Amazon

2025-01-28T00:33:33Z

Unopened washbasin: Controversy -- Prime subscription dark patterns

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{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Amazon
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1994
| Industry = Technology
| Official Website = https://amazon.com/
| Logo = Amazon.png
}}

[[wikipedia:Amazon_(company)|'''Amazon.com, Inc.''']] is a global leader in e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital streaming, founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos. Originally launched as an online bookstore, Amazon quickly expanded into a marketplace offering a wide range of products, including electronics, clothing, household goods, and groceries. Today, it is one of the largest companies in the world, with a dominant presence in retail, technology, and logistics.

In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon is a major player in cloud computing through Amazon Web Services (AWS), which provides cloud infrastructure and services to businesses globally. The company also offers a variety of digital services, such as Amazon Prime, which provides streaming video and music, and Alexa, its voice-activated virtual assistant. Amazon has also developed consumer products like the Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, and Echo smart speakers.

Amazon has faced significant scrutiny and criticism, particularly concerning its treatment of workers, marketplace practices, data privacy issues, and its impact on small businesses. It has been involved in various regulatory and legal challenges related to anti-competitive behavior, safety, and consumer protection, with calls for increased oversight on its business operations.

==Controversies==
Amazon has been involved in numerous controversies, from dangerous products to anti-competitive practices. Below is a comprehensive listing of every relevant controversy documented here on this wiki: 
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Controversy
!Year
!Background Info
!Aftermath
!Related Article
!Related Video(s)
|-
|Amazon sells dangerous litterboxes
|2024
|Amazon sold litterboxes that were designed in a unsafe way that led to the deaths of multiple cats, and posed a danger to young children.
|Original product was delisted, yet many other variants of the same product exist on the site.
|
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=p6Y19nSPvC4</ref>
|-
|Amazon adds ads to premium subscription
|2023, 2024
|Amazon added advertisements to previously ad free subscriptions for Prime Video and Echo Show frames.
|Continues to occur.
|
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=RSi6g5-xUaY</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=ua_QL9YysHQ</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=VLFpU9aqtXc</ref>
|-
|Amazon allows fraudulent listings
|2014 - 2024
|
|Fraudulent listings continue to be added, some removed.
|
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=qZCMislL6_I</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=7trdHLtsFKM</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=DiKflg8Uko4</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=y83BS_mK9GE</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=Rhb0ID9z4aE</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=XZNn2mO3dNQ</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=C0YNLWdj9sQ</ref>
|-
|Amazon allows sellers to bribe customers for better ratings.
|2024
|Amazon sellers give customers gift cards in exchange for positive product reviews; Amazon does nothing to stop this.
|Continues to occur.
|
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=eS698R-bxuc</ref>
|-
|Amazon has bad marketplace algorithms.
|2023, 2024
|
|Algorithms still seem to be nonbeneficial.
|
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=tAaSXz8CBMc</ref>
|-
|Amazon trashes refurbished market.
|2022, 2023
|
|Unknown
|
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=h3qgbvq2SWs</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=qzUXmeaZsIQ</ref>
|-
|Amazon wrongfully deletes accounts.
|2023
|
|Some accounts reinstated.
|
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=Kcohq313q00</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=SyEgD-5GK9c</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=NfiIXooD77s</ref>
|-
|Amazon engages in anticompetitive behavior
|2021, 2022
|
|Unknown
|
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=YBJoSGWdP0Y</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=XCLx4mVJ4gk</ref>
|-
|Amazon Sells Fake Electrical Fuses
|2024
|Fuses are being sold that do not blow when supplied more power than it is intended to handle, which is a major safety risk.
|These fuses are still being sold to this day.
|
|<ref group="Video References">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU</ref>
|-
|Amazon PhotosPlus Discontinuation
|2024
|
|Continues to occur.
|[[Amazon PhotosPlus Discontinuation]]
|
|-
|Amazon uses "dark patterns" for its premium subscription
|2023
|Systematically designing the cancelling steps to be complicated and long ; using tricks to kidnap users into the subscription. See "Project Illiad"
|Continues to occur.
|[https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/06/ftc-takes-action-against-amazon-enrolling-consumers-amazon-prime-without-consent-sabotaging-their FTC Takes Action Against Amazon]
|
|}

===All Louis Rossmann videos covering Amazon:===
<references group="Video References" />

===References:===
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Logistics companies]]
[[Category:Online music stores]]
[[Category:Online retailers]]
[[Category:Software companies]]
[[Category:Technology companies]]
[[Category:Amazon]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Amazon