Amazon

A critical analysis of Amazon's purchasing user journey (spoiler: contains dark patterns!)

Are they purposefully neglecting to create cost control, projection and notification features?

EPIC has filed a complaint with the D.C. Attorney General alleging that Amazon unlawfully employs manipulative "dark patterns" in the Amazon Prime subscription cancellation process.

The Norwegian Consumer Council’s study analysed the cancellation process for Amazon Prime. The analysis shows that consumers who want to leave the service are faced with a large number of hurdles, including complicated navigation menus, skewed wording, confusing choices, and repeated nudging. Throughout the process, Amazon manipulates users through wording and graphic design, making the process needlessly difficult and frustrating to understand.

Amazon requires the user to turn on device notifications in order to use AmazonSmile.

Amazon makes you click Into "Advanced Controls", move past a bunch of options of which none is $0.00, and then search for a plaintext link just to cancel your subscription.

"Many streaming customers are unaware that the sitcom titles they prefer, the ads they do not skip, their email addresses and the serial numbers identifying the devices they use are being harvested and distributed."

"Add smart TVs to the growing list of home appliances guilty of surveilling people’s movements. A new study from Princeton University shows internet-connected TVs, which allow people to stream Netflix and Hulu, are loaded with data-hungry trackers."

me: let me quickly order the #toddler some lotion @amazon: cool, do this pantry thing for #freeshipping me: k sure, let's get a bunch amazon: nah we Red heart #ux @darkpatterns so you need to subscribe

Cancelling Amazon Prime is a simple three step shaming process. All you have to do is scream “I don’t want my benefits” in to a mirror, without crying. Please respect my privacy through this difficult time

Defaults to subcription instead of one-time purchase

“Unsubscribe here” is grayed out in front of a gray background, making it harder to see.

Amazon doesn’t actually show the real average in their star ratings on products, they use machine learning to calculate the ratings while taking into account certain factors.