Yes, Amazon offers discounts on Amazon Prime membership for active duty and retired U.S. military personnel. The discount reduces the annual membership fee from $139 to $79, a savings of 43%. This discounted rate applies to new Prime memberships or renewals.
What are the eligibility requirements for the military discount?
To be eligible for the Amazon Prime military discount, you must be either:
- Active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, or Reserves
- Retired from one of the above military branches
You’ll need to verify your status during the Prime signup process. Eligible individuals include veterans, reservists, spouses, and dependents.
How do you sign up for the discount?
Signing up for the reduced Prime membership is easy:
- Go to www.amazon.com and hover over “Account & Lists” in the top right. Select “Try Prime” from the dropdown menu.
- Click “Try Prime” or “Join Prime.”
- On the signup page, select the checkbox indicating your military status.
- Enter your military email address to verify eligibility.
- Follow the prompts to complete your Prime membership signup.
If you’re already an Amazon customer, you can visit Your Account -> Prime Membership to manage your membership and enroll in the discount.
Can you share the Prime membership perks with family?
Yes, one great benefit of the discounted Prime membership is that you can share select perks with up to four other households linked to your Amazon account. Here’s what can be shared:
- Free two-day shipping
- Prime Video
- Prime Music
- Prime Reading
- Prime Photos
Each household still needs their own Amazon login to take advantage of sharing. And keep in mind that other Prime benefits like Prime Pantry and special deals can’t be shared.
How long does the military discount last?
The reduced Prime rate for military personnel lasts as long as you keep renewing your membership each year. You don’t need to re-verify eligibility once approved unless your status changes. Some key points:
- The discount applies to annual Prime memberships only, not monthly plans.
- You’ll continue receiving the lower $79 rate on renewals each year.
- If you cancel Prime, you can reactivate it later at the reduced rate if still eligible.
Does the discount change Prime’s benefits?
No, you receive the full range of Prime benefits at the discounted military rate. These include:
Prime Benefits | Description |
---|---|
Free two-day shipping | Fast, free delivery on over 100 million items. No minimum purchase required. |
Prime Video | Unlimited streaming of movies, TV shows, and Amazon Originals like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. |
Prime Music | Over 2 million ad-free songs available to stream or download. |
Prime Photos | Secure cloud storage for your photos with unlimited storage space. |
Prime Pantry | Get exclusive discounts on household goods shipped in Prime Pantry boxes. |
Prime Reading | Access a rotating selection of free Kindle ebooks, magazines, comics, and more. |
Prime Early Access | Get 30-minute early access to Lightning Deals on Amazon.com. |
As you can see, military members receive the full suite of Prime benefits for 43% off the regular membership cost.
Are there other military discounts from Amazon?
Yes, in addition to the Prime discount Amazon offers some other savings for service members:
- Amazon Business pricing – Save even more with discounted pricing on select products.
- Amazon Family – Extend Prime sharing to unlimited family members in one household.
- Kindle Unlimited – Get 2 months free on this ebook and audiobook subscription service.
- Audible – Save 40% on your first 6 months of Audible membership.
- Amazon Fashion – Extra 25% off select shoes, clothing, and more.
These savings are clearly advertised on Amazon’s military discounts page. And deals can change over time, so check back often.
Is the military Prime discount available worldwide?
Unfortunately, the discounted Prime membership is only available in the United States at this time. Service members stationed abroad will pay the local country rate for Prime if it’s available there. For example, Prime in Germany costs 69 euros per year.
One option is to keep a U.S. address on file with Amazon to maintain eligibility for the $79 military rate. Just be aware that when living overseas, you won’t receive all Prime benefits like fast shipping or video/music streaming due to licensing restrictions.
Do other stores offer military discounts?
Yes, many retailers offer discounts, deals, or price matching for military personnel including:
- Home Depot – 10% off in-store purchases
- Nike – 10% off for active and veteran military
- Disney Parks – Discounted tickets and hotel rates
- Apple – 10% off select products plus free shipping
- Walgreens – 20% military discount on the first Wednesday of each month
Plus many restaurants like IHOP, Denny’s, and Buffalo Wild Wings offer dining specials for service members as well. Always be sure to ask businesses if they offer military savings before you pay.
What are some other tips for using Prime as a military member?
Here are some suggestions for making the most of an Amazon Prime membership at the military rate:
- Set up household profiles to share Prime benefits like shopping and streaming media.
- Use Prime abroad when possible for shipping essential items.
- Link your military ID as the primary account holder for discounts.
- Subscribe & Save on household items for extra savings – discounts apply to these automatic deliveries.
- Use Prime Wardrobe for free at-home try-ons of clothing purchases.
- Download Prime Photos to safely back up all your images.
- Sign up for the Amazon Visa card to earn 5% back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases.
Conclusion
Amazon Prime offers an outstanding value to military members at its discounted annual rate of $79. You’ll gain access to fast shipping, streaming media, exclusive deals, and more. The membership can also be shared with family to help stretch your savings even further.
Signing up is quick and easy by verifying your status during the Prime purchase or renewal process. Just remember the discount applies to yearly plans only. Take advantage of the many ways to save with your Prime membership as an active or retired armed forces member.