Is there any way to learn *what* incentives were paid out by Amazon to CNN, Bloomberg, NYT, etc.?? Was is it just Amazon demanding these fluff pieces in exchange for continuing to buy ad space from these media entities? Or was there any cash payments involved?
I stopped buying from Amazon last November. Oh, I use the site to find products for sure, but then I buy from other suppliers. Besides, if Bezos can afford a $25M wedding to his pneumatic, plastic squeeze, he doesn't need my money.
I have Prime; my wife does not. Sometimes she’ll find something she wants, so she’ll send me a link. Occasionally the non-Prime price she gets charged – including free shipping – is less than the price I see for the same item using Prime. We screen printed the price differences and sent them to Amazon, where customer support said: “Must be a glitch” and a supervisor said: “This should never happen. I will get back to you.” I’m still waiting for his return call.
We use Amazon as little as possible. Their Prime movies have commercials; what am I paying for?
I don’t buy from Amazon and cancelled all subscriptions. But read the fine print - if you have Kindle books, they are no longer available if you cancel account. So keep account w/o buying more.
It's convenient for me as I don't have a car. They can pretty much bring the world to my door. I actually have the membership as a gift from my sister so I don't have to pay for it.
Any online retailer can bring anything your heart desires to you, without knowing you're giving money to someone who gives money to trump. Keeping my own self worth is worth more than anything Bezos is selling.
Yes, I found myself doing that a lot anyway. Better deals, better warranty depending on product. Amazon is simply a giant warehouse people are buying from. The warehouse is a 3rd party seller, acting as the seller when they're not. Their clothing is the cheapest crap I've ever come across. All I can say for that, is thank God for free returns.
Funny thing is, after reading this article, I got an email from All Recipes. Telling me Amazon prime sale is going on, save up to 88% on kitchen products. I feel like emailing them this article. Stop ripping off your readers. 🤦♀️
As I recall, many retailers have been prone to this kind of thing. I don't have a huge stash of cash waiting to be spent so I mostly ignore these and the Black Friday events as well. One of my favorite math (algebra) teachers nailed it in my head, "When you spend, you don't save, you are spending."
I read yesterday that Amazon is selling Alligator Alcatraz merchandise. I hope that's not true, but I canceled them after Bezos wouldn't let the Washington Post endorse Kamala. Canceled the Post, too!
I just went to Amazon to check: it does sell Alligator Alcatraz merch but also sells Nazi uniforms and SS Halloween costumes. There is no way to escape this madness when money is involved.
Report them! I looked yesterday and got nothing for Amazon. I reported 2, 1 on ebay and the other on Shop. Will it do anything? I don't know, but it shows my disgust!
I LOVE MY INTUITION! I've suspected this all along that Amazon and all of it's harassing pushiness to sign up for Prime were bogus attempts to earn more money for Jeff Bezos. I know one good example of Prime being a smart choice--my son and his family live in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands--they're dependent on mailing being made easy.
Thank you, Judd, Noel, and Rebecca, for taking the time it took to research all of Amazon's "deals" that turn out to be duplicitous sales techniques.
Thanks. I fell for Prime Day this year - almost; almost, because I read this article and now I won't act on my impulse.
I accidentally signed up for Prime a few weeks ago and thought I'd make use of Prime Day. It is good that I fell for prime Day; now I understand how easily people can be manipulated by false information. I now have more compassion for people who fall for FOX news, et al. I now have a "story" of my own to tell people when I'm urging the to be slow and skeptical of MAGA sell jobs.
I wonder just how many outlets are even disclosing that they might receive referral bonuses from users who directly buy something from Amazon after reading an article. I imagine a fair percentage don't do so.
I'm fortunate enough to live in a suburb with plenty of local shopping, surrounded by other suburbs with more options as well. I try not to buy online unless I really have to.
As a retail employee, even if you are shopping big box stores, please try to shop in person or buy online, pick up in store if you need it, it does let corporate know that they need to keep that store open.
Great sleuthing, Judd. Last month I cancelled my Prime subscription with some trepidation, but I'm glad I did it. I could still order from Amazon, but haven't yet. I'm discovering the joys of my local hardware store.
Great information on Amazon!
Great investigative reporting and journalism by the Best!
We thank you!
Is there any way to learn *what* incentives were paid out by Amazon to CNN, Bloomberg, NYT, etc.?? Was is it just Amazon demanding these fluff pieces in exchange for continuing to buy ad space from these media entities? Or was there any cash payments involved?
It’s called an affiliate fee and they pay a set rate per item to the website that contained a link. It’s how many legitimate creators earn money.
The issue is that the reviews and news blurbs with those links tend to recommend stuff so you’ll hit the link.
Google also sells ads but that’s another money stream.
Absolutely fantastic follow up…
Simply the Best! Thank You!
This is why we should not buy from Amazon.
I stopped buying from Amazon last November. Oh, I use the site to find products for sure, but then I buy from other suppliers. Besides, if Bezos can afford a $25M wedding to his pneumatic, plastic squeeze, he doesn't need my money.
