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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

#131

Post by LunaSea »

rerx wrote: post #125
scrum-treats wrote: post #114

As someone who managed to successfully cancel Prime, and then tried to purchase an item on amazon.com, it took me over a minute to figure out how to not accidentally sign up for Prime membership when trying to checkout. There was only one place I could click that would allow me to advance to the next screen (simple text), the text was super small placed below a giant image, and my cursor didn't change to indicate tha…

I typically sign up for Prime for a month or two when I book vacation stays on booking.com. They have a very nice promotion where prime members receive 10% in credit. Then I watch a couple of films or shows on Prime Video, because they actually have some good stuff there usually. But free shipping below 39€ is really not worth the subscription to me (Germany).

This deal is apparently only available to German and Austrian users. Nice tip though!

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

#132

Post by scrum-treats »

gmd63 wrote: post #123
scrum-treats wrote: post #114

As someone who managed to successfully cancel Prime, and then tried to purchase an item on amazon.com, it took me over a minute to figure out how to not accidentally sign up for Prime membership when trying to checkout. There was only one place I could click that would allow me to advance to the next screen (simple text), the text was super small placed below a giant image, and my cursor didn't change to indicate tha…

That is horrible UX. I feel for the designers that are bossed around by the short sighted people who rationalize manipulating customers at Amazon and hope they have the courage and means to move to a better workplace where they can build something with positive-sum value.

Agree. It is negligent and unqualified management at the root of this. Talented employees who know better and try to do better are dealt dirty hands; forced to either commit illegal acts like this or face intense psychological abuse, the PIP train, and ultimately termination. Sometimes they realize what is happening and they quit. Either way, Amazon facilitates and even encourages this behavior, as people receive raises for this stuff.

I hope employees can experience federal protection against this. We definitely need it.

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

#133

Post by patentatt »

scrum-treats wrote: post #114

As someone who managed to successfully cancel Prime, and then tried to purchase an item on amazon.com, it took me over a minute to figure out how to not accidentally sign up for Prime membership when trying to checkout. There was only one place I could click that would allow me to advance to the next screen (simple text), the text was super small placed below a giant image, and my cursor didn't change to indicate tha…

Same here, cancelled prime and still receive packages in 1-2 days generally. I never really used any other of the services under prime like video or music, so I don't miss it one bit. Also shifted most of my online purchasing to target anyways, I find the products and experience to be far superior, and I have a local store to go to also. I spent my prime budget on a shipt subscription and get target items delivered in a couple hours.

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

#134

Post by JohnFen »

temp_account_11 wrote: post #99
JohnFen wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Speaking up is a career limiting move in the short term. What do you mean by "career limiting"? Just at the company in question, perhaps, but speaking up like that should be considered a good thing. If it's not, why would you want to continue working there?

> What do you mean by "career limiting"? Career limiting means you'll see less career advancements. > speaking up like that should be considered a good thing. Agreed. But in practice it's unfortunately not always seen that way. > If it's not, why would you want to continue working there? Because I weight several factors when deciding where to work and there are other benefits to working here.

> Career limiting means you'll see less career advancements.

So you mean career-limiting at that particular company? I understand. Thanks!

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

#135

Post by Beldin »

scrum-treats wrote: post #114

As someone who managed to successfully cancel Prime, and then tried to purchase an item on amazon.com, it took me over a minute to figure out how to not accidentally sign up for Prime membership when trying to checkout. There was only one place I could click that would allow me to advance to the next screen (simple text), the text was super small placed below a giant image, and my cursor didn't change to indicate tha…

> it's not Music or Video

Weird. Around here, Prime does give access to video.

I know folks around here who have prime just for that. I doublechecked just to be sure; it still is like that (according to a quick google search).

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

#136

Post by thewebcount »

Yeah, I got hit by this. I use Amazon maybe once or twice a year when I absolutely can't find something anywhere else. They are absolutely my last choice of where to shop, but sometimes, it's the only option.

