No, sir, I do not need more shipments. However, I'll gladly take the discount!
July 28, 2011 10:05 AM Subscribe
What's to stop someone from repeatedly signing up for Amazon's Subscribe & Save solely to receive the discount, then cancelling?
It says you can cancel future shipments at any time. What's to stop someone from always doing this on items they purchase just to receive the discount the one time?
And what if someone cancels all future shipments of an item and then, say, oh, four months later, realizes they do need the item again. When they go to purchase the item can they sign up again for the Subscribe & Save? Or is the S&S, in effect, disabled for that item for all of eternity?
Does Amazon monitor repeat cancellations or something? Will they unleash a plague of locusts upon your house if you cancel too many subscriptions? Seriously, are there consequences?
It says you can cancel future shipments at any time. What's to stop someone from always doing this on items they purchase just to receive the discount the one time?
And what if someone cancels all future shipments of an item and then, say, oh, four months later, realizes they do need the item again. When they go to purchase the item can they sign up again for the Subscribe & Save? Or is the S&S, in effect, disabled for that item for all of eternity?
Does Amazon monitor repeat cancellations or something? Will they unleash a plague of locusts upon your house if you cancel too many subscriptions? Seriously, are there consequences?
Nothing happens. I do this all the time. Amazon just counts on people forgetting to cancel and continuing to receive shipments, or being reminded that they like product x again. In fact they send very clear emails before the next shipment is being sent and I often cancel the next shipment or reschedule for a much later date. But from Amazon's point of view, this is still a win -- I'm being reminded that I like Neutrogena makeup wipes and am now out of them so I'm very likely to allow the system to go ahead and order more.
posted by peacheater at 10:12 AM on July 28, 2011
posted by peacheater at 10:12 AM on July 28, 2011
I think they're banking on the idea that people who sign up for subscribe and save either do it because they want to or that they'll forget about it.
I've signed up for subscribe and save and canceled it without any negative affects that I can see.
posted by royalsong at 10:13 AM on July 28, 2011
I've signed up for subscribe and save and canceled it without any negative affects that I can see.
posted by royalsong at 10:13 AM on July 28, 2011
Risk versus reward. The discounts are nice, but generally not huge; so one person who doesn't bother to stop shipment on an item easily covers the occasional person who cancels the subscription.
Also, by decreasing the risk for you as a customer, they greatly increase the chance you'll sign up in the first place. Everyone wins.
posted by shinynewnick at 10:43 AM on July 28, 2011
Also, by decreasing the risk for you as a customer, they greatly increase the chance you'll sign up in the first place. Everyone wins.
posted by shinynewnick at 10:43 AM on July 28, 2011
If you do it about 20 times then they might get ticked, but Amazon, for all its faults, has always had amazing customer service. This might be one of the areas that they figure that only about 0.1% of their customers will do it and it's just not worth the hassle of going after them.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 10:44 AM on July 28, 2011
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 10:44 AM on July 28, 2011
You used to be able to do this with Sears credit lines. I had a friend with terrible credit. Every time he bought something at Sears, he'd apply for the credit, get turned down, but received the $5 (or so) instant rebate for the application anyway.
Sometimes he had to bring a manager in, but the policy was clearly on his side.
posted by IAmBroom at 12:37 PM on July 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sometimes he had to bring a manager in, but the policy was clearly on his side.
posted by IAmBroom at 12:37 PM on July 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
If they're willing to see the item to you repeatedly at a discount, it's not like they're losing money by selling it to you once at a discount. They're just getting something in return for the discount, i.e. making it more likely that you will buy even more from them and not someone else in the future. They still get this to some extent even if you sign up for subscribe and save with the intention of cancelling before the second shipment, as you will have to return to their website to cancel, and will be reminded of what a good deal Amazon has on the product relative to the grocery store.
I really doubt they care one way or another whether you actually follow through with repeated purchases through subscribe and save.
posted by deadweightloss at 3:10 PM on July 28, 2011
I really doubt they care one way or another whether you actually follow through with repeated purchases through subscribe and save.
posted by deadweightloss at 3:10 PM on July 28, 2011
Best answer: I have well over 20 cancelled subscribe and saves with Amazon. Never had any trouble. Most of them are one-offs. I did find a couple of products that actually make sense to get every 6 months or so and those subscriptions are active.
posted by screamingnotlaughing at 9:13 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by screamingnotlaughing at 9:13 AM on July 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by terilou at 10:07 AM on July 28, 2011