Weird Things to Try if You Pay for Amazon Prime

If you love the convenience of Amazon, you already know the value of quick shipping and endless variety. But did you know you could be optimizing your bank account even further by leveraging exclusive member perks and hidden digital tools? From instant gift cards to massive savings on monthly bills, here is how to get the most "bang for your buck" directly from your couch.

1. Insider Hacks for Amazon Savings

1. The "Logged Out" Strategy: Log out of Prime to check if prices are lower for non-members, then add to your cart and log back in to snag the better deal.
2. Price Tracking: Use the camelcamelcamel extension to see the historical price data of any item, ensuring you never buy during a price spike.
3. Search Smart: Type in a high-end brand name and look for "similar styles" to find quality alternatives without the designer price tag.
4. Amazon Family: Share one membership with up to two adults and four children to split the cost.

2. Small Hacks for Big Returns

1. Prime Samples: Search "Prime Samples" to try health and beauty products for free or cheap before committing to a full-size purchase.
2. Price Drop Refunds: If an item sold by Amazon drops in price within a week of your purchase, contact support for a refund of the difference.
3. Gift Card Conversion: Use small, leftover balances on prepaid Visa/Mastercards to "Purchase a Gift Card" on Amazon, essentially consolidating your loose change into your Amazon balance.

3. Explore the Hidden Corners of Amazon

1. Woot!: Amazon's daily deal site features discounts up to 96% off.
2. Amazon Coupons: Check the dedicated coupon page for clickable promo codes that save you up to 70%.
3. Amazon Haul: A new section where everything is under $20.
4. Amazon Resale: Get inspected, open-box, and pre-owned items at a deep discount with the same return policy as new items.

4. Alexa+

Prime members will get free access to Alexa+. Alexa+ is the new version of Amazon's voice assistant. It uses generative AI and will cost $20 per month to non-Prime members when it leaves Early Access. Amazon says you'll be able to talk naturally, phrase requests how you like, receive tailored recommendations based on your preferences, create bedtime stories, and more.

5. Amazon Family

If you’re looking to get more out of your membership, Amazon Family is a lifesaver. It lets you share perks with another adult in your home, plus up to four kids and four teens (as long as the teens were signed up before April 2025). It’s also great for peace of mind—you can use Amazon Household to keep an eye on what the kids are watching or approve your teen's latest shopping spree. Just keep in mind that everyone has to live under the same roof; the old "Prime Invitee" program for friends and off-site family is officially a thing of the past.

6. Prime Gaming

Prime Gaming (formerly Twitch Prime) offers members a constant stream of digital rewards. Each month, you can claim free PC games to keep forever, along with exclusive in-game loot like skins, expansions, and premium currency for popular titles. A standout perk is the monthly Twitch subscription; this allows you to subscribe to your favorite streamer at no extra cost, providing them with financial support while unlocking subscriber-only benefits for you.

7. Unlimited Online Photo Storage

Amazon Photos provides Prime members with unlimited, full-resolution photo storage and 5 GB of video storage. Using the mobile app, you can easily back up, share, and even print your favorite memories. Through a partnership with Shutterfly, members receive a permanent 45% discount (plus free shipping on orders over $35). However, treat this as a secondary storage option rather than your only backup. If you ever cancel Prime, your storage drops to a shared 5 GB limit; after 180 days over that limit, Amazon may begin deleting your files.

8. Discounted Amazon Kids+

Keep your little ones entertained and safe with Amazon Kids+. This subscription takes the guesswork out of screen time by providing a curated library of educational and fun content tailored to your child's age. Whether they are reading on a Kindle or watching shows on a Fire tablet, you’re always in the driver’s seat with easy-to-use parental controls. As a Prime member, you can unlock this entire digital library for the special rate of $5.99 a month, making it one of the most affordable ways to manage your family's digital well-being.