Amazon's Prime Sharing Program Gets a Makeover
Amazon is making significant changes to its Prime membership program. Starting October 1, the company will end a feature that allowed members to share free shipping with non-household members. This move is part of a broader strategy to increase individual Prime sign-ups.
New Discount Offer
Instead of sharing benefits, Amazon is now offering a discount for new Prime members. For a limited time, users can get a year of Prime for $14.99. After the promotional period, the cost will be $14.99 per month or $139 per year. This deal starts this Friday and runs until the end of December.
Introducing Amazon Family
Amazon is also launching a new program called Amazon Family. This program allows members to share perks such as:
- Free two-day shipping
- Exclusive deals
- Movies
Members can share these benefits with one other adult in their household, who could be a spouse, family member, or roommate. Additionally, they can add up to four teens and four child profiles.
Expansion of Delivery Network
This change comes as Amazon invests heavily in expanding its delivery network. The company aims to bring faster shipping to more rural areas. By the end of the year, they plan to have this service available in 1,000 of the more than 4,000 smaller communities they have targeted.
What This Means for Prime Members
- Shift from sharing to signing up: Members will no longer be able to share benefits with non-household members.
- Discounted rate for new members: Non-members can now get a discounted rate to join Prime.
- Household sharing: Members can share perks with their household through the new Amazon Family program.