Free month of Amazon Prime (for non-members)

[Adam]

It's nothing new, but I just saw it again and wanted to mention it. The link to the promotion on Amazon's site is here.

For people that don't have it, this can give you an opportunity to try out the free video streaming (which has some decent shows) even if you don't want to take advantage of free two-day shipping on Amazon-sold products...but who wouldn't want that? If you decide to keep it, it's $79/year.

 

[psbfan9]

Nothing is free. Unless I missed something, you have buy a 'qualifying' product to get the free month. I've been curious about Prime though. Maybe I'll buy some organic Puerh (yes, it's pronounced pooh air) tea.

 

[Adam]

Nothing is free. Unless I missed something, you have buy a 'qualifying' product to get the free month. I've been curious about Prime though. Maybe I'll buy some organic Puerh (yes, it's pronounced pooh air) tea.

Hmmm. I didn't think that you needed to buy anything.

That's some good tea, though.

 

[fuzz092888]

I do love me some amazon prime. Although there is about 67% less love then then pre-amazon tax law in NY. Now the love is much less, still there, but no sales tax is a bigger sell to me then free 2 day shipping (as opposed to free standard shipping). I hate paying taxes to a state that wastes so much of my tax money anyways, not to mention taxes more than just about every other state in the union. I hate them so much I stopped speeding (and I couldn't afford any more tickets)

 

[Alex2507]

If it's the same as the last time I looked you had to actively cancel it in 30 days or they would charge you the $79. I found it to be a lot of work to get one item shipped free and figuring out how the steaming works was also deemed too much work.

Technotardation has saved me time and money. I poo-poo the Amazon Prime.
Is that the silent treatment from Adam?

 

[Adam]

If it's the same as the last time I looked you had to actively cancel it in 30 days or they would charge you the $79.

I'm sure it is, but it's easy to go in and cancel it. It's not restarting it later after you've experienced such nirvana that's difficult.

I found it to be a lot of work to get one item shipped free and figuring out how the steaming works was also deemed too much work.

First - one item?! That's just crazy talk.

Second - yeah, hitting that "play" button was a real mind twister the first time around.

I poo-poo the Amazon Prime.

Yeah, but you also don't like peanut butter. There's just something a little off about you.

 

[gmichael]

If you order a lot from Amazon, like I do here at work, then it's a nice deal. We get our product faster at no charge. (As long as it's a qualifying item)

I don't need it for my personal use though. I don't mind waiting the extra time in most cases.

 

[psbfan9]

I do love me some amazon prime. Although there is about 67% less love then then pre-amazon tax law in NY. Now the love is much less, still there, but no sales tax is a bigger sell to me then free 2 day shipping (as opposed to free standard shipping). I hate paying taxes to a state that wastes so much of my tax money anyways, not to mention taxes more than just about every other state in the union. I hate them so much I stopped speeding (and I couldn't afford any more tickets)

You need to get out of Zoo York. Come to Indiana. We have...Uh, but there's always, well...Um...Corn! We have corn!

Yeah, but you also don't like peanut butter. There's just something a little off about you.

Doesn't like peanut butter?! WTF?! Dude, that's wicked crazy bad. Peanut butter is the bomb diggity.

I was hoping I could drop NetFlix and stream from Prime, but not all the videos are free for the yearly subscription price. Even though the more I go out the less I like people, I do still like to go out so I doubt the Prime subscription would be worth it for me.

 

[j_garcia]

They just added Amazon Prime VOD to the XBox also.

 

[markw]

Vudu has no signup or monthly fees and gives signup freebies.

Vudu (a part of Wal-Mart) offers a similar selection of movies at a choice of streaming speeds from SD ($4) up to eye-popping XHD with 5.1 DD sound ($6) with HD in the middle. This is comparable to Amazon Prime, but no "free shipping". Plus, you get a $5.99 credit for each device you register with them.

So, no sign-up fee, no monthly charge, great PQ, prices comparable to Amazon, and a $6 credit for signing up.

