Consumer Rights Wiki

Amazon: Difference between revisions

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File:Amazon subscribe and save example 1.jpg|No "subscribe and save" option available.
File:Amazon subscribe and save example 1.jpg|No "subscribe and save" option available.
File:Amazon subscribe and save example 2.jpg|The option appears in the "buy again" section.
File:Amazon subscribe and save example 2.jpg|The option appears in the "buy again" section.
File:Amazon subscribe and save example 3.jpg|
File:Amazon subscribe and save example 3.jpg
</gallery>
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!Related article
!Related article
!Related video(s)
!Related video(s)
|-
|Amazon ends support for older Kindle devices.
|2026
|In early April 2026, a Reddit user posted about an email announcement from Amazon saying their device would not be able to download new content after May 20th, 2026. 
|Starting May 20th, 2026, Amazon will end support for for Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets released before 2013. Although users will still be able to read existing books on their devices, they will no longer be able to download new content to the device.
|https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-amazon-ends-support-older-kindles-2026/
|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtk7ERwlIAk&t=246s
|-
|-
|Amazon increases the price to not see ads
|Amazon increases the price to not see ads
|2026
|2026
|"...on April 10, 2026, Prime Video Ad Free will become Prime Video Ultra with enhanced viewing features, and your subscription price will increase to $4.99/month.
|"...on April 10, 2026, Prime Video Ad Free will become Prime Video Ultra with enhanced viewing features, and your subscription price will increase by $4.99/month.
... From 04-14-2026, your subscription will automatically renew at $4.99/month, unless you cancel."
... From 04-14-2026, your subscription will automatically renew at $4.99/month, unless you cancel."
|The price to not see ads in Prime Video will be increased. The users are notified by email that the subscription price is increased automatically unless extra action is taken.
|The price to not see ads in Prime Video will be increased. The users are notified by email that the subscription price is increased automatically unless extra action is taken.
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(Convenience & Grocery Brick and Mortar Stores)
(Convenience & Grocery Brick and Mortar Stores)
|2024
|2024
|Revealed in 2024, Amazon's convenience stores powered by "AI" is really just human contractors from India watching people shop.  
|Revealed in 2024, Amazon's convenience stores powered by "AI" is really just human contractors from India watching people shop.
|
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|[https://futurism.com/the-byte/amazon-abandons-ai-stores Amazon Abandons Grocery Stores Where You Just Walk Out With Stuff After It Turns Out Its “AI” Was Powered by 1,000 Human Contractors]
|[https://futurism.com/the-byte/amazon-abandons-ai-stores Amazon Abandons Grocery Stores Where You Just Walk Out With Stuff After It Turns Out Its “AI” Was Powered by 1,000 Human Contractors]
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|Since September 2024, it is no longer possible to use the Amazon Echo Show 8 as a digital frame without advertisements.
|Since September 2024, it is no longer possible to use the Amazon Echo Show 8 as a digital frame without advertisements.
|[[Amazon PhotosPlus Discontinuation]]
|[[Amazon PhotosPlus discontinuation]]
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|Amazon uses [[dark patterns]] for its premium subscription
|Amazon uses [[dark patterns]] for its premium subscription
|2023 – Present
|2023 – Present
|Systematically designing the cancelling steps to be complicated and long; using tricks to enroll users into the subscription.<ref>{{cite web |date=2023-06-21 |title=FTC Takes Action Against Amazon for Enrolling Consumers in Amazon Prime Without Consent and Sabotaging Their Attempts to Cancel |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/06/ftc-takes-action-against-amazon-enrolling-consumers-amazon-prime-without-consent-sabotaging-their |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129015417/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/06/ftc-takes-action-against-amazon-enrolling-consumers-amazon-prime-without-consent-sabotaging-their |archive-date=2025-01-29 |website=Federal Trade Commission |url-status=live}}</ref> See "Project Illiad".
