Amazon Prime Increases Membership Fees (May 2023)

BewareOfThe Dog on 02/05/2023 - 09:26
Last edited 02/05/2023 - 12:09 by 3 other users

It was only a matter of time

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Amazon Prime Video will increase its streaming subscription fees by as much as 42.9 per cent from the end of this month.

Prime membership will hike up its monthly price from $6.99 to $9.99 while its annual fee will go up from $59.99 to $79.99.

From Amazon email:

Thank you for being a valued member of Amazon Prime. We are writing to you about an upcoming change to your membership.

Since launching Amazon Prime in 2018 we have continued expanding Prime member benefits. So we can continue growing the offering, Prime membership fees are changing to $79 per year for annual plans. The new price will apply from June 28, 2023, on the date of your next renewal. With your Prime membership you have access to shopping and entertainment benefits, including Prime Video and Amazon Music.

No further action is required. You can manage your Prime membership anytime by visiting Your Membership page.

Will you stop your subscription?

Poll Options

  • 296
    Yes
  • 297
    Unsure
  • 861
    No
General Discussion Amazon Membership Video on Demand

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Comments

        • christosauros1 on 02/05/2023 - 13:12
          +7

          Every time I see one of those 2 are the used couriers I send them to my local pickup spot to ensure they get delivered somewhere.

        • S0041464 on 03/05/2023 - 22:27

          Aramex! My 38" LG monitor was left unattended outside today with no door bell. I'm certain it was done on purpose to have someone to come back and steal it. Even AusPost rings and if not answered, will not leave inside the foyer.

      • Hewy on 02/05/2023 - 17:49

        Prime video def meh. Prime music I've not used. But, researching today after seeing the price rise, Amazon has more tracks than Spotify at better quality. Is it just UI and algorithm that make Spotify better? Anyone moved from Spotify to Amazon for music?

        • Steveoh9 on 02/05/2023 - 18:28

          Amazon music unlimited is extra though I think ($11.99). Seems to be alot that isn't included with the normal Prime subscription, unlimited is also required for HD

      • GandalfTheCheap on 04/05/2023 - 13:17

        Prime Video have just as many of the very best flagship TV series as Netflix/Stan/Disney+ but for way cheaper.

        The Boys, Invincible, Lower decks, Wheel of Time, Reacher, the Outlaws, Upload, etc, etc.

        Free shipping on packages, some free games (including great ones like Mass Effect trilogy Legendary edition, a few times a year), free music, etc, are just icing on the cake.

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 02/05/2023 - 10:30
      +6

      We had a flex driver 'deliver' on Saturday. When I went out there, it was nowhere to be found. Furthermore they were not on our cameras. I contacted Amazon, who refunded it. 1/2 an hour later it was discovered on our front lawn??
      I later checked and it had an image of our neighbours front step.

      • Sammyboy on 02/05/2023 - 13:43
        +1

        Happened to us. Photo wasn't our door step. Still had to wait 48 hours before Amazon would do anything which was crap. Even then I had to follow it up and chase the refund

        • BewareOfThe Dog on 02/05/2023 - 14:15
          +2

          Maybe there have been 1 or complaints about the driver we had.

      • Grunntt on 03/05/2023 - 10:14
        +2

        So, had the driver returned and retossed it or do your neighbours avoid any interaction and just throw it on the lawn?

    • Clear on 02/05/2023 - 11:37
      +6

      (1 day shipping vs "god knows how long" shipping)

      The latter is me for Amazon shipping. Downsides of being in a state without an Amazon warehouse.

      Still really good value regardless.

      • pennypincher98 on 02/05/2023 - 12:01

        Downsides of being in a state without an Amazon warehouse.

        Oh don't worry I'm in metro Sydney area and I still get "god knows how long" shipping sometimes. Currently I've been waiting almost a week for shipment.

      • XVX on 02/05/2023 - 12:37
        +1

        I live an hour away from an Amazon warehouse and my prime deliveries still take around 4-5 days to arrive with couriers please. If I'm lucky, some things will come in 2-3 days.

