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Amazon Prime Membership: Everything You Need To Know About What It Does And What You Get

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Amazon Prime Membership: Everything You Need To Know About What It Does And What You Get


Reviews

Michael Grothaus

10:56, 25 Jul 2014

Free, next day delivery, Amazon Prime Instant Video and an eBook landing library… We take a look at Amazon’s Prime Membership

It’s evident that video on demand and buying physical goods online seems to be the way of the future in a majority of instances. With that in mind, earlier this year Amazon debuted its revamped Amazon Prime membership scheme in the UK.

An annual membership to Amazon Prime costs £79 and has a number of benefits including unlimited access to instant video and free shipping. But is Amazon Prime right for you? We took a look at its features to find out.

Amazon Prime: Free One-Day Delivery

Let’s start with the biggest feature of Amazon Prime. The annual £79 fee includes unlimited free one-day shipping on anything labelled “Prime” inside Amazon – around seven million products, apparently. How good of a deal is this? That totally depends how often you use Amazon and how fast you want your items. 

Right now most items on Amazon come with free Super Saver shipping. Under this scheme you’ll get free shipping on anything you order over £10. That free shipping has a 3-5 day window, however, in my experience (and since the UK isn’t that big) anything I order from Amazon with Super Saver shipping gets to me in about 2-3 days. If that’s still too long for you, then Amazon Prime might be the way to go because its one-day delivery is guaranteed. Plus, Prime delivery isn’t limited to item size. You can order something small like a book or something massive like a TV and the shipping is free and the item is delivered to you in one day. 

Of course if you rarely shop on Amazon, free one-day delivery is a feature of Prime you’ll hardly ever use. Nevertheless, once you’ve had a taste of Amazon Prime and experienced just how fast and reliable it is you’ll likely find it very difficult to cancel your subscription. This exact thing happened to me when I reviewed the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX. I just cannot, for the life of me, bring myself to cancel my subscription – and the reason is Prime delivery. It really is that good.  

Amazon Prime: Unlimited Access To Amazon Prime Instant Video

A few years back Amazon acquired a Netflix rival called LoveFilm. Amazon kept its branding until earlier this year when it rolled out its new Prime program. Under that program LoveFilm became Amazon Prime Instant Video – and it’s one of THE tentpole features of Amazon Prime. 

So just what do you get with Amazon Prime Instant Video? Unlimited streaming of more than 15,000 movies and TV episodes. That may sound like a lot, but it actually pales in comparison to Netflix. If you’ve ever browsed what’s available on Netflix in the US – or are running US Netflix in the UK – you’ll know what I’m talking about.

To its credit, Amazon Prime Instant Video does have a lot new TV shows, like Arrow and The Walking Dead, as well as a HBO deal in place. It also has a nice selection of pretty big films and film series like the latest Batman trilogy, Inception, Toy Story 3, and more. And like Netflix, Amazon is also keen on ramping up its original programming as well as taking chances on new shows like Halle Berry’s Extant. Netflix does feel more established and focussed, however, but that’s not to say Amazon won’t catch up to it sooner or later. 

Amazon Prime Instant Video can be viewed on iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, Roku, and an insane amount of smart television sets.

Amazon Prime: Unlimited Access To Amazon Prime Kindle eBook Library

The third and final feature of Amazon Prime is access to the Kindle eBook Library. And just what is this, you ask? It’s a digital library for Kindle owners’ that allows you to check out one digital book at a time. There are no time limits or due dates when the book must be “returned”. 

If you’re a big reader, this is a very appealing feature especially because there are over 500,000 titles in the Kindle eBook Library. However, take note, most of the eBooks in this library are older titles. You won’t find the latest book that hit the shelves only last week here. You also won’t find complete collections of author’s works, either – no matter how old they are. And just because you see an eBook is available to buy on the Kindle, don’t assume you’ll be able to borrow it through the Kindle eBook Library – because it’s probably not on there.

