Amazon launches Prime membership in Singapore to attract customers

To expand its base, global e-commerce giant Amazon launched its Prime membership programme in Singapore today. Members will enjoy a host of facilities, including access to video streaming and free gaming services such as Twitch Prime.

Singapore citizens can sign up for the membership on Amazon’s website from today and users will be entitled to a 30-day free trial. The monthly membership is priced at SGD8.99, but it is going at SGD2.99 as an introductory offer.

The Prime membership will entitle the customers to have access to more than five million products listed on Amazon's site in the United States. Customers who make orders above SGD60 using the Prime Now mobile app will not have to pay global shipping fees.

The Prime membership will entitle the customers of Singapore to have access to more than five million products listed on Amazon's site in the United States.
The Prime membership will entitle the customers of Singapore to have access to more than five million products listed on Amazon's site in the United States. Photo courtesy: amazon

The free two-hour delivery on orders over SGD40, between 10am and 10pm daily via the Prime Now app, will also apply to Prime members.

These services would be sought now that the American retailer has ended its Free AmazonGlobal Saver Shipping service to Singapore. Customers used to get free global shipping for orders above USD125 (SGD168).

Speaking about the launch of Amazon Prime, Jamil Ghani, vice-president of Amazon Prime International, said, “Prime membership is designed to offer the best of Amazon. This is just the beginning. We will keep making Prime better, adding even more selection and benefits.”

Another service available to Singapore's Amazon Prime subscribers is video streaming. Touted as an alternative to Netflix, it will allow members to stream or download popular movies and TV series via the Amazon Prime Video app on Android and iOS mobile devices.

Fans of gaming and video-streaming service Twitch will also be able to enjoy gaming perks, free channel subscription and commercial-free viewing.

Amazon made its entry into Southeast Asia when it launched its Prime Now service in Singapore in July. Customers who sign up for the service get free two-hour delivery from its local warehouse on orders above SGD40.