Amazon faces a court hearing in Seattle this week to deal with allegations by federal regulators that the electronic commerce giant has fueled customers to register for its main membership while making them difficult to cancel their subscriptions.
The case, announced by the Federal Trade Commission in 2023, focuses on the affirmations that Amazon has embarked on what the agency declared equivalent to an “effort of several years” to encourage millions of customers to automatically renew their main subscriptions, in particular using user interface conceptions which were “manipulators, coercive or deception”.
When he announced a legal action against Amazon two years ago, the FTC said that consumers who used Amazon to make purchases were presented with many options to subscribe to bonus, but that it was less clear how to buy an article without registering for a subscription. In some cases, the button that Amazon users to finish their purchase did not clearly indicate that they also agreed to register for premium, according to regulators.
The government’s trial also alleges that Amazon has obtained the process to cancel a main subscription by forcing customers to jump through several hoops to end their membership.
A spokesperson for the FTC refused to comment on the case.
Amazon denies that its practices have misleaded consumers. A spokesperson for Amazon said in an email in CBS Moneywatch on Monday that “neither Amazon nor the individual defendants had done nothing wrong”.
“We remain convinced that the facts show that these executives have acted correctly and we are still putting customers first,” added the spokesperson.
The selection of the jury in the trial is expected to start on Monday, followed by opening arguments and possible testimonies on Tuesday. The trial, which is detained in the American district court in the western district of Washington, is expected to last up to four weeks. The result will be decided by a jury.
Prime members, who pay $ 14.99 per month or $ 139 per year, obtain free delivery on certain items, faster delivery times and access to Prime Video, Amazon streaming service, among other advantages.
In a separate costume, the FTC also accused Amazon of engaging in illegal behavior which allows it to inflate prices and remove competition from competitors in violation of antitrust laws. Amazon denies that its practices reduce competition and harm consumers.
