How to Get a FREE Amazon Trial to Make Sure You’re Ready for Next Month’s Prime Day
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When it comes to unofficial holidays, Amazon Prime Day is perhaps one of the most highly anticipated of the year. In 2022, the massive savings event will take place on July 12 and 13, and some of its most coveted deals on home, fashion, beauty, tech, and more items have already debuted. In order to get in on the action, though, you’ll have to sign up to become a Prime member—that is, if you aren’t already one. The good news is you have two ways to go about this, depending on your desired level of commitment.
One-Year Amazon Prime Membership
Sign up for a one-year Prime membership here
First, you can sign up for a one-year membership that will cost you $139 upfront or $15 a month. This membership not only gives you access to Prime Day but also offers tons of long-term perks like free two-day shipping and same-day delivery on millions of items, free two-hour delivery on groceries and daily essentials, and the ability to stream millions of movies, TV shows, and songs through the platform—all without ads. Also included in the membership is 30-minute early access to select Lightning Deals on Amazon, so you can take advantage of the best discounts before the general public does.
And, students and select government assistance recipients can sign up for Prime at a discounted rate.
Amazon Prime Free Trial
sign up for a free Amazon Prime 30-day trial here
If you're not quite ready to invest in full membership and don't qualify for a discount (more on those below), you can also sign up for a free Amazon Prime 30-day trial in order to participate in Prime Day. Just make sure that your 30-day trial encompasses the Prime Day dates (since the sales event is just a few weeks away, signing up soon is a great idea). And if you’re not completely sold, you can cancel your subscription once the event is over or on the last day of your trial period.
Amazon Prime Membership Student Discount
In order to qualify, students will need to provide a .edu e-mail address or send one of the following to student-verification@amazon.com: a transcript, class list, or tuition bill that shows the student’s name, name of the educational institution, and the current term; or an official acceptance letter that includes the date the student will begin an upcoming term. Once approved, students will enjoy a 60-day free trial to Prime and pay $7.49 a year, or $69 upfront (a total of $70 in savings for the year compared to the standard membership). If you sign up for the student deal and have an existing Prime account, you will get a refund on the remaining months of your standard subscription. Students experience all the same Prime benefits as regular members, plus a few customized perks like discounts on textbooks, free food delivery, and six months of free access to LinkedIn Premium.
Some things to keep in mind: Students will lose select benefits during the free six-month trial, including 20% off diapers. And, Kindle owners won’t be able to access one Kindle ebook per month for free. However, these perks are available at the end of the six-month trial.
Additionally, students will need to verify their current status every time the account is up for renewal (either on a yearly or monthly basis) by uploading the required documentation to their account. Monthly subscribers can do this by going to the Manage Your Prime Membership menu, while yearly subscribers should head to the Manage Your Student Membership menu to upload verification assets. Automatic re-enrollment for the discounted membership will occur from the date you provide proof of documentation. You will be charged the regular price if you do not re-submit, however, you will have 60 days to do so, in which case you will receive a refund of the difference. Student membership will expire at the end of four years, or once you graduate and can no longer verify your student status. If you sign up prior to graduation, you can enjoy the membership until the renewal period—either through the end of the month or your yearly membership term, depending on how you pay for the subscription.
Amazon Prime EBT or Government Assistance Prime Membership Discount
Shoppers who have an EBT card or other qualifying government assistance documentation will also be able to become a Prime member for less. These members will pay $6.99 a month (although EBT funds can't be used to pay this cost) and enjoy a 30-day free trial. They will continue to be billed on a month-to-month basis once enrolled.
Furthermore, they get all the same benefits as standard members, plus SNAP EBT for eligible groceries with free shipping and exclusive deals on other essentials.
To qualify for the membership discount with government assistance, you will need to upload one of the following:
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients: a photo of your eligibility letter
SNAP users: an image of the EBT card, plus enter your EBT number
Direct Express (DE) debit card holders: an image of the card
Economic Impact Payment (EIP) debit card holders: an image of the card (Note: EIP debit card holders may only qualify for the discount for a limited time)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients: an image of the eligibility letter or a letter mentioning your participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) that notes your child's name and school name
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) members: a photo of the letter confirming your involvement
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program or Tribal assistance (TTANF) members: an image of the letter confirming your involvement
Medicaid recipients: a photo of your Medicaid eligibility letter
Your letter must show the date of issue (which will need to be within the past 12 months for acceptance) or date of expiry, as well as the name of the beneficiary.
Every 12 months, you will need to re-verify your government assistance status to continue to enjoy the discounted Prime membership. The deal can be used for up to four years from the date you sign up.
No matter how you sign up, make sure to check out our list of what House Beautiful editors are buying, kitchen gadget steals, the best bedding deals, and more ahead of the shopping extravaganza!
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