Amazon has officially launched its newest hub for shoppers: Amazon Access. The e-commerce giant said that it is designed for consumers who have low incomes and might seek some assistance from the government.
The company announced on Monday that the Prime membership, which started five years ago, is now launching as Prime Access.
Amazon Access Hub
(Photo : Amazon)
Low-income consumers can receive government assistance through the newest shopping portal.
According to a report by TechCrunch, Amazon customers can take advantage of huge discounts for select items through this portal, thanks to Amazon Layaway and Snap EBT.
If you have no money to buy a product, you can reserve it for as low as 20% of its total cost. The remaining cost can be paid over time so you can buy all your necessities without worrying much about the additional charge.
For everyday needs, you can look for timely coupons and discounts to maximize your shopping, especially for grocery items. Before, the Seattle corporation rolled out a service intended for low-income buyers through the discounted Amazon Prime membership.
Additionally, customers can benefit from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. This could cover your purchases from the following: Whole Foods, Amazon Grocery, and Amazon Fresh.
All in all, Amazon said that it's a "centralized hub" which caters to all individual benefits for each consumer. It's a one-stop platform for all your needs, especially if you are finding ways to save some money.
According to Amazon Access's head of community partnerships, Nancy Dalton, the company aims to help customers to have access to the select items in the store amid the ever-changing economic landscape brought by inflation.
Per GlobalData Retail analyst Neil Saunders, Amazon's newest shopping portal will address the needs of the community, particularly the lower-income customers.
"It is something positive Amazon can point to, which shows it is helping hard-pressed consumers during a more difficult economic period," Sanders added.
He continued that the retail giant is expected to generate some increase in its sales as its new shop front becomes the face of Amazon Access.
As of writing, Saunders pointed out that more lower-income households still have no access to the Prime membership program in the United States.
Related Article: Amazon Prime Early Access Sale Guide: Schedule, Preparing, Deals to Expect, and More
Amazon Prime Subscription Price Increase
Per CNN's article, Amazon has previously signaled the change in the pricing of the yearly Prime subscription. From $119, the charge will now become $139 for annual members based in the US.
Apart from that, the company also saw a $2 increase in the monthly subscription of the service. From $12.99, it now becomes $14.99.
Amazon said that the company is heavily impacted by the economic dilemma. As such, it needs to raise the prices of its services as a way of compensating the labor cost, transportation cost, and other internal costs.
In other news, the second Amazon Prime Day sale is about to start next week. The two-day shopping spree is scheduled on Oct. 11 to 12.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joseph Henry
