Free 2-day shipping via Amazon Prime is pretty dang awesome, but in all actuality, are the Amazon Prime benefits worth the money? When it comes to Prime, free shipping is just the tip of the iceberg when you start digging into some of the cool “other” Prime benefits that are included with your $139 Prime membership fee. Features you probably had no idea existed, or know very little about, especially if you signed up for Prime over a year ago when many didn’t exist yet.

If you’re on the fence about joining, these Prime benefits just might sway you into signing up, or at the very least trying a 30-day trial membership. If you’re already a member, start using these Amazon Prime benefits today, I think you’ll love what you discover.

1. Amazon Fresh

As of November 2019, the 2-hour grocery delivery service known as Amazon Fresh is completely free to Prime Members.

The service did cost $14.99/month, but alas, no more.

Order at least $35 worth of grocery items and Amazon will deliver them usually within 2 hours.

The service is currently available in 19 major markets with new cities being added often.

2. Amazon Prime Reading

Amazon Prime members can now pick from 1,000’s of books, magazines, Kindle singles and more, and read them all for FREE via Prime Reading.

And the best part is you don’t need a Kindle device to make it happen.

Just download the Kindle app for iOS or Android and start reading anytime, anywhere.

See Also: 6 Brilliantly Slick Ways to Get Amazon Prime for Free

3. Students, Get Prime Free for 6 Months

Did you know that students with a .edu email address can get Amazon Prime free 2-day shipping for 6 months at NO charge? Here are the details:

• Click Here to sign-up for your free 6 months of Amazon Student.
• You’ll get free 2-day shipping, but won’t be eligible for Prime Instant Video, Prime Music or the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.
• After your free 6 months expires, you’ll have the option to upgrade to a full Amazon Prime membership for 50% off and can cancel at anytime.
• Great way to stock up for college and dorm room supplies, on the cheap, without incurring shipping charges.

If you’re a student and can get rid of services like Netflix and Spotify and use Amazon Student instead, you can save significant money.

4. Amazon Audible Channels

Another newish Amazon Prime benefit is unlimited access to podcasts and audio from Amazon-owned Audible.

The service previously costs $5 per month and is now completely free. All that Prime members need to do is download the Android or iOS app and start tuning into Audible Channels right away at no additional cost.

Some of the top audio content includes cool stuff from The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Charlie Rose, and The Onion, among others. The best part is that you’ll listen ad-free forever.

5. Prime Music Streaming Service

If you’re the main Amazon Prime account holder, and not an invited guest, you now have “unlimited, ad-free access to Prime Playlists and more than a million songs and albums at no additional cost.” The service is simply called Prime Music and can be accessed via the Prime Music app (Free for iOS and Android) or the Amazon website.

Once you log-in to Prime Music, all of the songs you have ever purchased from Amazon will automatically be added to your music library.

Next, you’ll have the ability to search, find, and add over 1 million songs to your library as well. Most songs will be free, and some by the same artist will only be available if you pay for them.

I was very happily surprised that many new albums and singles are available to listen to for free. Once you’ve added music in your library, you can play songs whenever you want and aren’t bound to a shuffle feature like the free version of Spotify.

It also beats the free version of Pandora as you have an unlimited number of skips and can play any song in your playlist, including songs you just listened to.

The ad-free feature is a huge plus and something that makes Prime Music a no-brainer for existing members. Amazon clearly makes zero money directly off their music service, currently anyways.

What they plan to do with it in the future remains to be seen. But for now, enjoy the free music.

6. Amazon Twitch Prime

With Twitch Prime, Amazon Prime members now have an online community where gamers can get together.

Twitch is considered a social video platform designed specifically for “gamers, video game culture, and the creative arts.” All ad-free which is cool.

Also, when you use Twitch you’ll get access to cool monthly freebies. For example, as of this writing they were giving away an “Overwatch Golden Loot Box” along with five free loot boxes.

7. 2-Day Delivery Not Fast Enough?

Whole Foods and Amazon have teamed up to bring you over 1-million items currently available for 1-day delivery with a service called Amazon Prime Now that is included in the cost of a Prime membership.

Same-day delivery is available seven days a week in the following markets: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, Indianapolis, the Los Angeles metro area, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay area, Seattle, Washington, DC, as well as San Diego and Tampa Bay.

In most of these areas, you also have access to tens of thousands items that are available for delivery in 2 hours which is pretty amazing.

