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Amazon Won't Sell Non-Prime Members Certain Popular Movies and Video Games (businessinsider.com)

Posted by msmash on from the that's-one-way-to-go-about-it dept.

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.

7 of 180 comments (clear)

  1. Prime membership by 110010001000 · · Score: 4, Informative

    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.

    1. Re:Prime membership by zero_out · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm a prime member, and I find it to be immensely useful. When I calculate how much money we save, prime membership is clearly worth it. On average, the items my family (i.e. my wife) shops for cost significantly less through Amazon than through a brick-and-mortar store. The only advantages that a brick-and-mortar store hold for us are the absence of shipping fees and delivery times. With prime membership's included 2-day shipping, those shipping fees become a small fraction of the prime membership cost, and 2-day shipping delivers the items sooner than I can schedule a trip to the store and buy them. Altogether we save time and money. It's true that their prime streaming catalog sucks, but that's not the main reason for most people to purchase a prime membership. Prime streaming, by itself, is definitely not worth $100/year.

    2. Re:Prime membership by fustakrakich · · Score: 5, Funny

      If you have a newborn at home it is a lifesaver to not have to go to a store.

      Are there statistics on how many lives were saved by online shopping?

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    3. Re:Prime membership by cdrudge · · Score: 4, Interesting

      And the flagship product of Prime, the free shipping is sort of a scam, too. You'll see many sellers on Amazon selling the same product, and surprise, surprise, the ones that are Prime eligible happen to cost more, and the increase is pretty much exactly the price of shipping.

      That's because Amazon charges the seller a fee to warehouse the item in their warehouse(s) and for fulfilling the order. You have the option to get "free" shipping in a day or two days with Prime, or anywhere from a few days days to weeks if you wait for the seller to ship it themselves.

      I personally am an impulsive buyer that wants things ASAP. I have a prime membership as I order enough stuff that it pays for itself vs paying for normal shipping and not having to wait 7-10 days for the free we'll-get-it-to-you-when-we-get-around-to-it-shipping to make it's way to me. I also like that if there's any issues with the shipping, returns, etc I just have to deal with Amazon's support that's always been great for me. I've never had to pay for return shipping for a problem that wasn't my doing, something I have with other online retailers.

  2. Sounds like a bad idea to me... by Fallen+Kell · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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).

    --
    We were all warned a long time ago that MS products sucked, remember the Magic 8 Ball said, "Outlook not so good"
  3. They push Prime too hard by RobinH · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The amount of pushing they do of Prime is what really turns me off of it. When someone comes to my house to sell me something, I know it's likely not in my best interest because they've invested considerable time and energy to come and solicit me, so they're likely to take a big cut, and I'm better off finding the product on my own if I can. It's the same with Amazon Prime - they seem to want to push it on me so bad that it must be a really valuable sale for them, which likely means it's not a good deal for me.

    --
    "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." - Mark Twain
  4. Re:getting my money's worth for prime by HumanWiki · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm glad I signed up for Prime. I signed up and I buy some of those items. Thanks, Amazon!

    Oh piss off.... Sh*t like this isn't going to get them any fans and in fact, as of the most recent update, they've back pedaled on the Video game lock out thing. Being a Prime member should be about getting better prices, faster shipping and such.. Not f*cking non-Prime members from buying items completely.