        • Clear on 02/05/2023 - 12:48
          +6

          Couriers please say no more. Interestingly here it's all delivered by Auspost.

          • chriskq on 03/05/2023 - 11:42

            @Clear: i'll see your couriers please and raise you an aramex

            • Clear on 03/05/2023 - 11:50

              @chriskq: They're honestly better than Couriers please in my experience. I always get the same driver.

          • stringbean402 on 03/05/2023 - 13:57

            @Clear: I seem to be 85% Auspost and about 15% Amarex, of course Amarex regularly fails to deliver on time.

            Auspost has been surprisingly fast considering I am regional.

    • AustriaBargain on 02/05/2023 - 13:06

      The government should subcontract deliveries to Amazon to pick up the slack.

    • bamzero on 02/05/2023 - 13:30
      +4

      Gladly take the extra $20 hit if I got the majority of my orders with 1 or 2 day delivery, but in WA most stuff is coming from the east by Auspost, taking 1 to 2 weeks.
      Back in the days before the WA warehouse, and even after for a while, most eastern states stuff they sent via Express Post and still got in 2 to 3 days. Unfortunately they stopped using Express during COVID and it's never come back.

      My renewal will be pre-increase this time luckily.

      • comphelp on 03/05/2023 - 00:14

        It's a shame it's not 2 day delivery anymore. That was amazing. Probably 1 in 4 deliveries come from the local warehouse for me.

        I ordered 102 items last year so it's still exceptional value.

        • bamzero on 03/05/2023 - 18:09

          They've got that big new warehouse in Jandakot, don't know how complete it is. Drive past it every week, fenced off and never looks like any works going on but who knows. Just hoping it improves the situation onces it's up and running.

  • Hybroid on 02/05/2023 - 10:32
    +2

    Rely quite a bit on Amazon deliveries so will be something to absorb and won't change my sub. Video is a nice bonus but not my priority. The convenience of packages being sent to parcel locker within 1-2 days are.

  • unco on 02/05/2023 - 10:40
    +12

    My annual renewal date is 3 July, any way to renew early to lock in the $59 price for another year? Or do I have to create a new account?

  • Subere on 02/05/2023 - 10:43
    +10

    Let's forget all the shovelware free games every month! (With a handful of decent offerings thrown in as bonus)

    • Circly on 02/05/2023 - 11:56
      +1

      True…

    • CodeExplode on 02/05/2023 - 19:10
      +3

      I played right through the Mass Effect remastered trilogy from that and think I've played a few others, on top of watching some stuff like The Boys and Rings of Power, on top of ~25 deliveries a year.

      All in all it's pretty good value, even if it's only one or two things in those extra categories which you end up using.

  • Notacommie on 02/05/2023 - 10:52
    -1

    That will be shot in foot for amazon. I think there should be fee waver or discount if subscriber spends lets say 1000 a year.

    • deadset on 02/05/2023 - 16:50
      +9

      That’ll never happen. Amazon generates almost all its profits from AWS and Prime memberships are the secondary income stream. Retailing/retail margin doesn’t compare.

      They’ll grow stickiness/reliance on Prime in Australia over time and slowly creep the Prime price up to something approaching the cost of Prime in the US. Amazon has no incentive to not charge you Prime regardless of how much you spend. I’d bet they have data showing the more you spend the more you’d be willing to pay for Prime.

  • pennypincher98 on 02/05/2023 - 10:57
    +3

    Considering switching to an annual $59.99 plan from monthly, $5 a month is good value.

    • Mr Fusi0n on 02/05/2023 - 12:22
      +4

      I just switched over to an annual plan $59, I was paying monthly. I could have switched over next month, but I'd probably forget.

      • pennypincher98 on 05/05/2023 - 12:38

        Yeah I was going to wait until next month but got this

        Switch before May 24, 2023 to lock-in $59 annual price for a year.

        Switched over now.

