Scammed By Amazon With "Free Shipping"
By freak369
@freak369 (5112)
United States
February 29, 2016 8:17pm CST
I love deals with free shipping but Amazon and their Prime membership just isn't for me. They recently raised the minimum amount needed to get free shipping (no doubt to get more people to sign up for Prime) but I usually order more than the minimum amount and all the other perks of the service have no interest to me.
Today I went to order a replacement cell phone and they offered me a 'free' shipping offer; that was odd because I already qualified for free shipping because of the amount of the phone. I filled out the short survey and clicked the button – that's when it told me I just started my Prime Membership. I was beyond livid; after hearing so many horror stories about being billed even after opting out of it I immediately started looking for the cancel button. The best I could do was to opt out of the membership at the end of the trial which would be March 31.
I saw no mention of being signed up for Prime if you complete the survey – just that I would get free shipping for the phone. That should teach me to not listen to that little inner voice that says, "If it sounds too good to be true then it is". At least I didn't miss out on earning SB (Swagbucks) because I did not shop through their portal. They used to offer an across the board SB reward for shopping through them but now it is only in select categories that rotate every month.
This has to be a new low for Amazon; if I didn't have money saved up there from gift cards I would probably never use them again. If I make it clear that I am not interested in it when I am offered it then just leave it be and stop pestering me with it. They know that some people are going to fall for this and not cancel it and they'll be $99.00 richer.
Are you an Amazon Prime member?
Do you think it's worth the selling price?
What's the best benefit of having Prime?
5 people like this
6 responses
@softbabe44 (5815)
• Vancouver, Washington
4 Mar 16
I'm not a prime member don't wish to be either I save just as much just ordering from them.
1 person likes this
@softbabe44 (5815)
• Vancouver, Washington
7 Mar 16
@freak369 I'm just happy with the way they are right now.
@JESSY3236 (22244)
• United States
1 Mar 16
I'm not a prime member. But I do save up gift card that I earn though Bing Rewards. But Amazon does have cheaper prices sometimes.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22244)
• United States
2 Mar 16
@freak369 I have done Swagbucks before, but I quit because I keep disqualifying for the surveys.
1 person likes this
@freak369 (5112)
• United States
5 Mar 16
@JESSY3236 There are a LOT of other ways to earn SB that don't take up a lot of time. Even if you watch some videos through the SBTV app or have the Swagbucks app installed you can earn a couple gift certificates every month
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18481)
• Orangeville, Ontario
1 Mar 16
Well, unfortunately, I am happy to hear I'm not the only one frustrated with Amazon. Though a different department, area of their business, whatever... they are messing with people and I don't like it. It may be time we sent them a strong message about the way they are doing business.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
2 Mar 16
I'm not happy with Amazon and will probably never buy anything again. I overpaid and the product was substandard. Very disappointed. 
1 person likes this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
2 Mar 16
I belong to Amazon Prime and I have gotten some good deals but I do a lot of research before buying. I love the two day shipping. I joined Prime when the price was reduced to $69 as a celebration for winning an award for one of their series. When I come up for renewal, I will have to think about it if the price is $99,00,
I feel that my membership is worth it at $69.00. . I have enjoyed a lot of excellent and very good programming. As said in the above paragraph, I have managed ti get some good deals with free two day shipping.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Mar 16
I signed up for amazon several years ago but only after thinking it over for several months. I know that the service is not for everyone, and you are right that amazon likes their gimmicks.
I do use the prime video, and their music app as well as the free shipping. It really comes in handy when I am reminded at the last minute about a birthday coming up.
What I don't understand nor like is that there are several other services offered by amazon but aren't a part of amazon prime. Like Audible is a separate thing and I Was signed up for something else at one time that was separate.
1 person likes this
