I know you‘re curious about working for Amazon and wondering: do Amazon employees get Prime membership for free?
The short answer is: unfortunately, no. Amazon employees do not get a free Prime membership in 2024.
But keep reading below, because employees do get some nice discounts and I‘ll fill you in on all the details!
While Prime isn‘t free for employees, there are some decent perks that come with working for one of the largest, most powerful companies in the world.
In this detailed guide, I’ll cover:
- How the Amazon employee discount actually works
- What products you can get deals on
- When you can start getting the discount
- Limitations on how much you can save
- If employees get other Prime member perks like free Audible
- Special discounts at Whole Foods for employees
- An overview of Amazon’s overall employee benefits
Let‘s dive in and see what kinds of cool benefits and programs Amazon offers its employees these days!
Here‘s the Deal: A 10% Discount for Employees
As an Amazon employee, you get access to a 10% employee discount on products shipped and sold directly by Amazon. This applies to tons of items across the Amazon site.
The catch is that it ONLY applies to items fulfilled directly by Amazon itself, not third party sellers. And it does not work on digital products.
New employees can start using the discount after 30 days on the job. Amazon will give you a voucher code to enter at checkout for the 10% savings.
Some key details on how it works:
- Valid for most physical items shipped by Amazon
- Does NOT work on ebooks, Prime membership, etc.
- Up to $100 off per item
- $1,000 annual maximum per employee
- Available after 30 days employment
- Voucher code in Amazon A to Z portal
So while not as epic as totally free Prime, 10% off is still a solid perk!
What Kinds of Products Can Employees Get Discounts On?
You may be wondering – what kinds of items can I actually use the employee discount for?
Luckily, it works on a ton of popular products fulfilled directly by Amazon:
✅ Amazon devices – Kindle, Echo, Fire tablet
✅ Books, movies, music, and games
✅ Electronics – laptops, TVs, routers
✅ Kitchen appliances – Instant Pot, Ninja blender
✅ Home items – furniture, decor, tools
✅ Toys and board games
✅ Clothing and shoes
✅ Beauty and personal care
However, there are some exemptions where the discount doesn‘t apply:
❌ Amazon Prime membership fee
❌ eBooks, MP3s, video downloads
❌ Alcohol, wine
❌ Prescription medications
❌ Gift cards
So you can save on tons of physical stuff but not digital services.
And unfortunately…that includes one big exclusion.
Here‘s the Catch: No Discount on Prime Membership
I know your next question is probably:
"That‘s great…but can I use the employee discount to get Amazon Prime for free or cheap?"
The bad news is that no, you can‘t use the employee discount on Prime membership fees. You‘ll still have to pay full price for Prime like everyone else.
Here‘s what you‘d pay for Prime:
- Month-to-month: $14.99 per month
- Annual membership: $139 per year
No special employee rates unfortunately!
However, as an employee you can still benefit from Prime‘s fast, free shipping while using your discount on eligible Amazon products. So you get the delivery perks while saving 10% on stuff you buy.
Definitely not as nice as a free Prime membership. But still thank goodness for that employee discount!
Waiting Period: When You Can Start Using the Employee Discount
As an eager new Amazon employee, I‘m sure you‘ll be dying to start that 10% savings ASAP!
So how long do you have to wait before you can access the employee discount?
The discount kicks in after you‘ve completed 30 days of employment with Amazon.
Those first 30 days might feel painfully long. But it gives you time to go through training, learn your role, and prove yourself before accessing special perks.
Once you hit your 30 day anniversary, go to your Amazon A to Z employee portal and you‘ll see the voucher code visible under your profile. Just enter it at checkout anytime you shop on Amazon to save!
Then get ready to enjoy those sweet employee savings. 🎉
Limitations on Employee Discount Usage
Sadly, Amazon does cap how much you can save with the employee discount per year:
-
$1,000 annual max – You can only save up to $1,000 total per calendar year. On your employment anniversary, it resets.
-
$100 max per item – If 10% would save over $100 on an item, the max is still $100 off.
So you can‘t go crazy buying ultra expensive stuff at a deep discount. The limits keep it reasonable for Amazon‘s bottom line.
Pro Tip: Time big purchases right before your annual reset date to maximize savings!
And make sure to track your remaining balance in your employee portal. The last thing you want is to go over limit and lose that 10% discount.
Stack Savings on Prime Day
One of the biggest sale events on Amazon all year is Prime Day. Have you ever shopped it?
The deals are epic – we‘re talking Black Friday level prices in the middle of summer!
As an employee, you‘ll be happy to know…
You CAN use your employee discount code to save during Prime Day! 🎉
The 10% will stack on top of the Prime Day discounts on eligible items.
Of course, the annual and per item limits still apply. But with strategic shopping, you can stretch your employee discount further on Prime Day.
Pro Tip: Lightning deals have the steepest discounts but sell out fast. So jump on them quickly and enter your code at checkout before time runs out!
What About Audible Discounts for Employees?
Since Audible is an Amazon company, you‘re probably also wondering:
Do Amazon employees get free Audible or Audible discounts?
Unfortunately, Audible membership is not included as a free perk for employees. You‘ll pay the regular prices:
- Monthly plan: $14.95
- Annual plan: $149.50
- Prime members: $7.95 per month
Bummer! But you can use your 10% Amazon employee discount if you buy Audible gift cards to pre-pay for membership time.
So while not free, at least you can save a little on Audible by stacking it with your employee voucher.
Do Employees Get Discounts at Whole Foods?
Now that Amazon owns Whole Foods, is there any employee discount there?
Sadly, no. Amazon employees don‘t get special discounts at Whole Foods stores.
You‘ll pay the same prices as a regular shopper when buying groceries at Whole Foods with no employee perk.
The 10% off employee code also does not work at Whole Foods. It‘s only valid at Amazon.com.
So while partnerships like that would be awesome, there‘s currently no special Whole Foods discount for Amazon staff.
What Other Benefits Do Employees Get?
Besides the 10% employee discount, what other perks come with working at Amazon?
Let‘s do a quick rundown of some of the top benefits:
Pay and Time Off
- $15 per hour minimum wage
- Up to 20 days paid time off
- Extended parental leave
Health and Wellness
- Comprehensive health insurance
- Retirement 401(k) with company match
- Life & disability insurance
- Onsite gyms and programs
Career Development
- 95% college tuition assistance
- Free technical skills training
- Career advancement opportunities
Those are just a few highlights – Amazon offers highly competitive benefits for retail or warehousing roles.
You get access to programs that really invest in your financial security, health, and career growth. The perks go way beyond just discounts.
The Bottom Line: Great Overall Benefits, But No Free Prime
At the end of the day, Amazon does not give employees free Prime membership. That‘s likely still a distant dream.
However, you do get valuable employee-only discounts, generous time off, rock solid insurance coverage, and awesome career development opportunities.
For a retail or hourly wage job, Amazon offers amazing benefits that enhance your financial situation and quality of life.
The 10% discount on Amazon purchases is just the cherry on top.
So while you might not get the full "free Prime" dream perk…
Working for Amazon still gives you financial security, great health coverage, and paths to advance your career.
For the pay, benefits, and growth potential, I‘d say that Amazon is still an amazing place to be an employee in 2024!
