Is free shipping worth the cost of a pricey mobile plan? For those Amazon junkies out there, the benefits greatly outweigh the cost. Committing to a mobile plan is like taking a loan from a mafia loan shark. A high repayment plan with the possibility of broken legs by the end of the ordeal is likely. Mobile carriers are pretty savvy when it comes to marketing. Want a new iPhone, add two years of $150 a month to my collection of bills. But hey, a cool iPhone is worth it right? Sprint is offering a Prime deal to entice people to sign on the dotted line. Signing up for the Sprint XXL Plan will get you a free year of Prime. This could sway users. And it may mean a decline in users for Walmart, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
The Sprint Amazon Team
It kind of sounds like a Tour de France sponsorship. The price you pay over the course of your mobile carrier contract could be more than a ticket to France with hotel. Sprint is offering the new Amazon Better Choice XXL plan. The Sprint XXL plan comes with 40GB of data and free membership to Prime for one year. All for $100 per month. A yearly membership to Prime costs just under $100. But if you are addicted to Amazon, it could be a great offer. The Sprint offer is aimed at new customers, as well as retention of current users.
T-Mobile and Verizon May Decline
The Amazon Prime offer by Sprint could put them ahead of T-Mobile and Verizon. The third quarter numbers for 2015 placed Verizon at the top with more than 137 million subscribers. T-Mobile ended the third quarter in third place with roughly 61.2 million subscribers. And Sprint trailed in the fourth spot with about 58 million subscribers. The move to team up with Amazon may boost Sprint’s subscribers. Placing T-Mobile and Verizon in jeopardy of losing numbers. T-Mobile did increase their subscribers by 8.3 million last year. And Verizon continues to do well. So the race is on.
Walmart Not Happy
Amazon may also see a few benefits from the relationship. And this could make Walmart unhappy. Amazon was ranked above Walmart in a world’s most valuable brands list. Walmart is worth roughly $100 billion more than Amazon, but their value is reportedly higher. Shopping from home is more comfortable for people. Long lines, parking, gas costs, and traffic are all elements against Walmart. If people have free access to Amazon Prime, purchases may rise. Sprint customers can also add Prime to their existing bill for $10.99 a month. Placing more emphasis away from Walmart.
