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Finding something great to watch can sometimes feel like a chore, especially when you’re trying to stick to a budget. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you might be surprised by the treasure trove of movies and shows available to you at no extra cost. Your subscription includes a lot more than just fast shipping; it opens the door to a vast library of entertainment included with Prime.

It’s easy to get lost in the options, so we’ve put together a guide to help you find your next favorite story without spending more.

Finding Your Way Around Prime Video

When you open the Prime Video app, you’ll see a mix of titles. Some are included with your Prime membership, while others require an additional rental or subscription like Max or Paramount+. To see only what’s free for you, look for categories labeled “Included with Prime” or use the search filter to select “Prime” under the included with section. This simple step saves you from clicking on titles that ask for extra payment.

Must-See Movies on Prime Right Now

The movie selection changes regularly, but there are always some fantastic choices. If you’re in the mood for a classic, look for award-winning dramas and beloved comedies from years past. For something more recent, Prime often adds popular films from the last few years. They have a strong collection of independent films and interesting documentaries that you might not find elsewhere, offering a nice break from the usual blockbusters.

Binge-Worthy Shows Included with Prime

This is where Amazon Prime truly shines with its original series. You can find entire seasons of critically acclaimed shows created by Amazon Studios. From grand fantasy epics and clever spy thrillers to heartwarming comedies, there’s a series for every taste. Many of these shows have dedicated fan bases and have won numerous awards, making them a great place to start your binge-watching session.

Don’t Forget These Hidden Gems

Beyond the big-name originals and hit movies, take a moment to browse the smaller categories. Prime Video has a great selection of international shows and movies, allowing you to experience stories from around the world, often with the option for subtitles or dubbing. It’s a wonderful way to find a unique and memorable viewing experience you wouldn’t have planned for.

With a little guidance, your Amazon Prime subscription can feel like a brand-new streaming service. The next time you’re wondering what to watch, you can find hours of entertainment that feel fresh and exciting, all included with your membership.

Have you ever thought about turning that spare room into a profitable business? Selling on Amazon opens up a world of opportunity, connecting your products with millions of customers. Whether you have a garage full of handmade crafts or an idea for a brand-new product, this platform can be your storefront to the world. It might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but breaking it down into simple steps makes the process much more approachable.

Choosing Your Selling Path on Amazon

Your first big decision is how you want to sell. The two main paths are Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM). With FBA, you send your inventory to Amazon’s warehouses, and they handle the storage, packing, shipping, and customer service. This is a huge time-saver. With FBM, you handle all of that yourself from your home or office. FBA is often the best choice for new sellers because it simplifies logistics and makes your products eligible for Prime shipping.

Finding a Product That Sells

Before you list anything, you need to find a product with good potential. Look for items that are lightweight, not easily breakable, and have a decent demand. It’s a good idea to research what’s already selling well on Amazon. Try to find a product you can improve upon or a specific niche that isn’t oversaturated. The goal is to find something people are actively searching for, but where the competition isn’t impossibly high.

Creating Your Seller Account and Listing

Setting up your professional seller account is straightforward on Amazon’s website. You will need some basic business information, a bank account, and a credit card. Once your account is active, you can create your first product listing. This is where you need to shine. Use high-quality photos from multiple angles and write a clear, compelling title and description. Think about what a customer would want to know and make sure your listing answers all their questions.

Managing Your Business for Growth

After your first sale, the real work begins. Pay close attention to your customer feedback and product reviews. Positive reviews build trust and can significantly boost your sales. Keep a close eye on your inventory levels to avoid running out of stock, and consider using Amazon’s advertising tools to give your products a visibility boost, especially when you are just starting out.

Starting your Amazon selling journey is an exciting step. By carefully selecting your products and taking advantage of tools like FBA, you can build a thriving business. Remember, every large Amazon seller started with just one product. With some research and dedication, that first sale could be just around the corner.

Sometimes, your Amazon Echo needs a fresh start. Maybe it’s having trouble connecting to Wi-Fi, not responding to your voice as it should, or you’re planning to sell it or give it away. Whatever the reason, knowing how to reset your device is a handy piece of knowledge. It’s a simple process that can solve many common issues and restore your smart speaker to its default settings.

When a Simple Restart Isn’t Enough

Before you do a full reset, it’s always a good idea to try a simpler step first. Unplug your Echo from the power source, wait about 30 seconds, and then plug it back in. This quick restart can often resolve minor glitches. If your device is still unresponsive or behaving oddly, a factory reset is the next logical step.

How to Reset Most Echo Models

For the majority of Echo devices, including the Echo Dot, Echo Studio, and standard Echo models, the reset process is straightforward. Locate the Action button on your device. On older models, this might be a small pinhole. You’ll need a paperclip or a similar thin object to press and hold the button until the light ring turns orange. After a moment, the light will turn blue, and then it will switch off and on again. Once the orange light reappears, you can release the button. Your device will enter setup mode, ready to be registered to your Amazon account again.

