WTF is going on with Amazon and this Prime thing???
WTF is going on with Amazon and this Prime thing???
Author
Discussion

King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

246 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
I've used Amazon for years now for buying all sorts of stuff, never had a problem, but every time I go into the web site to buy something they are cramming this fking PRIME thing down my throat.

I have always managed to avoid falling into the trap and joining it, as they have made it the default 'next step' as you order, but today they finally got me, both forward moving options lead to joining the fking thing! I could see no way to move on without clicking one of the two options, there WAS no other way to order!!?

Next thing I get an email telling me to enjoy my Prime membership........it is brilliant, it is the greatest thing since sliced bread..... blah blah ..... and I will be billed every month from now to eternity.

I checked through the email, and the only way to opt out was to fill in a printed paper form, that looks like it was typed out 50 years ago by a child, and scanned 50 times, and then post it to fking LUXEMBOURG.

Eventually I found a cancellation link in my Account page and got shot of it. It is only £8 a month but I have NO need for yet another monthly fee going out, for something I would very rarely use.

Every time I use PayPal they try to pull the default 'Pay using PayPal credit card', which is actually a credit card application, that I don't want, don't need, and didn't fking ask for!

fking hard sell motherfkers!! Anyway, Amazon have lost me as a customer now, fk them! madmadmadmad

boyse7en

8,196 posts

195 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
King Herald said:
I've used Amazon for years now for buying all sorts of stuff, never had a problem, but every time I go into the web site to buy something they are cramming this fking PRIME thing down my throat.

I have always managed to avoid falling into the trap and joining it, as they have made it the default 'next step' as you order, but today they finally got me, both forward moving options lead to joining the fking thing! I could see no way to move on without clicking one of the two options, there WAS no other way to order!!?

Next thing I get an email telling me to enjoy my Prime membership........it is brilliant, it is the greatest thing since sliced bread..... blah blah ..... and I will be billed every month from now to eternity.

I checked through the email, and the only way to opt out was to fill in a printed paper form, that looks like it was typed out 50 years ago by a child, and scanned 50 times, and then post it to fking LUXEMBOURG.

Eventually I found a cancellation link in my Account page and got shot of it. It is only £8 a month but I have NO need for yet another monthly fee going out, for something I would very rarely use.

Every time I use PayPal they try to pull the default 'Pay using PayPal credit card', which is actually a credit card application, that I don't want, don't need, and didn't fking ask for!

fking hard sell motherfkers!! Anyway, Amazon have lost me as a customer now, fk them! madmadmadmad
Christ knows what you've done there. Amazon promotes Prime, but doesn't force it anywhere on normal sales of goods from its website. I buy regularly from Amazon.co.uk without using Prime.

What was it you were trying to buy?

nicanary

11,361 posts

176 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
Same thing happened to me a couple of months ago. Trying to buy something on Amazon and there was no "non-Prime" option to click. Everyone has told me I was being dozy and there MUST have been an option, but I swear there wasn't. I did the same as you and cancelled my membership and got an instant refund. It's just not on - it's fraud by any other name.

cbmotorsport

3,065 posts

148 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
Prime's a bit daft really, they do not restrict the amount of addresses and card details you can enter onto the prime account, so we have a family account, and all our family and some friends use it for free delivery next day. Makes for good value.

ReallyReallyGood

1,641 posts

160 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
I did exactly this the other day.

There's a "try prime with 3 hour delivery" big button on one side, then a "no thanks - next day delivery" big button on the other side, but that still subscribes you to prime. BUT under that is just a small text only link that says something like "regular delivery, don't try prime" which is not obvious, and is not a big button. I think it's what they call an anti-pattern.

To make things worse, once you accidentally join, there was no way to go back or cancel your trial. Clicking that one button once, caused the trial to be activated from which there is no undo-ing. The only thing you can do is cancel the membership after the one month.

T**ts.

King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

246 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
boyse7en said:
Christ knows what you've done there. Amazon promotes Prime, but doesn't force it anywhere on normal sales of goods from its website. I buy regularly from Amazon.co.uk without using Prime.

What was it you were trying to buy?
I don't know which web page you go to, but EVERYTHING I buy is pre selected to join Prime with every purchase. Trying to select delivery, to find out how much delivery costs 'pick your Prime option'!?!?
It is like buying cheap airline tickets, every box is pre-ticked to make you buy insurance, select seat, order food, early boarding etc, all at a cost, and you have to carefully negotiate the minefield to use the base system.

All I wanted was a collar harness thing for my dogs. Now I have no collar, and Prime membership that will SUPPOSEDLY end at the end of this month, with no fee.......

WestyCarl

4,081 posts

155 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
Don't do it......

I gave in last year and tried a "free" month's trial and am now hooked, it's brilliant.

King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

246 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
ReallyReallyGood said:
I did exactly this the other day.

There's a "try prime with 3 hour delivery" big button on one side, then a "no thanks - next day delivery" big button on the other side, but that still subscribes you to prime. BUT under that is just a small text only link that says something like "regular delivery, don't try prime" which is not obvious, and is not a big button. I think it's what they call an anti-pattern.

To make things worse, once you accidentally join, there was no way to go back or cancel your trial. Clicking that one button once, caused the trial to be activated from which there is no undo-ing. The only thing you can do is cancel the membership after the one month.