|Systematically designing the cancelling steps to be complicated and long; using tricks to enroll users into the subscription.<ref>{{cite web |date=2023-06-21 |title=FTC Takes Action Against Amazon for Enrolling Consumers in Amazon Prime Without Consent and Sabotaging Their Attempts to Cancel |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/06/ftc-takes-action-against-amazon-enrolling-consumers-amazon-prime-without-consent-sabotaging-their |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129015417/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/06/ftc-takes-action-against-amazon-enrolling-consumers-amazon-prime-without-consent-sabotaging-their |archive-date=2025-01-29 |website=[[Federal Trade Commission]]}}</ref> See "Project Illiad".
|Continues to occur.
|Continues to occur.
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|[https://www.heise.de/en/news/Amazon-makes-Fire-TV-Blaster-unusable-11145570.html Amazon makes Fire TV Blaster's unusable]
|[https://www.heise.de/en/news/Amazon-makes-Fire-TV-Blaster-unusable-11145570.html Amazon makes Fire TV Blaster's unusable]
|
|-
|Amazon cancels order, and requiring age verification to reorder
|2026
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|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKDpMel08LM
|-
|Amazon Luna removes access to purchased games, offers no refunds
|2026
|Starting April 10, 2026, Amazon Luna ceased offering individual game purchases and third-party subscriptions (EA, Ubisoft+, GOG, Jackbox). The "Bring Your Own Library" feature, allowing users to stream games from linked accounts on Luna, was also removed.
|Purchased games remain '''playable via streaming only until June 10, 2026, after which they become inaccessible on Luna'''. Amazon explicitly stated it will not offer refunds for a-la-carte game purchases, contrasting with Google's full-refund policy when it shut down Stadia. Amazon offered Luna Premium subscriptions only to "qualifying" users.
|[https://www.theverge.com/tech/910025/amazon-luna-third-party-games-subscriptions Amazon Luna axes third Party game purchases]
[https://kotaku.com/amazons-luna-service-removing-access-to-purchased-games-and-is-offering-no-refunds-2000686688 Amazon's Game streaming service removing access to Purchased Games And Offering no refunds]
[https://alternativeto.net/news/2026/4/amazon-luna-is-slowly-starting-to-die-killing-game-purchases-and-third-party-subscriptions/ Amazon Luna in its demise is slowly killing game purchases]
[https://www.siliconera.com/amazon-luna-purchased-games-will-be-unplayable-after-june-2026/ Amazon Luna purchased games will be unplayable After June 2026]
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===Amazon Prime (2005–Present)===
===Amazon Prime (2005–Present)===
Amazon uses [[dark patterns]] for its subscription services, including tricking users into subscribing and making it very complicated to cancel. Moreover, some features of the service, such as free deliveries, are region locked to where you initially subscribed, forcing you to buy another subscription to be able to use the service.{{CitationNeeded}}
Amazon uses [[dark patterns]] for its subscription services, including tricking users into subscribing and making it very complicated to cancel. Moreover, some features of the service, such as free deliveries, are region locked to where you initially subscribed, forcing you to buy another subscription to be able to use the service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geo-blocking |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geo-blocking |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260325112847/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geo-blocking |archive-date=2026-03-25 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=[[Wikipedia]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mabood |first=Wasay |date=2023-02-22 |title=Geo-block Content Using Amazon Location and Edge Services |url=https://aws.amazon.com/de/blogs/networking-and-content-delivery/geo-block-content-using-amazon-location-and-edge-services/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260415190723/https://aws.amazon.com/de/blogs/networking-and-content-delivery/geo-block-content-using-amazon-location-and-edge-services/ |archive-date=2026-04-15 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=[[Amazon Web Services (AWS)]]}}</ref>


