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Amazon Offers 2-Day Shipping For $79/Year

stevejsmith writes "Amazon.com has announced their Amazon Prime service. For $79, you get free two-day shipping on all items, upgradeable to overnight shipping for $3.99 per item. The offer applies to most media (books, DVDs, CDs, etc.) and can be shared among "up to four family members living in the same household." Apparently the only way they will enforce this family-only sharing clause is by mandating that your "family members" know your birthday."

11 of 325 comments (clear)

  1. Family Members by fembots · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Isn't a better way is to let you nominate 4 Amazon users under your account, and you can only change these users once every x months or pay a fee for each change?

    The service is limited to family members living in the same household, that means goods will(should) always be delivered to that one address, and I don't see many people can abuse it.

    Enlighten me please.

  2. Amazon Prime? by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 5, Funny

    Unless it can transform from a tractor-trailer into a bow-wielding vixen, I'm not interested.

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    Obliteracy: Words with explosions

  3. Amazon Prime? by techsoldaten · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does Amazon Prime compete with Optimus for leadership of the Autobots?

    Perhaps he is the UPS truck to Optimus's tractor trailer?

    M

  4. Uh Oh by nightterror · · Score: 5, Funny

    Im in enough trouble trying to remember my wifes birthday as it is....

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    Photons have mass!!?? I didn't even know they were Catholic...
  5. WTF?? "For $79, you get free" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    For $79, you get free

    It's amazing how marketing has managed to distort the English language. Hey, I'll work for Free/Hr.

  6. The small print by the_mighty_$ · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The free shipping/$3.99 overnight is only available if you purchase directly from Amazon. i.e. it is not available if you purchase from third party Amazon Marketplace or zShops sellers.

    For many items, Amazon is actually competing with third party sellers that are selling on their site. This new service might be the incentive necessary for many people to not buy from third party sellers, but to only buy from Amazon which will result in more money for them. That could be one of the reasons behind introducing Amazon Prime.

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    VI VI VI - the editor of the beast!
  7. The New WalMart by ChicoLance · · Score: 5, Insightful

    People are making jokes about this, but this idea could change some of the methods of online/webbased stores. Just think, without having to worry about shipping charges _at all_, then I wouldn't have to worry about making a $5 order for a little kitchen gadget. I wouldn't have to run to the store for something, just go online, and it will be here in a couple of days.

    This should really increase the sales of some of their smaller items. If I've got to get a couple new drill bits for this weekend's project, I can just click and get it and not have to run to Home Depot.

    This is a cool idea if it makes the consumer think first about ordering online, and not as a second or third choice.

  8. Re:Hmm.. by DrNibbler · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You're less likely to buy from a competitor's site if you fell you've already paid for unlimited shipping @ amazon. Your 79 bucks pretty much assures them that you won't buy a book from B&N even it's it's cheaper.

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    Sean.OutaHere()
  9. Re:Peer review by Reignking · · Score: 5, Funny

    Re-submit in two days. I'm sure they'll repost it.

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    One man's Funny is another man's Offtopic.
  10. Shhhhh! by winkydink · · Score: 5, Funny

    You're not supposed to do the math!

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

  11. Re:Work address by TheViffer · · Score: 5, Funny
    Who cares.

    I can go buy my 1300 pound shipped JL421 Badonkadonk Land Cruiser/Tank happly knowing that shipping will run me $79!

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    -- Knowing too much can get you killed, but knowing who knows too much can make you rich.