  • Thrifty Dan on 02/05/2023 - 10:59
    -1

    I just sign up for trials until all prepaid cards are worn out. Recently I used Telstra points to get 3 months of Prime for free.

    • M00Cow on 02/05/2023 - 12:00

      Yep now to get more Telstra+ points!

    • deadset on 02/05/2023 - 16:52

      How did you redeem anything from Telstra+ ???

      I’ve had 110,000+ points I’ve been trying to redeem for $200 worth of amazon.com.au gift cards for like 9 months but I get a 404 error when I try to to check out anything from Telstra+ and nobody at Telstra has been able to do anything about it. I gave up trying.

      • Zippy7 on 02/05/2023 - 17:21
        +1

        @deadset - just wondering if you have an active Telstra service?
        I changed from Telstra NBN to ABB, and because I no longer had an active service with them, I was unable to spend the Telstra+ points.
        You can ring and raise a ticket, or you can go buy a cheap prepaid service, and that might let you checkout (it worked for me).
        YMMV

      • Thrifty Dan on 02/05/2023 - 19:14

        Just activate a prepaid service. I had same and after I have done that I was able to use my points again.

  • soda-pop on 02/05/2023 - 11:04

    I'll resubscribe for the killer chicken noodle cups..

  • Rodo on 02/05/2023 - 11:12

    I'm on a monthly plan. Might change to yearly plan now but not sure when I need to do it by. Is it 28th June or would I be considered a new member and need to change before 24th May?

    • dazweeja on 02/05/2023 - 18:40
      +2

      I changed to yearly today after getting the email email. No problem. My understanding is that you would need to do it by 28th June but I wasn't taking any risks. They refund the unused portion of your monthly fee anyway.

      • Miss B on 02/05/2023 - 22:48
        +1

        I changed mine to yearly today and it says it will change over on the 13th, when my next payment is due.

    • pennypincher98 on 05/05/2023 - 12:36
      +2

      Just got email
      "Switch before May 24, 2023 to lock-in $59 annual price for a year."

  • BargainCowboy on 02/05/2023 - 11:22
    +5

    Wow, that's a major increase.

  • Jetilingo on 02/05/2023 - 11:24

    Ffs my renewal is June 29th

    • nightelves on 02/05/2023 - 11:41
      +7

      Create a new Amazon account?

  • M00Cow on 02/05/2023 - 11:33

    Why can you buy prime membership card?

    • pizzaguy on 02/05/2023 - 11:45
      +6

      Yeah, why?

      • M00Cow on 02/05/2023 - 11:58
        +2

        Sorry why = where

        I was able to add to my current subs with Telstra Plus, but it'd be nice to add some more.

  • xtremehell on 02/05/2023 - 11:40
    +9

    I think most of us were expecting the price to increase regardless of inflation. And there's still a lot of catching up to do when compared to, say, USA prime fees.

    Luckily mine renews on June 1, though I don't use it for deliveries that much now I've moved regionally.

    • pizzaguy on 02/05/2023 - 11:47
      +7

      I don't use it for deliveries that much now I've moved regionally.

      Wouldn't the logic be: you go regional, you need more deliveries?

    • pennypincher98 on 02/05/2023 - 12:02
      +6

      And there's still a lot of catching up to do when compared to, say, USA prime fees.

      There's a LOT more on offer with US Prime than AU Prime. Justifies the price difference.

      • whatgift on 02/05/2023 - 16:44

        But anything most people are likely to use though? The unlimited photo storage is the only thing that would make it better for me.

        • pennypincher98 on 02/05/2023 - 17:04
          +4

          For example, Prime Video is massively superior in US. It's a massive library of content plus sports leagues and live streaming of matches etc.