Need it faster? You can pay $7.99 to have it delivered in one hour.

According to CNET, the items that Amazon is focusing on for Prime Now are items that “consumers tended to need more urgently, including HDMI cables, batteries, water filters, baby wipes, deodorant and last-minute travel items such as sunscreen and towels.”

To start using this Prime feature you can either use the Amazon website or download the free Amazon Prime Now app (free for iOS and Android).

8. Unlimited Photo Storage

Another Amazon Prime benefit is unlimited cloud storage with a service called Amazon Prime Photos.

This means you can start uploading your pictures straight to the Amazon cloud when your memory is close to full, or whenever you want for that matter. Great for vacations or when you run out of storage options.

When comparing to Google’s free storage option, Amazon Prime Photos lets you store unlimited RAW file formats for free, which Google does not. But…Google let’s you store unlimited 1080p video while Amazon limits you to 5GB.

If you’re interested in taking Amazon’s photo service for a test-drive you have 3 options:

1. Web: Sign-in to your Amazon account from your web browser to start adding your photos from any PC or Mac.
2. Mobile: Get the free mobile app to add photos from your iOS or Android device.
3. Desktop: Install the Cloud Drive application for PC and Mac to add photos from your computer. Download Here.

See Also: 4 Ways to Get Free Shipping at Amazon (Without Paying for Prime)

9. “Prime Only” Early Access Deals

Are you aware that Amazon owns a website called MyHabit.com which specializes in limited time discounts on apparel (for the entire family), shoes, jewelry, handbags, and home items? Yeah, me neither.

Talking really big discounts too, in the neighborhood of 60% off the original price.

You have to sign-in to this “members only” website with your Amazon account information to gain access to the deals.

BUT, if you’re a Prime member, you’ll get access to the deals 30 minutes earlier than everyone else.

This is a fairly significant thing as many of the really popular deals go quickly.

Unfortunately, you won’t get free 2-day shipping like you would on the Amazon website, but orders over $99 will ship for free via standard shipping.

10. Free Streaming Video

While probably the most popular side Amazon Prime benefit, I had my membership for over a year before I knew about the Prime Streaming option and it’s definitely worth using.

Thousands of TV shows and movies are available for viewing, at no extra cost, with new titles being added all the time.

You can instantly stream Prime Instant Video titles from your computer’s web browser, Fire phone, Fire TV, Fire Tablets, Apple devices, Android phones, Internet-connected TVs, Blu-ray players, and even gaming consoles.

The best way to view on Apple devices is to download the iOS app. If you’re an Android person, then download this app.

Try Prime For Free: Click Here to get a free 30-day trial and test out all of these Amazon Prime benefits for yourself.

By Kyle James

I’ve always admired companies that have the guts to put their money where their mouth is, and offer a lifetime guarantee on their products. It’s a good feeling knowing that something you’re about to buy will be replaced if it doesn’t hold up as advertised. In the past I’ve talked about the stores with the best return policies, so I figured this post would be a nice sequel of sorts. Be sure to shop at these brands and companies that offer a lifetime guarantee on their products, and sleep well at night knowing they have your back.

Here are all of the brands that I could find which offer a lifetime guarantee (in alphabetical order):

1. ALDI Grocery

The southern U.S. discount grocery store has the ALDI Double Guarantee which says if you’re not 100% satisfied with any product they sell, they’ll refund your money AND replace the product.

2. Behr Paint

Behr is sold exclusively at Home Depot is some of the finest paint on the market in terms of durability and coverage and comes with a limited lifetime guarantee.

It reads like this, “If you are not satisfied with this paint’s performance, Behr Process Corporation will, at its option and upon proof-of-purchase (the original receipt), either furnish an equivalent amount of paint or refund the purchase price of this paint to you.”

See Also: 70+ Brands Whose Clothing is 100% Made In The USA

3. Big Green Egg

If you’re not familiar, the Big Green Egg is a popular ceramic grill that is incredibly strong and durable and comes with a lifetime warranty.

BBQ worry free as they stand behind their products.

4. Briggs & Riley Luggage

Briggs & Riley will repair your bag for free if it ever breaks or is damaged, even if the damage is done by an airline, they’ll fix it as part of their Lifetime Guarantee.

5. CamelBak

I absolutely love my CamelBak and use it every time I hit the trails on my mountain bike.

They stand behind their products with the Got You Bak Lifetime Guarantee and will fix free of charge unless the damage is from normal wear and tear.

6. Craftsman

Craftsman tools and lawn equipment is some of the most affordable and well built products on the market.

I should know as my garage is littered with them.

They stand behind their products with a strong warranty program which, unfortunately, seems to be a bit more convoluted then it use to be.

7. Cutco

I almost got a job selling Cutco knives one summer in college!

They make amazing knives and stand behind them with the Cutco Forever Guarantee.

8. Darn Tough Socks – Vermont

I originally heard about these socks last year and had to try a pair.

They are amazing and will probably last me a lifetime, which is why they guarantee them for life apparently.

9. Davek Umbrellas

The Davek umbrella is the only umbrella you’ll ever need. Sure it’ll cost you more up-front, but once you buy it, you’re good to go as they offer a Lifetime Guarantee and will repair or replace it with no questions asked.

10. Delta

We have Delta faucets and shower heads in our home, and every time I get a leak, I simply call them up and take advantage of their Lifetime Warranty.

They then mail me my parts for free, it’s so dang awesome.

11. Dr. Martens

The Dr Martens For Life policy states that if your shoes ever wear out, or need repair, they’ll either fix or replace them for free and forever.

Very impressive policy and one of the first lifetime guarantees in the shoe market.

To qualify you must be buy “For Life” styles that are clearly marked on the sole of the shoe.

It’s also worth noting that “For Life” versions are more expensive, but the extra money spent could be worth it to you, depending on “how hard” you are on your boots.

12. Duluth Trading

The No Bull Guarantee from the folks at Duluth Trading (clothing and footwear) states the following, “If you’re not 100% satisfied with any item you purchase from Duluth Trading, return it to us at any time for a refund of its purchase price.

Simple, unconditional, no nonsense, NO BULL.”

13. Fiskars

Fiskars creates high-quality scissors, pruners, saws, rakes, and shears and stands behind them for as long as you own them.

Having owned several of their products they are dam near unbreakable.

14. GoRuck

GoRuck creates high-quality ruck sacks, bags, patches, and clothing and stand behind them with the GoRuck Scars Lifetime Guarantee on all their products.

15. Husky Tools (at Home Depot)

Almost all of the hand tools you’ll find at the Home Depot are made by Husky and they’re all Guaranteed Forever.

This includes pliers, wrenches, ratchets, hammers, sockets, plumbing tools, knifes, and utility blades.

16. JanSport

I had a JanSport backpack in high school and it lasted me all four years and was still in great shape when I graduated.

Great products all the way around and they stand behind them with a Lifetime Warranty.

17. Kobalt Tools (at Lowe’s)

All of the Kobalt Tools you’ll find at your local Lowe’s are produced by Kobalt and come with a lifetime guarantee.

If they break, or wear out, you can take them back to Lowe’s and exchange them for free.

18. Koss

Koss manufacturers popular headphones, speakers, and various accessories and will happily replace your product if it fails due to any manufacturer’s defect.

19. Lands’ End

The Lands’ End guarantee is pretty darn awesome.

From their site, “If you’re not satisfied with any item, simply return it to us at any time for an exchange or refund of its purchase price.”

No questions asked, which is awesome.

20. L.L. Bean

The L.L.Bean Satisfaction Guarantee is a gold-standard in terms of clothing warranties.

From their website, “Our products are guaranteed to give 100% satisfaction in every way.

Return anything purchased from us at any time if it proves otherwise.

We do not want you to have anything from L.L.Bean that is not completely satisfactory.”

21. Le Creuset

The folks at Le Creuset make high-quality cookware, dinnerware, cutlery, and much more.

They also stand behind their products if they fail for any reason due to a defect in the manufacturing process, for as long as you own the product.

22. Osprey

The All Mighty Guarantee from Osprey states that they “will repair for any reason, free of charge, any damage or defect in our product – whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday.”

Oh, by the way, they make VERY high-quality backpacks and hiking gear.

23. RIDGID

You can find RIDGID tools at Home Depot, Sears, and even Amazon.

They also offer a Full Lifetime Warranty and they’ll fix or replace any product as long as it’s not “due to misuse, abuse, or normal wear and tear.”

24. Saddleback Leather

Saddleback sells popular leather backpacks, wallets, bags, laptop cases, and messenger bags.

