How I left Amazon Prime and managed to survive | Economy | News

You have given up on the Prime Minister. that’s good.

This makes me weird Nearly 98 percent of Americans are members of the Amazon Shopping Club For at least two years they kept renewing their membership. Prime is one of America’s toughest consumer products.

I was a Prime member for about three years until I stopped renewing my membership in 2019. My friends and colleagues are often surprised when I tell them this. But do not worry. I’ll be fine.

This does not mean that I live without buying on Amazon. Let me tell you something: you are allowed to order from the website without being a prime member, although it does take a bit more planning for the free delivery.

Why do I disclose my buying habits to strangers? Each of our personal experiences is a way of thinking about whether we are holding on to love or out of habit. In my case, once I questioned the value I was getting from the subscription, it was very easy to cancel the subscription.

This is not a tip to get you off Prime. You do your thing. Also, my experience is not representative. I don’t have children and live in New York, where there are many things I might need in a hurry – a roll of aluminum foil or a new phone charger – often within walking distance.

I know that many Americans live far from stores, have caring responsibilities, live with disabilities, or have other circumstances that don’t give them the same amount of flexibility in shopping.

Over 300 readers wrote to On Tech about Prime and many said they felt they got more than their money for the convenience, Reliable shipping and other Prime benefits.

“I got my prime when my husband was sick and was caring for him,” wrote a reader in Carol Stream, Illinois. “I couldn’t shop and that was perfect for me.”

You’re too late for the prime minister. I signed up in 2015, I think because I’ve been moving and rating entertainment streaming services. I basically subscribed to Amazon Prime Video and thought the option to get faster shipping at no extra cost was a plus. (Hope you don’t lose my memory. I can’t quite remember what my mind was like in 2015).

In surveys, the majority of Prime members said that free shipping is the main reason to sign up and keep the service. Several On Tech readers, like me, have said that Prime Video helped make membership worthwhile.

I bought more from Amazon during the first few years I was a member. This is typical behavior of PM members. But over time, I discovered that I was asking for less.

It was time to renew and I shrugged my shoulders and stopped paying. It has changed my behavior. In 2020 and the first few months of 2021, when online shopping skyrocketed as many people tried to avoid going to stores, my order history showed that I didn’t buy anything for myself on Amazon except for a few e-books for my Kindle reading device.

I often shop online at Walmart, Target, and other sites. I did my shopping locally, in part because I didn’t want Amazon and other giant retailers to be the only ones left after the pandemic. I don’t feel like I need to get value out of a Prime membership, Amazon was just an extra option rather than the only store I thought of.

For me, online shopping now requires more patience. I keep a list on my phone of things I might need and order multiple items at once to meet minimum order amounts in order to get free shipping from Amazon and other websites. (Amazon orders over $25 often qualify for free delivery.)

The list now includes a non-stick frying pan, light bulbs, a toilet brush, puzzles, and a pair of headphones. My life is very exciting, yes. I may not receive the parcel in a couple of days, but that’s fine for me.

I also think I buy less stuff without being a prime member because it’s not easy to get a buying impulse off my couch. Some On Tech readers said they had the same experience.

The real magic of Amazon and especially Prime is that they stay away from shopping. Prime members tend to go to Amazon without much thought, and this often works out well for them and the company. For me, the lack of Prime makes me pause for a minute before buying. This is perfect. (I)

Shera Ovid