In any event, despite knowing that they'll try to get you to join Prime at every interaction, and despite trying not to do it, I accidentally clicked on the "Yes, sign me up for Prime even though I've been telling you no for literally years" button instead of the "No, just take my money and give me my stuff" button. It instantly signed me up for Prime. It didn't add it to my cart, or take me to checkout, or ask, "Are you sure? It's going to cost you $x per month." That was the really shocking part to me. The button didn't say, "One click purchase" or whatever they sometimes say when you're viewing a product. Absolutely no indication that it would be immediate and irrevocable.

I immediately canceled and had to go through 5 "Are you really really sure you want to cancel?" and "Can we just suspend it for now?" pages before I actually got to cancel. Not the worst I've seen, but certainly scummy and deceptive.

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

#137

Post by registeredcorn »

JohnFen wrote: post #66
ekianjo wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The whole Amazon.com experience has been getting worse and worse as the years go by. Maybe, but they are still miles better than most other online shops, so they still get to grow. Just for the return policy, they are kind of worth it.

I disagree. I stopped using Amazon a couple of years ago and haven't missed it even a little bit. They're not substantially better than most others.

Would you mind listing a few alternatives you use? I generally try to avoid Amazon when I can, but have had problems finding a general good site.

In case anyone is wondering what I use, here's a short list:

Computer/electronics, I visit Newegg. (I haven't been thrilled with them moving into other areas like Auto parts, etc. but they seem alright for the time being.)

Hardware or similar, I go with Tractor Supply Co, Home Depot, or Lowes.

Music, I go with 7Digital.

Car stuff, I have used NAPA in the past, but I hate that they don't store order history for over 1 year. Also, their search function is not great, and their selection is somewhat limited.

General stuff, I've tried to use Walmart for stuff like pillows or sheets or whatever, but most of the stuff they offer is also offered by Amazon, and Amazon is usually stocked better and generally a few dollars cheaper. I've been weary of trying out sites like Aliexpress.

It's frustrating because it seems like Amazon just generally has a larger selection than most other offerings out there. For more niche subjects, I feel like I have some reasonable options, but when it comes to more broad subjects, it feels like it's Amazon or nothing.

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

#138

Post by JohnFen »

dghughes wrote: post #120
adoxyz wrote: post #5

The whole Amazon.com experience has been getting worse and worse as the years go by. Everything from the products they sell, quality control, customer service, dark patterns in the UI, etc. I wonder how long until you have to call someone or mail in a 1,000 word letter on why you don't need Prime to cancel it.

Here in Canad Canadian Tire was notorious for Rewards Card pressure sign you up right there. Even roaming sales people in suits pestering you right as you walked in the door and cashiers as you were paying. To cancel? You need to send in a letter via post. that may be changed but I'm guessing probably not. Oh and the rewards used to be 5% of cash purchases now it's 0.5% dismal. Just a glorified spam farm for your inf…

> Just a glorified spam farm for your info.

To be fair, that's all rewards/loyalty programs. But clearly, some are worse than others.

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

#139

Post by pwg »

imtringued wrote: post #124
pwg wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have also never paid for, nor trialed, prime. I also have always had free-shipping (despite not having "prime") from Amazon. How? Patience. I add things I plan to order to my cart, and once the collection goes above the "free ship" threshold (currently $25) only then do I place an order. Of course, on the order page they always default to "paid shipping" and force one to explicitly check the "free shipping" radio b…

It sounds like they mark your packages low priority and honestly that is the only logical way to treat a customer that isn't paying.

I don't disagree. I picked "free shipping" -- if they want to queue mine after everyone who explicitly paid for shipping and those who pays for prime, that is fine.

My point is that the "de-prioritization delay" seems to have evaporated and I get items shipped in about the same time as the prime estimates (when they are "shipped by amazon" -- third party shippers are all over the board with shipping delays).

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

#140

Post by taeric »

93po wrote: post #64
version_five wrote: post #43

I still use amazon occasionally, but I think of it basically as interacting with a criminal that I know is completely dishonest and trying every trick to steal from me. Unfortunately there are sometimes still occasions when I have to hold my nose and do it, but they're getting fewer and farther between.

It's honestly not any more annoying than the shit groceries store do all the time, in my opinion.

That said, this isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of the practices. :(
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