FWIW, we've got both but we do enough ordering from Amazon to justify belonging to AP purely for the free shipping.

 

[j_garcia]

Amazon Prime costs you the price of Prime. There are a huge percentage of media that are "Free" as a Prime member. Yes, there are items that are paid for and the price is similar to Vudu, but I don't see that as a selling point for either of them.

 

[markw]

Amazon Prime costs you the price of Prime. There are a huge percentage of media that are "Free" as a Prime member. Yes, there are items that are paid for and the price is similar to Vudu, but I don't see that as a selling point for either of them.

Perhaps I'm looking in the wrong place, but in "Amazon Instant Video" I don't see any "free" media. I do see that one can "borrow" one book/month on kindle with AP, but that's about it. Could you please steer me in the fight direction?

I found reruns of "The Dresden Files", "Buffy" and other TV shows for $1.99 per episode, but many of those are available on streaming Netflix for free*.

Again, we get out $$ worth out of AP in shipping, not media.

* Aside from the monthly subscription charge, which is comparable to AP membership to begin with.

 

[Adam]

Hi, Mark. If you're using a web browser, you can go to the Amazon website and then select the "Unlimited Instant Videos" menu under the "Shop by Department" menu on the left side. That will expand out another menu, and the top choice is "Prime Instant Videos." All of those will be free to stream.

If you're using another system, just let us know and we can point you in the right direction. I've watched them on my TV and PS3, too.

 

[j_garcia]

In all apps (except computer) it should be the Prime Instant Video section. For a computer it will be as Adam describes. On the PS3 and Roku (and other streaming devices I imagine), the first thing you see when you log in are Amazon Video on Demand and Prime Instant Video. Most media on Amazon will also show both options (purchase or Prime Instant) if it is available free.

 

[markw]

Ah!

Hi, Mark. If you're using a web browser, you can go to the Amazon website and then select the "Unlimited Instant Videos" menu under the "Shop by Department" menu on the left side. That will expand out another menu, and the top choice is "Prime Instant Videos." All of those will be free to stream.

If you're using another system, just let us know and we can point you in the right direction. I've watched them on my TV and PS3, too.

I've been using the interface on our Sony and Panny BR players. From what you say, are these freebies only available on a computer, or can they be sent to the big TV's?

I tried my sony Blu-Rayand don't see an icon for "Unlimited Instant Video", or anything that brings me to one. The three main categories are Movies, TV and "Find ore, none of which brings me to an "Unlimited Instant Videos" menu.

BTW, thanks, y'all.

 

[fuzz092888]

That's weird, I have my panasonic TV hooked up to my router and when I go into vieracast and go to the amazon app there is a tab for prime. So I can stream any prime content direct to the TV.

If you really can't find it on either of the blu-ray players, worst comes to worst you can search on amazon and find a movie you want to watch and then just do a search for it on the blu-ray player. As long as you're logged into your prime account on the blu-ray player the movie should come up as free.

 

[Adam]

Mark, if your Panny interface is like mine, the Panny BR player should show "Prime Videos" right under the "Search" in the Amazon VOD menu. I can't remember if you have to activate (if that's the right word) your device on Amazon.com before you'll see that menu choice, though. You certainly won't be able to watch Prime videos for free until you do.

 

[markw]

In all apps (except computer) it should be the Prime Instant Video section. For a computer it will be as Adam describes. On the PS3 and Roku (and other streaming devices I imagine), the first thing you see when you log in are Amazon Video on Demand and Prime Instant Video. Most media on Amazon will also show both options (purchase or Prime Instant) if it is available free.

Found the "Prime Instant Video" icon. Went in ther and found some genres. Went into one and got a bunch of movies, some of which ofer prices and say "Prime Instant Video". When I go into the movie, I get a blurb and the only option presented is to rent/buy it for a dollar amount. How does one get it for "free"?

{edit} I found the fine print. Thanks.

{edit}{edit} Plus, it helps if you register the devices. D'oh!. That made the prices go away.