Ship smarter: This website compares rates for all available carriers, including UPS, FedEx and DHL, so you know the best price. They include current discount codes, too. Score.
Shocker: The real price of Amazon Prime
Do you have any idea how much you’re paying for Amazon Prime? If you said, “Probably around $100 a year,” try again. You might be spending over $300 annually and not even realize it. Let me explain.
Priming the pump
Come with me back to Feb. 2, 2005. That’s when Amazon announced that for $79 a year, you could get free two-day shipping on most items with no minimum purchase. The price of Prime remained $79 annually until 2014, when it jumped to $99 a year.
In 2018, Prime membership costs increased again to $119 annually. In November 2019, Amazon raised the price for 100GB of photo storage from $11.99 per year to $19.99 a year. And in 2020, Amazon’s Whole Foods delivery came with a new $9.95 charge.
It doesn’t make cents
In 2022, an Amazon Prime membership jumped $20 more to $139 annually. In 2023, Amazon Fresh grocery delivery minimums skyrocketed from $35 to $150, only to be lowered to $100 later. Amazon Music Unlimited also went up, hitting $99 a year.
Now, ads have crept into Prime Video. If you can’t stand the interruptions, it’ll cost you an extra $2.99 monthly … which doesn’t sound as bad until you realize it’s $36 a year.
Outside of Prime Video, Prime members can subscribe to other major streaming channels, including HBO Max, Showtime and Starz. Each has its own subscription cost (typically around $8.99 to $15.99 per month, depending on the channel).
If you enjoy reading, Amazon Kindle Unlimited will set you back another $9.99 per month. Prefer to listen to books instead? An Audible membership costs $14.95 a month. Got children? Amazon Kids+ gives Prime members kid-friendly books, movies, TV shows and apps … for another $4.99 per month.
Know how much you’re really paying
Here’s how to see your current membership type (monthly or annually), your next renewal date and the price you’re being charged:
- Use this link to see how much you’re paying for Amazon Prime.
- You can also sign into your account on Amazon’s website. Then, hover over Account & Lists at the top right to open the dropdown menu. In the menu, click Prime Membership.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
How to spot a fake retail website before you buy
I got a question this week from Janet in Idaho. She was scrolling Instagram, clicked an ad for a super-cute dress and bought it. Next thing you know, there are bogus charges on her debit card. “How the heck did that happen?” she asked me. “It was a website I’ve shopped on before.”
Job scam warning: Retailers and shipping companies are hiring in droves ahead of the holidays. UPS, Amazon, FedEx, Target and all the rest are looking for folks, but they won’t make initial contact with you via email or text. Go to a potential employer’s website and find the “Careers” section to apply directly.
$9,420 flamethrowing robot
The 26-pound Thermonator robo-pup has an ARC flamethrower on its back. Throwflame, the Ohio flamethrower manufacturer, says the fiery Fido can be used for “wildfire control and prevention” and “snow and ice removal.” Shipping is free, but good luck ordering — the website crashed. Ruff!
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How to find and stop hidden fees
When I’m booking air travel, it seems like the price goes up with every click. By the time I pay to check a bag or two, that “great deal” isn’t looking so, well, great.
So of course airlines are fighting the Biden administration’s “junk fees’” rule, which would make them show their fees upfront for checking bags, carrying on a bag, and changing or canceling a reservation.
💸 Old electronics lying around? Costco’s revamped trade-in program lets you swap them for a store gift card, no membership needed. The trade-in values aren’t small potatoes, either; you can get up to $1,080 for an old laptop! Go to this portal for a quote. If you’re cool with their offer, the shipping’s free and you’ll have your money in under three weeks. PSA: Amazon has a trade-in program, too, so compare both to see which gives you the better price.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Overspend on Prime Day? Send back what you don’t actually need for a full cash refund. Log into your account, click Your Orders, find the item and select Return item. On the dropdown menu that appears, hit “No longer needed.” Free return shipping, woo!
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
32 hours of battery life: Hey, your old earbuds don’t have that! Raycons are so much more affordable than AirPods, have studio-quality sound and they fit securely in every ear. Score 15% off and free shipping right now at BuyRaycon.com/kim.They come with a 30-day happiness guarantee, too!
Excellent price, excellent audio: You don’t have to spend $200 or more for high-quality earbuds. Rayconshave studio-quality sound, 32 hours of battery life, and they fit comfortably in every ear with precise fittings. Grab ‘em for 15% off and free shipping right now at BuyRaycon.com/kim. They come with a 30-day happiness guarantee, too!
🛰️ Get cheaper Starlink internet: Folks in one of the 28 U.S. states with “extra capacity” can get SpaceX’s Starlink dish for $200 off ($299, plus shipping and tax) and $90 a month for internet. That’s a huge discount — the dish is regularly $499 and the service is normally around $120 a month. If you’re considering Starlink, jump on it now.
Good price, excellent audio: You don’t have to spend $200 or more for high-quality earbuds. Rayconshave studio-quality sound and a whopping 32 hours of battery life, and they fit comfortably in every ear with precise fittings. Grab ‘em for 15% off (and free shipping!) right now at BuyRaycon.com/kim.
Treble maker: The scam starts with an email about a family death and a free piano. Wait, a piano? Yep. If you reply, they hook you up with a fake shipping company that needs your name, address and phone number. Then — oh! — you need to pay for shipping. That’s when the scammer disappears. Don’t fall for it.
Affordable, quality tech: You don’t have to spend $200 or more for high-quality earbuds. Raycons have studio-quality sound, noise cancellation, 32 hours of battery life, and they fit comfortably in every ear with precise fittings. They also pair with two devices so you can share them. Grab ‘em for 20% off (and free shipping!) right now at BuyRaycon.com/kim.
🤖 AI is coming to our military in a big way: Palantir’s mixed-reality headsets let soldiers see the battlefield in 3D, while new software can spot hidden cargo ships in shipping lanes. Older weapons aren’t going anywhere, though — just getting more efficient.
Top-of-the-line earbuds under $65: I just checked, and Apple’s AirPods are $129 for the lame basic model … and the ones you really want are almost $200. Try Raycon earbuds instead for studio-quality sound and a whopping 32 hours of battery life. Grab ‘em right now for 20% off (and free shipping!) at BuyRaycon.com/kim.
Fake USPS sites get as much traffic as the real deal: Scammers create perfect replicas, complete with realistic tracking pages. Manually type the official site’s URL, usps.com, into your browser. Don’t click on links in emails or messages about shipping updates, either; those could be fakes.
Tech on a budget: You don’t have to spend $200 or more for high-quality earbuds. Raycons have studio-quality sound and a whopping 32 hours of battery life, and they fit comfortably in every ear with precise fittings. Grab ‘em for 20% off (and free shipping!) at BuyRaycon.com/kim.
💊 Oh, my gerd: Amazon’s new same-day prescription deliveries started in New York and LA, and a dozen more cities will get it by the end of this year. Prime members receive free shipping. Might be worth doing some price comparisons against where you get your meds now.