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[cvxfreak]

I don't think the buyers should have to return or allow for a charge, just because internet errors mean you bear the responsibility of the repurcussions.

But I would personally just let them charge me. Amazon's been pretty good to me for years, and the fact they offered a deal like this is pretty good in my view.

 

[emomoonbase]

Welcome to Borders teamed with Amazon.com.

Did you mean B&N, or what? I actually use the Borders.com site a lot because I can use the gift cards I get from Discover there.

Are u shitting me? Well, unfvck amazon then. I guess I indirectly use them and didn't even know it.

 

[Miguel]

**** amazon, I use borders. One time I ordered the Calvin & Hobbes box set and stupid fedex lost it so border's sent me another one like real fast. Turns out some ppl across town had gotten my original one and like 2 weeks later came by the house and dropped it off. I called borders and told them I had both and if I should send it back. They said just keep it so I got like a $100 box set for free. Plus I have so many damn 30% off coupons for them it's like a discount any time I ever go there.

Care to send me the 2nd copy for free?



*thought I'd try...

 

[commish]

Nah, they'd lose. In the mail order business there is already case law pertaining to this. If you receive something in the mail - its yours. If you make a purchase and someone sends you extra stuff, its actually yours. This goes back to the reason why businesses don't send credit cards, gifts, and the like in the mail. It was all tied to various mail fraud cases where companies would send things in the mail and say "if you keep it, we'll charge you". You cannot enter into a contract that way (not a binding one anyways). So at the end of the day a fairly broad ruling stated essentially that things that arrive in your mailbox addressed to you now belong to you.

I don't see how any of this has to do with a billing error? Amazon isn't just sending people items they didn't order, nor are they sending "extra stuff". There's a pretty large difference. It's also quite different from having a wrong price listed. I still say Amazon would win in court.

 

[BlackMage]

Being a cheapskate and morally bankrupt is a bad mixture indeed.

 

[MrSardonic]

Being a cheapskate and morally bankrupt is a bad mixture indeed.

yeah, we all really give a shit about $30 not going into the pockets of a multi-billion-dollar corporation

 

[Christopher]

online glitch it's all good? in person it's bad? Read that wavebird thread for details.

I'm pretty sure you'll be saving someone of a job if people send them back, but alas I guess it's up to you.

 

[fart]

i would pay for the DVDs if this had happened to me, but people love getting something for nothing, so i'm sure you and many like you will argue technicalities and not pay, which would seem to be your right if you choose it.

 

[goodcow]

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/02/15/1356226

Amazon Adjusts Prices After Sales Error
Posted by kdawson on Thursday February 15, @09:07AM
from the double-dipping dept.
The Almighty Buck

An anonymous reader writes "On December 23, Amazon advertised a 'buy one get one free' sale on DVD box-sets, but apparently did not test the promotion before going live. When anyone placed two box-sets in their cart, the website gave a double discount — so the 'grand total' shown (before order submission) was $0.00 or some very small amount. Despite terms stating that Amazon checks order prices before shipping, Amazon shipped a large number of these orders. Five days later (December 28), after orders had been received and presumably opened, Amazon emailed customers advising them to return the box-sets unopened or their credit cards would be charged an additional amount (more threads). Starting yesterday, Amazon has been (re)charging credit cards, often without authorization. On Amazon's side, they didn't advertise any double discount, and the free or nearly-free box-sets must have cost them a mint. But with Amazon continually giving unadvertised discounts that seem to be errors, is 'return the merchandise or be charged' the new way that price glitches will be handled?"

Oh Jeff!

 

[Synth_floyd]

I love how people justify getting free stuff that they're not supposed to but they wouldn't go shoplift at a store. It's tantamount to stealing if you keep it. I mean I would keep the free stuff but you should at least admit what you're doing is wrong.

 

[Cosmic Bus]

I deleted my cards from their database a while ago, so they can bite me. I've been monitoring my bank statements nonetheless, and it's virtual debit card numbers from now on if I shop with Amazon.


Dear Jeff,

Thanks for the free boxsets and the $95 discount on the Almodovar DVDs. It's been fun! xoxoxo

-hota

 

[ElyrionX]

yeah, we all really give a shit about $30 not going into the pockets of a multi-billion-dollar corporation

What a narrow-minded thing to say.

