2 Reasons I Love -- and Hate -- Amazon's Subscribe & Save Program
KEY POINTS
- Subscribe & Save lets you set up automatic shipments and save money on the things you use regularly.
- The program can be inconsistent from an inventory standpoint, and you might forget to cancel shipments you don't need.
Shopping on Amazon often helps me save money because the online retail giant's prices are often quite competitive. Not only do I order items on Amazon on pretty much a weekly basis, but I also take advantage of the Subscribe & Save program.
The way it works is simple: You set up a recurring shipment for a given item and it arrives at your door as per the interval you select. You might, for example, order toothpaste to come once every month or face cream to come once every three months -- the choice is yours.
But while I happen to be a big fan of Subscribe & Save, it's also far from perfect. Here are a couple of things I like about it, and a couple of things that bug me.
1. The automatic shipments are really convenient
When there are items you use regularly, having them arrive at your door automatically makes your life easier. This especially applies during periods when life is hectic.
When I gave birth to twins, for example, there was barely time in my schedule for me to shower, let alone run to the store for diapers -- which, as you might imagine, we went through a lot of. The beauty of Subscribe & Save was that I'd get two bulk cases of diapers at my door every four weeks so I didn't have to think about it at a time when I was frazzled and sleep-deprived.
2. It lives up to the "save" part of its name
When you order items through Subscribe & Save, you get a discount. My go-to Aveeno body lotion, for example, has a regular price of $10.67 and a Subscribe & Save price of $9.07. Some months, I find that my credit card tab is a good $10 to $20 lower due to the Subscribe & Save discounts I've snagged.
1. It can be a hassle when products are out of stock
Subscribe & Save is extremely convenient when the products you want are available. The problem is that when they're not available, you'll sometimes only get a warning at the last minute that your item isn't going to ship. That, in the past, has left me scrambling to try to find a replacement item or running to a local store to try to find it.
2. It can cost you money when you forget to cancel an item you don't need
You'll generally get a notice to review your Subscribe & Save items before your package ships. Sometimes, that notice will end up in your spam folder -- or at least that's been my experience. Other times, you might simply forget to open that email and give your shipment a last-minute review. But that can be costly, because you might end up with items you don't need.
Case in point: Back when my twins were 2 years old, they were potty trained and stopped needing diapers. But I forgot to cancel my Subscribe & Save order. So lo and behold, I wound up with two giant cases of diapers I had no use for. I wound up giving them away, but I would've preferred to have not spent the money.
All told, I recommend using Amazon's Subscribe & Save program. But also, be aware of the pitfalls you might encounter.
Alert: our top-rated cash back card now has 0% intro APR until 2025
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a lengthy 0% intro APR period, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
Our Research Expert
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
Related Articles
View All Articles