Recent Amazon Price Error: You'll be charged unless you return!!
01-02-07 | 07:39 PM
#526
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From: NY via MA
Anybody remember the whole Disney.com fiasco from a few years ago?
If not, here's the link: Disney Fiasco.
Anywho, does anyone know of any online reporters who would be looking for a controversial story about Amazon.com?
If not, here's the link: Disney Fiasco.
Anywho, does anyone know of any online reporters who would be looking for a controversial story about Amazon.com?
01-02-07 | 07:57 PM
#527
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I sent emails to both David Streitfeld and Troy Wolverton. David said that he would look into it, and Troy said that he forwarded my email as well, as stated above. Both of them replied to my emails within minutes. I wasn't expecting that at all.
Last edited by BrentLumkin; 01-02-07 at 08:04 PM.
01-02-07 | 08:11 PM
#528
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Originally Posted by KMH
There was a story in the LA Times business section today about Amazon's strange pricing practices. This reporter (David Streitfeld, [email protected]) obviously doesn't have much love for Amazon and may be interested in hearing about the subject of this thread.
01-03-07 | 02:55 AM
#529
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Originally Posted by Satyricon553
The email I sent to them before I got that response requested that someone actually read what I have written and take the time to write something back to me rather than send a generic email saying the same thing the past 3 correspondences had.
I'm convinced it's pure luck that we'll reach the one or two CSRs who will actually read the email and know what they're doing.
clintilona's idea about emailing the executive customer relations department might be a fruitful one though.
01-03-07 | 04:12 AM
#530
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From: Malvern, PA
Originally Posted by king slug
Oh dear god, after reading some the these responces, I am embarassed to even visit the same website as you. Every one that took advantage of this deal (or abused this deal, like the one guy that said he got 6 sets) are the biggest cry babies I've ever seen in my life. You just knowingly took advantage of a website's (not a B&M store) mistake.
To the one guy saying that Wal-Mart wouldn't track you down for a pricing mistake is 100% correct. Wal-Mart wouldn't let you get anything for free in the process. How many times have you taken up a product to a POS and it charged you $0.00? Hell, there are also price laws here in Michigan that require every single product on the shelf to be priced, if there isn't a price on something do you just pick it up and walk out the door with it because you think it's free? No, and why not? Because that is stealing.
To put it simply, this wasn't a "deal" by Amazon, it was a mistake. You more or less stole from the company for their error. This is no different that B&M stores leaving items unpriced. I show less pitty to the people who took advantage of the mistake than the people to abused the mistake. I after all would have gotten both Rescue Me sets for free too if I had the chance, but to sit here and bitch because they honestly made a mistake of it is disgusting. Swallow your, albiet shallow pride, and return the items you took.
For the people that threaten not to use Amazon again is laughable. You just stole from the company, and you threaten not to use them again? Are you serious? What an embarassment of life. As to any one crying about Amazon threatening to charge your CC over their mistake? Get a better job, then you can buy the sets, and not steal them.
To the one guy saying that Wal-Mart wouldn't track you down for a pricing mistake is 100% correct. Wal-Mart wouldn't let you get anything for free in the process. How many times have you taken up a product to a POS and it charged you $0.00? Hell, there are also price laws here in Michigan that require every single product on the shelf to be priced, if there isn't a price on something do you just pick it up and walk out the door with it because you think it's free? No, and why not? Because that is stealing.
To put it simply, this wasn't a "deal" by Amazon, it was a mistake. You more or less stole from the company for their error. This is no different that B&M stores leaving items unpriced. I show less pitty to the people who took advantage of the mistake than the people to abused the mistake. I after all would have gotten both Rescue Me sets for free too if I had the chance, but to sit here and bitch because they honestly made a mistake of it is disgusting. Swallow your, albiet shallow pride, and return the items you took.
For the people that threaten not to use Amazon again is laughable. You just stole from the company, and you threaten not to use them again? Are you serious? What an embarassment of life. As to any one crying about Amazon threatening to charge your CC over their mistake? Get a better job, then you can buy the sets, and not steal them.
