Fiction
Related: About this forumKindle Users: Are Kindle books cheaper if u have Prime?
Hi, Fiction Group,
My spouse is a big-time Kindle user/reader. We have a regular Amazon account (since it's necessary for making the Kindle book purchases), but we are wondering if the cost of Kindle books may generally be cheaper if you are ALSO an Amazon Prime member?
For example, let's say we buy three books for the Kindle that are $11.99, 14.99, and 3.99, totaling about $31.
If we'd had a Prime membership, might we expect the total could have been, say, $10.99, 12.99, and 3.99 -- $28?
I've been Googling around for an answer, but I only find mention of the "500,000-book lending library" that Amazon makes available to its Prime members with Kindles. But I'm asking about the normal, everyday e-books you actually BUY for your Kindle.
Basically, we buy lots of Kindle books, and I'm wondering if there's a price discount for Prime so that the savings can ultimately offset Prime's annual membership cost.
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hlthe2b
(106,057 posts)I use prime for the 2-day shipping and access to video content (and now some audio content), but some of the kindle freebies are probably worth it as well (I find I don't have enough time to access much of it)
Beartracks
(13,540 posts)I'm aware of the video content and would definitely take advantage of that. I'm trying to find a way to get Prime and have it be "budget neutral," though, so I would need for it to provide savings somehow. I don't buy a lot of stuff on Amazon, so shipping cost savings won't do much for me either... And I notice the lending library gives access to only one book a month, so that won't pay for the $99/yr membership either. I'm trying to be a cheapskate, here! lol
hlthe2b
(106,057 posts)so that also helps. Some items hard to find or very expensive at health food stores or whole foods, can be had at Amazon at reasonable cost via their 15 % off subscription program using amazon prime. So, you might look into that.
Beartracks
(13,540 posts)So you mean you don't have to order your specialty stuff each month -- you "subscribed" to it so they just pack some into a box each month and ship it you automatically, and for that you get a discount on the price of the goods?
The 15% must offset the cost of shipping, right? Because while regular Prime has free two-day shipping, I thought Prime Pantry involved a shipping fee, as noted here:
http://recode.net/2014/07/22/whats-so-prime-about-prime-pantry/
Sorry I'm pestering you with questions.
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hlthe2b
(106,057 posts)set the frequency of shipments and even cancel shipments, but as long as I maintain five eligible items, I get 15% off and free shipping.
Beartracks
(13,540 posts)So with at least 5 program-eligible items on the subscription order, you get 15% off the total of the order and STILL get the free shipping??
Nice.
Is there someplace I can find more detailed info on these kinds of Prime perks & programs without first becoming a Prime member? I seem to only be able to find the kind of high-level highlights that one might expect on a marketing brochure.
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hlthe2b
(106,057 posts)or more--so that is at least $72 per year (and that is conservative since i often order heavy items).
Then I watch at least the equivalent of $3 of video content each month which then totals an average $36. So, I find that even with the increase in PRIME, that it is still paying for itself--and that is before any audio of kindle content.
Beartracks
(13,540 posts)Although... a friend tells me that you can buy practically ANYTHING from Amazon now, so if you find better prices on stuff you would have bought anyway.... there's savings right there.
Sounds like that's what you're doing with the pantry/pharmacy program.
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TexasProgresive
(12,275 posts)Let the buyer beware. They claim a 30 day free trial but you know how those things sometimes work that you can't get loose from them if you don't want it anymore.
Kindle Unlimited gives you the freedom to explore. Try new genres, discover new authors, and dive into new adventures with unlimited access to our wide and varied selection of books. From rhetoric to romance, or comedy to tragedy, you will find unlimited stories waiting to be discovered. Relive the classics you grew up with, start on that best seller youve been wanting to read or try one of the hundreds of thousands of books you wont find anywhere. Find your next great read today.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sv_kstore_2?ie=UTF8&docId=1002872331
bravenak
(34,648 posts)I don't bother, because nearly all of the classics are free and I hate revolving payment.
pscot
(21,031 posts)I get all my downloads from Project Gutenberg anyway.
gollygee
(22,336 posts)They do let you choose a book each month for free. It isn't just any book you want, though. They have four books and let you choose one of them (though this month they let us choose two.)
Beartracks
(13,540 posts)... which is supposed to be 600-700K?
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gollygee
(22,336 posts)but they have books each month that you can choose from to keep as well.
Beartracks
(13,540 posts)gollygee
(22,336 posts)We use the Prime video a lot, and Prime shipping, so I feel like we definitely get our money's worth.
Here are the books from this month for Kindle First, where you get to choose from a selection of books. Some months have better options than others. http://www.amazon.com/gp/digital/kindle/first
There's also Kindle Unlimited, which you have to pay even more for and which has a large lendable library of books, but I don't personally think the selection is worth the expense. I do use a different similar service called Scribd that costs a little less and has more of the major publishers signed on, but it isn't available on the Kindle Paperwhite or the Kindle Voyager. There is a way to get it on a Kindle Fire, so I read it on that.
tabbycat31
(6,336 posts)I haven't tried Kindle unlimited (a friend says it's good) but instead I've been using Overdrive, which allows me to borrow ebooks from my public library (and I have my dad's and grandmother's card numbers to use theirs too). Sometimes you have to wait for a title, but no fines, no $$, etc.
I have Prime too but I use it mostly for the video and free shipping.
Beartracks
(13,540 posts)... then why would you have to wait until no one else has it "checked out"?
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tabbycat31
(6,336 posts)Works the same way as a paper book. You can't lend 5 books out to 10 people at the same time. Mine is very good about telling you where you are on the waiting list and how many copies they have.
For example, I'm reading a YA trilogy called 'The Selection." After I got book 1, I put myself on the list for book 2. There are 11 people on the waiting list for 2 copies. They tell me that I'm #9 on the list and that they have only two copies of it.
Not sure why but I guess it has to do with copyright laws.
Beartracks
(13,540 posts)They've only bought so many electronic copies.
I withdraw my silly question.
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