The price started at $79 in February of 2005 when the Prime program began. In 2006 Fulfilled by Prime was launched allowing other sellers to have stores selling merchandise that was warehoused and shipped by Amazon. In 2011 Prime Video was added to your benefits allowing free streaming of thousands of movies and tv shows. Amazon Locker was also added allowing secure delivery of your item to a locked location only accessible to you - think porch pirates. There are now thousands of lockers across the US. In 2014 the price increased to $99. That same year Prime Music, Amazon Photos, Lightning Deals and Prime Pantry were added to the list of membership benefits. They also introduced the Amazon Now app which offered two hour delivery in some areas with the option of one hour delivery in those areas for an additional $7.99 per order. In 2015 Amazon Prime Day was created to celebrate the company's 20th birthday. It became a yearly fixture. In 2016 Prime Reading was added allowing members free access to a rotating list of 1000 books. This benefit now includes audiobooks and magazines too. Also, same-day delivery was expanded to an additional 27 metro areas that year. In 2017 Amazon partnered with Chase to offer the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card allowing them to earn 5% back in rewards points on purchases. Prime Wardrobe was also added as a benefit that year allowing you the try up to eight items (now six) of clothes, shoes, jewelry and accessories for 7 days shipped to you free. Anything you kept was billed to your account and anything you did not want was able to be returned free via UPS using a prepaid shipping label. The Amazon Key service, offering secure delivery at your home, was also added that year and Amazon purchased Whole Foods offering discounts of up to 10% to Prime members. In 2018 the price increased to $119 per year. In 2019 free one day delivery was expanded to all members for over ten million items and the Amazon Fresh grocery delivery service was introduced. Subscribe and Save was also added that year offering up to a 20% discount for frequently purchased items. In 2020 the Prime Gaming benefit was added offering members free games, in-game loot and a free subscription to Twitch.tv. Amazon Pharmacy was also added that year offering members discounted prescriptions delivered to your home.
Bruce is correct. The price has not increased yearly as you stated and the price did not just increase because they felt like it. It increased because of the myriad of additional benefits they offer to members along with the usual increase in the cost of any company doing business. Fuel, infrastructure, additional workers, etc to support customer demand is costly. Personally, for what is offered, I believe Amazon has done decent job of keeping the membership cost at a reasonable level. You mentioned gas prices going up 20% and would we support it. My guess is yes, most would pay because they need the gas to live their daily lives. Would they be happy about it? Likely not. But then you are also only getting gas for that 20% increase. Did they deliver the gas to you? No. Did they wash your car while it was there? No. Did you get anything else at all for that extra 20% cost of gas. No. With an Amazon Prime membership you did. You seem very unhappy about the price increases for Prime membership. If so, you have a choice - a way to stick it to them - cancel your membership. I am keeping mine because I feel it is well worth it. As Forrest Gump said, "And that's all I have to say about that". Hope you have a great day!
