It seems like almost everyone has an Amazon Prime account by now, or if not, you probably know at least three other people who do. Amazon Prime is a go-to resource for its affordable prices and guaranteed free two-day shipping, which makes it the key outlet for everything from party necessities and groceries, to textbooks and school supplies. But did you know that there are tons of hacks to get even more out of your Prime membership? Read on to find out how to get all the benefits of Prime.
1. If the delivery is late you can qualify for a free month of Prime
If your order takes more than two days to reach you, then you might be qualified to get your next month of Prime for free. Their Guaranteed Accelerated Delivery policy promises that your item will get to you by the set date. So if it doesn’t, you can get a Prime Extension up to 12 times per year (this excludes student memberships).
File a claim by going to Your Orders > File/View Claim > Report Problem.
2. You can earn Prime Pantry credit by choosing “FREE No-Rush Shipping”
Yes, you’ll have to wait a little bit longer, but this will keep you from paying the $6 delivery fee. You can only use $6 of credit per pantry order, and it does have an expiration date, but any student will tell you that saving even a little money is worth it. Prime Pantry is great way to buy groceries online, without trekking to the grocery store. They have everything from snacks, to toiletries, to pet products.
3. Prime members get lots of Kindle First books for only $1.99
This is perfect for all the book lovers out there who can’t seem to get enough to read. With your Prime membership you’re actually able to download one book a month, and you don’t even need a Kindle. All you need is the app and you’ll be good to go. Each month you’ll be able to choose a book from their list of featured titles, which are usually new releases that Prime members get before anyone else. Plus, your Prime membership also allows you to download one book per month for free from a list of featured titles.
4. You can borrow tons of books from the Kindle library for free
If you’re someone who’s constantly going through books, then this is a great hack to know about. The Kindle Owners’ Lending Library isn’t like your typical library though, because there are not due dates, so whether you’re a fast or slow reader you’ll never have a problem. So instead of buying ten different books for your English Lit class, you’ll be able to rent them one at a time and refrain from lugging them around, or having to buy them. To see the books you can choose from, open the Kindle store, go to All Categories or Menu and then click, Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.
5. Amazon Prime members get a FREE six-month complementary digital subscription to the Washington Post, plus a 60% discount after that
It’s super important to stay up-to-date with current events, but spending money on a newspaper subscription isn’t always on the top of the budget list. No worries though, you can get this free subscription by logging into your Prime account.
6. You can use PrimeNow to get free food delivery
This one is particulary interesting because it involves, well, food. But instead of your typical delivery service, it has all the listed places available in one spot. All you do is input your zip code and they’ll tell you all your delivery options. If you live in the participating locations, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Minneapolis, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle, then this is a great option for you. That way, when you’re four hours into studying and need reinforcements, all you have to do is log into your Prime account.
7. Amazon Prime has unlimited storage for your pictures
There’s nothing worse then trying to take a picture on your iPhone and having the “not enough storage” message pop up. So instead, use Prime. You can save an entire collection of photos for free by using Amazon Cloud Drive. Plus, there are zero limits on the amount of pictures you use, so you can free up as much space as you need, whether you’re a professional photographer or professional snapchatter. Plus, Prime members get an extra 5GB of space for videos or any other files on the cloud.
Related: 36 Stores With Student Discounts
8. You can stream music from Prime
With over one million songs to choose from, you’ll be bound to have plenty to keep you occupied. The one catch is that you can only use one device at a time. Other than that, Prime Music is a great way to listen to music for free, unlike Spotify Premium, which might have more songs, but also costs additional money. You’re already paying for your Prime account, so why not make use of the tons of music readily available?
9. College students get six months free
All you need is an email with ‘.edu’ on the end, and you’ll get six months of Prime for free. Plus, students also get half off once the trial period is over. This cheaper alternative is called Prime Student, and it’s a great way to get tons of the benefits from Prime without spending the full amount. You can also earn a $10 credit for each referral you get from other students. Just another reason to spread the word!
10. Use the Amazon Outlet Store or Warehouse Deals section for even cheaper prices
One of the great things about Amazon are the deals you can find, but did you know that using these sites can get you items for even less? The Outlet Store sells everything from electronics to everyday household products, and the Warehouse Section has items with open packaging that are sold at a cheaper price. With a college budget, this is an option worth mentioning. However, there’s a slight risk that the item won’t be mint condition, so proceed with caution.
11. Use AmazonSmile to give back .05 percent of certain purchases to charity
By signing up for AmazonSmile—which is free by the way—you can give back to charity just by shopping. By purchasing certain products, you can give back .05 percent of sales to the charity of your choice, which is even more incentive to shop.
If you aren’t already an Amazon Prime member, jump on board! Not only does it have great prices and awesome shipping, but there are also some pretty cool perks that you don’t want to miss out on.