Amazon prosecuted - Again.

[harryopal1]

Amazon is being prosecuted in the US for devious practices. In the last few years Amazon has also been prosecuted in the UK for a number of serious, illegal offences.

Amazon accused of duping millions of customers over Prime sign-ups

The US Federal Trade Commission says Amazon uses deceptive "dark patterns" to enrol customers in its paid-for premium service.

www.abc.net.au

I decided to stop using Amazon some while ago when making an order and being tricked into an annual subscription for their "Prime" service. When buying a product there is an offer of "free delivery". If you opt for that you are automatically signed up for an annual fee for Prime of about $150 a year. Realizing what had happened it was a devil of a job to cancel the "membership". As you will see if you read the article in the above link.

Across the years Amazon have also been shown to screw its work force into terrible working conditions. It is hard not to conclude that the executives who create these kind of policy decision are totally unscrupulous. I hope they get a heavy penalty in the US with this new prosecution.

 

[Ruserious]

Ive used Amazon a lot and i dont think the Prime thing is that hidden. Ive ordered many times and never accidentally signed up. I have also signed up on purpose and used it during a trial period for free shipping then cancelled it without any problem.

My issue with Amazon is that there are so many fake products on there and they dont police it at all. Now also i notice that if i try to order with shipping to Indonesia they estimate ahipping and duties to be more than 100% of the product value so ive given up even trying them anymore.

 

[jstar]

I decided to stop using Amazon some while ago when making an order and being tricked into an annual subscription for their "Prime" service.

I have the feeling online systems are not your ‘cup of tea’ Harry. Whether it’s payment, money transfers, banking, purchase orders, you always seem to get tricked into something.

Btw, it’s rather normal big players like Amazon keep as much customer info as possible and try to make you use their products. They are not different from Apple or Google. About the latter; some European countries as Germany try to avoid Google to get a monopoly in the car GPS systems with Android Auto and their Maps. After the domotica and home systems that will be the next big battle.

 

[flavus]

They are not different from Apple or Google

I agree; that's why I cheer on lawsuits and investigations against all of them

 

[snpark]

Yes. Stupid rainforest.

 

[ChrisTex]

Damn the man! Save the Empire!

 

[flavus]

This does not bode well for Amazon's defense. Turns out they call the unsubscribe flow "Iliad"

How hard has it been to cancel Amazon Prime? Start by navigating 4 pages, 6 clicks and 15 options.

Amazon called its labyrinthe exit process the ‘Iliad Flow’ in homage to Homer’s complex epic poem.

www.marketwatch.com

 

[Helpful Herbert]

I have unsubscribed from Prime, Audible and YouTube premium in the past and it didn't take any special knowledge or more than a couple of minutes.
Trying to delete a Facebook account though, that is a completely different matter.

 

[flavus]

I have unsubscribed from Prime, Audible and YouTube premium in the past and it didn't take any special knowledge or more than a couple of minutes.
Trying to delete a Facebook account though, that is a completely different matter.

I wonder if the process has changed recently (for Prime).

YT Premium (or in my case YT TV) is easy to unsubscribe but they keep promoting me to sign up again which is a super obnoxious dark pattern.

FB will actually delete your account after you request deactivation - provided you don't access it at all for 30 days IIRC. They try to make it really hard though of course.