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Got an Amazon account? Get 30 days of free one-day deliveries.

in Shop but don't drop
92 replies 72.4K views
Updated 27 Jan 2009

What's the deal?

Amazon's once again offering many customers a free 30-day trial of its 'Prime' service, in the hope that they'll keep paying for it once the trials over. The service gets you free one-day delivery (rather than its normal 3-5 day delivery), so you can sign up, order then later just cancel the trial before you're charged.

This is even good for those that are just short of the £5 spend needed to qualify for the usual 3-5 day Super Saver delivery; just sign up and get free next day delivery instead!

How can I get it?

Go to Amazon and click the link on the left hand side of the screen that says "Amazon Prime". If it says "Sign up today for your free trial of Amazon Prime" then sign up for it and shop as you usually would and it automatically gives you the free one day delivery, provided you've ordered products sold by Amazon.co.uk itself, not its marketplace sellers.

If you took the Prime trial last time around it's unlikely you'll be offered it again on your account.

How to cancel.

As the trial will run its course even after you've said you're not paying cancel as soon as you've signed up. If you forget to cancel you'll be debited for £48.

To cancel payment, go into 'Your Account' using the link at the top right of the page, and scroll down to the link that says 'Manage Your Amazon Prime Membership'. Click it, and then in the Membership Information panel on the next page, click the button that says 'Don't upgrade automatically'.

Now it should tell you your trial is set to NOT upgrade automatically, so you can go and enjoy the rest of it safe in the knowledge that you won't be paying a penny (though you should still check your statement on the day it would go out, as mistakes happen). Just don't use the delivery as an excuse to buy more!

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Replies

  • Destiny33Destiny33 Forumite
    1.2K Posts
    I did this a couple of months ago when it was offered to me and it was great as i needed a few things and got them really quickly.

    Just be careful, i did as suggested and cancelled right at the beginning but they still charged my credit card for a full year. It was sorted very easily though as i hadnt used the service after the trial and i got a full refund.

    Just to warn people to keep an eye out as it could cause them to become overdrawn.
  • louisa81louisa81 Forumite
    284 Posts
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    :( I did this a month ago and once I cancelled my subscription my one day deliveries ended!
    I had to cancel literally the same night- I checked the subscription and there was a little note tha tsaid something like "free trial ends" and the date was the same day so I cancelled imediately. I think they must have changed the offer- perhaps the one I singed up to happened to be ending on the day I signed up.
    Still, I can't complain- got a whole pile of stuff on one day delivery in time for my boyfs birthday.
  • FLFL Forumite
    748 Posts
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    I signed up and have had several things delivered really quickly over the last few weeks. The tip re saying no to automatic upgrade to avoid the £49 is a good idea
  • Presumably this only applies to items that you buy new, so you still have to pay for things on the Marketplace?
  • helwarrenhelwarren Forumite
    311 Posts
    100 Posts
    Brilliant, son has birthday party to go to Sat and didnt want to drag 3 kids round town/toys r us for a pressie.
  • dwm51dwm51 Forumite
    1 Post
    What's the deal?

    Amazon's offering many customers a free 30-day trial of its 'Prime' service, in the hope they'll remain subscribed to it. This gets you free one-day deliver (rather than its normal 3-5 day delivery), so you can sign up, order then later just cancel the trial before you're charged.

    This is even good for those that are just short of the £15 spend needed to qualify for the usual 3-5 day Super Saver delivery; just sign up and get free next day delivery instead!

    How can I get it?

    Go to Amazon and sign into your account and if you've made a purchase in the last 12 months and haven't previously subscribed to Prime should be - you'll see a light blue bar telling you you qualify for the free trial (directly underneath the site's main title bar).

    Then sign up for it and shop as you usually would and it automatically gives you the free one day delivery, provided you've ordered products sold by Amazon.co.uk itself, not its marketplace sellers.

    How to cancel.

    Refreshingly, Amazon makes it very easy for you to opt out. In fact, it'll even let the Prime trial run its course after you've told it you're not paying, so you can do it as soon as you've signed up. In fact, this is exactly what you should do, since if you forget to cancel you'll be debited for £49.

    To cancel payment, go into 'Your Account' using the link at the top right of the page, and scroll down to the link that says 'Manage Your Amazon Prime Membership'. Click it, and then in the Membership Information panel on the next page, click the button that says 'Don't upgrade automatically'.

    Now it should tell you your trial is set to NOT upgrade automatically, so you can go and enjoy the rest of it safe in the knowledge that you won't be paying a penny (though you should still check your statement on the day it would go out, as mistakes happen). Just don't use the delivery as an excuse to buy more!

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    I subscribed to Amazon Prime when it first came out and I DIDN'T cancel. I think it is great value for money. Amazon sells a huge range of goods and most prices are very competitive. "4hr delivery is very reliable and I've saved much more than £49 on postage.
  • I signed up to this with the full intention of cancelling straight away.

    I already had a lot of Amazon vouchers in the account so had everything sent by next day special delivery thanks to prime.
    Even had two book sent to work by special delivery.

    What I did because I knew I wouldn't be charged extra was to order one item per order! Cue about 6 separate packages coming thru the door by mister postie.
    Ex-Employee of a Train Operating Company.
    Ticket routing and rules expert.
    Been Penalty Fared on the Railway? PM me and Ill try to help you win your appeal.
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  • El_ReyEl_Rey Forumite
    395 Posts
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    What happens if you sign up for the trial and then pre-order something that isn't due out until September (when the free trial will be over?)
  • MercenaryMercenary Forumite
    627 Posts
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Personally, I can't see the problem with waiting for 3 or 4 days for a free delivery with the Supersaver option :confused:.
    If I can't make the £15 threshold, then there are plenty of other sites supplying the same products at similar (or cheaper :D) prices with free p&p.
  • KayessKayess Forumite
    4 Posts
    I signed up, set the option to not renew, and it worked - I didn't get charged.

    Just worth mentioning, this isn't guaranteed next-day delivery and it isn't signed for. I ordered an item on the Thursday and it didn't arrive the following day. I chased it up on Monday and they said it had been sent out, but they'd send it again as I hadn't received it. It arrived the next day by Special Delivery.
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