Resetting an Echo with a Screen

If you have an Echo Show, the process is a bit different. Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Settings. Then, navigate to Device Options and select Reset to Factory Defaults. You’ll be asked to confirm your choice. Once you do, the device will erase all your personal information and return to its original state.

What to Expect After the Reset

It’s important to remember that a factory reset erases everything. Your device will forget your Wi-Fi network, any paired Bluetooth devices, and all your personal settings. After the reset is complete, you’ll need to set it up again through the Alexa app, just like you did when it was brand new. Think of it as giving your Echo a clean slate.

Resetting your Amazon Echo is a powerful troubleshooting tool. While it should not be your first resort for every small issue, it provides a reliable solution for persistent problems or when you need to prepare the device for a new owner. With these simple steps, you can confidently manage your smart speaker’s performance.

Finding the perfect gift can sometimes feel like a challenge, but an Amazon gift card is a wonderfully simple solution. It lets your friends or family members choose exactly what they want from a world of possibilities. You might be wondering where you can pick one up on the go. The good news is that Amazon gift cards are sold at thousands of physical locations, making them incredibly easy to find.

Your Go-To Grocery and Pharmacy Stops

For the ultimate convenience, your local grocery store or pharmacy is a great place to start. Major chains like Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, and Publix almost always have gift card displays near the front of the store. Similarly, you can pop into CVS, Walgreens, or Rite Aid and find them while you’re picking up your prescriptions or other essentials. These stores make it easy to grab a card during your regular shopping trip.

Major Retailers and Warehouse Clubs

If you’re planning a bigger shopping excursion, you’ll find Amazon gift cards at many big-box retailers. Stores like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy consistently carry them. For those with memberships, warehouse clubs such as Costco and Sam’s Club often sell packs of Amazon gift cards, sometimes offering a slight discount when you buy in bulk. It’s a smart way to stock up.

Unexpected Places to Find Amazon Gift Cards

Beyond the usual suspects, keep an eye out in other everyday locations. Many office supply stores like Staples carry them. You might even spot them at your local home improvement store, such as The Home Depot. When you’re filling up your tank, check the counter at major gas station chains like Shell or Exxon. You never know when a quick errand can turn into a successful gift-buying mission.

A Quick Tip for Your Gift Card Purchase

Before you head to the checkout, it’s a good idea to check the card’s value. Most displays offer a range of denominations. Remember that you can often purchase a card for a custom amount by asking the cashier to load a specific value at the register. This flexibility ensures you can get the perfect gift for any occasion and any budget.

With so many stores selling Amazon gift cards, you’re never far from a thoughtful and versatile present. Whether you’re stocking up on groceries, running errands, or just stopping for gas, you can easily find one to make someone’s day a little brighter.

Have you ever looked in your closet or garage and seen items you no longer use, but someone else might love? Or perhaps you’ve thought about starting a small business without the hassle of creating your own products. This is where the world of Amazon resale comes into play. It’s a simple yet powerful way to turn unused goods into cash or build a steady income stream from the comfort of your home.

At its heart, Amazon resale is the process of selling products on Amazon that you did not manufacture yourself. Instead of creating something new, you find existing items, source them, and list them for sale to the vast customer base that shops on Amazon every day.

The Two Main Paths for Amazon Sellers

There are two primary ways to approach reselling on Amazon. The first is retail arbitrage, which involves buying discounted products from retail stores to sell online for a profit. The second is online arbitrage, where you do the same thing but source products from online retailers. Both methods rely on finding a price difference you can take advantage of.

Why Consider Selling on Amazon?

The biggest benefit is access to Amazon’s massive audience. Millions of people are already there, ready to buy. You also get to leverage their world-class fulfillment network with Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), where they handle storage, packing, and shipping for you. This model offers incredible flexibility, allowing you to start small with items from around your house or scale into a full-time business.

Getting Started with Your First Resale

Beginning is often the simplest part. Start by looking at what you already own. Books, electronics, video games, and brand-name clothing are often great first items to list. Download the Amazon Seller app on your phone—it lets you scan barcodes to see an item’s sales rank and estimated value instantly. This helps you make smart decisions about what will sell.

A Few Helpful Tips for Your Journey

Success in resale comes from attention to detail. Always research your products thoroughly to ensure they are in demand and profitable after fees. Take clear, bright photos of your items and write honest descriptions about their condition. Starting with a few well-described items is much better than listing many with poor information.

Amazon resale opens up a world of opportunity for anyone willing to learn. It’s a practical way to declutter your space or build a business by connecting products with people who are looking for them. With some research and patience, you can begin your own reselling adventure.

When you have an issue with an order or a question about your account, sometimes you just need to talk to a real person. Finding a direct phone number for a huge company like Amazon can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. You’re not alone in wanting that direct line for immediate help.

The good news is that Amazon has a very comprehensive customer service system. The specific phone number you need can actually depend on the country you’re in and the nature of your problem. Let’s walk through the best ways to get the help you need.

The Easiest Way to Find Amazon’s Contact Number

Instead of searching the web for a number that might be outdated, the most reliable method is to go through the Amazon website or app directly. Navigate to the “Help & Customer Service” section. From there, you’ll typically go through a few automated steps where you describe your issue. Based on your answers, the system will then provide you with the most relevant contact options, which often includes a callback phone number.

Getting a Callback Instead of Waiting on Hold

One of the best features of Amazon’s support is the callback service. After you explain your problem in the Help section, you often have the option to request a phone call. You simply enter your number, and an Amazon representative will call you, usually within a few minutes. This saves you from waiting on hold with music playing in the background, allowing you to go about your day until the phone rings.

Other Ways to Reach Amazon Support

If a phone call isn’t essential, there are other effective ways to get support. The 24/7 live chat function is excellent for quick questions and can often resolve issues faster than a call. You can also get help by email. For common problems like returns or damaged items, the automated online process is usually the fastest path to a solution, often requiring just a few clicks.

Preparing for Your Customer Service Call

To make your interaction as smooth as possible, it helps to be prepared. Have your order number ready, as this is the first thing the representative will ask for. Be clear about the problem you’re experiencing and what you would like as a resolution. Having this information at hand will help the representative assist you quickly and effectively.

While a single, universal phone number isn’t publicly promoted, getting in touch with Amazon is a very straightforward process. By using the official Help channels on their website, you can quickly connect with a helpful person who can resolve your issue, getting you back to your day in no time.

Have you ever wondered how some products on Amazon have so many detailed, thoughtful reviews so quickly after they launch? The secret often lies in a special program called Amazon Vine. It’s an invitation-only system designed to help generate early, honest feedback for new and pre-release items.

For shoppers, these Vine reviews can be a goldmine of information, offering a level of detail and real-world testing that’s hard to find elsewhere. Let’s take a closer look at how this unique system works for everyone involved.

How the Amazon Vine Program Works

At its heart, Amazon Vine connects trusted reviewers with products that need reviews. Sellers provide their items to the program, and Amazon extends invitations to its most helpful reviewers, known as Vine Voices. These reviewers can select products and have them shipped directly to their homes. In exchange for the product, the only commitment is to publish a genuine and unbiased review.

Who Can Become a Vine Voice?

You can’t apply to be a Vine Voice; it’s by invitation only. Amazon’s algorithm selects reviewers based on the quality and helpfulness of their past reviews. The goal is to find people who consistently write reviews that other customers find useful. There are no fees to join, and reviewers are never required to write a positive review—they are encouraged to share their honest opinion, whether it’s good or bad.

Why Sellers Participate in Vine

For brands and sellers, the main benefit is building social proof. Launching a new product can be challenging, especially when there are no reviews to help customers feel confident in their purchase. By getting a batch of early, credible reviews through Vine, sellers can significantly improve their product’s visibility and conversion rate. It’s a powerful tool for establishing trust right from the start.

Finding and Using Vine Reviews as a Shopper

As a customer, you can easily spot a Vine review. It will have a green “Vine Customer Review of Free Product” badge next to the reviewer’s name. These reviews are often very thorough because the reviewer has spent time testing the product specifically to write a helpful assessment. When you’re researching a purchase, paying attention to these detailed reviews can give you a clearer picture of a product’s real-world performance.

Amazon Vine creates a helpful cycle of feedback that benefits everyone. Sellers get the initial reviews they need, shoppers get access to in-depth opinions, and dedicated reviewers get to try new products. It’s a key part of what makes the Amazon marketplace so informative for making smart purchasing decisions.

When you think of Amazon, the massive online marketplace where you can buy almost anything is likely the first thing that comes to mind. But the company’s reach extends far beyond that familiar website. Over the years, Amazon has grown into a colossal conglomerate by acquiring a wide array of other businesses, many of which you probably use without a second thought.

This strategy of expansion has allowed Amazon to embed itself into various aspects of our daily lives, from how we watch movies to how we listen to music and even how we buy groceries. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most prominent companies operating under the Amazon umbrella.

The Pillars of Amazon’s Empire

Amazon’s acquisitions aren’t random; they strategically build upon its core pillars. A prime example is Whole Foods Market. This purchase instantly gave Amazon a physical footprint in the grocery industry, allowing it to merge online and offline shopping experiences. In the world of entertainment, MGM joined the family, bringing a legendary library of films and characters to bolster Amazon’s Prime Video service. These aren’t just side projects; they are integral parts of Amazon’s plan to be a one-stop shop for your needs.

