Amazon Prime cuts down on shared shipping benefits
Amazon has quietly introduced changes to the Amazon Prime service which will cut down on the ability of members to share their benefits. Essentially, the changes to the Amazon Prime and “Amazon Household” terms and conditions will mean that members can now only share their benefits – such as their preferential deals on parcel shipping – with one other adult, although they can add four children to the account.
Previously, up to four “household members”, whether adult or children, could share the benefits – which would have been a popular and cost-effective option for students and others living in share accommodation.
Before the changes were introduced over the weekend, Amazon’s wording on sharing shipping benefits used to read: “Free or paid Amazon Prime members can share their shipping benefits with up to four additional family members living in the same household. If you purchase a Prime membership for a small business, you may invite up to four co-workers to shop with this corporate account.”
Now, the wording reads: “Free trial or paid Amazon Prime members can share certain Amazon Prime benefits with one other adult by forming an Amazon Household.”
Amazon has been generous about letting Prime members share their benefits as it has been a good way of publicising the service. However, observers say that the company probably feels that it is time to fully “monetise” this awareness.