01-03-07 | 07:24 AM
#531
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From: Winston Salem, NC
This was the response that I got to my second email I sent them. I read this as they won't be taking any further action and will be using this and the first email I received as proof should something unauthorised show up on my credit card statement.
Thank you for writing to us at Amazon.com.
I have investigated your order and can assure you that $76.95 of
promotional funds were applied to this order(#xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx).
There will be no charged for this order.
The second order(#xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) and can assure you that
$60.95 of promotional funds were applied to this order.
The remaining 1.50 was charged to your credit card.
The third order(#xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) and can assure you that $63.95
of promotional funds were applied to this order.
The remaining 2.00 was charged to your credit card.
The fourth order(#xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) and can assure you that
$63.95 of promotional funds were applied to this order.
The remaining 2.00 was charged to your credit card.
The fifth order(#xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) and can assure you that $63.95
of promotional funds were applied to this order.
The remaining 2.00 was charged to your credit card.
For future reference, you can view the status of all of your orders
(including payment information) by clicking the Your Account link at
the top of our web site, or by going directly to this URL:
Thank you for shopping at Amazon.com. We hope to see you again soon.
Please let us know if this e-mail resolved your question:
If yes, click here:
If not, click here:
Please note: this e-mail was sent from an address that cannot accept
incoming e-mail.
To contact us about an unrelated issue, please visit the Help
section of our web site.
Best regards,
Priya K.
Amazon.com Customer Service
http://www.amazon.com
Thank you for writing to us at Amazon.com.
I have investigated your order and can assure you that $76.95 of
promotional funds were applied to this order(#xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx).
There will be no charged for this order.
The second order(#xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) and can assure you that
$60.95 of promotional funds were applied to this order.
The remaining 1.50 was charged to your credit card.
The third order(#xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) and can assure you that $63.95
of promotional funds were applied to this order.
The remaining 2.00 was charged to your credit card.
The fourth order(#xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) and can assure you that
$63.95 of promotional funds were applied to this order.
The remaining 2.00 was charged to your credit card.
The fifth order(#xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) and can assure you that $63.95
of promotional funds were applied to this order.
The remaining 2.00 was charged to your credit card.
For future reference, you can view the status of all of your orders
(including payment information) by clicking the Your Account link at
the top of our web site, or by going directly to this URL:
Thank you for shopping at Amazon.com. We hope to see you again soon.
Please let us know if this e-mail resolved your question:
If yes, click here:
If not, click here:
Please note: this e-mail was sent from an address that cannot accept
incoming e-mail.
To contact us about an unrelated issue, please visit the Help
section of our web site.
Best regards,
Priya K.
Amazon.com Customer Service
http://www.amazon.com
01-03-07 | 05:45 PM
#532
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
I just got the 'Tough shit, send it back or we'll charge you' email.
I'm writing them back, saying "So, what about your policy? According to it we're done." I wish I could think of a good way to tell them that other people are hearing differently, without giving something away.
I'm writing them back, saying "So, what about your policy? According to it we're done." I wish I could think of a good way to tell them that other people are hearing differently, without giving something away.
01-03-07 | 06:41 PM
#533
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From: Wilmington, NC
Originally Posted by dtcarson
I just got the 'Tough shit, send it back or we'll charge you' email.
I even quoted them their own pricing policy(direct from their Conditions of Use page):
With respect to items sold by Amazon.com, we cannot confirm the price of an item until you order; however, we do NOT charge your credit card until after your order has entered the shipping process. Despite our best efforts, a small number of the items in our catalog may be mispriced. If an item's correct price is higher than our stated price, we will, at our discretion, either contact you for instructions before shipping or cancel your order and notify you of such cancellation.
01-04-07 | 09:11 AM
#534
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From: Northern VA
I'd like to call your attention to this thread:
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=488380
The price of the Forbidden Planet tin was "on sale" for $24.99 at Amazon instead of the $40-$43 or so it normally runs. This was significantly cheaper than any other site on the internet. Was this a sale? Was it a glitch? The price only remained that low for a few hours so only a few orders got placed.
