Amazon raises Prime membership rates for Canadians for 1st time
Amazon Canada is increasing the price of Prime Membership.
Subscribers to the e-commerce giant’s subscription program, which includes free shipping on many items, access via Prime Video streaming platform, and a host of other benefits, will soon begin charging higher fees.
Customers who are already customers will notice a price increase starting next month.
Amazon says Prime’s monthly fee will go up $2 to $9.99 per month, while the annual renewal package will increase by $20 to $99 per year.
Prime’s first price hike since Amazon launched Canadian membership in January 2013.
According to the company, it made the call as “Amazon continues to invest heavily in Prime,”You will find a wider selection of products and an introduction of free shipping within the country.
Prime Video to get the LOTR series
Prime Video, which is the answer to streaming rivals Netflix and Crave has also increased its selection of original programming over recent years.
The new Lord of the RingsAccording to The Hollywood Reporter, the first season of a TV series was to premiere in September. It cost Amazon $465 Million US.
MGM was also acquired by the company last month. This will allow it to expand its streaming library.
Amazon Prime has now expanded its gaming, music and e-books options to include Amazon Prime members.
The price rise will be effective for monthly subscribers beginning May 13. Annual subscribers will not see an increase, but the price will go up when they renew.
Last week, a group of current and former Amazon workers in New York’s Staten Island accomplished what some of the biggest unions in the United States could not: they organized Amazon’s first successful union vote in the country. The battle isn’t over yet: in a statement, Amazon said it is weighing whether to file objections. But today, we speak to Chris Smalls, interim president of the newly-formed Amazon Labor Union, about how he sparked a movement that succeeded where others have failed — and where that movement is headed next. 23:26
Amazon announced its third price hike for U.S. customers in February. The monthly fee was raised to $14.99 US, and the annual fee to $139 US.
For the first U.S. price increase in four years, Amazon cited rising shipping and labour costs. Amazon promised pay increases for tens and thousands of workers in Canada and the U.S. last year.
Source: CBC
