Amazon Prime price increase

March 10, 2017, 01:32 PM

ensigmatic

quote:
Originally posted by egregore:
quote:
$108.41

Sales tax on top of the $99? They do collect sales tax from TN residents.

Says here that

quote:

The Tennessee state sales tax rate is 7%, and the average TN sales tax after local surtaxes is 9.45%.

Difference between $99 and $108.41 is $9.41, which is 9.5% of $99.

Here it says

quote:

Generally, if you make retail sales, leases, or rentals in Tennessee of any goods, computer software, warranty contracts, or certain services and amusements, you should register for the sales tax.

So it looks like, unlike other states, just about everything is taxable in TN.

So it looks like sales tax may indeed be the reason for the increase.

March 10, 2017, 05:32 PM

Oz_Shadow

I would spend more than that in gas going to stores to buy what I purchase on Amazon.

March 10, 2017, 06:04 PM

egregore

I get charged sales tax on Amazon purchases.

quote:
So it looks like, unlike other states, just about everything is taxable in TN.

So it looks like sales tax may indeed be the reason for the increase.

Yeah, every sale of everything, even groceries which some states don't tax, is taxed. I don't mind too much because there is no income tax (on wages), but it would give me pause when buying a car.

March 10, 2017, 08:50 PM

Scoutmaster

quote:
Originally posted by egregore:
I get charged sales tax on Amazon purchases....

I am in CA. If a product is "sold and shipped by Amazon", there is sales tax. If a product is "sold by whamfram and shipped by Amazon", the product is on consignment. And if whamfram is not a CA firm, there is no sales tax.

March 11, 2017, 12:19 AM

qcsmitty

I don't like any auto renew involving increases without advanced "opt out"offering. That said, At $108 Amazon Aprimebus still a good value, Se use the streaming Amazon TV, free shipping and music. No brainstorm for me.

March 11, 2017, 05:34 AM

xanth

Here's another vote for sales tax. Amazon opened up a warehouse here a couple years ago, and we started getting sales tax for a lot of things, to include, prime renewal.

March 11, 2017, 06:07 AM

Hangtime

Dropped prime and reduced ordering when politics became clear.

Plan ahead and get what they have thats cheapest but go ebay or other stores online.

March 11, 2017, 06:17 AM

Edmond

Interesting. I'm due this spring for my renewal. Even if tax is charged, I'll still be renewing because we use the Prime video option a lot. We cut the cord with cable TV and the kid really likes the kids shows on Prime such as Peg + Cat and Daniel Tiger.

June 07, 2017, 11:18 AM

chellim1

The price increase allows YOU to further subsidize the folks on food stamps:

Amazon Prime now available at a discount for recipients of government benefits like food stamps

By Ken Shepherd - The Washington Times - Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Recipients of government welfare benefits are now eligible to subscribe to Amazon Prime at a discount, TechCrunch reported Tuesday. Program members will pay just $5.99 a month. Full price is $10.99 per month.

Eligibility is confirmed by entering the registrant’s Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card number, although the EBT itself is not an acceptable means of payment for the service, TechCrunch said.

The tech-news website reports that the Seattle-based company is offering its full benefits to discount users, a move which could help it compete among low-income Americans with discount giants such as Wal-Mart, especially on household essentials and infant-care products. After all, Prime memberships include a 20 percent discount on diapers and baby wipes, TechCrunch noted, and the free home delivery could be beneficial to EBT recipients needing to cut down on commuting expenses.

Earlier this year, Amazon made another play for expanding its customer base into lower-income Americans, TechCrunch observed, with the introduction of Amazon Cash, a payment method aimed largely at Americans who lack bank accounts.

http://www.washingtontimes.com...ilable-ebt-recipien/

"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor

June 07, 2017, 12:00 PM

10P8TRIOT

Amazon has been charging sales tax in Tennessee since 2014 when they built a couple distribution centers in the state. My Amazon Prime went from $79.00 to $86.51 (9.5% sales tax) in 2014. When Amazon increased Prime membership to $99.00 in 2015, my Prime membership went to $108.41 (9.5% sales tax). It's still a great deal!

June 07, 2017, 12:02 PM

LBTRS

The extra is sales tax, that isn't amazon's fault.

June 07, 2017, 12:03 PM

rduckwor

quote:
Originally posted by chellim1:
The price increase allows YOU to further subsidize the folks on food stamps:

Amazon Prime now available at a discount for recipients of government benefits like food stamps

By Ken Shepherd - The Washington Times - Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Recipients of government welfare benefits are now eligible to subscribe to Amazon Prime at a discount, TechCrunch reported Tuesday. Program members will pay just $5.99 a month. Full price is $10.99 per month.

Eligibility is confirmed by entering the registrant’s Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card number, although the EBT itself is not an acceptable means of payment for the service, TechCrunch said.