Because of how Amazon handled this fiasco, I passed on the tin. How do I know if it was a sale or a glitch? Anytime Amazon is the lowest price, I can't differentiate between a good deal and a price mistake. It kind of looks like a sale, but then again, $15 lower than any other online store and the fact that it only lasted a few hours makes it seem like a glitch. Are they going to start charging people's credit cards after they've shipped this DVD? What's the threshold in deciding they need to recover money from a glitch/sale? 30% off? 50% off? 62.43% off?
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=488380
The price of the Forbidden Planet tin was "on sale" for $24.99 at Amazon instead of the $40-$43 or so it normally runs. This was significantly cheaper than any other site on the internet. Was this a sale? Was it a glitch? The price only remained that low for a few hours so only a few orders got placed.
Because of how Amazon handled this fiasco, I passed on the tin. How do I know if it was a sale or a glitch? Anytime Amazon is the lowest price, I can't differentiate between a good deal and a price mistake. It kind of looks like a sale, but then again, $15 lower than any other online store and the fact that it only lasted a few hours makes it seem like a glitch. Are they going to start charging people's credit cards after they've shipped this DVD? What's the threshold in deciding they need to recover money from a glitch/sale? 30% off? 50% off? 62.43% off?
01-04-07 | 09:15 AM
#536
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Originally Posted by Shap
I'd like to call your attention to this thread:
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=488380
The price of the Forbidden Planet tin was "on sale" for $24.99 at Amazon instead of the $40-$43 or so it normally runs. This was significantly cheaper than any other site on the internet. Was this a sale? Was it a glitch? The price only remained that low for a few hours so only a few orders got placed.
Because of how Amazon handled this fiasco, I passed on the tin. How do I know if it was a sale or a glitch? Anytime Amazon is the lowest price, I can't differentiate between a good deal and a price mistake. It kind of looks like a sale, but then again, $15 lower than any other online store and the fact that it only lasted a few hours makes it seem like a glitch. Are they going to start charging people's credit cards after they've shipped this DVD? What's the threshold in deciding they need to recover money from a glitch/sale? 30% off? 50% off? 62.43% off?
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=488380
The price of the Forbidden Planet tin was "on sale" for $24.99 at Amazon instead of the $40-$43 or so it normally runs. This was significantly cheaper than any other site on the internet. Was this a sale? Was it a glitch? The price only remained that low for a few hours so only a few orders got placed.
Because of how Amazon handled this fiasco, I passed on the tin. How do I know if it was a sale or a glitch? Anytime Amazon is the lowest price, I can't differentiate between a good deal and a price mistake. It kind of looks like a sale, but then again, $15 lower than any other online store and the fact that it only lasted a few hours makes it seem like a glitch. Are they going to start charging people's credit cards after they've shipped this DVD? What's the threshold in deciding they need to recover money from a glitch/sale? 30% off? 50% off? 62.43% off?
as for me, i finally sent another email after a very frustrating first night chat with many people. I too got the "tough crap" email. I just don't understand it, they keep quoting their policy about changing the price BEFORE it ships, but i got the email after i had the product in my hand....looks like i'll be sending it back. I've wanted to get Rescue Me a few times, and the B1G1 is a very fair price on them (around $20 a piece) but for now, i'd rather order from DDD instead of amazon, just because of this. I'm not going to stop ordering from amazon, they have been very good to me in the past, but this one case just makes me want to wash my hands of this sale and move onto the next.
01-04-07 | 09:19 AM
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From: Northern VA
Originally Posted by the Chief
The amazon issue wasn't what the items were priced, but the fact that the discount got applied to the end total twice... It wasnt amazon pricing these DVD sets at $0.00. BIG difference.
01-04-07 | 09:25 AM
#538
So there's no difference in finding somthing priced $10 and finding something priced $20 where a $10 discount unintentionally gets applied twice so now its free? Especially when almost everyone knew there was problem and abused it?
Last edited by the Chief; 01-04-07 at 09:30 AM.
01-04-07 | 09:43 AM
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From: Northern VA
Regardless,
I got a DVD from Amazon for far cheaper than it's supposed to be, because of an error on their part.
