Canceling Prime? Here‘s What You‘ll Lose From Free Shipping to Exclusive Deals

As an avid Prime member for over 5 years, I can personally attest to the many perks a Prime subscription offers. But is the $139 annual fee or $14.99 monthly charge still worthwhile if you aren‘t using all the benefits? Here‘s a detailed look at everything you‘ll lose if you cancel your Prime membership.

Free and Fast Shipping – Gone for Most Orders

One of the main reasons I joined Prime was free two-day shipping on millions of products. Without paying the Prime fee, orders under $25 incur a shipping charge, usually $5.99 per shipment.

Based on my experience, this really adds up if you frequently place smaller orders. I easily spent $100+ annually on shipping before Prime, making the $139 annual fee well worth it.

Here‘s an overview of how shipping costs will change if you cancel Prime:

• Orders under $25 have a $5.99 shipping fee applied.
• Two-day shipping jumps to around $6 per shipment without Prime.
• Next-day delivery can cost between $9 to $12 per order.
• Same-day delivery, if available, runs from $12 to $20 per individual order.

You can still get free shipping without Prime on eligible items if your order exceeds $25. But most smaller orders under $25 will get hit with fees.

Based on a 2021 Consumer Intelligence Research Partners LLC (CIRP) survey, free two-day shipping was the most used Prime benefit for members. 72% of respondents had used this perk in the past 12 months. This shows how valuable the included fast shipping is for many subscribers.

Hundreds in Savings – No More Exclusive Prime Day Deals

One of the top reasons I keep my Prime membership active is for the exclusive access to Prime Day savings. In 2022, Prime members globally scored deals on more than 300 million items during the sales event.

Without Prime, you can only watch from the sidelines as the lightning deals and major discounts pass you by. Prime Day deals can easily help members save over $100 annually if you take advantage of the sales.

Over 80% of Prime subscribers shop on Prime Day based on a Forbes survey. So if you cancel Prime, you‘re missing out on major bargains.

Amazon Digital Media Perks – Prime Video, Music, Reading and More

I probably save nearly $240 per year from all the included movies, TV shows, music, and books that come with my Prime membership. If you cancel, you‘ll immediately lose complimentary access to:

• Prime Video – Thousands of movies, shows, Amazon Originals, and live events. Non-Prime price is $8.99 per month.
• Prime Music – 100 million songs, thousands of stations, and top podcasts ad-free. Amazon Music Unlimited costs $8.99 without Prime.
• Prime Reading – Access to over a thousand books, popular magazines, comics, Alexa Audible narrations, and more. Only free for members.
• Free Games – Exclusive free PC games, in-game content, and a free Twitch channel subscription each month.
• Kindle Lending Library – Ability to borrow from over 1 million book titles to read on a Kindle device. This perk is Prime-exclusive.

Based on a 2021 Feedvisor survey, nearly 50% of Prime members regularly use Prime Video. Over 25% use Prime Music and Reading. So if you use these digital media benefits, be prepared to pay separately or lose access entirely.

Whole Foods and Pharmacy Perks Gone Too

As a weekly Whole Foods shopper, I really appreciate the extra 10% off hundreds of sale items that Prime unlocks for members. And when I need a prescription refilled in a hurry, the included 2-hour delivery from Amazon Pharmacy is invaluable.

If you cancel Prime, expect to pay higher prices at Whole Foods again without the member discounts. And Amazon Pharmacy‘s convenient 2-hour prescription delivery jumps to a $5.99+ fee per order.

Almost 20% of Prime subscribers shop at Whole Foods according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners LLC (CIRP). And Amazon Pharmacy use is up 62% year-over-year as of Q1 2022. These benefits add nice value for regular users.

Major Storage Downgrade – From Unlimited Photos to 5GB

Over the past 5 years as a Prime subscriber, I‘ve uploaded over 10,000 photos and videos using the unlimited cloud storage included with Prime. If I canceled my membership, this storage would downgrade to just 5GB, the standard amount for non-Prime shoppers.

Once you end your subscription, the total storage space for photos and videos will drop from unlimited to 5GB. For comparison, this provides room for about 1500 average images. Managing uploads carefully will be essential to avoid exceeding the paltry limit.

So if you, like 65 million other members globally, have come to rely on Prime‘s unlimited full-resolution photo storage, be prepared to severely curb uploads when this perk disappears after cancellation.

Additional Prime-Only Perks Not Available for Non-Members

Along with the major benefits outlined already, there are some more niche Prime privileges that get taken away when you cancel:

• Prime Wardrobe – Fashion and accessories can be tried on for up to 7 days before you buy. Only for Prime subscribers.
• Prime Release-Day Delivery – Get new product releases and pre-ordered items delivered on release day at no additional cost.
• Try Before You Buy – Test select new products free for 30 days, then return or purchase. Australia only.

So if you‘ve enjoyed these bonus Prime perks, be aware they too will disappear when you cancel your membership.

Key Takeaways – Evaluate If Prime Still Provides Value For You

Before considering cancellation, I recommend reviewing which Prime benefits you actually use regularly and what they‘d cost without membership:

• Without the included fast shipping, estimate what your annual delivery fees would total based on past order data.

• Calculate the value of Prime media you use like Video at $8.99/month, Music at $8.99/month, Reading at $10/month, etc.

• Factor in the Whole Foods and Pharmacy perks based on your spending.

• Compare if fees incurred annually without Prime outweigh the $139 membership cost.

For me, Prime easily saves me over $500+ per year. But your usage may differ. In the end, weigh if the convenience, perks and extras still provide overall value vs. the membership fee for your personal needs.

I hope this comprehensive overview clarifies exactly what benefits you‘ll lose if you cancel your Prime subscription. Please let me know if you have any other specific questions!