The tech-news website reports that the Seattle-based company is offering its full benefits to discount users, a move which could help it compete among low-income Americans with discount giants such as Wal-Mart, especially on household essentials and infant-care products. After all, Prime memberships include a 20 percent discount on diapers and baby wipes, TechCrunch noted, and the free home delivery could be beneficial to EBT recipients needing to cut down on commuting expenses.

Earlier this year, Amazon made another play for expanding its customer base into lower-income Americans, TechCrunch observed, with the introduction of Amazon Cash, a payment method aimed largely at Americans who lack bank accounts.

http://www.washingtontimes.com...ilable-ebt-recipien/

Yes, I saw this as well. Why do food stamp recipients and other gov aid recipients need Amazon Prime?

Marketing is why. Jeff Bezos is a socialist that's why. Money is why.

I will rethink my membership. Dropping it sure would save lots of money. Too damn easy to buy "stuff".

RMD

June 07, 2017, 12:07 PM

smlsig

I like many of you use Amazon for many of my purchases but I must be in the minority as I can't see where Prime is worth it.

Amazon recently lowered the threshold needed to qualify for free shipping from $35 to $25 and this makes it a no brainer for me. I don't stream anything or use any other service.

So for the collective...What's the big deal with Prime?

June 07, 2017, 12:12 PM

HRK

Well if the $99 is too much you could always claim to be on the government dole and get a discount..

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money...r-BBCaggW?li=BBnb7Kz

June 07, 2017, 12:17 PM

ravens1775

Tax or no tax, it's still a great deal. Prime video is pretty good, but Prime music is all I listen to now. They have a huge selection of full album and playlist downloadable content so I can save data when I'm away from Wi-Fi.

Shipping is a pretty good deal too. I couldn't tell you how many times I've ordered a $5 part or tool on a Thursday for a weekend project. It saves me the trip to the hardware store, and probably $100 in other stuff I would have bought if I had gone to the store.

June 07, 2017, 12:25 PM

BamaJeepster

quote:
Originally posted by smlsig:
I like many of you use Amazon for many of my purchases but I must be in the minority as I can't see where Prime is worth it.

Amazon recently lowered the threshold needed to qualify for free shipping from $35 to $25 and this makes it a no brainer for me. I don't stream anything or use any other service.

So for the collective...What's the big deal with Prime?

We buy pretty much all of our Christmas thru Amazon - the savings on shipping alone covers the cost of the membership.

But we also use the Prime Video, Music and online storage. Also have an Amazon credit card that pays 5% back on all purchases made on Amazon and 2% back at some places and 1% on everything else. We get a couple of 'free' orders a year using the cash back credits.

June 07, 2017, 12:38 PM

Orguss

Like the OP, I recently re-upped my Prime membership without receiving a warning notice.

June 07, 2017, 12:42 PM

Black92LX

quote:
Originally posted by rduckwor:
quote:
Originally posted by chellim1:
The price increase allows YOU to further subsidize the folks on food stamps:

Amazon Prime now available at a discount for recipients of government benefits like food stamps

By Ken Shepherd - The Washington Times - Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Recipients of government welfare benefits are now eligible to subscribe to Amazon Prime at a discount, TechCrunch reported Tuesday. Program members will pay just $5.99 a month. Full price is $10.99 per month.

Eligibility is confirmed by entering the registrant’s Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card number, although the EBT itself is not an acceptable means of payment for the service, TechCrunch said.

The tech-news website reports that the Seattle-based company is offering its full benefits to discount users, a move which could help it compete among low-income Americans with discount giants such as Wal-Mart, especially on household essentials and infant-care products. After all, Prime memberships include a 20 percent discount on diapers and baby wipes, TechCrunch noted, and the free home delivery could be beneficial to EBT recipients needing to cut down on commuting expenses.

Earlier this year, Amazon made another play for expanding its customer base into lower-income Americans, TechCrunch observed, with the introduction of Amazon Cash, a payment method aimed largely at Americans who lack bank accounts.

http://www.washingtontimes.com...ilable-ebt-recipien/

Yes, I saw this as well. Why do food stamp recipients and other gov aid recipients need Amazon Prime?

Marketing is why. Jeff Bezos is a socialist that's why. Money is why.

I will rethink my membership. Dropping it sure would save lots of money. Too damn easy to buy "stuff".

RMD

Going after Wal-Marts market share.

I'll still continue with Prime.
The amount of videos and music I stream is enough for the price alone. Not to mention photo storage. The shipping is nice but I get my money's worth with just the other perks.
Not to mention I have the Prime credit card and get 5% cash back on all Amazon purchases.
I have Carbonite as my main online back up it expires in a month I'll switch over to amazons full drive for $60 a year same as Carbonite.
My only gripe is one must manually start uploads from the computer. It auto uploads from phones or devices one can certainly figure out how to have a folder on the computer that automatically uploads new files when added on a computer.