TUCSON, Ariz. - When Randi Odesser shops at Whole Foods, she takes advantage of discounts available to her as a member of Amazon Prime’s loyalty program.
The $119 annual membership fee not only gets her deals on groceries, but also, free, expedited shipping, unlimited cloud storage for photos, and access to tons of movies and music.
“I am a loyal Amazon shopper to begin with and now having the added benefit of Whole Foods discounts makes it even better. Definitely a win-win," says Odesser.
“Clearly, Amazon is onto something," says Margot Gilman, Consumer Reports. More than 100-million prime members likely make Amazon their first stop, when they shop.”
Consumer Reports says plenty of other retailers are also starting to see the benefits of membership programs. R-E-I Co-op, A-M-C theaters, Bed Bath and Beyond and Restoration Hardware are just a few of the companies now offering members perks including discounts, free shipping and priority services.
“The benefits sound great, but you have to make sure that the numbers add up," says Gillman. "Restoration Hardware, for example, charges $100 for a year for a membership, that entitles you to some discounts and design consultations. And that would be great if you have a lot of furniture in your future."
Just take care that simply having the membership doesn’t lead you to spend more.
“Amazon Prime members typically spend an average of $800 a year more than non-prime members," says Gillman.
So follow Randi’s lead, and be smart when you join and when you shop.
And finally, be sure any membership is simple to cancel. You might not want to get stuck with a membership that renews automatically and is non-refundable. Worried about how these clubs may impact your digital privacy? We’ve got more tips from Consumer Reports, click here.
