Amazon Prime now costs $139: This fast delivery alternative is complimentary with your Amex Platinum
For years, one site and one service dominated the world of shopping convenience: Amazon Prime. The benefit of having packages delivered from the retail giant within a day or two came at a cost, though. And as of today that cost has just gone up.
But if you have The Platinum Card® from American Express, you might have an attractive alternative to Amazon Prime, and you can even enjoy it at a steep discount. Here's what you need to know.
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Amazon Prime price hike
Originally launched in 2005 (and at a cost of $79 per year), Amazon Prime offers a range of free, fast delivery options for Amazon purchases depending on your specific location.
However, the annual cost of an Amazon Prime membership has just gone up from $119 to $139 -- a nearly 17% jump.
If that has you balking at paying for another year, there might be some other interesting options to save on your shopping, including a substantial discount on a competing retailer's delivery service if you have the Amex Platinum Card.
What is Walmart+?
Walmart introduced its own expedited delivery subscription, dubbed Walmart+, in 2020, promising fast and free delivery of hundreds of thousands of items from Walmart, with no minimum spending required. It costs $12.95 per month plus local sales tax.
Late last year, however, the Amex Platinum Card began offering cardmembers statement credits toward Walmart+ membership of up to $155 per year, essentially knocking the out-of-pocket cost for the service down to nothing for most folks. (plus ups are excluded)
Walmart+ offers free next-day and two-day shipping on items from Walmart.com, with no minimum spending required. Members also receive fuel savings, with five cents off per gallon at Walmart and Murphy stations, and savings on some prescriptions.
In addition, the service includes free delivery from your local Walmart store on orders of $35 or more. But it's important to note here that if you don't have a Walmart store nearby, you won't be able to take advantage of store delivery.
Related: From private jets to Walmart credits: What has Amex done to my beloved Platinum card?
As someone based in New York City, my closest Walmart store is across the Hudson River, about 12 miles away. Therefore, my Walmart+ subscription won't cover store deliveries.
Still, even if you don’t live near a physical Walmart location, getting free next-day and two-day shipping on thousands of items on Walmart.com is a pretty great value proposition -- and yes, could perhaps even compete with an Amazon Prime subscription.
But as with many subscriptions, Walmart+ is probably only worth the yearly fee only if you intend to shop at that retailer often. Thankfully, you can get the monthly fee entirely waived, as long as you pay with your Amex Platinum.
Note, the annual cost of Walmart+ is $98 but by being billed monthly, you'll get the service complimentary when using your Amex Platinum Card to pay for it.
How to sign up for Walmart+ with the Amex Platinum Card
To get started, you can either navigate to the "Benefits" tab of your online Amex Platinum account or go directly to this Walmart landing page.
From here, you'll click "Get Started" and go through a series of prompts to sign up for a Walmart+ subscription. You must also create a Walmart account if you don't have one already.
Related: Amex adds SoulCycle and Walmart benefits to Platinum card
Next, you'll be asked to enter your payment information. At this step, make sure to provide your Amex Platinum card details so you receive a statement credit toward the monthly fee.
And that's it! You'll be directed to the main Walmart page to begin exploring the benefits of your subscription.
Bottom line
A monthly Walmart+ membership offers plenty of convenience, including free and fast shipping on items from Walmart.com.
Is it an Amazon Prime killer, though? That's really a case-by-case call. For some individuals in locations with plenty of physical Walmart stores, this is likely a very useful Amex Platinum perk. But for me, a city dweller without a physical Walmart location nearby, it's substantially less beneficial.
Though you may not use every single credit on the Amex Platinum, this could be one where you find some surprise utility from, and it beats paying $139 out of pocket for Amazon Prime if the main benefit you're looking for is free delivery on everyday retail items.
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Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
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Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
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- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
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Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees