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FTC sues Amazon over ‘deceptive’ Prime sign-up and cancellation process

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Re: FTC sues Amazon over ‘deceptive’ Prime sign-up and cancellation process

#101

Post by timmytokyo »

squeaky-clean wrote: post #14
PaulHoule wrote: post #2

I wouldn't say the process of unsubscribing from Prime is 'deceptive' but it sure has many steps. They tried just about everything to persuade me to stay except offer to bring back two day shipping. (I know many of you in urban areas are getting one day shipping but those of us in less favored geographies, such as the same ZIP code as AMZN warehouses, have seen two day shipping turn into five, which makes Amazon unco…

I'm in NYC and two day shipping here is a crapshoot nowadays. Sure it says 2-day shipping on the store page, but counting my past orders, 6/10 were delayed delivery, usually taking 5 days. The last 2 times I tried buying bulk paper towels on Amazon (I had them set as a recurring purchase every 6 months) they have been lost in transit. Also really frustrating, if I go to "Order Details" for an order that was delayed,…

Now that Amazon is mostly low quality drop-shipped garbage from fake brands like KULUZU and PORKTI, fast and cheap shipping are about the only thing they have going for them. If that's gone, what's left?

Re: FTC sues Amazon over ‘deceptive’ Prime sign-up and cancellation process

#102

Post by rdschouw »

ianferrel wrote: post #84

I recently discontinued a Prime membership we'd had for years and it was eye-opening how annoying and persistent the attempts to get us to sign up for it again are. Every time I buy something, I have to find the tiny link instead of the big button. One time the tiny link was broken and I literally could not complete my purchase until I tried a few hours later. On the other hand, it was not difficult to cancel.

Yea it's pretty awful. They also by default select a faster shipping method which costs $6.99 (most of the time per item, sometimes multiple shipping charges for the same order). Every checkout I have to go through:

1. no, I do not want a prime membership for $1.99 for 1 week

2. no, I want free shipping on these items (careful check if the order is split up in multiple shipments)

3. no, I want free shipping on this item.

8 out of 10 orders my stuff arrives earlier than the paid shipping option offered during checkout.

Re: FTC sues Amazon over ‘deceptive’ Prime sign-up and cancellation process

#103

Post by pwg »

93po wrote: post #67
tylerag wrote: post #50

To give you an idea what I see every time I checkout, https://imgur.com/a/6PcJLFY

Wow I looked at this for a solid 10 seconds before seeing the "no thanks" and that was even with your bright red arrow pointing at it. The must have user tested this to hell to find the absolute perfect combination of design elements

This is the "trick you into signing up" page that is inserted if you are not currently a prime member.

I've been clicking the "no-thanks" link for years -- as I've never signed up for, nor ever wanted to sign up for, amazon prime.

But, as I know it is going to show up, I'm not surprised by it in the least, and I know where to go to get past it without accidentally signing up for prime. Maybe the FCC complaint might finally make this nice dark pattern example finally go away.

Re: FTC sues Amazon over ‘deceptive’ Prime sign-up and cancellation process

#104

Post by baloki »

PaulHoule wrote: post #2

I wouldn't say the process of unsubscribing from Prime is 'deceptive' but it sure has many steps. They tried just about everything to persuade me to stay except offer to bring back two day shipping. (I know many of you in urban areas are getting one day shipping but those of us in less favored geographies, such as the same ZIP code as AMZN warehouses, have seen two day shipping turn into five, which makes Amazon unco…

It’s as much as the sign up tbh where it automatically adds Prime to your basket and makes it hard to realise your signing up to a reoccurring payment.

Re: FTC sues Amazon over ‘deceptive’ Prime sign-up and cancellation process

#105

Post by brewdad »

electric_mayhem wrote: post #30
squeaky-clean wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm in NYC and two day shipping here is a crapshoot nowadays. Sure it says 2-day shipping on the store page, but counting my past orders, 6/10 were delayed delivery, usually taking 5 days. The last 2 times I tried buying bulk paper towels on Amazon (I had them set as a recurring purchase every 6 months) they have been lost in transit. Also really frustrating, if I go to "Order Details" for an order that was delayed,…

That’s weird. I cancelled prime a couple years ago and only sign up for it when they offer a free trial. Without prime I still order from them more than I feel good about, but only ever opt for the free, slow, shipping. I’m at something like 30% deliver relay in 2 days, 40% deliver in less than 5 days, and 30% take the full five days. combining your experience with my own, really sounds like they’re losing it.

My situation is similar to yours (except I avoid even the free trials) with similar shipping times. I do have a primary warehouse for my metro area about 5 miles away in my town. I think items that are in that warehouse or on their way to getting replenished arrive as quickly as ever while everything else takes longer. I'm fine with that but I'm also looking to get even further away from using Amazon after some poor recent experiences.

Re: FTC sues Amazon over ‘deceptive’ Prime sign-up and cancellation process

#106

Post by benfrancom »

squeaky-clean wrote: post #14
PaulHoule wrote: post #2

I wouldn't say the process of unsubscribing from Prime is 'deceptive' but it sure has many steps. They tried just about everything to persuade me to stay except offer to bring back two day shipping. (I know many of you in urban areas are getting one day shipping but those of us in less favored geographies, such as the same ZIP code as AMZN warehouses, have seen two day shipping turn into five, which makes Amazon unco…

I'm in NYC and two day shipping here is a crapshoot nowadays. Sure it says 2-day shipping on the store page, but counting my past orders, 6/10 were delayed delivery, usually taking 5 days. The last 2 times I tried buying bulk paper towels on Amazon (I had them set as a recurring purchase every 6 months) they have been lost in transit. Also really frustrating, if I go to "Order Details" for an order that was delayed,…

I canceled my account recently for the same reason. The two day or same day shipping would never happen even though on the product it was advertised as such.

Re: FTC sues Amazon over ‘deceptive’ Prime sign-up and cancellation process

#108

Post by 26fingies »

hourago wrote: post #74

Growth at any cost is creating a dystopian society. Tax share price increases so companies can focus again in making good products and providing good services. To reward growth above all, and share price instead of profits does that, creates incentives to grow now at the cost of the future of the company and the trust of customers or even society.

That’s just how capitalism works. People try to invent all these different terms and nuances that at the end of the day are really just properties of capitalism when the state is captured by capitalists.

Monopolistic behavior? Oh that’s _corporatism_ not capitalism! No it is very much capitalism. It’s the same with this growth at all cost thing you’re saying, as if that is a cat that can be put back in the bag.

Unless and until the state is a foe of capitalists things will continue to get worse. Look at how government operates today. The regulators may not be bribed directly but wow they sure do end up with good jobs after they leave government.

Re: FTC sues Amazon over ‘deceptive’ Prime sign-up and cancellation process

#109

Post by ianferrel »

massysett wrote: post #90
ianferrel wrote: post #84

I recently discontinued a Prime membership we'd had for years and it was eye-opening how annoying and persistent the attempts to get us to sign up for it again are. Every time I buy something, I have to find the tiny link instead of the big button. One time the tiny link was broken and I literally could not complete my purchase until I tried a few hours later. On the other hand, it was not difficult to cancel.

With that obnoxious behavior, why bother buying from Amazon if you don't have Prime? Amazon is a flea market trafficking in commingled imports from numerous unvetted third parties. The advantage of Prime is that it brings this flea market to your door. Without Prime I don't see much of a value proposition in the flea market. Actually, even with Prime the value is questionable. If my wife didn't like Prime I would shu…

I agree. I buy from them much less often than I used to. But it's sometimes still the best price/option.

Re: FTC sues Amazon over ‘deceptive’ Prime sign-up and cancellation process

#110

Post by hospitalJail »

z3c0 wrote: post #94
hospitalJail wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same. This was scary to me. It means Amazon knows they are kings of online retail and have no problem abusing customers now. Walmart online is sometimes cheaper, but also sometimes more expensive. Makes it really hard to make the switch. I have refused to give money to bad companies, but with the rest of the world being manipulated into giving them money, I realized I never made a dent.

I cut out Amazon recently and there's something to be said about specialized online retailers. I used to think the idea of having a different retailer for each category was a bygone relic of the past after Amazon, but I'm starting to enjoy the better selection and customer support I get from companies like Chewy, Sweetwater, Costco, etc. A one-stop retailer is a convenience, but they suffer from the classic "jack of…

I tried to confirm this with 3D printing filaments. Amazon is somehow cheaper than everywhere I looked.
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