What if the Forbidden Planet DVD was priced at 0.00 instead of 24.99? Would it be okay then? What if it was priced at 4.99? What about 12.99? 19.99? When is it a sale and not a mistake?
I got a DVD from Amazon for far cheaper than it's supposed to be, because of an error on their part.
What if the Forbidden Planet DVD was priced at 0.00 instead of 24.99? Would it be okay then? What if it was priced at 4.99? What about 12.99? 19.99? When is it a sale and not a mistake?
01-04-07 | 09:45 AM
#541
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Originally Posted by Shap
I'd like to call your attention to this thread:
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=488380
The price of the Forbidden Planet tin was "on sale" for $24.99 at Amazon instead of the $40-$43 or so it normally runs. This was significantly cheaper than any other site on the internet. Was this a sale? Was it a glitch? The price only remained that low for a few hours so only a few orders got placed.
Because of how Amazon handled this fiasco, I passed on the tin. How do I know if it was a sale or a glitch? Anytime Amazon is the lowest price, I can't differentiate between a good deal and a price mistake. It kind of looks like a sale, but then again, $15 lower than any other online store and the fact that it only lasted a few hours makes it seem like a glitch. Are they going to start charging people's credit cards after they've shipped this DVD? What's the threshold in deciding they need to recover money from a glitch/sale? 30% off? 50% off? 62.43% off?
http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=488380
The price of the Forbidden Planet tin was "on sale" for $24.99 at Amazon instead of the $40-$43 or so it normally runs. This was significantly cheaper than any other site on the internet. Was this a sale? Was it a glitch? The price only remained that low for a few hours so only a few orders got placed.
Because of how Amazon handled this fiasco, I passed on the tin. How do I know if it was a sale or a glitch? Anytime Amazon is the lowest price, I can't differentiate between a good deal and a price mistake. It kind of looks like a sale, but then again, $15 lower than any other online store and the fact that it only lasted a few hours makes it seem like a glitch. Are they going to start charging people's credit cards after they've shipped this DVD? What's the threshold in deciding they need to recover money from a glitch/sale? 30% off? 50% off? 62.43% off?
The problem is that there it's NEVER going to be a perfect. You can't pay some clerk 12 bucks an hour to do price adjustments and not expect some errors per every 1,000 changes. Nor is there going to be a system that will totally stop an eligible but disgruntled employee from 'getting back' at a company.
Nor do I think we want Merchants to put in a buffer zone of new employees to approve EVERY order before they ship. That will only add to the merchant's cost that they will have to pass on to us.
We should expect reasonableness on both the merchant and the consumer part. Never perfect to define but I think most people can make a pretty good stab at this. And from some of the other B1G1 problems out there, some programmers need to write some better code.
01-04-07 | 09:59 AM
#543
I say free cause i'm tired of typing "almost (if not completely)" but i'll concede, doesnt change my point though...
Taken from a prior post, using to make a point:
start of post:
The following items have been shipped to you by Amazon.com:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Qty Item Price Shipped Subtotal
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Amazon.com items (Sold by Amazon.com, LLC):
1 Seinfeld: Seasons 1 & 2 $35.49 1 $35.49
1 Seinfeld: Season 3 $35.49 1 $35.49
Shipped via USPS (estimated arrival date: 04-January-2007).
Tracking number: &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Item Subtotal: $70.98
Shipping & Handling: $3.97
Promotion Applied $-35.49
Promotion Applied $-35.49
Total: $3.97
Many thanks to the OP.
_______________
:End post
The total payed was $3.97 (shipping)
The listed price for the sienfelds were 35.49 each... the promotion made the total cheaper, not a change in the price of the item. If these had been listed $0, $10, $20 that would be one thing. That would be the listed price, mistake or not. This isnt a pricing mistake issue, this is a promotion glitch that didnt just happen, but also taken advantage of.
I think Amazon's only angle they have is that the price of the items DIDNT change. And they arent trying to change the price of the items. Just the total amount cause of the glitch in the promotions.
I still dont think they will win, but looks like that is what they are trying to do.
