For those of you in the UK who buy Tolkien books at Amazon.co.uk, they have dropped the amount you need to buy to qualify for free Supersaver shipping. You used to need to order at least £15, but now you can get free shipping when your order just £5 worth of eligible items. I wish they would do the same for the USA!

From their announcement, this appears to be a permanent reduction, and not a short term offer.

Amazon.co.uk

I'm in the UK and this is good news. I was thinking about signing up for Amazon Prime, but now think I won't.

What do people think about Amazon Prime, is it worth it?

Andrew

Personally, I buy enough from Amazon that the Prime service is worth it to me - but if I didn't waste, sorry, spend so much money on new books, it wouldn't be.

It is incredibly useful for last-minute presents.

wellinghall

Here's the Amazon Prime overview link.

From what it says, you pay £49 per year, and you get

- Free one day shipping on any orders

- up to four Amazon accounts at the same household can take advantage of the offer (so if you have family members that live with you and shop separately, they can also get free shipping)

- Discounts on Express and evening delivery orders

I haven't gone with the US equivalent, since I have not yet been in a position when I cannot wait for the Supersaver shipment (which over here is a difference of 2-3 days for Prime vs. 1-2 weeks for Supersaver).

I put in a small sample order with delivery to Birmingham, and it quoted £2.75 as the shipping cost. So you would have to place somewhere around 20 orders per year to your household to save money on the Prime account by my admittedly rough napkin math.

Amazon's standard first class UK shipping rates for books are £2.16 per delivery plus £0.59 per item, for a total of £2.75 for a delivery of one book, as you say. So eighteen deliveries in a year would make the Prime membership worth-while, in pure cost terms.

wellinghall