Beware Amazon "Prime"

DonDaddyD

Last month Amazon offered me "Amazon Prime" for free. This I'm told was to offer free recorded delivery, I think. I actually don't know what it does except that it was offered me a one month free trial.

Today I see an Amazon Prime charge for £49.00 in my bank account. Now I admit the guy said to me that the small print in the terms and conditions said they would do this if I didn't cancel the service as they would assume it meant I was happy to continue but COME ON, what a rip off. It didn't even do anything different from regular Amazon.

Beware.

I got a refund.

zanes

Yep, gotta be careful with that. Fortunately I saw it and cancelled it a couple of days before the end of the trial. Very useful, but I don't really use amazon enough to justify the (yearly I think?) charge. Still, for that month I saw a lot of activity on amazon (housemates also used my trial to get freebie express delivery). Now, if only I could get another trial period.

Clever Pun

I used it for the free period and cancelled it, I was off ill for a while and got the next series of the wire sent to me the next day

Boredom crisis averted

Kieran_Burns

On a similar subject.... Hey what's the point of a forum if you can't hijack a thread? :twisted:

Ordered 3 DVD sets of a TV show (series 2,3 & 4) from Amazon, but GOT series 3 & 4 with The Big Bottom Box instead of series 2

(TBBB being a compilation of Bottom Live shows, the film and other bits and bobs)

I'm getting the missing DVD set sent and can return TBBB, question is: Do I? It's £15 and basically contains all the best bits of Bottom... I might keep it and pay the charge when they ask in 30 days.

kelsen

I signed up for it too and cancelled just before the trial period ended. From what I remember, does it not give you next day delivery as well?

graeme_s-2

If you order a lot from Amazon and want next day delivery then it's not bad at all.

I cancelled during the trial as well. One good thing about it is if you spill over the trial period and then change your mind, as long as you haven't used any of the Prime services, then when you cancel they give you back your money automatically without having to request a refund.

navt

DonDaddyD wrote:

Last month Amazon offered me "Amazon Prime" for free.

Mum said nothing in life is free. She was right.

daviesee

I use normal Amazon and free delivery (listed as normally 5-8 days).

I quite often get next day delivery.

Don't see the point in Prime myself.

soy_sauce

used it 2 Xmas ago, signed up for the free trial just before i order my Xmas shopping then cancelled it as soon as i received the email saying items have been despatched.

lost_in_thought

DonDaddyD wrote:

Last month Amazon offered me "Amazon Prime" for free. This I'm told was to offer free recorded delivery, I think. I actually don't know what it does except that it was offered me a one month free trial.

Today I see an Amazon Prime charge for £49.00 in my bank account. Now I admit the guy said to me that the small print in the terms and conditions said they would do this if I didn't cancel the service as they would assume it meant I was happy to continue but COME ON, what a rip off. It didn't even do anything different from regular Amazon.

Beware.

I got a refund.

So, wait, Amazon did exactly what they said they'd do in the T&Cs that you didn't read and you're complaining? :P

I have Prime, use it as I order a lot from Amazon, and every time they don't deliver within the time frame I complain and they give me £20 off. It's currently costing me about £9 per year, which I reckon is a good deal.

DonDaddyD

lost_in_thought wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Last month Amazon offered me "Amazon Prime" for free. This I'm told was to offer free recorded delivery, I think. I actually don't know what it does except that it was offered me a one month free trial.

Today I see an Amazon Prime charge for £49.00 in my bank account. Now I admit the guy said to me that the small print in the terms and conditions said they would do this if I didn't cancel the service as they would assume it meant I was happy to continue but COME ON, what a rip off. It didn't even do anything different from regular Amazon.

Beware.

I got a refund.

So, wait, Amazon did exactly what they said they'd do in the T&Cs that you didn't read and you're complaining? :P

I have Prime, use it as I order a lot from Amazon, and every time they don't deliver within the time frame I complain and they give me £20 off. It's currently costing me about £9 per year, which I reckon is a good deal.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Could this explain the recent spate of "special delivery" Amazon parcels I've had to deliver?

Some recipients were confused as to why their delivery was not something I could just pop through the letterbox without a signature (although Amazon book/cd parcelling ios often just that millimetre or two too big to go through).

lost_in_thought

All the Prime ones I've had have either been mysterious post, ie normal post that mysteriously arrives in under 24hrs but requires no signature (maybe you can explain that), or couriers.

the_hundredth_idiot

That's why I've always ignored the emails to sign up to amazon prime - I know I'll forget to cancel and then get charged. I've always found the free postage option turns up plenty quick enough.

kingrollo

lost_in_thought wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

Last month Amazon offered me "Amazon Prime" for free. This I'm told was to offer free recorded delivery, I think. I actually don't know what it does except that it was offered me a one month free trial.

Today I see an Amazon Prime charge for £49.00 in my bank account. Now I admit the guy said to me that the small print in the terms and conditions said they would do this if I didn't cancel the service as they would assume it meant I was happy to continue but COME ON, what a rip off. It didn't even do anything different from regular Amazon.