          Also..
          - Prime Reading
          - In store savings at grocery stores Amazon Fresh & Wholefoods.
          - RxPass (includes "unlimited" eligible prescription medications from Amazon Pharmacy for a flat $5/mth)
          - 1 year of Grubhub+ (free delivery over $12)
          - Same day delivery from Amazon and select malls/retailers
          - Amazon Photos (unlimited storage as you said)
          - Amazon Family (discounts)
          - Access to Amazon Essentials

          There's probably more lol

          • Jofzar on 02/05/2023 - 17:07

            @pennypincher98:

            • Prime Reading - Exists in Aus
            • pennypincher98 on 02/05/2023 - 17:09

              @Jofzar: A small selection does yes. Didn't include Twitch/Amazon Gaming as idk if there's improvements there too but that's also included.

              Also, 50% off Prime for students ($7.49mth/$69yr) and $6.99/mth for those on government assistance.

          • whatgift on 02/05/2023 - 17:24

            @pennypincher98: Yeah those are good deals, but none that would be worth paying twice as much for, at least for me.

            • pennypincher98 on 02/05/2023 - 17:43
              +1

              @whatgift: Not everything translates to the Australian landscape, especially RxPass as we actually have a more functional healthcare system.

              For an American I can definitely see the value in it but for Australians not as much.

          • WT on 03/05/2023 - 09:48

            @pennypincher98: yea and it seems there is a lot less choice in the last 3 months which also coincides on their push for you to buy/rent videos

    • outlander on 02/05/2023 - 22:24
      +1

      Yep. I signed up to the yearly plan in July last year, because after the US price rise I was sure an AU price rise was sure to follow.

      I think there's no doubt that Amazon is great value in the short term, but in the long term these sort of 'special customer' programs are disastrous for society so I try and avoid using them.

  • walshy1009 on 02/05/2023 - 11:41
    +2

    My yearly renewal is in Jan so still a whiles away for me. Still worth it to me for what I use it for (free delivery, prime video, twitch prime, prime gaming)

  • poisongodmachine on 02/05/2023 - 11:46
    +3

    So if I pay a new yearly subscription just one day before the price hike goes into effect, I can guarantee another year of current price, right?

  • Dragonhorn on 02/05/2023 - 11:54

    Just got this email myself.

    First thing I did was check the annual subscription price. Still currently @ $59 annually, so I've changed it to that.
    Free next day deliveries have been pretty handy here and there.

  • Batsman on 02/05/2023 - 11:56
    +1

    Mine will renew in September. Anyone know if I can just cancel today and restart an annual subscription afterwards to lock in a full year of the cheaper price?

    • buckster on 02/05/2023 - 12:03
      +1

      Would love to know too, mine renews 29 June :/

      I'm thinking best bet for my case is to cancel this month and resub, lose a month but win out in the end. Not probably much help for someone with a while to go before renewal though

      • Batsman on 02/05/2023 - 12:36

        Pretty sure Amazon refunds you pro-rata when you cancel Prime if I'm not mistaken?

    • mapax on 02/05/2023 - 12:28
      -1

      Maybe it’s the 36hrs I worked in the past 3 days but am I missing something?

      You want to lose 4 months of prime valued at $20 and start a new yearly membership to save $20?

      • Batsman on 02/05/2023 - 12:29
        +1

        Pretty sure Amazon refunds you pro-rata when you cancel Prime if I'm not mistaken?

        • mapax on 02/05/2023 - 12:30

          That makes more sense

        • Hampton Wick on 02/05/2023 - 12:40

          "Paid members who have used their Amazon Prime benefits may be eligible for a partial refund based on use."

        • Miss B on 03/05/2023 - 05:45

          They used to many years ago. Now if you've had a few parcels delivered and/or watch a couple of TV shows they consider you to have gotten a year's worth of prime membership and there is no refund.

          This is why I'm currently on monthly. They claimed I'd used a year of benefits in a month, so there was no refund if I cancelled. I wanted to cancel to use the 6 months free with Optus. I'll switch back to annual to get the year for $59 though.

    • calinya on 02/05/2023 - 13:17
      +1

      Interested to know too. Mine renews August.

    • giu on 02/05/2023 - 13:56

      Cancelling your account still keeps your membership active until the expiry date.
      I tried reaching out to support. The first time, they confirmed I could cancel my account before the 24th May and join again to get the lower price. But when I told them it won't let me cancel immediately, they no longer responded to me.
      The second time, I reached out I asked for them to terminate my membership immediately. They confirmed my account will expire on the 18th June, but they can cancel immedialtey - without any refund.

