Amazon Prime used to offer substantial discounts for members pre-ordering video games. Now it gives members a gift card for a future purchase.
Amazon changed its video game pre-order discount policy Monday to a new system that gives customers a $10 credit, which forces Prime members to purchase another item before they get to enjoy their bonus. Not only that, Prime subscribers who pre-order $60 games, a typical price, end up saving about $2 less than they did with the previous policy.
The previous Prime policy was a flat 20% discount on video game pre-orders, so Prime members would save $12 on a $60 game.
Amazon’s new policy also includes a 60-day limit on the $10 credit, so if you don’t need anything for two months after you pre-order your game, you don’t get the bonus. And before you think you can take advantage of this, the credit is canceled if you return the game.
Perhaps with the amount of money Amazon will save with this new policy, they can afford to pay their employees better and allow them to do things like go on breaks, go to the bathroom, and drink water during their shifts — something that’s been a huge problem for the astoundingly successful company.
Or maybe founder Jeff Bezos will take the more predictable route and just pocket the extra money to become even richer than he already is.