Beware.

I got a refund.

So, wait, Amazon did exactly what they said they'd do in the T&Cs that you didn't read and you're complaining? :P

I have Prime, use it as I order a lot from Amazon, and every time they don't deliver within the time frame I complain and they give me £20 off. It's currently costing me about £9 per year, which I reckon is a good deal.

I have this arguement alot. Just because it is terms and conditions doesn't mean it can overide consumer legislation - if its unfair - then DDD shouldn't have to pay the £50.

hoolio

Kingrollo, he got a refund. Said so in the opening post.

the_hundredth_idiot

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/subs/primecl ... /main.html

Don't wait for what you want. Get it fast.
Sign up today for your Free Trial of Amazon Prime.

You can find just about anything you're looking for on Amazon.co.uk. And now, you can get it delivered the way you want — fast and free — with Amazon Prime.

Try Amazon Prime free for one month (new members only) and enjoy all the benefits that come with membership. There's no obligation — cancel anytime before your Free Trial is over and you will not be charged the £49.00 annual fee. Learn more

The T&Cs of Amazon Prime are pretty clear and that you have to cancel before the Free Trial is over is explicit in the marketing blurb. I think you'd struggle to argue that this was hidden in the small print given it is clearly mentioned in the sales pitch. So I can't see the grounds on which you'd be able to argue it was unfair. In fact, as DDD got a refund, it seems amazon are behaving extremely well on this.

DonDaddyD

The Hundredth Idiot wrote:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/subs/primeclub/signup/main.html

Don't wait for what you want. Get it fast.
Sign up today for your Free Trial of Amazon Prime.

You can find just about anything you're looking for on Amazon.co.uk. And now, you can get it delivered the way you want — fast and free — with Amazon Prime.

Try Amazon Prime free for one month (new members only) and enjoy all the benefits that come with membership. There's no obligation — cancel anytime before your Free Trial is over and you will not be charged the £49.00 annual fee. Learn more

The T&Cs of Amazon Prime are pretty clear and that you have to cancel before the Free Trial is over is explicit in the marketing blurb. I think you'd struggle to argue that this was hidden in the small print given it is clearly mentioned in the sales pitch. So I can't see the grounds on which you'd be able to argue it was unfair. In fact, as DDD got a refund, it seems amazon are behaving extremely well on this.

To be honest they did behave really well about it.

graeme_s-2

The Hundredth Idiot wrote:

The T&Cs of Amazon Prime are pretty clear and that you have to cancel before the Free Trial is over is explicit in the marketing blurb. I think you'd struggle to argue that this was hidden in the small print given it is clearly mentioned in the sales pitch. So I can't see the grounds on which you'd be able to argue it was unfair. In fact, as DDD got a refund, it seems amazon are behaving extremely well on this.

As I said, even if you cancel after they've charged you, as long as you've haven't made any further use of the Prime service, then they will automatically give you a refund without you having to request it. I'm not aware of any other subscription service that is operated like that.

Wallace1492

I am a little confused here. Subject is Beware Amazon Prime.

However, the OP signed up to a one month trial, that they knew they had to cancel or they would be charged, forgot to cancel, and was charged.
Contacted the supplier, who was as nice as ninepence and refunded the OP his cash.

Should the sunject line not be - Beware Your Own Stupidity?

It does look like Amazon is getting put down for what is the OP's own mistake.

If you sign up for ANY free trial period, and forget to cancel, on your own head be it.

I think here Amazon have behaved perfectly, and should not in any way be castigated.

DonDaddyD

I didn't read the small print. Who reads the small print except for my Lawyer girlfriend, her lawyer buddies and corporate bods who don't trust the small print because they themselves have used the small print to shaft others?

The small print is for those who want to seep the fun out of everything and control freaks.

In all fairness though - I think you just posted to take the oppurtunity to call me stupid - I didn't castrate Amazon I was simply raising awareness to others who may have been caught unaware.

kingrollo

Wallace1492 wrote:

I am a little confused here. Subject is Beware Amazon Prime.

However, the OP signed up to a one month trial, that they knew they had to cancel or they would be charged, forgot to cancel, and was charged.
Contacted the supplier, who was as nice as ninepence and refunded the OP his cash.

Should the sunject line not be - Beware Your Own Stupidity?

It does look like Amazon is getting put down for what is the OP's own mistake.

If you sign up for ANY free trial period, and forget to cancel, on your own head be it.

I think here Amazon have behaved perfectly, and should not in any way be castigated.

Can't agree - they are making money by hoping people will forget to cancel - and not bother to try and get a refund. They think because its T&C'S its all OK.

And in practice the £50 gets you very little.

il_principe

DonDaddyD wrote:

- I didn't castrate Amazon I was simply raising awareness to others who may have been caught unaware.

Glad to hear it, that wuld have been a little OTT.