I can't believe the number of people in this thread who are siding with the OP. Sure, Amazon screwed up but you know you can't possibly be getting two items for free. Be reasonable. What if you were running a small business and something like that happens to you, wouldn't you like it if your customers were reasonable and didn't tried to screw you up?

 

[ElyrionX]

I deleted my cards from their database a while ago, so they can bite me. I've been monitoring my bank statements nonetheless, and it's virtual debit card numbers from now on if I shop with Amazon.


Dear Jeff,

Thanks for the free boxsets and the $95 discount on the Almodovar DVDs. It's been fun! xoxoxo

-hota

Jesus, just f**king pay for it already.

 

[GSG Flash]

I love how people justify getting free stuff that they're not supposed to but they wouldn't go shoplift at a store. It's tantamount to stealing if you keep it. I mean I would keep the free stuff but you should at least admit what you're doing is wrong.

Amazon ****ed up, it would side with Amazon if they didn't say that only unopened items could be returned.

What a narrow-minded thing to say.

I can't believe the number of people in this thread who are siding with the OP. Sure, Amazon screwed up but you know you can't possibly be getting two items for free. Be reasonable. What if you were running a small business and something like that happens to you, wouldn't you like it if your customers were reasonable and didn't tried to screw you up?

Thing is that Amazon isn't a small business, they can afford these losses, I'm sure if this happened to a small business, people could more easily be convinced into returning the items or paying up.

 

[ElyrionX]

I know of a few individuals who did just that, or ordered hundreds of dollars worth in one batch just because. I'd imagine Amazon might go further to recover these particular shipments. Despite being free, it took me a while to find anything in the selections that I actually wanted and didn't already own.

From this, it sounds like you're actually quite well-off and that you took advantage of Amazon knowingly. Seriously, people like you is exactly the reason why this damn world is so messed up.

 

[ElyrionX]

Thing is that Amazon isn't a small business, they can afford these losses, I'm sure if this happened to a small business, people could more easily be convinced into returning the items or paying up.

Sure, Amazon can afford the losses but that's not the point here. It's the principle of it all.

 

[goodcow]

On one hand though, I can sort of root for this, because Amazon has some really shitty engineers, and there are tons of coding errors on the site when it comes to checkout.

I've gotten tons of free money from them, without purposely trying to defraud them, just because stuff is coded poorly.

If they take this event as something to learn by, maybe they'll start paying more for competent programmers.

 

[big_z]

It was amazons mistake they should suck it up and take the loss. The company makes hundreds of millions a year it wont hurt them in any way... it's like one of us losing a penny. Sure you lost some money but it's not enough to give a shit.

 

[goodcow]

It was amazons mistake they should suck it up and take the loss. The company makes hundreds of millions a year it wont hurt them in any way... it's like one of us losing a penny. Sure you lost some money but it's not enough to give a shit.

Amazon Q4 2006 results:

sales: $3.99 billion
net income: $98 million

Their profit margin is only 2.4%.

 

[vatstep]

Seriously, people like you is exactly the reason why this damn world is so messed up.

This is a pretty extreme statement. If you're mad about this situation, fine, but I don't really think people who take advantage of retail errors are what make this world "messed up." I'd say that honor goes more to murderers, rapists, corrupt officials, etc.

I can't imagine how much anger you must harbor toward the communities of sites like FatWallet.com..

 

[ElyrionX]

This is a pretty extreme statement. If you're mad about this situation, fine, but I don't really think people who take advantage of retail errors are what make this world "messed up." I'd say that honor goes more to murderers, rapists, corrupt officials, etc.

I can't imagine how much anger you must harbor toward the communities of sites like FatWallet.com..

It is the underlying principle of it all. Someone who is well off enough to afford his own stuff chooses to exploit an error for his own personal gain and yet can be so damn smug about it is what pisses me off. Greed. Self-centred attitude. Lack of consideration for others. Lack of any reasonable thought. You see it all in the OP. It's disgusting.

Such are the pitfalls of automated ordering in the online world, and I'd imagine they'll keep a better eye on their site in the future.

Yeah, because if they don't, assh*les like you are ready to pounce, and exploit and bleed them dry.

