Amazon Freebies And Promotional Offers A Guide For Us Consumers

The provided source material does not contain information about Jeff Bezos receiving free items from Amazon. Instead, the sources discuss Jeff Bezos's philanthropic activities, Amazon's corporate practices regarding government subsidies, and a guide to free offers available to Amazon customers. This article will focus on the available information regarding free promotional offers and trials available to consumers through Amazon, based exclusively on the provided source data.

Amazon Freebies for Prime Members

According to a consumer deals website, Amazon Prime members have access to several exclusive freebies. These benefits are part of the Prime membership program and require an active subscription. The source identifies three primary free offers available to Prime members.

One notable benefit is a free Grubhub+ subscription. This offer provides Prime members with a complimentary Grubhub+ membership, which typically costs $9.99 per month. The Grubhub+ service offers free food delivery from participating restaurants. To access this benefit, Prime members must activate the offer and link their Grubhub account with their Amazon Prime account. The source states that this represents a potential annual savings of nearly $120.

Prime members also have access to a free Kindle book through the Amazon First Reads program. This program provides Amazon customers with early access to new book titles. While anyone can join the Amazon First Reads program, only Prime members are eligible to download a free Kindle book. The source lists example titles available through the program, including Chasing Stardust by Erica Lucke Dean, The Kidnapping of Alice by Cat Holahan, and The Restoration Garden by Sara Blaydes.

Another freebie available to Prime members is a fuel discount program. Members can receive $0.10 off per gallon of gas at participating stations, with an increased discount of $0.25 off per gallon every Friday through Christmas. To use this benefit, members must activate the offer and link their Prime account. The discount is valid at participating Amoco, bp, or ampm stations, with approximately 7,500 locations participating in the program.

Free Offers for Non-Prime Members

The source material indicates that free offers are not exclusively available to Prime members. Non-Prime customers can also access certain freebies and trials through Amazon.

A 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime is available to anyone. This trial provides access to the full suite of Prime benefits, including Amazon Prime Video, free one-day or two-day shipping, unlimited photo storage, early access to lightning deals, and free returns. The trial allows potential customers to experience the service before committing to a paid subscription.

Non-Prime members can also access a 30-day free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited. However, this trial has specific eligibility requirements. To activate the free trial, a customer must purchase an eligible item sold and shipped by Amazon, such as an Echo device. Alternatively, if a customer already owns a compatible device, they can register it in the Alexa app to become eligible for the free trial. The trial automatically applies to the account after the qualifying purchase or registration.

Amazon Photos offers 5GB of free cloud storage to all customers, regardless of Prime membership. This storage can be used for photos and videos. The source estimates that 5GB of storage can hold approximately 1,500 photos.

Free Credits and Product Samples

The source material discusses methods for obtaining free credits on Amazon, which can be used toward future purchases. While the specific article referenced is not provided, the source indicates that Amazon offers multiple ways to earn free credits. The source also mentions that Amazon has offered free samples from brands such as Drunk Elephant, DripDrop, and Aestura in the past, though it does not provide current details on how to obtain these samples.

Another program mentioned is Amazon Vine, which allows participants to receive free products in exchange for writing reviews. However, the source notes that invitations to the Amazon Vine program are difficult to obtain and provides no details on the application or selection process.

Amazon's Corporate Practices and Philanthropy

The provided sources include information about Amazon's corporate activities and the philanthropic work of its founder, Jeff Bezos, though these topics are not directly related to consumer freebies.

One source discusses Amazon's participation in state and local government economic development subsidy programs. According to the source, Amazon has received an estimated $11.6 billion in subsidies since 2000 for various operations across at least 37 states. This includes corporate offices, distribution centers, data centers, film productions, logistics facilities, and Whole Foods supermarkets. The source notes that Jeff Bezos has publicly commented on corporate subsidies, stating that they are examples of government interference with free markets.

Another source details Jeff Bezos's philanthropic efforts through the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. This fund, which has a $2 billion commitment, provides grants to organizations supporting homeless families. As of the report, the fund had granted almost $640 million, including a recent $117 million in new grants to organizations across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The fund provides general operating support, meaning grant funding has few restrictions on its use.

Conclusion

The available source material provides information about free offers available to Amazon customers, distinguishing between benefits for Prime members and non-Prime members. Prime members have access to a free Grubhub+ subscription, a monthly free Kindle book, and fuel discounts. Non-Prime members can access a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime, a 30-day free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited (with a qualifying purchase), and 5GB of free cloud storage through Amazon Photos. The source also mentions past free samples from specific brands and the Amazon Vine program, though details on current availability are limited. The provided sources do not contain information about Jeff Bezos receiving free items from Amazon.

Sources

1. Reason.org
2. AP News
3. The Krazy Coupon Lady
4. The Independent