Amazon uses pricing algorithms to determine what people are willing to pay and if they can undercut other sources.
Sometimes they set prices as loss leaders just to kill profit of competitors.
Yes, with Prime you get quick "free" shipping. But often the Prime price is more than the same product -without- Prime.
(You'll have to visit from a VPN with cookies disabled to ever know)
You won't get the instant gratification of next day though...
But their array of products is amazing!
And if you include 'fulfilled by Amazon' it's even better.
Very crafty of Bezos to let other companies pay to stock their warehouses.
I'd probably cover the cost of Prime with video rentals.
But I certainly purchase enough tangible goods that the free shipping makes it worthwhile.
Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.