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Amazon Won't Sell Non-Prime Members Certain Popular Movies and Video Games (businessinsider.com)
An anonymous reader writes: If you're not an Amazon Prime subscriber, you will no longer be able to purchase certain popular game titles and movies, according to a report on game blog Videogamer. One of the benefits of Amazon's Prime program is that it gives members exclusive access to some items. This selection includes a rotating roster of popular video games, Blu-rays, and DVDs. Non-Prime members in the US can't buy titles such as Oscar-winning "Birdman" on Blu-ray or "GTA V" for PS4 from Amazon. This initiative, which has been going for quite some time, affects customers in the UK as well (though the selection is different). Non-Prime customers can still buy these titles from third-party sellers on Amazon's platform, but not from Amazon directly.
I am a Prime member and I can conclusively say it isn't worth the $100. Take a look at the movies/music available for Prime streaming: utter garbage. Also, not having to see "Birdman" is a bonus in my book.
Costco, anyone?
This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
Seriously think about it. Someone is searching on the INTERNET to purchase a popular item. If amazon won't sell it to random customer, there are 20-100 other stores that gladly will. All you have done is lose business which could have also resulted in additional sales for other items at the same time of the purchase (as well as all the additional marketing information that was lost from the sale which seems to be the real money anyway now).
I don't think they are that stupid.
Yes, they are that stupid. I wanted to buy one of the aforementioned games from Amazon and found that they wouldn't sell to me unless I bought a Prime Membership or from one of their 3rd parties. After 10 seconds of stunned silence, I browsed over to target.com, found the item for the same price, discovered that the brick-and-mortar Target price-matches *even from their own website*, trundled down to the local target and got the item the same day instead of waiting for shipping.
I took the time to write Amazon a nastygram, explaining that their shortsighted decision drove my sale away from Amazon to Target, that I was happier, more satisfied and received my item quicker, and that in the future I would consider that route first.
Curb your dogma.