      TLDR - Reach out to support, and ask them to "Are you able to cancel my prime membership as of immedidately?"
      Obviously, you need to do the calculations and ensure it is benefitial to you. For me, it definitely was.

    • CountZero on 02/05/2023 - 15:45

      Theoretically you should be able to change to monthly and get the pro-rata balance of your yearly subscription refunded. Then change back to yearly before the price goes up to lock in the current yearly price and get the balance of your pro-rata monthly payment back.

      • deadset on 02/05/2023 - 16:55

        Has anyone successfully done this? I was thinking the same. I’m on yearly and want to renew at current price.

        • deadset on 02/05/2023 - 16:59
          +1

          No - the change to monthly takes effect once the yearly subscription expires.

        • Miss B on 03/05/2023 - 05:54
          +1

          You can reach out to support and ask them to cancel with a refund. But if you've used anything (had any parcels/ watched anything on prime video etc.) they'll say you've used up your entire year of Prime benefits and there's no refund.

  • boomramada on 02/05/2023 - 12:17

    Where is the forum thread, Every subscription going up in price, Move on? Jump ship? Whatever?

  • netjock on 02/05/2023 - 12:20
    +2

    Maybe they can fix it so Amazon Music is no longer shuffle only.

    • Nillionaire on 02/05/2023 - 16:23
      +1

      Never met anyone that uses Amazon Music

      • netjock on 02/05/2023 - 16:47
        +2

        LOL now you have. Used to be like 2m songs free otherwise you need to use unlimited. Now all songs are free but the shuffle mode isn't shuffle it is always the same sequence.

        • M00Cow on 02/05/2023 - 19:35
          +1

          I tried the free tier on Alexa and suddenly i song the kids wanted weren't available (this was pop.songs you'd hear in FM radio)

          • netjock on 03/05/2023 - 09:39
            +1

            @M00Cow: I think they deliberately did the annoying shuffle to get people to subscribe.

      • LowRange on 03/05/2023 - 02:37
        +2

        I do, it's just so convenient when walking around the house and saying "Alexa, play XXXX" and their song library is decent.

        That said i did just drop my Alexa music sub from family to single due to the price rise.

  • OCD Completionist on 02/05/2023 - 12:21
    +3

    At $59 it was already one of the cheapest compared to the rest of the world, would’ve stacked years early on if I could.

    This was due and the price now better reflects more on what the service offers. Still a good deal, free shipping, Prime Video and the monthly pc games pay for itself

    Now if only Auspost could stop losing my international US and UK deliveries that would be great…

  • Bargainitis on 02/05/2023 - 12:23

    Still falls within the free Amex platinum credit of $84 p.a. for those wondering.

    • Magnus Awesome on 02/05/2023 - 12:50

      Was just about to say this!

    • Pricebeat on 02/05/2023 - 13:15

      link

    • MrFunSocks on 02/05/2023 - 14:17
      +12

      $1450 annual fee for that card for anyone wondering.

      • Miss B on 03/05/2023 - 05:58
        +1

        Thanks, just applied so I'll be able to get my amazon sub for free.

      • Bargainitis on 06/05/2023 - 10:06
        +1

        lol i missed this reply.

        yeah my comment was targeted to platinum holders if you're wondering.

  • onetwothreefour on 02/05/2023 - 12:24
    +10

    I don't order enough to justify the increase so will probably cancel.

  • Kaz0551 on 02/05/2023 - 12:58
    +1

    Packages Shipped: 151
    Movies/TV Watched: 157

    • AustriaBargain on 02/05/2023 - 13:08

      159 packages, 781 TV shows and movies, 0 songs. Strange it feels like I've had more than 159 packages…

      • khesanh on 02/05/2023 - 13:14
        +1

        Where can you see this summary?
        Nvm it was in the email link lmao

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