A couple of years ago, I clicked on the wrong button when ordering from Amazon, and ended up with a free trial of Prime. After a moment of panic, afraid that after the first month I’d be stuck with that exorbitant charge (exorbitant for me since I so seldom order, and when I do need something, it’s easy enough to wait until I can make the minimum to get free shipping and then wait a week or two until it arrives), I found the prime settings and immediately discontinued it.
They still gave me the free month, but with daily warnings that my benefits would be ending. I was relieved it was that easy. Since I had the membership, I made use of it — ordering whatever and whenever I wanted, mostly small things just because I could. It was a fun game to play, but when my benefits expired (oh, horrors!), I barely noticed.
Last week, I placed an order for some books, and when that free membership deal came up again, I went for it. I wouldn’t have had to pay shipping anyway, since those books more than met the minimum, but I was seduced by the thought of getting them in a couple of days.
The next day, I was mentioning to a friend another book I found that I wasn’t sure I wanted to read but thought she might like. It’s a fantasy, “a novel of an ancient China that never was,” and I am currently (and have been for decades) underthrilled with all things Chinese. (Except my friend, of course, who is of Chinese descent.)
Still, just because I am no fan of Communism and resent heartily having to support China rather than my own country, it doesn’t negate my early studies of ancient Chinese culture, myths, and legends. So I backtracked my online footsteps, found the book for just a few dollars, and a couple of clicks later the book was on its way too me. I could get addicted to that! A little later that same day, I checked on a product I’ve used (it helps kill spurge, and though I really do not like using poisons, spurge takes over if nothing is done about it — sort of the kudzu of the weed world), and though I hadn’t planned to buy spurge killer again until next year, the price was right and so — click, click, and it’s on the way.
Normally, after I place an order, I immediately remove my credit card information from the site since there’s no reason for them to have it considering how little I order, but I am letting them keep it for now, though I will remove it a few days before the end of my Prime season to prevent them from accidentally charging me for another month. Meantime, ordering this way feels like getting free stuff. Of course, the reckoning comes later, but until then, it’s a fun game to play. Unfortunately, I am running out of things to buy, though without having to deal with a minimum order, I’m sure I’ll find some other small things I can’t do without.
***
Pat Bertram is the author of Grief: The Inside Story – A Guide to Surviving the Loss of a Loved One
Bertram's Blog 
Please leave a comment. I'd love to hear what you have to say.