Research and identify three businesses that provide prime me

Research and identify three businesses that provide prime membership programs. For each business, identify: Who can qualify What kind of incentives members receive Do you like these programs? Why or why not?

Solution

1. Airlines : Some airlines provide prime memberships to the frequent fliers. The customers of business and first class get prime privileges like free access to lounge, free upgrades, chauffeur driven cars for pickup and drop to the hotel / home, priority check in and check out to name a few. This membership is available at a premium or a certain minimum mileage or sometimes combined with other services like hotels and credit cards.

2. E commerce : Sites like Amazon offer prime services to the customers. Anyone can avail these services at an annual fee. The benefits include next day delivery, no minimum purchase for free delivery, exclusive access to certain merchandise, early access to the sale, privileges and idscounts etc.

3. Retail Stores: Some retail stores offer prime membership to all customers on payment of an annula fee. They get privileges like priority billing counters, additional discounts on the sale merchandise, early access and exclusive preview to sale, higher payback points that can be redeemed later etc.

These programs can be useful if one avails the service frequently. In the long term, one can save much more than what he / she pays for a premium membership and can enjoy privileges. However, this prevents a customer from switching to the competitors who might have even better and cost effective items / services and can result in even more savings and better experience.

Personally I don\'t find these programs appealing unless one is a die hard fan of a company and has strong brand loyalty to it. One may come across great offers on different products and servies at different times and can be at advantage if a careful analysis is done.The prime is nothing more than an effort to build a long term association with the customer and prevent him / her to switch to the competitors.