Amazon again

[Hotrodder]

Is anyone else getting sick of Amazon's pressure tactics to get you signed up for Prime? As you all must know by now I do almost all of my shopping online and I occasionally use Amazon. Only occasionally because I find their website pretty useless at filtering a search and their prices aren't all that good. Their only plus side is their delivery is among the best. I try to find the cheapest deal (including postage) on the item I need. Speed of delivery is rarely an issue. So having decided which item to buy I am naturally drawn to the ones that offer free delivery. Toward the end of the transaction there has been a big pitch on how wonderful it would be to sign up for Prime. At the bottom in smaller typeface there is the option to continue without Prime. Then I can safely checkout and pay. But just recently the page has changed. There is no longer any option to decline but an announcement that they are automatically signing me up for a 30 day free trial. Yes, I know there is the possibility to opt out before the 30 days are up but I'm sure it won't be easy or straightforward. I simply do not want Prime. I don't use Amazon often enough for it to offset the monthly fee. I have complained twice to their customer "service" and one of them said they couldn't help but would pass my concerns up the chain of command and the other one more or less said to just "suck it up" or go elsewhere. Their bullying tactics to get that monthly Prime fee are bordering on scam territory in my view.

[RobertArthur]

@ Hotrodder, when I ordered my OBDII scanner (Launch 123x) six weeks ago I did my best to avoid the request to sign in for Prime. EU cross-border delivery was fast, payment using my Visa credit card was declined, not by Amazon, but by my card issuing provider. Reason: Amazon Germany was still not conforming to the latest two factor authentication procedures....Still something like: now that you have logged in to our website, just click here.....Department: for a better user experience. Yes, easier, but not safer.

Is this Prime thing new? No, two years ago this article: Amazon's push for Prime sign-up 'misleading', says ASA.

[hughnique]

I've been caught out by that when it was a yearly subscription of I think 49.99, either € or £, only realised when it came out of the bank a year later, got a refund after complaining and they acknowledged the fact that I had not used it at all in the year. I know you can order then when it arrives cancel it, they soon get fed up with that.

[tagh]

I use Prime about once a year for a month and try to group my orders, and then cancel it which I have just done, and received a refund. Easy to do and it saves a few pennies.

[Sparkle]

@Hotrodder oh yes but I ignore it - not interested I only buy when I've spent enough not to pay any postage which is not difficult cos I buy toothpaste/water filters/Rubson humidifier replacements/Birds custard Tourangelle olive,sesame and walnut oils etc etc - all this cheaper than at our supermarket. I can't fault Amazon.fr otherwise as on the 21st December I ordered some baubles for my neighbour who was hoping to come out in Jan to celebrate Christmas! They were to be delivered 11th Jan. 23rd December I got an email from La Poste stating the parcel was on route and would be delivered tomorrow ie 24th and it was - fantastic service. Actually the same with M&S. I put in an order 23rd Dec cos they had an offer on and it arrived 27th.

[Hotrodder]

Good deliveries as promised I agree, but their underhanded and high pressure tactics trying to squeeze more money out of the customer is wrong and hopefully one day the EU will notice and do something about it.

[Spardo]

Same thing with Kindle books, I was once tricked into signing up for an audio version, only noticed when I saw the enhanced price. Soon rectified but very annoying nonetheless.

[Char]

I've been caught out by this several times on the UK site - luckily if you shout loudly enough they refund the monthly charges they've taken.

[Bayleaf]

I don't really have a problem with it. When you place an order, there's a screen which asks if you want to proceed with Prime, or without. Just click on "without", and it's done.

[Hotrodder]

Actually, that is not always the case. The option to refuse the offer has been missing when I have tried to buy there recently. The only mention of Prime is when I get to the checkout and it says I will be signed up for a free 30-day trial. Additionally, I have been in contact with Amazon to complain about when I get to checkout having refused the Prime offer, what was previously supposed to have free postage suddenly has a postal charge added. There was no mention on the original search result that the free postage was conditional on having Prime. This is underhanded, misleading, and should be subject to regulation.