When did the membership price increase from $5.99 to $8.99? When I am not signed in the price shows $8.99 on the main page, but when I sign in the price in my account shows $5.99?
@alexbboy
Yes, @chienfou, I should have made it more clear that I was answering about the “VMP” program (which I know something about) as opposed to the “Membership” program (of which I know nothing).
Yes, we have increased the price of membership to $8.99/month. We’ve also increased non-membership shipping to $9.99. And, yes, this increase is eventually going to come to existing (non-VMP) members. There’s no big secret here - our shipping costs go up every year, and eventually we have to catch up to years of inflation.
However, we are working on an annual plan, and right now we are aiming to set the cost of that annual plan so that the effective monthly cost stays at $5.99. So if you’re a long-term member, essentially there’s no cost increase. More details on that to come.
We are also looking at ways to expand the benefits, both in new places to shop, and potentially new ways to save. You’re welcome to speculate until we have all that ready to announce.
(No changes, or even the slightest non-parenthetical mention, for VMP, whatever that is.)
Must have ‘grandfathered’ it in for current members (at least for now). I know my VMP is “locked in”…
@chienfou yup
@chienfou @therealjrn good to know! Well that is kind of nice I guess, shame it jumped up $3 though, that’s a 50% increase
@alexbboy @therealjrn
While you’re correct about the VMP cost (which I mentioned) his question had to do with general (non-VMP) membership.
@alexbboy
Yes, @chienfou, I should have made it more clear that I was answering about the “VMP” program (which I know something about) as opposed to the “Membership” program (of which I know nothing).
I was trying to bolster your sharing about VMP.
I’m sorry about that.
@alexbboy @therealjrn
No biggie.
I gotta be truthful, I thought this thread was going to be spam to buy a Lincoln or something
Yes, we have increased the price of membership to $8.99/month. We’ve also increased non-membership shipping to $9.99. And, yes, this increase is eventually going to come to existing (non-VMP) members. There’s no big secret here - our shipping costs go up every year, and eventually we have to catch up to years of inflation.
However, we are working on an annual plan, and right now we are aiming to set the cost of that annual plan so that the effective monthly cost stays at $5.99. So if you’re a long-term member, essentially there’s no cost increase. More details on that to come.
We are also looking at ways to expand the benefits, both in new places to shop, and potentially new ways to save. You’re welcome to speculate until we have all that ready to announce.
(No changes, or even the slightest non-parenthetical mention, for VMP, whatever that is.)
@dave
Oh!
Well, since you had enough money to buy a StuperBowl ad, I imagine that leaves it WIDE OPEN to speculation! 
@dave @therealjrn Hey we gotta afford that superbowl ad spend somehow!