 

[maynerd]

What a narrow-minded thing to say.

I can't believe the number of people in this thread who are siding with the OP. Sure, Amazon screwed up but you know you can't possibly be getting two items for free. Be reasonable. What if you were running a small business and something like that happens to you, wouldn't you like it if your customers were reasonable and didn't tried to screw you up?

I didn't get in on this "deal" but let me tell you from another side.

I purchased a eliptical trainer from Amazon during christmas it was one of those vote deals. I got a really great price on the trainer. This was a large shipment so I had to take time off of work to recieve it.

I received the product and it was damaged. It was impossible for me to tell who damaged it the shipper or Amazon.

I contacted amazon and told them about the problem. They told me that they would have the shipper pick it up.

They told me that they wouldn't replace the product and would give me a refund.

They refused to get me a replacement product no matter what I tried. I was even lied to about it by their customer service managers (the manager said they would place an order to have it replaced for me, they never did).

I had to basically destroy the box to get into it and this thing is massive so I had no way of getting another box to put it into. Because of this I had to buy a bunch of packing tape to close the box up.

So what did I get out of this awesome deal from amazon?

1. two half days from work used
2. packing tape purchased at my expense
3. christmas gift failure
4. no deal on a elipitical trainer
5. I'm getting fatter

Yeah so FU Amazon quit defending them because they will take any and every opportunity to screw the customer when they get the chance.

Oh yeah they sat on my money for a while until they got their trainer back so enjoy that interest income you fukers.

 

[xsarien]

The error was corrected on their site within a number of hours, IIRC, yet Amazon did not cancel all of the "free" orders. Some were terminated, but a good percentage of them were shipped -- mine included, and received a couple of days ago -- despite Amazon having full knowledge of the error.

That is complete speculation and you know it.

Amazon isn't doing anything wrong with this action. They're being very up front, telling you that their system goofed, and that you have the option to keep the item or send it back to them at their expense. Whether or not this skates around any known legal issues is entirely up for debate, but consider this:

Brick and mortar stores are not obligated to honor prices in advertisements if there's an error and they post a visible notice at the entrance; likewise, if a BOGO deal rang up both items as free in that same store, the cashier would likely call a manager and not even think of letting you go through with that transaction, nevermind let you leave the store after a shouting match of "NUH UH, IT RANG UP AS $0.00, BITCH!" This is simply the e-comm equivalent as they don't have a husky high school senior watching the door.

Should Amazon have caught this error? Absolutely. Did you buy these two products knowing the glitch was in place? Yup. Did you realize that it was obviously an error? Ditto. Amazon may be the Goliath in this whole mess, but right now The Good Ship Goodcow is the only one in the debate being honest about the situation.

 

[maynerd]

Did you buy these two products knowing the glitch was in place? I'm betting on "Yeah." Did you realize that it was obviously an error? Ditto.

This is complete speculation and you know it.

.

 

[ElyrionX]

.

It comes down to a question of ethics, in my opinion, and this was as "legitimate" a mistake as any (though willingly and knowingly exploited) and I have no intention of simply sending back my items or allowing them to charge me for them.

Despite being free, it took me a while to find anything in the selections that I actually wanted and didn't already own.

.

 

[xsarien]

.

It comes down to a question of ethics, in my opinion, and this was as "legitimate" a mistake as any (though willingly and knowingly exploited)

I missed this on the first pass, I've got a habit of skimming. But this is CAG-Age, so it doesn't exactly take Columbo to figure some of this shit out.

 

[maynerd]

Sorry I thought you were referring to the people who got this deal not just the OP. I stand corrected.

Oh yeah FU Amazon!

 

[Phoenix]

If Amazon goes to court they will lose. Its pretty straightforward.

Case Points

1) Amazon as the vendor has the responsibility to make sure its prices are correct, not its customers - that is not their responsibility.

2) Amazon engineered the system that make the mistake, not its customers.

3) Seeing its mistake Amazon chose to force customers who had already opened the product to pay for the product as opposed to returning it - which is in essence a breach of the purchase contract.

4) Amazon is now making unauthorized charges against credit cards, something that is actually against the ecommerce statutes set forth by the courts. It is also doing so with no guaranteed notification of the individuals that it is charging. Email is not an accepted form of guaranteed notification by the courts.