Prime video further only allows for HD streaming on Windows and MacOS, despite streaming services such as Netflix allowing HD streaming on Linux <ref>{{Cite web |title=Prime Video System Requirements for Computers |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=atv_unsupported_systems_bannerlink?nodeId=GUVGB3QMQRYRERYW |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260214133717/https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GUVGB3QMQRYRERYW |archive-date=2026-02-14}}</ref>.
Prime video further only allows for HD streaming on Windows and MacOS, despite streaming services such as Netflix allowing HD streaming on Linux <ref>{{Cite web |title=Prime Video System Requirements for Computers |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=atv_unsupported_systems_bannerlink?nodeId=GUVGB3QMQRYRERYW |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260214133717/https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GUVGB3QMQRYRERYW |archive-date=2026-02-14}}</ref>.


===Amazon Appstore (2011–Present)===
===Amazon Appstore (2011–Present)===
Amazon Appstore is the primary app store for Amazon's Fire devices, and is also available on other Android devices. On August 20, 2025, Amazon has removed access to the app store for all non-Fire devices. Apps installed on non-Fire devices from the Amazon Appstore have ceased to function but Fire devices are still to be able to access the Amazon Appstore.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doffman |first=Zak |date=17 Aug 2025 |title=Amazon’s App Store Deadline—Stop Using Your Apps In 48 Hours |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/08/17/amazons-app-store-decision-48-hours-to-delete-your-apps/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251122155445/https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/08/17/amazons-app-store-decision-48-hours-to-delete-your-apps/ |archive-date=22 Nov 2025|access-date=30 Nov 2025 |website=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ravi |first=Nandika |date=20 Feb 2025 |title=Amazon will suspend support for its Appstore on Android |url=https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/amazon-will-suspend-support-for-its-appstore-on-android |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222204353/https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/amazon-will-suspend-support-for-its-appstore-on-android |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=30 Nov 2025 |website=Android Central}}</ref> There was no restitution for non-Fire users who may have purchased paid apps through the Amazon Appstore.{{Citation needed|date=30 Nov 2025}}
Amazon Appstore is the primary app store for Amazon's Fire devices, and is also available on other Android devices. On August 20, 2025, Amazon has removed access to the app store for all non-Fire devices. Apps installed on non-Fire devices from the Amazon Appstore have ceased to function but Fire devices are still to be able to access the Amazon Appstore.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doffman |first=Zak |date=17 Aug 2025 |title=Amazon’s App Store Deadline—Stop Using Your Apps In 48 Hours |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/08/17/amazons-app-store-decision-48-hours-to-delete-your-apps/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251122155445/https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/08/17/amazons-app-store-decision-48-hours-to-delete-your-apps/ |archive-date=22 Nov 2025|access-date=30 Nov 2025 |website=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ravi |first=Nandika |date=20 Feb 2025 |title=Amazon will suspend support for its Appstore on Android |url=https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/amazon-will-suspend-support-for-its-appstore-on-android |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260222204353/https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/amazon-will-suspend-support-for-its-appstore-on-android |archive-date=22 Feb 2026|access-date=30 Nov 2025 |website=Android Central}}</ref> There was no restitution for non-Fire users who may have purchased paid apps through the Amazon Appstore.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Amazon Appstore on Android has been discontinued. |url=https://www.amazon.com/b?node=210942225011 |url-status=live |website=Amazon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Maruccia |first=Alfonso |date=2025-02-21 |title=Amazon pulls the plug on its Android app store after 14 years |url=https://www.techspot.com/news/106872-amazon-appstore-android-discontinued-summer.html |url-status=live |website=TECHSPOT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Powel |first=James |date=2025-08-17 |title=The Amazon Appstore shuts down on Androids Aug. 20. Will you get a refund? |url=https://www.aol.com/amazon-appstore-shuts-down-androids-212404113.html |url-status=live |website=AOL / USA Today}}</ref>
 
===Amazon Luna (''2020—2026'')===
Amazon Luna is Amazon's cloud gaming service, launched in 2020 as a competitor to Xbox Cloud Gaming and Google Stadia. In April 2026, Amazon abruptly ended support for individual game purchases and third-party storefronts including EA, GOG, and Ubisoft, stripping the platform of its "own your games" model. Previously purchased games will be rendered unplayable via Luna as of June 10, 2026, with no refunds offered. Save-game data can be downloaded until September 8th, 2026. 
 
Amazon is switching to a subscription model called Luna Premium, which does not allow purchases of individual video games. 
 
Support article: https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=TY9Z4zZ7vgVwLA0b7C


===Amazon Echo (2014–Present)===
===Amazon Echo (2014–Present)===
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===Amazon Alexa (2013–Present)===
===Amazon Alexa (2013–Present)===
On July 1st 2024, Amazon removed 3rd party list support from the Alexa service, resulting in only lists hosted by Amazon being supported<ref>{{Cite web |access-date=2025-09-16 |title=Deprecated Features |website=Amazon Developer Documentation |url=https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/docs/alexa/ask-overviews/deprecated-features.html#shopping-lists |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250522134122/https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/docs/alexa/ask-overviews/deprecated-features.html#shopping-lists |archive-date=2025-05-22 }}</ref>. While it is still possible to manage lists via Alexa skills, these now require the skill activation phrase to be used (e.g. "Alexa, ask AnyList to add XYZ to my shopping list"). This followed from a [[Google#Google Assistant 3rd Party List Support|similar move by Google]] in 2023.
On July 1st 2024, Amazon removed 3rd party list support from the Alexa service, resulting in only lists hosted by Amazon being supported<ref>{{Cite web |access-date=2025-09-16 |title=Deprecated Features |website=Amazon Developer Documentation |url=https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/docs/alexa/ask-overviews/deprecated-features.html#shopping-lists |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250522134122/https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/docs/alexa/ask-overviews/deprecated-features.html#shopping-lists |archive-date=2025-05-22 }}</ref>. While it is still possible to manage lists via Alexa skills, these now require the skill activation phrase to be used (e.g. "Alexa, ask AnyList to add XYZ to my shopping list"). This followed from a [[Google#Google Assistant 3rd Party List Support|similar move by Google]] in 2023.
Sometime in 2025 Amazon added an upgrade nag widget to Alexa for "Alexa+" that is impossible to turn off. In some cases the upgrade was automatic, and users had to opt-out<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campbell-Hicks |first=Jennifer |date=2026-01-13 |title=Amazon is automatically upgrading Prime members to Alexa+. Here's how to opt out |url=https://www.12news.com/article/news/nation-world/amazon-automatic-upgrade-alexa-plus-how-to-opt-out/507-3105c319-0f52-421a-b741-9ad6919f22e5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/eAbrI |archive-date=2026-04-15 |website=[[12news]]}}</ref>


===All Louis Rossmann videos covering Amazon===
===All Louis Rossmann videos covering Amazon===
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