Another caveat to the Kindle eBook Library is that you actually need an Amazon-made piece of Kindle hardware to take advantage of this Kindle eBook Library. Books cannot be borrowed on the official Kindle apps on iOS or Android. You must have an Amazon Kindle reader or Amazon Fire tablet to access the library.

Amazon Prime: Amazon Prime Right For You?

That’s the big question. From the outside £79 looks like a heck of a deal for free one-day shipping, unlimited streaming of 15,000 movies and TV shows, and unlimited access to 500,000 eBooks. Breaking down the £79 annual fee it’s only £6.58 a month. 

Still, at that price I can’t say it’s a good deal for everyone. 

It’s not a good deal for those who shop at Amazon infrequently, as they won’t take advantage of the one-day shipping too often. It’s not a good deal for those without a Kindle reader or Kindle Fire, as they can’t access the Kindle eBook Library. It’s an okay deal for those who watch a lot of streaming video though because at an average cost of £6.58 a month, Amazon Prime Instant Video comes in at 41p cheaper than Netflix’s £6.99 monthly charge. But if all you care about is streaming video you’re better off going with just an Amazon Instant Video subscription at £5.99 a month. 

However, Amazon Prime could be a great deal for some. It’s a brilliant deal for those that shop at Amazon a lot. “A lot” here is 2-3 times a month or more. It’s also a great deal if you own Kindle hardware and are a big reader, because you’ll have access to half a million free eBooks whenever you want them. And it’s a great deal if you love the content Amazon Instant Video has on tap.

In short, I’d recommend you go with Amazon Prime if you’d see yourself using two or more of its features – one-day shipping, Kindle eBook library, Amazon Instant Video – regularly. If not, I’d steer clear. And if you’re on the fence, unsure whether Prime is for you, you can always sign up for Amazon’s 30-day free trial. 

Just be sure to cancel before they charge you.

Reviews Michael Grothaus 10:fifty six, 25 Jul 2014

Free, subsequent day supply, Amazon Prime On the spot Video and an eBook touchdown library... We check out Amazon's Prime Membership

It’s evident that video on demand and shopping for bodily items on-line appears to be the best way of the longer term in a majority of situations. With that in thoughts, earlier this yr Amazon debuted its revamped Amazon Prime membership scheme within the UK.

An annual membership to Amazon Prime prices £seventy nine and has an a variety of benefits together with limitless entry to on the spot video and free delivery. However is Amazon Prime best for you? We took a take a look at its options to seek out out.

Amazon Prime: Free One-Day Supply

Let’s begin with the most important function of Amazon Prime. The annual £seventy nine payment consists of limitless free one-day delivery on something labelled “Prime” inside Amazon – round seven million merchandise, apparently. How good of a deal is that this? That absolutely relies upon how typically you employ Amazon and how briskly you need your gadgets. 

Proper now most gadgets on Amazon include free Tremendous Saver delivery. Underneath this scheme you’ll get free delivery on something you order over £10. That free delivery has a three-5 day window, nevertheless, in my expertise (and because the UK isn’t that massive) something I order from Amazon with Tremendous Saver delivery will get to me in about 2-three days. If that’s nonetheless too lengthy for you, then Amazon Prime is perhaps the best way to go as a result of its one-day supply is assured. Plus, Prime supply isn’t restricted to merchandise measurement. You possibly can order one thing small like a e-book or one thing large like a TV and the delivery is free and the merchandise is delivered to you in in the future. 

In fact for those who not often store on Amazon, free one-day supply is a function of Prime you’ll rarely use. However, when you’ve had a style of Amazon Prime and skilled simply how briskly and dependable it's you’ll possible discover it very troublesome to cancel your subscription. This actual factor occurred to me once I reviewed the Amazon Kindle Fire HDX. I simply can't, for the lifetime of me, deliver myself to cancel my subscription – and the reason being Prime supply. It truly is that good.  

Amazon Prime: Limitless Entry To Amazon Prime On the spot Video

A number of years again Amazon acquired a Netflix rival referred to as LoveFilm. Amazon stored its branding till earlier this yr when it rolled out its new Prime program. Beneath that program LoveFilm turned Amazon Prime On the spot Video – and it’s certainly one of THE tentpole options of Amazon Prime. 