T**ts.
That was exactly what got me, a big page, a highlighted button 'continue with Prime' and another button underneath that one, not selected, that said something else, but as I discovered, it also lead to Prime membership.

There was no small print that I could see that lead elsewhere, only two visible options to continue.

krusty

2,473 posts

279 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
WestyCarl said:
Don't do it......

I gave in last year and tried a "free" month's trial and am now hooked, it's brilliant.
I Agree... What's not to like? Free delivery and all the TV and Music as well?
I now buy bulky stuff like dishwasher tablets and water softener salt on there as well as it's just easier.....

Can't see a down side really....

nicanary

11,361 posts

176 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
King Herald said:
ReallyReallyGood said:
I did exactly this the other day.

There's a "try prime with 3 hour delivery" big button on one side, then a "no thanks - next day delivery" big button on the other side, but that still subscribes you to prime. BUT under that is just a small text only link that says something like "regular delivery, don't try prime" which is not obvious, and is not a big button. I think it's what they call an anti-pattern.

To make things worse, once you accidentally join, there was no way to go back or cancel your trial. Clicking that one button once, caused the trial to be activated from which there is no undo-ing. The only thing you can do is cancel the membership after the one month.

T**ts.
That was exactly what got me, a big page, a highlighted button 'continue with Prime' and another button underneath that one, not selected, that said something else, but as I discovered, it also lead to Prime membership.

There was no small print that I could see that lead elsewhere, only two visible options to continue.
Thank you - I'm not going mad then. Definitely no option but Prime when it happened to me.

Joscal

2,615 posts

230 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
krusty said:
I Agree... What's not to like? Free delivery and all the TV and Music as well?
I now buy bulky stuff like dishwasher tablets and water softener salt on there as well as it's just easier.....

Can't see a down side really....
Me too I buy almost everything bog roll included so much easier, only have to go to shops for groceries now, Suits me as I hate shops.

otolith

69,270 posts

234 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
krusty said:
Can't see a down side really....
£8 a month.

I buy enough stuff from Amazon that it's worth it, and use the TV a bit too, but might not be the case for everyone.

IrateNinja

769 posts

208 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
ReallyReallyGood said:
I did exactly this the other day.

There's a "try prime with 3 hour delivery" big button on one side, then a "no thanks - next day delivery" big button on the other side, but that still subscribes you to prime. BUT under that is just a small text only link that says something like "regular delivery, don't try prime" which is not obvious, and is not a big button. I think it's what they call an anti-pattern.

To make things worse, once you accidentally join, there was no way to go back or cancel your trial. Clicking that one button once, caused the trial to be activated from which there is no undo-ing. The only thing you can do is cancel the membership after the one month.

T**ts.
In fairness I accidentally did the same thing last month. However when I cancelled, they refunded the fee for Prime straight away.

krusty

2,473 posts

279 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
otolith said:
krusty said:
Can't see a down side really....
£8 a month.

I buy enough stuff from Amazon that it's worth it, and use the TV a bit too, but might not be the case for everyone.
For those who drink....... Less than two beers..
For those who smoke.....Less than one packet.

You get more in return over a 30 day period.

otolith

69,270 posts

234 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
krusty said:
otolith said:
krusty said:
Can't see a down side really....
£8 a month.

I buy enough stuff from Amazon that it's worth it, and use the TV a bit too, but might not be the case for everyone.
For those who drink....... Less than two beers..
For those who smoke.....Less than one packet.

You get more in return over a 30 day period.
Yep, and if they don't order anything that month or consume Amazon media, that's a couple of beers or a packet of fags they could have had!

Works for me, but I'm impatient and I buy a lot of stuff from Amazon. Would be a waste of £8 for my parents.



SpeckledJim

34,280 posts

283 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
TLDR?

Old man befuddled by website. Gets cross. Shakes fist at moon.

smile

J8 SVG

1,470 posts

160 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
£8 a month? Pretty sure I pay £79 a year.. have done for probably 8 years now? Much better value than netflix!! (Tried to cancel that but my girlfriend threatened to lop my head off if she couldn't watch the new series of OITNB wobble)

Alex_225

7,832 posts

231 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
They are a sneaky bunch of b*stards. I'm 35 and clearly old as I still buy CDs and usually from Amazon. I ordered a couple and they arrived literally next morning which seemed odd. Didn't occur to me until it happened on a couple more ordered and then realised I'd signed up to Prime in error. I cancelled it immediately but it seems they're quick to steer you to the Prime section.

I'd have probably stuck with it for the sake of the streaming movies etc. but my partner has an account we use anyway!

johnwilliams77

8,308 posts

133 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
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They now allow you to buy groceries with prime: beer, juice, crisps - superb!

Markbarry1977

5,083 posts

133 months

Tuesday 1st August 2017
quotequote all
My wife pays for prime, I don't, every time I order from amazon I just send her the link to what I want and the money via PayPal friends and family.

I got so fked off with them trying to force me to sign up to prime a phone nearly went through the wall as I couldn't find a way to pay without signing up.

Upon looking recently as previously described loads of big visible boxes for subscribing or paying for rapid delivery and a small tiny hidden away link for just normal paying.

fk you amazon.