Amazon lowers Prime membership cost for those on govt assist

Hmmmm, I'm not sure. I can see why they did it (to get more money in their pockets and compete with walmart), but I don't really care for the idea. I worry that it will encourage people to buy stuff they really can't afford to buy. Look at how much the peas spend on random crap on Amazon.....we do it because it's easy and just a click away. Sure, most of us can afford to buy it and stay within some sort of limit but how much of what we buy is necessary? Probably very little, but it's easy so we do it. If we had to actually go to the store would we spend just as much? Doubtful, imo.

Now, I don't feel the same about student discounts, senior discounts, military discounts, etc. Those things are not income based and are available to those who have put in their time for society (or in the case of students, it's giving them a leg up in advance).

I actually dislike this attitude more than I do the ones who are boo hooing over a discount they aren't getting.

poor people get to make shitty choices, just like everyone else does. They aren't any different than anyone else-they just have less money, and rarely get the breaks many of us get. A paternalistic approach to curtailing their ability to buy what they want is really upsetting

I don't have an issue with it and it won't stop me renewing my membership- I feel like I get my money's worth and am not going to begrudge someone on a low income a small discount. Same goes for companies that offer other reductions like student, teacher and senior discounts.

I would almost bet the normal rates will go up. And that is what will force me to drop it. 

Let's face it. Amazon isn't doing this out of the goodness of their heart. They are doing it to increase their bottomline. The difference will have to be made up elsewhere. SaveSave

A $27 break...GEESH...that's only $2.25 a month. Really? People are going to cancel or begrudge the poor the opportunity for a perk? Thanks, but I don't mind paying full price rather than being poor to save that $2.25 a month. Shaking my head...

I don't have Prime - mostly because I don't shop enough at Amazon or anywhere else to justify it. I do shop Walmart.com site to store (no shipping fee) now and then

I don't have a problem with it in general - it's a marketing technique for Amazon and it's obviously aimed at siphoning away Walmart customers. I think that most people who qualify aren't going to be spending a lot - they don't have much to spend in the first place (I was on Food Stamps for about 5 years 20-ish years ago). I think it'll be beneficial for people who live in areas with poor transportation and few shopping options - heck if I was living where I am now when I was single, I would be all about shopping online...it's cheaper to pay Prime monthly than even ONE Taxi ride to the shops (I don't drive). If it helps poor parents buy school supplies and diapers and toilet paper for less or seniors access home health and food easier? I'm all for it.

I'm also guessing that Amazon is hoping it'll work like the student discount and people will continue to buy Prime as their financial circumstances improve.

You're right, they have every right to spend their money however they see fit.  They're free to spend $99/year on Prime same as everyone else, or spend enough to get free shipping.  No one is saying poor people aren't allowed to shop on Amazon.

PLEASE tell me that you are not insinuating that poor people don't have the intelligence, self-control or whatever to control their finances and are not smart enough to budget what little money they do have. Please, because that is how I read it, and I am hoping I am dead wrong. 
In my opinion (my opinion only) poor people are a whole heck of a lot more careful about buying what they need, searching for better deals, etc. than the people I know of that have gobs of money and just blow it to blow it. 

This is the great thing about capitalism. A private company can make this sort of business decision. We can choose whether to continue to patronize that business based on their practices. If people don't like this idea, the market will tell Amazon so. They'll lose enough Prime members (and/or general sales dollars) that they might rethink this plan. If people are okay with it, Amazon will make more money and hopefully create more jobs.

i am thankful we can pay full price

and i'm not going to get bent out of shape for cutting someone a break

good grief - i get a veteran's discount

i also get a prime discount by prepaying for a year -

amazon is also, with the FDA, going to work on allowing the use of food stamps for online shopping

that ought to really piss people off

but if you think about it - isn't it offering more choices to those in depressed areas - or those without access to transportation?

gina

No, of course not, but I'm not going to try to explain it because I'll just stick my foot further into my mouth and still not get my point across.  But I don't think all (or even most) poor people are stupid, I think that it's easier to overspend by clicking a button than it is in person, that's all.

I have no issue with it whatsoever. Actually, I think it is a move in the right direction.

I cannot love this post enough.  

and this can be urban or rural

if you are in a depressed area - no matter where - life is frickin hard

i see people walking - for miles - to go to a grocery store

if you live in a one car family and your car breaks down out here - it's a complete family disaster

i see this as giving them access to the things i take for granted

and who can really be pissed at that?
and if you are - concentrate on the kids in those situation - it's helping them - who have no choice
gina