A subscription to Amazon Prime offers a plethora of benefits, including FREE fast shipping for eligible purchases, streaming of movies, TV shows, and music, exclusive shopping deals, unlimited reading, and more.
One of the smartest business decisions I ever made occurred three years ago when I opted to become an Amazon Prime member. I thought at the time that joining guaranteed me free shipping on a majority of my purchases, and perhaps faster delivery. Those potential benefits satisfied me sufficiently to fork over a nominal subscription fee without any qualms.
Now, absolutely no regrets. Over each year of my Prime membership, I saved hundreds of dollars in shipping fees while routinely receiving my packages within 1-3 days, sometimes less, rarely more.
I buy online frequently for a spectrum of stuff and am amazed at Amazon’s almost limitless selections. Before I proceed with the prima facie case for a Prime membership, permit me to make a point about Amazon’s own access to products.
I had a discussion with a friend recently about the Nativity story, specifically what historical (vs. Biblical) evidence (if any) exists for it. During the debate, I wondered if it was possible after the lapse of many centuries to obtain Frankincense and Myrrh, gifts No. 2 and No. 3 (No. 1 was gold) that the three Wise Men reportedly brought to Bethlehem.
Stupid me. Amazon sells Frankincense, made from the resin of a tree that grows primarily in the Middle East. Its Frankincense inventory includes a bottle (pictured here) that is perfect for aromatherapy, relaxation, and more. It will come as no surprise that this exotic oil is covered by a Prime membership. So if you want, go to this link and get some:
Artizen Frankincense Essential Oil (100% Pure & Natural, $9.99, Prime Eligible
Okay, so what about Myrrh, a fragrant gum resin also obtained from certain trees and used, especially in the Near East, in perfumery, medicines, and incense?
Naturally, Amazon sells Myrrh. But you can also double down and get a two-pack of Frankincense and Myrrh for $19.99. Prime shipping applies. Go here for that:
Frankincense and Myrrh Essential Oil Combo Pack, $19.99 (4.3 stars out of 5)
(FYI: Straw from the original manger is not sold by Amazon, at least not that I can find. But if it were, it likely would be covered by a Prime membership as well.)
What I didn’t realize when I subscribed to Amazon Prime was that the service offered way more than I thought. I receive FREE TWO-DAY SHIPPING on 50 million products and SAME-DAY SHIPPING on one million. I can even get PRIME NOW, which is free TWO-HOUR delivery on thousands of products.
Amazon may have re-defined the whole notion of instant gratification.
Another unexpected benefit of becoming a member: INSTANT STREAMING. When I signed up, I thought instant streaming had something to do with flash floods. Again, stupid me.
But it means I have right-now access to TV shows, new and old, as well as a lot of other cool stuff. Such as:
Prime Video
With Prime Video, a subscriber receives access to thousands of movies and television programs across every genre, from Oscar-winning classics to scary horror flicks and action adventures. Prime Video also features a large selection of Amazon original movies.
You can stream unlimited movies and TV episodes from the Prime Video app on your compatible Fire TV, Smart TV, media player, game console, mobile phone, tablet, or laptop. So you are always good to go, home or away.
With the Nyrius Aries Home+ Wireless HDMI 2X Input Transmitter & Receiver (shown above), you can wirelessly stream true 1080p high definition 3D video and audio to your HDTV or projector up to 100 feet. Broadcast movies, TV shows, games, and music from your cable box, Bluray player, gaming console, satellite, PC, Mac, or laptop.
After you download the app, all you need to do is book the next two centuries to watch everything you are going to get.
Amazon Channels
A Prime membership will enable a subscriber to watch premium channels such as HBO, SHOWTIME, and STARZ with no cable. The service costs $4.99–$14.99 per month for members, a significant benefit considering that HBO alone costs $14.99 per month. Amazon also includes a cancel-anytime policy.
Prime Music
Subscribers in the United States and Puerto Rico receive access to millions of songs from 2,000-plus playlists and stations. It is ad-free and available for offline playback. Amazon’s musical experts program Prime Music, frequently updating it with new titles.
Prime Music is available on Amazon Echo along with FireTV, Fire Tablet, and other Alexa-enabled devices. Subscribers can also listen to playlists that encompass practically everything: cooking, working out, gaming, dinner parties, you name it. To get going, just ask Alexa.
Prime Music is the only Music Streaming Service with free, two-day shipping. Give someone — give yourself — the gift of a 30-day trial here.
Amazon Music Unlimited
Members receive discounted monthly and/or annual plans that include unlimited access to any songs, on-demand, and always-ad-free. Subscribers can listen to tens of millions of songs anytime, anywhere, on smartphones, tablets, PC/Mac, Fire TV, and Alexa-enabled devices such as Amazon Echo (get the device here to stream hi-fi music to your stereo system).
Prime members can join Amazon Music Unlimited for $7.99 per month or $79 per year. Non-Prime customers pay $9.99 per month.
Twitch Prime
Twitch focuses on video games and live streaming, including broadcasts of eSports. Prime subscribers receive exclusive promotions for eligible pre-order games. Twitch TV users who link their Amazon Prime account get a free Twitch channel subscription every month, and access to free game content (sign up for a free Twitch Prime Trial here).
Prime Shopping
For Prime members, Amazon offers everyday products, from baby care to household cleaners. Memberships include more than a dozen benefits that will make your life easier, less expensive, and more fun. They range from savings at Whole Foods Market to better-than-bargain prices at Amazon Book Stores.
These three benefits stand out: Amazon Fresh, Amazon Wardrobe, and Prime Pantry.
Prime members in select regions receive, with Amazon Fresh, fast and FREE grocery delivery on a wide array of goods including meat, seafood, produce, snacks, and household essentials,
Amazon Wardrobe is a Prime-exclusive program in which a member can try (before he/she buys) eligible items across women’s, men’s, kids’, and baby clothing, shoes, and accessories.
With Prime Pantry, customers in select regions can shop for groceries and household products for a fee of $5.99 per order. Read about Prime Pantry here.
Prime Reading
Primes can borrow books and magazines from the Prime Reading catalog, and peruse them on a Fire tablet or Kindle e-reader. For more about that check out this opportunity.
Members also receive early (in the United States) opportunities to download a new book for free every month from the Amazon First Reads picks. For more, go to Amazon First Reads. You can also purchase hardcover titles at exclusive prices (if you are a wine lover, or know one, look at these hardcover titles).
With my subscription, I thought I was getting a bargain on free and fast shipping. I got it. But I also get free TV, movies, and music. It allows me unlimited entree to an entertainment library I never thought I could afford. It provides me shopping bargains, a variety of food choices, and more.
And if I want Frankincense and Myrrh, I can get that, too.
Late-night infomercials are fond of pointing out, “You can’t buy this (the product being touted) in stores.” You cannot buy a Prime membership in a store, either, but you can go here and sign up for a subscription. The breakdown:
One year: $119 / Three months: $39 / One month: $12.99 / Student one year: $59 / Student month: $6.49
For A Great Time, Subscribe To Prime
Look: I find $12.99 every month under the cushions of my couch. You probably blow $12.99 in vending machines. Or squander it on Twinkies, the only thing in the world likely to survive the Sixth Mass Extinction. And we all spend more than $12.99 per WEEK at Starbucks.
So open yourself up to a trove of TV, movies, music, reading, education, and shopping. For context, keep in mind that just one measly movie or CD costs at least as much as an Amazon Prime subscription. Go to the preceding link or to the banner below to entertain yourself for, well, forever.
ALSO SEE:
Prime Video
Prime Music
Response Magic