Amazon's Prime Service.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2983634/Has-Amazon-picked-79-pocket-millions-duped-signing-costly-prime-service-don-t-want.html

What is the problem with these people, it clearly states that it is a limited free offer, do they expect something for nothing?

[bednobs]

they are idiots. However i do think amazon are being a bit tricky in some ways (not this way)
they would obviously love everyone to be signed up to amazon prime/family/kindle unlimited and make it increasingly hard not to be (ie by limiting products/ offers available to those people who have it only). Of course, once you do have prime, you want to use it more to make the fee worthwhile

[Gromit]

They really push the 1 month free trial. Except it isn't really a free trial it is starting a subscription which costs £79. I pressed it accidently when buying a gift before christmas. Instead of the free trial running out and that being that, it is on you to go into your account settings to cancel the subscription after a month. I nearly forgot, but I was cross because they had duped me into signing so I had made a note of it.
Amazon are very convenient, but in a lot of ways they are a very scummy company. I have been using them less lately.

[whirlyhurly]

I was nearly ensnared by this free trial, and had to email Amazon in strident words that I was not wanting this Prime free trial or not ever.

[VHG]

>>>they are idiots

They are not idiots (I assume you mean the people who sign up to Amazon prime by mistake).

They could be accused of being slightly lazy in not reading all the text on the screen, but we are all guilty of doing that.

Every time I do an update to Adobe Flash it says "have you read the terms and conditions" and I always tick "Yes" even though I have NEVER read the terms and conditions (who has for Adobe Flash).

It may say deep down in the Adobe flash terms and conditions that I have to pay them £100 a year to use it, and if so I have agreed to that without reading it.

So "idiots" is the wrong term.

[hc4361]

I've used the monthly free trial at least 5 times. I always cancel within the first week but I still have the full month of Prime.
Very easy to cancel, no hassle at all.

[ubasses]

Like many I signed up to get a specific parcel when I needed it. However when the Email came advising me of the end date I went into Prime and ticked the box for it to be cancelled at the end of the trial. Cannot see how anyone can be duped.

[jno]

this one is sneaked in, I think: you aren't asked to click on "Sign me up for Prime", just on "free delivery" for an item. I find you have to check every step with Amazon, but it's a habit you have to learn. I don't think occasional shoppers are idiots for being caught out.

[Hymie]

Mrs Hymie has recently taken to ordering loads of stuff off Amazon – possibly making Amazon Prime cost effective to me. However from my limited investigations, free delivery only applies to qualifying items; nowhere can I find what a ‘qualifying item’ is.

I suspect that a qualifying item is one dispatched from one of their warehouses – otherwise sellers using the Amazon portal would lose out on their postal fees.

Can anyone confirm my suspicion as to what an Amazon Prime qualifying item is?

[hc4361]

Prime free delivery applies to items that are sold by Amazon or sold by a third party and fulfilled by Amazon.

[anotheoldgit]

It clearly states, what is confusing about that?

/// Amazon Prime Free Trial ///

/// Unlimited One-Day Delivery is available to Amazon Prime members. To join, select "Yes, I want Unlimited One-Day Delivery with Amazon Prime" above the Add to Basket button and confirm your Amazon Prime free trial sign-up during checkout.
Amazon Prime members enjoy: ///

/// Unlimited One-Day Delivery ///
/// Instant streaming of more than 15,000 films and TV episodes ///
/// A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates ///

/// Important: Your debit or credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a full year for £79. ///

[hc4361]

jno, if an item qualifies for free delivery (sold or fulfilled by Amazon and costing over £10) then you don't need to be signed up to Prime to get the free delivery - it is just not guaranteed to be next day.

[Gromit]

AOG

Signing up for a 'free trial' is misleading.
What you are actually doing is buying a 13 month subscription with the first month free. The onus is on you to cancel it within 30 days. You do not get a reminder that they will take the money from your account when the 30 days is up.
As I say, they are a scummy company.

[grasscarp]

I have twice signed up, used for 3 weeks or so and then cancelled, being well aware of what it is offering and reading the deal. Dont understand why people would not read what is involved before clicking on it.

[hc4361]

It is made very clear what the terms are and you don't have to go through hoops to cancel the free trial. I think Amazon is a great company to buy from with no nonsense returns and excellent delivery service.

I bought a very expensive phone from them a while back and it just broke after 11 months. Quick email to them, got a quick reply telling me I was entitled to a replacement and they sent a prepaid postage sticker to return it.
As it happened they couldn't get the same model of phone so I got a full refund within 5 days of my initial email.
That is what I call excellent service.

[trt]

## That is what I call excellent service. ##

I agree with both your post hc, have used them for years, also the Prime when on offer, and just cancel it when the months up.

Who wants to traipse around the shops these days, when you can relax at home with a cup of coffee, and take your time looking for bargains.

[hc4361]

trt, a lot of the things I buy I couldn't buy in high street shops and Amazon is a lot cheaper than the specialist outlets I'd have to track down and wait for the item to be ordered.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// Signing up for a 'free trial' is misleading.
What you are actually doing is buying a 13 month subscription with the first month free. The onus is on you to cancel it within 30 days. You do not get a reminder that they will take the money from your account when the 30 days is up. ///

Amazon are not on their own regarding the rules towards free periods, other Companies do it all the time.

If anyone is keen enough to grab a free offer (something for nowt) then they should be prepared to take the trouble to cancel it after the free period.
As I say, they are a scummy company.

[chrissa1]

AOG, I agree. Experian and Equifax to name, two.

[hc4361]

And all the ancestor sites.

It's not only online companies that do it. Magazines often have very cheap trials which you need to cancel before the deadline.

[Tuvok]

I took the trial of Amazon Prime as they had a file that I wanted to see - Sky only have it on Box Office/Sky Store.

When I signed up I was told that I have to go to the account settings and change to do not automatically upgrade (or words to that effect).

Haven't done it yet will be.