Services You Might Not Connect to Amazon

Some of Amazon’s most interesting holdings are the standalone services that have their own strong brand identity. For instance, the live-streaming platform Twitch is a hub for gamers and content creators, operating with a unique community feel. The smart doorbell company Ring and the smart home assistant Alexa itself are also Amazon products, anchoring its presence in the connected home. Even the shoe and clothing retailer Zappos continues to operate as a distinct shopping destination under Amazon’s ownership.

Why This Vast Network Matters for You

Knowing which companies Amazon owns can change how you view your digital ecosystem. Your Prime subscription doesn’t just get you fast shipping; it connects you to a vast media library and special deals. It also highlights how your data might be shared across these platforms to create a more personalized, and some would argue, integrated experience. Being aware of these connections helps you make more informed choices as a consumer.

From your living room to your doorstep, Amazon’s collection of companies works together to create a seamless and convenient experience. This interconnected network is a testament to a long-term strategy focused on building customer loyalty across every facet of modern life.

Think about the last time you ordered something online. Chances are, you might have clicked over to Amazon. It’s a household name, a retail giant that seems to have always been there. But it wasn’t always the behemoth it is today. Like many of the world’s most successful companies, it started with a single idea and a bold step into the public market.

That pivotal moment, when a company invites everyday people to own a piece of it, is called an Initial Public Offering, or IPO. For Amazon, this wasn’t just a financial transaction; it was a turning point that set the stage for everything that was to come. The story of when and how Amazon went public is a fascinating look into the early days of e-commerce.

The Day Amazon Joined the Stock Market

Amazon made its debut on the Nasdaq stock exchange on May 15, 1997. At the time, the company was a far cry from the everything-store we know now. It was primarily an online bookseller, operating out of a modest warehouse in Seattle. The IPO was priced at $18 per share, and despite the company’s relatively small size, it was a significant event that raised $54 million, giving Amazon the fuel it needed to expand.

Why Going Public Was a Game Changer

You might wonder why this date is so important. Before the IPO, Amazon was funded by private investors. Going public opened up a massive new source of capital. The money raised allowed Jeff Bezos and his team to invest heavily in technology, warehouse infrastructure, and, most importantly, to expand their product selection beyond books. This influx of cash was the catalyst that enabled the relentless growth and diversification we’ve witnessed over the decades.

A Look at the Famous 1997 Letter

If you want to understand the mindset behind Amazon’s IPO, it’s worth looking at the first letter to shareholders that Jeff Bezos released that same year. He famously wrote about focusing on the long term, even if it meant sacrificing short-term profitability. This wasn’t just a letter; it was a manifesto. It set the tone for a company culture obsessed with customer satisfaction and long-term market leadership, principles that have guided its strategy ever since.

So, while May 15, 1997, is the official date Amazon went public, its true significance lies in the journey it began. That single step onto the stock market provided the resources and the public platform that allowed a small online bookstore to eventually change the way the entire world shops.

Finding the perfect gift can sometimes feel like a challenge. You want something thoughtful, convenient for the recipient, and easy for you to handle. An Amazon gift card checks all those boxes, offering the freedom of choice that few other presents can match. Whether it’s for a birthday, a holiday, or just to say thank you, sending one is a straightforward process that brings a smile to anyone’s face.

Choosing Your Amazon Gift Card

First, you’ll need to decide what kind of gift card to send. Amazon offers two main types: e-gift cards that are delivered instantly via email, and physical gift cards that are mailed to the recipient’s door. The e-gift card is perfect for last-minute gifts or sending across the miles, while a physical card can feel more traditional and tangible for a special occasion.

The Simple Steps to Send an E-Gift Card

Sending an e-gift card is incredibly quick. Start by visiting the Amazon Gift Cards page. Click on Email and then select a design that fits the celebration. Next, enter the amount you’d like to give and the recipient’s email address. You can even schedule the delivery for a specific date, like their birthday. Finally, add a personal message, proceed to checkout, and you’re done! The gift card will arrive in their inbox, ready to use.

Mailing a Physical Gift Card

If you prefer to send something they can hold, choose the Mail option instead. You’ll follow a similar process of picking a design and amount, but you will enter the recipient’s physical mailing address. Amazon will take care of the printing and postage, sending it directly to them. This option takes a few days, so it’s best if you have a little more time before the gift is needed.

Helpful Tips for a Perfect Gift

To make your gift even better, consider a few extra touches. Always double-check the email or mailing address to ensure it arrives at the right place. If you’re sending an e-gift card, you might want to send a quick text to let the person know to check their inbox, so it doesn’t get lost in a promotions folder. Remember, the gift card never expires, giving your friend or family member all the time they need to find something they’ll truly love.

With these easy steps, you’re all set to send a thoughtful and flexible gift that is always appreciated. It’s a simple way to show you care, no matter the occasion or the distance between you.