So simply what do you get with Amazon Prime Immediate Video? Limitless streaming of greater than 15,000 films and TV episodes. Which will sound like quite a bit, nevertheless it truly pales compared to Netflix. For those who’ve ever browsed what’s obtainable on Netflix within the US – or are running US Netflix in the UK – you’ll know what I’m speaking about.

To its credit score, Amazon Prime On the spot Video does have rather a lot new TV exhibits, like Arrow and The Strolling Lifeless, in addition to a HBO deal in place. It additionally has a pleasant number of fairly massive movies and movie collection like the newest Batman trilogy, Inception, Toy Story three, and extra. And like Netflix, Amazon can also be eager on ramping up its unique programming in addition to taking possibilities on new exhibits like Halle Berry's Extant. Netflix does really feel extra established and focussed, nevertheless, however that is to not say Amazon will not catch as much as it eventually. 

Amazon Prime On the spot Video might be seen on iPhone, iPad, Kindle Hearth, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, Roku, and an insane quantity of sensible tv units.

Amazon Prime: Limitless Entry To Amazon Prime Kindle eBook Library

The third and last function of Amazon Prime is entry to the Kindle eBook Library. And simply what is that this, you ask? It’s a digital library for Kindle house owners’ that lets you take a look at one digital guide at a time. There are not any deadlines or due dates when the ebook have to be “returned”. 

When you’re an enormous reader, this can be a very interesting function particularly as a result of there are over 500,000 titles within the Kindle eBook Library. Nevertheless, take word, a lot of the eBooks on this library are older titles. You gained’t discover the newest e-book that hit the cabinets solely final week right here. You additionally gained’t discover full collections of writer’s works, both – regardless of how previous they're. And simply since you see an eBook is that can be purchased on the Kindle, don’t assume you’ll have the ability to borrow it by means of the Kindle eBook Library – as a result of it’s in all probability not on there.

One other caveat to the Kindle eBook Library is that you simply really need an Amazon-made piece of Kindle hardware to benefit from this Kindle eBook Library. Books can't be borrowed on the official Kindle apps on iOS or Android. You will need to have an Amazon Kindle reader or Amazon Hearth pill to entry the library.

Amazon Prime: Amazon Prime Proper For You?

That’s the large query. From the surface £seventy nine seems like a heck of a deal totally free one-day delivery, limitless streaming of 15,000 films and TV exhibits, and limitless entry to 500,000 eBooks. Breaking down the £seventy nine annual charge it’s solely £6.fifty eight a month. 

Nonetheless, at that worth I can’t say it’s a great deal for everybody. 

It’s not a very good deal for many who store at Amazon occasionally, as they gained’t reap the benefits of the one-day delivery too typically. It’s not a very good deal for these with no Kindle reader or Kindle Hearth, as they will’t entry the Kindle eBook Library. It’s an okay deal for many who watch plenty of streaming video although as a result of at a mean value of £6.fifty eight a month, Amazon Prime Immediate Video is available in at 41p cheaper than Netflix’s £6.ninety nine month-to-month cost. But when all you care about is streaming video you’re higher off going with simply an Amazon Prompt Video subscription at £5.ninety nine a month. 

Nevertheless, Amazon Prime might be an excellent deal for some. It’s an excellent deal for people who store at Amazon rather a lot. “So much” right here is 2-three occasions a month or extra. It’s additionally an awesome deal when you personal Kindle hardware and are an enormous reader, since you’ll have entry to half one million free eBooks everytime you need them. And it’s an excellent deal in case you love the content material Amazon On the spot Video has on faucet.

Briefly, I’d advocate you go together with Amazon Prime for those who’d see your self utilizing two or extra of its options – one-day delivery, Kindle eBook library, Amazon On the spot Video – often. If not, I’d steer clear. And when you’re on the fence, not sure whether or not Prime is for you, you'll be able to all the time join Amazon’s 30-day free trial. 

Simply make sure to cancel earlier than they cost you.

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