Amazon Prime - a Placebo?


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I signed up for a free Amazon Prime membership using my college email id. This free membership allows me to enjoy all the "benefits" offered by the Prime membership. However, What I have noticed is very contradictory to the benefits offered by the service. According to the Amazon Prime, certain items are eligible for "FREE Two-Day Shipping". Okay! Good. But I have noticed that the eligible items are actually expensive by $2 - $3 than ineligible. For example, if you buy  branded headphones from a "Prime" eligible listing it would cost you $30. However, if you buy same branded headphones from regular listing (ineligible prime listing) It will cost you $25. But then again you will have to pay its shipping price. So how do we benefit from Amazon's "Prime Membership"? Because, no matter which option you choose, you'll end up paying same amount of money. However, if you are not a college student, a regular Amazon Prime membership costs $79 a year ($99 after March 20th). So does it really make some sense to buy such service? Or If I am wrong, please correct me.

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Are the ineligible items not from Amazon but from sellers who use amazon and what is their shipping cost?

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The ineligible stuff is sold and shipped by 3rd parties who list on amazon. Their shipping is almost always more expensive (then even non prime shipping) and it is not two day shipping. Also with prime you get access to a boat load of streaming video and music. You also get a limited access to books. Also, depending on where you live that two day shipping turns into next day. I also get stuff on Sundays because of it.

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The ineligible stuff is sold and shipped by 3rd parties who list on amazon. Their shipping is almost always more expensive (then even non prime shipping) and it is not two day shipping.

 

Sometime it's one month shipping ;)

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Yeah if you can find me a site where the 2 day shipping is $5 I'd love to shop there. Or one day shipping for $4.99. I am a fan, and usually when I comparison shop Prime is still the best deal. 

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The shipping definitely isn't free. It's built in to the cost of an item to an extent. But as others have pointed out, it is 2-day shipping which is pretty decent. I use Prime mostly for the streaming though.

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I've had amazon prime in one form or another for 4 or 5 years and never had any problems with it. Usually the things with prime shipping are the cheapest.

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