Amazon Prime - Join Annual or Monthly?

pinkybrain on 13/04/2025 - 22:51
Last edited 14/04/2025 - 08:09 by 1 other user

Is it better to join Amazon Prime

  • Annual $79

OR

  • Monthly $9.99
    ie when we need to buy something and want to get free shipping

OR (alternative third option)
add more items to reach $59 to get free shipping for that month when I need to buy something etc.

Yes if I join annual then can save $40 vs monthly (if keep paying each month x 12)

The only main benefit I would get from prime is the free shipping (best benefit / value ie saving $7.99)
and random limited time deals
Don't care about Prime Video, Amazon Music, and Prime Reading etc..

Amazon Prime Day was good when Amazon first launched and during the early years (when can get really good deals on xbox and ps4 consoles etc)
but now it sucks (hardly any true good deals except for Amazon devices that Amazon keeps on wanting to put in people's home)

Already got ebay plus (from a promo)

General Discussion Amazon Membership

Related Stores

Amazon AU
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Comments

  • payton on 13/04/2025 - 22:53

    and free games to keep every month.
    Some of the sharply discounted deals might go out of stock by the time you resub to Prime, but this might keep FOMO and impulse buys away from the wallet.

    • pinkybrain on 13/04/2025 - 23:00

      yeah that is good also but as many people know here
      epic games is where most people are getting their free games every week without need to pay for prime..

      Also the most recent amazon prime gaming post, most of the games are GOG (classic games) rather new PC games ie only some epic games on that list
      and even then those epic games don't seem that great vs what Epic games give each week

      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/900447

  • Hybroid on 13/04/2025 - 23:01
    +1

    Depends how much you order I suppose? You're getting extra 4 months with the annual payment.

    Prime Video has a lot of great content, from Clarkson's Farm/Grand Tour to plethora of kids movies and shows.

    • pinkybrain on 13/04/2025 - 23:12

      don't regularly order stuff on amazon since I can get it on ebay (which has free shipping) and ebay has more items/sellers and usually cheaper except for some items..
      and ebay plus discount vouchers do make the items even cheaper than amazon (except for amazon limited time deals)

      I only occasionally buy on amazon if I need it immediately (fast shipping ie 1 or 2 day)
      This is the main prime benefit for me (fast and free shipping).

      Also there are limited time deals which are tempting but can't buy it without a prime account to buy it
      or need to buy total $59 items to get free shipping after adding that item

      • Hybroid on 13/04/2025 - 23:20
        +14

        Well that depends on each person's shopping habits. I can't stand eBay personally.

        Tons of junk on there for anything you search for and having to constantly sift through multiple copy-paste posts, drop-downs that change the search result $4.99 price to $12.99 for the actual item you want, having to check reviews and ratings of sellers, then wait days and days for delivery to show up is so 2010. Not to mention the convoluted returns process (raise a ticket, wait for response, escalate for review etc). It's basically become a dropshipped Shein/Temu/whatever marketplace at higher prices.

        Prime gets me everything I want delivered same or next day, with easy free returns. I'm happy to pay a bit extra for that peace of mind. I also avoid anything from third party sellers on Amazon - it has to be Prime delivered only.

      • freefall101 on 14/04/2025 - 12:15

        Go to your Amazon order page, look at how many months you made orders in, make your decision from there.

        less than 8 months - subscribe monthly when needed
        8 months or more - subscribe annually

        Add extra thought for whether you could wait and order a bunch of stuff at once.

  • AustriaBargain on 14/04/2025 - 06:55
    +1

    The price could go up sometime, so locking in at the lower price for 12 months is a good idea. In the U.S. Amazon Prime costs a lot more per year than we pay in Australia.

  • bobbieb on 14/04/2025 - 07:39

    Stopped checking whether they've actually started offering ad-free prime video as part of an annual package. The last time I submitted the question, the couldn't say if/when it would happen.

    Sticking to the annual subscription for now - locking in the price for prime delivery is the priority.

  • FireRunner on 14/04/2025 - 07:54
    +5

    I used to purchase a lot more from Amazon. Now I hardly ever. I usually stay unsubscribed because I don’t need next day delivery and I purchase infrequently.
    If I need to buy some stuff I usually save up enough items to spend over the $59 for free post. I just chuck in some groceries when close.
    I might miss out on some random cheap items but honestly don’t need them so am saving in the long run. If I do find myself needing an item, I will re-sub, I did so on a recent Belkin powerboard deal

  • Danstar on 14/04/2025 - 08:03
    -1

    People with the posts where they literally put the answer in their own post.