They back up all their products with their 100 Year Warranty, from their site, “If your piece doesn’t live up to what we said it would, then contact us. or have one of your descendants get a hold of one of my descendants and we’ll take care of you.”

25. Smith Optics

I own a pair of Smith ski goggles and they’ll easily last me forever.

But if for some reason they break, due to a defect, they’ll happily replace them, at no charge to me, via their Lifetime Warranty.

26. Tervis

The Tervis Made For Life Guarantee states that they “will replace all products (except accessories) that we confirm by visual inspection to have defects in material or workmanship.

Items damaged due to normal wear and tear (e.g. fading, scratching), improper care, or abuse will not be replaced.”

27. The North Face

They’ve always been known for high quality outdoor gear and clothing and they stand behind their products with a Lifetime Guarantee.

28. Tilley Hats

Almost all of their hats and caps are guaranteed for life to never wear out.

I found it interesting that they ask you to wash and dry your hat before sending it in for a replacement. Lice I guess?

29. Timbuk2

Timbuk2 sells popular bags of all types and they stand behind the quality of their products with a Lifetime Warranty.

From their site, “Damages not covered are those resulting from abuse, normal wear and tear, cosmetic damages that do not affect the functionality of the bag.”

30. Tupperware

From their website, “Products are warranted by Tupperware against chipping, cracking, breaking or peeling under normal non-commercial use for the lifetime of the product.”

You can call them at 1-800-TUPPERWARE (1-800-887-7379) for a free replacement.

31. Vermont Teddy Bear

Their teddy bears are the only bear you’ll ever need because they back them up with a Lifetime Guarantee.

To admit your bear to the hospital for free repair you can just fill out this form.

If they can’t fix your bear, they’ll replace it for free, NO questions asked.

32. Zippo

Zippo lighters have a single mantra, “It works or we fix it free.”

Doesn’t matter if your lighter is 50 years old, or only a few weeks, they’ll fix it for free with no questions asked. Details here.

BONUS: Leatherman

While Leatherman multi-tools and knives don’t have a lifetime warranty, they come with a VERY solid 25-year warranty that’s worth adding to this list.

Also, if you join their Leatherman Insider club you get a pump to a 40-year warranty.

Ask the Reader: Any companies that offer a lifetime guarantee on their products that I missed? Let me know in the comments and I’ll get it added to my list.

By Kyle James

On the heels of my popular article about the best days of the week to shop in-store to take advantage of new clearance items, I thought it was time to research the best days to shop at some of your favorite online websites. I looked at things like the day they release online coupons, do their markdowns, and add new items to the clearance section of their website. Use this information as a guide to determine the best day of the week to shop online and always score a great deal. I’ll be adding new online retailers as I discover new tips, so keep checking back to this post.

Sunday

Michaels.com

Michaels always releases new in-store and online coupons on Sunday mornings and they tend to be valid for 4-5 days.

So if you’re shopping on their website, and you can’t find a coupon, you’re probably shopping on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. Wait until Sunday and score a fresh coupon offer.

See Also: Michaels Teacher Discount: A Very Easy Way to Save 15%

Office Depot.com

I was told by an Office Depot employee that shopping on their website on Sunday is a great way to take advantage of new clearance items in their Deal Center.

She also said the same goes for Office Max as both companies merged into one last year.

As for their online coupons, they tend to come out on Sunday and Monday of each week.

Monday

Abe Books.com

If you’re not familiar with Abe Books, they sell books and textbooks via 1,000+ individual booksellers from around the world.

I’ve been tracking them for a few months and noticed a pattern of Abe’s adding new coupons and deals on Monday of every week to this page.

Every Monday they add the new individual bookseller that offer limited time promotions. They break it up by the percent off each seller offers, which varies from 10% off all the way up to 50% off.

Barnes & Noble.com

Not sure if it’s a book thing, but Monday is also the best day of the week to shop at Barnes & Noble.com.

The majority of their coupons are released on Sunday night/Monday morning and they typically only last a couple days so you’ll want to shop early in the week to maximize your savings.

Staples.com

Staples releases the majority of their coupons and deals on Mondays along with loading up their online clearance section with new deals.

Wait until Monday morning, if you can, and you’re bound to save a little money on your online purchase.

Tuesday

GAP.com

If you can shop at the Gap.com website on a Tuesday you’re guaranteed to shop with a killer coupon code.

