan when it reaches the expiration date.</p>
<p>Man oh man do I love Amazon! I get a lot of our regular grocery and household items from them (such as peanut butter, protein powder, razors, diapers, toothpaste, laundry soap, coffee etc.) using their “Subscribe and Save” service, which gives you a 15% discount for recurring purchases with free shipping. It is almost always much cheaper than the store. They e-mail before they ship so you can delay or cancel the shipment. You can choose the shipping frequency for each item (once a month all the way up to once every six months). Every item ships separately unless they happen to ship on the same day or you ask to have them grouped. You can also delay or speed up shipments very easily if you don’t need an item or are running out early. Because I spend well over $25/month there on baby and child items (we also have a 2 year old) I get Amazon Prime for free as an “Amazon Mom.” It does not apply to Subscribe and Save, though, since you are already saving beaucoup $. Did I mention I love Amazon? It certainly beats shlepping the toddler to the store and saves time when I do shop.<br>
I realize this sounds like an ad, so let me include a disclaimer–I do not work for Amazon, do not know anyone who works for Amazon, and to the best of my knowledge we do not own stock in Amazon. About the only down side is all the boxes…which may come in handy when S enters college in 2012!</p>
<p>My s-i-law recommended Amazon Prime. She uses it to send gifts-- b/c of the free shipping w/in 2 days & wide varitety. We now use it at work & send client gifts all the time via amazon prime. It really has been a great resource-- where else can yousend a “hope you are feeling better soon & thought you might enjoy this best seller while recuperating” gift for under $20?</p>
<p>I really like Amazon Prime–worth the $79 annual fee to my household. The free two-day delivery via UPS is very reliable and well worth it for household items as well as books. Our mail service is surprisingly unreliable for an established suburb where addresses have not changed in decades, so getting books form Amazon via USPS free shipping tended to be a gamble and only worked when they weren’t time-sensitive purchases. I have definitely bought more online since I started using Prime—beats a trip to an untidy Target or over-scented Bed Bath and Beyond, especially with gas prices as high as they are.</p>
<p>A long time and satisfied Amazon Prime user here, but learned a lot by reading this tread --I have not tried their video streaming, for instance, and so far have always refused their suggestion to use pay phase, which now may come handy as a son is setting off to college. </p>
<p>They do renew your membership automatically every year, but always send emails to alert you beforehand.</p>