    Do you want to pay $59 a month or $10 a month that equates to $120 a year if you end up just keep rolling it on month by month with a potential to save $10 if you cancel for a month….

    • pinkybrain on 14/04/2025 - 08:17

      Do you want to pay $59 a month or $10 a month that equates to $120 a year if you end up just keep rolling it on month by month with a potential to save $10 if you cancel for a month….

      Not paying $59 a month.
      It is a one off option if I need to buy something for that month rather than an ongoing monthly $59 spend…

      It is a third alternative option which is to add more items (which may be in my saved cart etc) to spend over $59 to get free shipping.

      • Danstar on 14/04/2025 - 08:21

        Sorry, couldn't edit as you replied already.

        Sounds like you have your mind set on not paying the annual fee

        • pinkybrain on 14/04/2025 - 08:32

          Sounds like you have your mind set on not paying the annual fee

          No, I don't have my your mind set on not paying the annual fee
          I was clarifying to you that is another alternative option..

          Still reading the replies here to see different opinions to help me decide…

          • Danstar on 14/04/2025 - 09:28
            +3

            @pinkybrain: It's a pretty clear cut answer.

            You're over thinking it in my opinion.

  • SmiTTy on 14/04/2025 - 09:29

    Don't renew until you need to buy your next thing.
    When you do need to buy something use a new account so you get the trial period before u start paying the annual fee. Then after a year, again don't renew until you need to buy something but then revert to your first account bcos amazon will likely give you another trial period for coming back

    … And I think from memory u can use giftcards to pay for the annual sub (try to get them discounted obviously)

  • jv on 14/04/2025 - 11:16
    +1

    but now it sucks

    next day delivery sucks ??????????

  • Potatohead82 on 14/04/2025 - 12:30
    +1

    I have the yearly membership. Items like milk, toothpaste and a whole lot of other items can be purchased way cheaper on Amazon compared to the supermarkets. This is mainly why I keep the yearly membership. The TV shows on Prime Video are also good. Prime Reading has some good content too if you are into reading.

    • pinkybrain on 15/04/2025 - 11:09

      I have the yearly membership. Items like milk, toothpaste and a whole lot of other items can be purchased way cheaper on Amazon compared to the supermarkets.

      really?
      do you have example links for same grocery products on Amazon vs Supermarket?

      Aldi is also often cited as the supermarket with lowest total checkout price.. ie a shopping cart of similar items..

      So you mainly buy groceries on Amazon?
      Do they sell fresh milk or just long life + powder milk?

      The TV shows on Prime Video are also good

      There are less original high quality shows (e.g The Boyz) on Prime Video than HBO max or Netflix.
      Even the Hobbit show is not really a must watch show.

      Prime Reading has some good content too if you are into reading.

      My library of free Amazon books regularly posted here is so vast and huge I don't even read them..
      Just don't have the time to read them

      • Danstar on 15/04/2025 - 11:40

        Amazon instantly price match Woolworths/coles specials

      • Potatohead82 on 15/04/2025 - 11:47

        100% - I buy Almond Milk and Oats Milk, I buy when Amazon prices are lower and subscribe, the prices are considerably cheaper compared to Woolies and Coles. Same with the toothpaste - again - only buy and subscribe when they come on discount. Then stop the sub when they increase the price. Rinse and repeat the process. This is not the case for every product though.

        I like the content selection on Prime Video - everyone to their own taste. Also, I am not happy that they removed the first few seasons from The Expanse.

        • pinkybrain on 15/04/2025 - 11:56

          100% - I buy Almond Milk and Oats Milk, I buy when Amazon prices are lower and subscribe, the prices are considerably cheaper compared to Woolies and Coles. Same with the toothpaste - again - only buy and subscribe when they come on discount.

          Do you buy any other types of groceries?

          Do they have as much products as a supermarket?

          I like the content selection on Prime Video - everyone to their own taste.

          yeah this is true, but in your opinion what are the current must watch original amazon primes show?
          I only know of The Boyz..

          HBO/Max probably has more must watch and high quality original shows..
          Netflix has the most original content and variety of shows.

          I trialed amazon prime 30 days, and prime video didn't seem to have that many original must watch shows..

          I think I read that prime video does the biggest movies catalog (not sure if it is still true)

          • Potatohead82 on 15/04/2025 - 13:10

            @pinkybrain: They don't have as many products as there are in the supermarket, but they have some. I'd need to spend more time looking at what other products I normally buy at supermarkets that could be cheaper on Amazon.

            Reacher on Amazon Prime is really good. I don't watch a lot of TV Shows or Movies, but I've found some of the content is good.

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