According to our database data, over 50% of their released coupons come out on a Tuesday.

This included offers for up to 40% off your entire online order.

Lands’ End.com

I tracked online coupon release dates at Lands’ End over the past six months and Tuesday is the day to shop.

Both in terms of site-wide savings, and deals added within specific clothing categories, Tuesday is the day to shop their website to ensure you shop with a coupon as over 40% of new offers come out.

Thursday is a close second as they try to take advantage of weekend shoppers.

Wednesday

Banana Republic.com

Not only does the Banana Republic website get new items added to their “Sale” category on Wednesday mornings, but they often unleash new coupons on the same day.

So you’ll get first dibs on new items and be more likely to find your size, plus you’ll be able to shop with a coupon code.

Children’s Place.com

If you’re a loyal shopper of the Children’s Place website, you need to start your shopping on a Wednesday.

We get 65% of our new coupons for them Tuesday night for a Wednesday live date.

Be sure to look for the rare 50% off coupon + free shipping which typically comes out the middle Wednesday of the month.

Home Depot.com

The marketing team at HomeDepot.com always sends us new deals and coupons on a Wednesday morning.

The coupons typically last a few days and the deals are typically good through the weekend for things like appliances, outdoor patio furniture, flooring, and lighting.

See Also: The Home Depot Military Discount Offers 10% Savings to Vets

Thursday

Old Navy.com

New Old Navy coupon codes are most often found on a Thursday morning and run through the weekend until Sunday night.

Look for anything above 15% off; but 30% or 40% off coupons are fairly common.

Ann Taylor.com

Ann Taylor is known for some pretty crazy coupon codes, like in the 40% to 50% off range. They almost always come out on a Thursday and last through the weekend.

Just be careful of them jacking up all of their prices right before releasing a new coupon. If you can combine a site-wide sale with a Thursday released coupon you can really save a chunk of change.

Macy’s.com

If you shop regularly at Macys.com, you’ll want to try shopping on a Thursday as that’s when they typically release their weekly coupons. Their coupons will then usually be good through Sunday.

So while you don’t have to necessarily shop on a Thursday, be sure not to shop online Monday – Wednesday.

Petsmart.com

Thursday is the day to shop for your furry pal at Petsmart.com.

We get over 50% of our Petsmart coupons on a Wednesday afternoon for a Thursday release.

Coupons typically last just a couple days, so if you’re shopping early in the week, you’ll definitely want to wait until Thursday at the earliest.

American Eagle Outfitters.com

When American Eagle releases a new coupon code, it’s almost always on a Thursday.

The coupon typically last through Sunday, and is sometimes extended through Monday.

Look for 20% off coupon codes and the rare 40% off coupon plus free shipping that usually comes out on long holiday weekends.

Dick’s Sporting Goods.com

When it comes to shopping on the Dick’s website, the one word to remember is Thursday.

That is when they’re most likely to give us a coupon to use on your online shopping.

Their coupons often only last for only a day or two, so be sure to shop on a Thursday (or Friday) for your best chance to snag one.

Friday

Best Buy.com

Every Friday we get an email directly from the folks at Best Buy, letting us know about new coupon codes as well as new deals.

The coupons are typically for 20% off small appliances or a dollar off deal on new music albums.

The deals are typically category specific and usually involve savings on HDTV’s, laptops, and appliances.

Kohl’s.com

In an attempt to entice weekend shoppers, Kohl’s often releases new coupon codes on Friday mornings and they last through the weekend.

Here at Rather-Be-Shopping, over 60% of the new Kohl’s coupon codes we receive come in on a Friday.

If you can wait and do your shopping over the weekend, you’ll definitely save some money.

See Also: 6 Kohl’s Shopping Secrets That’ll Save You Big

Saturday

Cost Plus World Market.com

Whether it’s an extension of a current coupon, or a new 25% off code, Saturday is a great day to shop on the Cost Plus website.

We usually get new coupons on a Friday to post over the weekend and they also load up their clearance section with new deals on Saturday as well.

Target.com

I have a friend who works for Target in the e-commerce department, and he told me they update their online clearance department over the weekend starting on Saturday.

While their coupons tend to come out randomly during the week, their new clearance items are specifically added Saturday morning.

Ask the Reader: Do you know of any other online stores that have consistent days where they release coupons or deals? Let me know in the comments, thanks!

By Kyle James