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

cnbc.com

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

#231

Post by rawgabbit »

registeredcorn wrote: post #137
JohnFen wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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, H…

I use the same sites you use. In addition I use https://pcpartpicker.com/. It has price alerts and price comparisons.

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

#232

Post by nobody9999 »

suddenclarity wrote: post #188
nobody9999 wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Wild the FTC isn't suing the NYTimes, WSJ, or every other paid news outlet for far more egregious cancellation process practices. Almost as if the FTC is a political weapon. I'd posit that suing news organizations would be perceived as more political than a retailer. Or am I missing something important here?

> Or am I missing something important here? Probably because newspapers are notorious to be the worst of the worst when trying to cancel free deals that automatically turn into expensive memberships. Common methods are to only allow cancellation through telephone and only have open during work hours when most people can't call. If you manage to get hold of a human being, then you'll have to spend an hour arguing befo…

>Probably because newspapers are notorious to be the worst of the worst when trying to cancel free deals that automatically turn into expensive memberships.

You won't get any argument about that from me. To butcher Mel Brooks: "...they stink on ice!"[0]

However, that's orthogonal to my point -- that going after a newspaper would likely be perceived as more political than going after a retailer, especially in the highly charged US political environment.

[0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0iAcQVIokg

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

#233

Post by zebracanevra »

anotherevan wrote: post #217

In Australia, I've found the "get one month of prime free and we'll expedite your delivery" offers, while pushy, clear and easy enough to avoid. Likewise once you find the https://www.amazon.com.au/mc page, cancelling your membership from there is about three clicks through the "are you sure?" and "are you really, really sure?" pages not too hard. I've probably had one month free prime memberships about three times n…

I think they have made it easier recently.

Also Australian, my dad (70) came to me a month ago really stressed out about signing up for Prime accidentally. I managed to cancel it for him, which wasn't too hard, 3 or 4 pages where you have to click the right button to continue.

I think designs like what Amazon does here are easily navigable by us, but anyone who's not great at computers will struggle.

My Dad was adamant that he chose the delivery option without Prime, which is why this situation was really stressful for him...

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

#234

Post by bombcar »

kyrra wrote: post #130
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…

My family dropped Amazon prime a few months ago, the checkout process on Amazon without prime has been getting worse the last few months. They try so hard to trick you into buying prime, I have to be very careful to make sure I don't accidentally do it. They also keep changing the flow every few weeks, so I have to pay close attention every time.

I’ve found a really easy way to avoid it is use Walmart.com heheh

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

#235

Post by sircastor »

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’ve been wondering about this. My wife and I recently did some budgeting and I started to wonder if we really needed a prime subscription. Early on free 2-day shipping was really great, and worked reliably. Nowadays is hit or miss how fast you get something. And I think I can figure out how to spend my $140 better.

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

#236

Post by jrockway »

JohnFen wrote: post #229
autoexec wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've heard that Amazon is a horrible place to work. Execs crying at their desks, and delivery drivers and warehouse workers being forced to piss in bottles or wear diapers in order to keep their jobs. I don't imagine that coders have it that much better. Layoffs at amazon are in the news all the time. There have been reports of 150% annual turnover with the average employee leaving shortly after 6 months. Employees h…

By "happy", I mean that they're choosing to continue working where they work. They're getting a benefit from it. Otherwise, they would make a different choice. If they continue to work at a place that makes them miserable for whatever reason (fear of loss of income, status, change, whatever), then I do have sympathy for their emotional problem. But in the end, they can choose to have a different situation.

Yeah, everyone has their price. If you doubled my pay I'd wear a diaper at work.

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

#237

Post by 2OEH8eoCRo0 »

sircastor wrote: post #235
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’ve been wondering about this. My wife and I recently did some budgeting and I started to wonder if we really needed a prime subscription. Early on free 2-day shipping was really great, and worked reliably. Nowadays is hit or miss how fast you get something. And I think I can figure out how to spend my $140 better.

I see 2-day shipping as a stupid twilight zone between urgently needing something (which I'd go to the store for) or being able to wait. If it can wait two days then it can wait a week IMO.

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

#239

Post by joemi »

Beldin wrote: post #135
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).

It's possible to subscribe just to Prime Video. I highly recommend doing that if you only use Prime for video. It's cheaper than full Prime and you pay month by month, so you can cancel it for a few months then come back.

The only issue: I seem to remember the process of switching from full Prime to Prime Video only was rather confusing and hidden.

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