Taken from a prior post, using to make a point:
start of post:
The following items have been shipped to you by Amazon.com:
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Qty Item Price Shipped Subtotal
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Amazon.com items (Sold by Amazon.com, LLC):
1 Seinfeld: Seasons 1 & 2 $35.49 1 $35.49
1 Seinfeld: Season 3 $35.49 1 $35.49
Shipped via USPS (estimated arrival date: 04-January-2007).
Tracking number: &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Item Subtotal: $70.98
Shipping & Handling: $3.97
Promotion Applied $-35.49
Promotion Applied $-35.49
Total: $3.97
Many thanks to the OP.
_______________
:End post
The total payed was $3.97 (shipping)
The listed price for the sienfelds were 35.49 each... the promotion made the total cheaper, not a change in the price of the item. If these had been listed $0, $10, $20 that would be one thing. That would be the listed price, mistake or not. This isnt a pricing mistake issue, this is a promotion glitch that didnt just happen, but also taken advantage of.
I think Amazon's only angle they have is that the price of the items DIDNT change. And they arent trying to change the price of the items. Just the total amount cause of the glitch in the promotions.
I still dont think they will win, but looks like that is what they are trying to do.
01-04-07 | 10:08 AM
#544
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From: Plainfield, IL ok, it's really Joliet
Originally Posted by BrentLumkin
I sent emails to both David Streitfeld and Troy Wolverton. David said that he would look into it, and Troy said that he forwarded my email as well, as stated above. Both of them replied to my emails within minutes. I wasn't expecting that at all.
Any results on these guys? I'd love to see an article in the L.A. times about this and the ethical debate that i'm sure we're not the only ones having.
01-04-07 | 11:50 AM
#545
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Originally Posted by Shap
The price of the Forbidden Planet tin was "on sale" for $24.99 at Amazon instead of the $40-$43 or so it normally runs. This was significantly cheaper than any other site on the internet. Was this a sale? Was it a glitch? The price only remained that low for a few hours so only a few orders got placed.
What happened to common sense?
01-04-07 | 01:20 PM
#546
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From: Connecticut
There is no difference. If this happens, Amazon can then charge your credit card anytime they feel they made a mistake on a price! Do you want that to happen? Do you want other e-tailers to do the same? I would hope not.
This is just the beginning, mark my words!
This is just the beginning, mark my words!
....
01-04-07 | 01:57 PM
#548
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From: Northern VA
Originally Posted by TimeandTide
Give me a break. I can't believe you'd equate that price difference with getting two TV season sets usually priced at $35 each for $0.00. Like you said, it's possible that Planet's $24.99 price was indeed a sale. But there's not a person posting in this thread that really thinks Amazon was essentially giving away Seinfeld DVDs. Big difference between the two.
What happened to common sense?
What happened to common sense?
Maybe it seems like I'm trying to justify the B1G1 free deal.. which I'm not. I should be more clear: I'm just explaining why I can't shop there anymore due to how they are handling their mistake with the B1G1 deal.
01-04-07 | 01:58 PM
#549
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I have stayed out of this thread but been following it with interest. I did not get in on this order, nor was I even aware of it. Not that it matters much, but I am an attorney. I can say without equivocation, as numerous others have also stated, that had I made such an order, and had it been SHIPPED (which I think is key), I would fight and dispute any attempt to charge my credit card for any money beyond that which showed on the original receipt. Having disputed such payments before (though never in the exact same context), I am fairly certain I would win. There does not seem to be grounds (even in that law review article) which I can see that Amazon can use to charge anyone's card. I think they are probably just trying to scare folks into returning the product. If they attempt to charge your card, I think it could be deemed a criminal act - I am not sure why they would risk that.
If I had purchased the box sets and gotten this deal, I would keep them and ignore Amazon's threatening letters. If they charged my card, I would dispute it, send letters to the BBB, and possibly file charges with the police or other authorities.
If I had purchased the box sets and gotten this deal, I would keep them and ignore Amazon's threatening letters. If they charged my card, I would dispute it, send letters to the BBB, and possibly file charges with the police or other authorities.
