Whether it’s coffee, water filters, school supplies, kid’s clothes, you name it, my family is addicted to the quickie shipping of Amazon Prime for $99 a year.
Now, no surprise, that membership will bring a discount on a Washington Post subscription. As it does, it’s an important reminder of the vast potentials of the relationship between the newspaper and Amazon.
The paper, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Wednesday unveiled what would seem a predictable gambit: Get Prime and you can receive the national digital edition (usually $9.99 a month) free for six months, then for $3.99 a month.
But the offer would also seem to underscore the unique potential advantages of the newspaper being in his hands: the ability to increase the paper’s market share as a direct result of consumers’ allegiance to Amazon.
Amazon obviously puts the newspaper industry to shame as a marketer and effective means of delivering a product (how many times do I call a disembodied voice at an 800-number about a late or missed newspaper delivery?). And while there is no guarantee that a Prime member will be moved to purchase a great news product, being able to tap into that deeply loyal channel of Amazon buyers can’t hurt.
“The Washington Post offers world-class journalism that can be conveniently accessed through a variety of devices,” said Greg Greeley, Vice President of Amazon Prime, in a release. “We’re always looking for ways to enhance Prime for our members and we’re excited to be able to offer them six months of free unlimited digital access to The Washington Post National Digital Edition and at a deeply discounted monthly rate thereafter.”
