Amazon have increased the cost of their Primer service worldwide, with prices to go up by as much as 43 per cent, as the shopping giant has told customers via its website.
Amazon’s increase for the U.K. will be 20 percent from September 15th. In France the price hike is higher, moving from €49 per year to €69.90 (a 43 percent increase). Amazon will also hike prices in Spain and Italy by 39 percent annually, with the company’s second-biggest market, Germany, seeing an annual 30 percent rise.
The home of Amazon has also seen a big increase. Amazon’s Prime price increases in Europe follow the price of Prime in the U.S. climbing to $139 per year, up from the previous $119 annual fee, as The Verge has reported.
Amazon Prime typically includes fast shipping, access to sales, and free movie / TV streaming in most markets.
Searches for ‘Cancel Amazon Prime’ have skyrocketed 537 percent amid announcement of subscription price hike. Data compiled by cybersecurity experts VPNOverview.com reveals that searches to cancel Amazon Prime subscriptions rose after it was announced Amazon are increasing the monthly cost of Prime in the U.K. from £7.99 to £8.99, the first price increase since 2014.
A spokesperson from VPNOverview.com tells Digital Journal why this is the case: “Many people are having to cut down on expenses with the ever increasing cost of living, meaning subscription services that they may still actively use might have to go. Even if the price hikes are only £1 more a month, over time, this can add up and Amazon Prime users have seemingly had enough.
The statement continues: “Whether or not this will have a large effect on subscription numbers is unknown, but it seems that for now many Brits are having to rethink whether the service is worth it.”
To address the price increase, financial expert Martin Lewis has stated on his money saving website: “”So, if you currently pay monthly and you want to keep it, then the best thing you can do – provided you can afford it – is to convert now to the annual package and then you lock in at £79 for the next year, forestalling the rise.”
That covers monthly increases, but there are fewer options for those who pay an annual subscription: “If you’re an annual payer it’s more difficult – though if your subscription is due to renew in the few weeks after 15 September, you could cancel just before that and then get a new subscription at £79 before 15 September – again, forestalling that rise just for a little bit.”