$50M wedding
Exhibit 2,000,347 that no amount of money is ever enough to satisfy the wealthy.
Thanks for reminding the world of this ever-present truth.
It gets better!
I have Prime; my wife does not. Sometimes she’ll find something she wants, so she’ll send me a link. Occasionally the non-Prime price she gets charged – including free shipping – is less than the price I see for the same item using Prime. We screen printed the price differences and sent them to Amazon, where customer support said: “Must be a glitch” and a supervisor said: “This should never happen. I will get back to you.” I’m still waiting for his return call.
We use Amazon as little as possible. Their Prime movies have commercials; what am I paying for?
Thank you PI!
Which is only one of the reasons I have deleted my Amazon account. Might I suggest others do the same?
I don’t buy from Amazon and cancelled all subscriptions. But read the fine print - if you have Kindle books, they are no longer available if you cancel account. So keep account w/o buying more.
It's convenient for me as I don't have a car. They can pretty much bring the world to my door. I actually have the membership as a gift from my sister so I don't have to pay for it.
Any online retailer can bring anything your heart desires to you, without knowing you're giving money to someone who gives money to trump. Keeping my own self worth is worth more than anything Bezos is selling.
True, better to order from the actual seller than thru Amazon who just acts like a middleman.
Often free shipping so you don’t need a membership.
I also canceled prime as of November. Will use up the membership for now.
It’s not just the politics.
Amazon has been eshittified which happens online a lot.
The quality has gone down, awful service, wasteful with returns, tiring into Temu with cheap knockoffs.
Yes, I found myself doing that a lot anyway. Better deals, better warranty depending on product. Amazon is simply a giant warehouse people are buying from. The warehouse is a 3rd party seller, acting as the seller when they're not. Their clothing is the cheapest crap I've ever come across. All I can say for that, is thank God for free returns.
Funny thing is, after reading this article, I got an email from All Recipes. Telling me Amazon prime sale is going on, save up to 88% on kitchen products. I feel like emailing them this article. Stop ripping off your readers. 🤦♀️
As I recall, many retailers have been prone to this kind of thing. I don't have a huge stash of cash waiting to be spent so I mostly ignore these and the Black Friday events as well. One of my favorite math (algebra) teachers nailed it in my head, "When you spend, you don't save, you are spending."
It's only savings if the purchase was previously planned and the discount is a true one. All retailers do this and depend heavily on impulse buying.
I read yesterday that Amazon is selling Alligator Alcatraz merchandise. I hope that's not true, but I canceled them after Bezos wouldn't let the Washington Post endorse Kamala. Canceled the Post, too!
I just went to Amazon to check: it does sell Alligator Alcatraz merch but also sells Nazi uniforms and SS Halloween costumes. There is no way to escape this madness when money is involved.
Good Lord!!!
Report them! I looked yesterday and got nothing for Amazon. I reported 2, 1 on ebay and the other on Shop. Will it do anything? I don't know, but it shows my disgust!
I LOVE MY INTUITION! I've suspected this all along that Amazon and all of it's harassing pushiness to sign up for Prime were bogus attempts to earn more money for Jeff Bezos. I know one good example of Prime being a smart choice--my son and his family live in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands--they're dependent on mailing being made easy.
Thank you, Judd, Noel, and Rebecca, for taking the time it took to research all of Amazon's "deals" that turn out to be duplicitous sales techniques.
Thanks. I fell for Prime Day this year - almost; almost, because I read this article and now I won't act on my impulse.
I accidentally signed up for Prime a few weeks ago and thought I'd make use of Prime Day. It is good that I fell for prime Day; now I understand how easily people can be manipulated by false information. I now have more compassion for people who fall for FOX news, et al. I now have a "story" of my own to tell people when I'm urging the to be slow and skeptical of MAGA sell jobs.
Great comment!
I wonder just how many outlets are even disclosing that they might receive referral bonuses from users who directly buy something from Amazon after reading an article. I imagine a fair percentage don't do so.
I believe newsletter writers are required to print that they may receive commission if you buy from their links. At least, the ones I receive do.
None, I should think. Why would they?
I'm fortunate enough to live in a suburb with plenty of local shopping, surrounded by other suburbs with more options as well. I try not to buy online unless I really have to.
As a retail employee, even if you are shopping big box stores, please try to shop in person or buy online, pick up in store if you need it, it does let corporate know that they need to keep that store open.
Great sleuthing, Judd. Last month I cancelled my Prime subscription with some trepidation, but I'm glad I did it. I could still order from Amazon, but haven't yet. I'm discovering the joys of my local hardware store.
So appreciated this article I became a paid subscriber! Keep up the good work, Judd.
An increase in sales over last year’s event? It’s really disappointing that more people aren’t boycotting them.
Thank you, Judd! Great investigative information like this really needs to hit a wider audience!
Great info! Even Consumer Reports commonly lists Amazon and Target and Walmart as a places to buy many items on their “best” list. Amplify this blog.