Slashdot Mirror
Amazon Adjusts Prices After Sales Error
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?"
Eat the cost, (seriously, how many folks really did order more and get the lower price) and chalk it up as the price you pay for not hiring programmers that can do simple math and going with the cheap ones instead.
Just modify the test "Vishnu has four arms. Ganesha rips off two of them. How many fingers does Vishnu have left?"
"In your world, there is no honor system."
There is honor amongst individuals, but corporations have no concept of honor. Every day I see it here, "Corporations have the duty to get as much money for their shareholders as possible, that is their highest calling"
So I see this as not an honor thing with Amazon, but simply they screwed up and they're hoping their customers will make it right.
Frankly, if Amazon asked for more money, I'd claim I lost it. Love to help them, but that's the way it goes.
It comes down to offer and acceptance of contract.
Many people confuse this point - they think that the website selling the item is the offer and you accept by paying. It isn't - You making the payment is deemed to be the offer and then the company reviewing the purchase, charging the card and shipping the product is the acceptance.
This is why all the usual too good to be true offers are never honoured - as they don't have to be.
This case is different. Amazon shipped the goods out after reviewing the purchase thereby accepting the offer. Charging the card again is all out fraud and were they a small company would possibly risk losing merchant status for doing so - being such a big company they'll probably just get a fine and a slap on the wrists.
If I were someone that had purchased this I would issue a chargeback on the second payment immediatly - it wasn't authorised therefore its fraud - that simple - it then is up to amazon to prove otherwise.
About the only thing amazon could have done is tried to get the goods back by persuing it through the courts - but I don't think they would have had much of a chance atleast in the uk. Not to mention costs and loss of reputation.
Basically they screwed up - and they should just swallow the loss.
Its not that much different to them having the wrong price for $40 for an item, you buying it (thinking it still wasn't much more than the highstreet and saved you a trip to go buy it) and the next day they fix the price and set it at $20 - do you think you would have much chance of getting the $20 refunded from them? They why should they think they can bully their customers and do it the other way around!!
IANAL (but I speak as someone that has dragged more than a few companies through small claims procedings on the grounds that I know enough uk law and I don't like to take the shit companies feel they can give their customers)
$_="Slashdotter";$syn="OTT";s;..;;;sub _{print shift||$_};s!ash!Perl !;s=$syn=ack=i;tr+LLEd+BLAH+;_"Just Another ";_
It is also about perceived anomynity. One common thread amount posters on websites such as /., deal sites, and others. I would never trade with ya'll except with every term in writing and double checked.
Talk about dishonest people. Many think nothing of taking advantage of an error in pricing, after all its just an evil business. Many think of a bazillion reasons to justify their theft. Many openly acknowledge their theft or attempt there of.
Just what in the hell has gotten into people that makes them think that its okay to steal when someone else makes a mistake? It was obvious to ANYONE ordering that the DVD sets were not supposed to be free, so I have no pity on them should Amazon want the money back.
To reinterate, I would not knowningly associated with many of the people I converse with on the net. Worse, this same bunch wonders why the country is in the state it is.
Look in the mirror
* Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.