Live data from Hacker News

Amazon fined $2.5B for using deceptive methods to sign up consumers for Prime

ftc.gov

81–90 of 191 posts

Re: Amazon fined $2.5B for using deceptive methods to sign up consumers for Prime

#81

I cancelled Prime last year after getting fed up with Amazon in several ways. Bringing ads to Prime Video was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I do still end up ordering from time to time, and the checkout process for non-Prime members is horrific. Multiple Prime sign-up offers that I always need to carefully read so I don’t click the wrong thing, illogical default shipping options, with more tricks to try and…

Prime ain't what it used to be. Used to be reliably 2nd day delivery, by a real shipping company, and good movies added, etc.

Now it's as slow as "free" delivery, by a random contractor who does God knows what to the package, and prices aren't even better than Walmart or Target on many things.

The "avoid subscribing to prime" shuffle you have to do to even order anything anymore drives me away too, I only use Amazon if it's more than 5% cheaper.

Re: Amazon fined $2.5B for using deceptive methods to sign up consumers for Prime

#83
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For ending membership, start on page 44: > Clicking the link did not end Prime membership. Instead, it took the consumer to another page with a heading that read: “End Your Amazon Prime Membership.” The page contained a button labelled “End Your Prime Membership.” Pressing the button did not end Prime Membership. ... > Once consumers reached the Iliad Flow, they had to proceed through its entirety—spanning three page…

You know what was the best part? > “Remind Me Later,” the button on the left, sent the consumer a reminder three days before their Prime membership renews This feature didn't work . They just helpfully never reminded you you were about to get billed. I doubt that was accidental. I tested this several times.

Nope. I got bit by "unexpected" Prime annual renewal charges multiple times. They were certainly authorized, but I think there should be some consumer protection that any renewal period longer than say 3 months should have mandatory renewal warnings with enough reasonable time for cancellation.

Re: Amazon fined $2.5B for using deceptive methods to sign up consumers for Prime

#85

I would have assumed their downfall would have been "free 2 day shipping" since it takes about 4 days for me to get anything from them.

They have an answer for that:

"Shipping is 2 day." That doesn't mean it will be shipped as to arrive within two days from ordering, but when we ship it (which may be that day, or may be three days later) you'll get it within 2 days...

Re: Amazon fined $2.5B for using deceptive methods to sign up consumers for Prime

#87

[flagged]

Biden administration had a regulation to make canceling subscription as easy as signing up, but the regulation got vacated by US Court of Appeals for the 8th circuit. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/click-to-cancel-rule-to-...

Re: Amazon fined $2.5B for using deceptive methods to sign up consumers for Prime

#88
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For good or for bad, I've switched to Walmart for many of my orders as well as home delivery of groceries now and then and they have been decent. It's good to have competitors who are catching up.

Do frozen foods get delivered still frozen? I live 15 minutes away from the nearest wal-mart and frozens/refrigerables are my biggest concern.

It's not any different than going to Walmart yourself and getting groceries -- they just put them in plastic grocery bags. I've never had a problem with anything refrigerated or frozen. (Well, I've never ordered ice cream.)

The key is to be home when they deliver it; so, you can put those things away immediately. They offer two-hour delivery windows and usually deliver within the window. In my experience -- I'm disabled and use them for groceries almost weekly -- about 5% fall just outside the delivery window. (Usually 10-20 minutes late.)

Re: Amazon fined $2.5B for using deceptive methods to sign up consumers for Prime

#89
post #81

I cancelled Prime last year after getting fed up with Amazon in several ways. Bringing ads to Prime Video was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I do still end up ordering from time to time, and the checkout process for non-Prime members is horrific. Multiple Prime sign-up offers that I always need to carefully read so I don’t click the wrong thing, illogical default shipping options, with more tricks to try and…

Prime ain't what it used to be. Used to be reliably 2nd day delivery, by a real shipping company, and good movies added, etc. Now it's as slow as "free" delivery, by a random contractor who does God knows what to the package, and prices aren't even better than Walmart or Target on many things. The "avoid subscribing to prime" shuffle you have to do to even order anything anymore drives me away too, I only use Amazon…

I really have to wonder if non-Prime and Prime deliveries go through the same shipping pipeline to simplify the process.

When I order without Prime, it seems my order just sits for a few days, then it hits my credit card and I get it 2 days later. Almost like giving everyone free 2 day shipping wouldn’t cost them anything at this point, so they just artificially delay normal users to make the service worse.

Occasionally the order will trigger right away and I’ve gotten non-Prime stuff in 1 day with free super saver shipping.

Re: Amazon fined $2.5B for using deceptive methods to sign up consumers for Prime

#90
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do frozen foods get delivered still frozen? I live 15 minutes away from the nearest wal-mart and frozens/refrigerables are my biggest concern.

How is this a concern? Does Amazon not sell frozen food (no fresh food from Amazon around here)? Otherwise why would Walmart be unable to

Walmart doesn't include ice like Amazon does, but for me it doesn't make a difference unless the delivery driver is goofing off
Post reply on HN