The basis of Amazon's action is unlawful and unjust and predicated on the fact that Amazon believes it is correct and beyond the rule of law. This is different from the rule of law for brick and mortar stores because Amazon's system is automated by their own design. It ships products based on business rules of which only Amazon, its employees and associates are responsible for or have access to. It is not a responsibility of the customer in the United States to confirm or otherwise correct a seller when they set a price. Amazon could have chosen to write systems to verify all orders being shipped and checked for any order that had a value of 0.00, but they chose not to although they have the time, money, and resources to commit to that task. What Amazon has chosen instead is to make their programatic or business mistakes the responsibility of the customer and have determined that no matter what mistakes they make, they are not required to honor the purchase contract set between the customer and Amazon at the time of purchase. The customer is not able to reject this contract, and legally - neither is Amazon.

Based on this I seek an injunction on this behavior and request punitive relief on Amazon for this wholely unlawful practice.

 

[maynerd]

If Amazon goes to court they will lose. Its pretty straightforward.

Case Points

1) Amazon as the vendor has the responsibility to make sure its prices are correct, not its customers - that is not their responsibility.

2) Amazon engineered the system that make the mistake, not its customers.

3) Seeing its mistake Amazon chose to force customers who had already opened the product to pay for the product as opposed to returning it - which is in essence a breach of the purchase contract.

4) Amazon is now making unauthorized charges against credit cards, something that is actually against the ecommerce statutes set forth by the courts. It is also doing so with no guaranteed notification of the individuals that it is charging. Email is not an accepted form of guaranteed notification by the courts.

The basis of Amazon's action is unlawful and unjust and predicated on the fact that Amazon believes it is correct and beyond the rule of law. This is different from the rule of law for brick and mortar stores because Amazon's system is automated by their own design. It ships products based on business rules of which only Amazon, its employees and associates are responsible for or have access to. It is not a responsibility of the customer in the United States to confirm or otherwise correct a seller when they set a price. Amazon could have chosen to write systems to verify all orders being shipped and checked for any order that had a value of 0.00, but they chose not to although they have the time, money, and resources to commit to that task. What Amazon has chosen instead is to make their programatic or business mistakes the responsibility of the customer and have determined that no matter what mistakes they make, they are not required to honor the purchase contract set between the customer and Amazon at the time of purchase. The customer is not able to reject this contract, and legally - neither is Amazon.

Based on this I seek an injunction on this behavior and request punitive relief on Amazon for this wholely unlawful practice.

That's nice and all but what can I get from them for screwin me on my eliptical trainer?

 

[john tv]

Karma's a bitch. All that really matters.

 

[Harvey Hedonist]

**** Amazon. They would screw us all six ways from Sunday if they could get away with it. Why should we as the consumer treat them any differently? ****'em.

And Karma? Hahaha!

 

[GSG Flash]

Karma's a bitch. All that really matters.

For Amazon that is

I didn't even take advantage of this but I support the customers over Amazon for the exact reasons Phoenix posted

 

[Drensch]

No one defrauded Amazon or did anything wrong. No one bought merchandise at another store and tried to get amazon to cough up for it. Amazon sold stuff cheap. That's it. If amazon had a problem with it, too ****ing bad.

 

[SnakeswithLasers]

ElyrionX, why are you treating Amazon.com as though it is some individual being defrauded and that consumers are being dishonest and cheating it?

Amazon.com is a corporation. It is a business. One of the risks of being a gigantic business is that if you hire incompetent people to do your work, then you're going to lose profits.

Amazon.com did the job wrong, individuals took advantage, and now Amazon.com is going to need to turn around and fix its mistakes for the future.

No one is stealing from their grandma or a mom and pop store. It is such a fallacy to equate this multi-billion dollar corporation with a private individual. Amazon.com is NOT a moral, thinking, breathing individual. It is a machine designed to generate profit. When that design fails, they lose money. When the design works, they make money.

It failed here, they lost money. You can't expect real people to feel some sort of moral obligation to a corporation and its bottom line, that's insanity. We expect them to provide goods and services and in return the people in charge make a living. If those people muck it up and have a buggy system, they won't make any money. It's that simple.

'Bank error in your favor. Collect $200.'