PSA: New (to me) Am...
 

  You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more

PSA: New (to me) Amazon Scam

13 Posts
11 Users
20 Reactions
84 Views
Posts: 99
Free Member
Topic starter
 

I don't know if this is new to everyone else, but it could catch people out - I've noticed a new scam over the last couple of months. Basically sellers with fake positive reviews selling genuine items very cheaply with free shipping, but hidden shipping charges emerge at checkout.

Take this Loctite Superglue - the default price keeps alternating between the £2.98 Amazon price and another seller selling it for 90p with "free delivery".  I presume the free delivery is based upon ordering 1 item.

The catch is that you can't order 1 item, it's a minimum order of 2 from that particular seller.

Add them to your basket, shows as £1.80 for 2 items. Then get to checkout and the "Free delivery" is suddenly £21.99.

It's worth checking your basket total if you're ordering from a 3rd party seller even if the seller promises free delivery.

I think this only occurs when there's a minimum order quantity else otherwise the true postage charges are displayed.


 
Posted : 20/10/2023 4:00 pm
thols2, bikesandboots, burntembers and 9 people reacted
Posts: 4626
Full Member
 

I had similar thing on more expensive items, where the 1 was ok price, 2 were much better value... Makes sense so ok 2... Now the price for shipping went up by many times. I wonder how many people don't notice?


 
Posted : 21/10/2023 10:05 am
Posts: 1130
Free Member
 

Someone on PistonHeads noticed the same. Conclusion was scammers had found a way to fiddle the listings and the only thing to do was to report the listing to Amazon.

Amazon warning - prime “free” delivery that is not.


 
Posted : 21/10/2023 10:11 am
Posts: 15907
Free Member
 

Not had this issue but always found amazon customer services to be exceptionally good with queries and refunds


 
Posted : 21/10/2023 10:17 am
Posts: 6071
Free Member
 

This is a proper scam. Don't drink the apple juice... https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/10/amazon-drivers-urine-packaged-as-energy-drink-sold-on-amazon/


 
Posted : 21/10/2023 12:04 pm
Posts: 99
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Sorry it seems I messed up the original link..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loctite-Precision-Adhesive-High-Quality-Materials/dp/B0001GRVPK/

Here's what I meant.. 90p with free delivery until you select the minimum order quantity of 2 then the charges only appear on the last checkout page.  Often the cheapest price from 3rd parties is the default option over Amazon's listing, so it would be easy to be caught out.


 
Posted : 21/10/2023 12:06 pm
Posts: 1140
Full Member
 

I find it hard enough knowing that I’m even buying what I’m trying to buy off Amazon these days, let alone figuring out who is actually selling it and how much it costs. I try and avoid it as much as possible these days tbh.


 
Posted : 21/10/2023 2:35 pm
Posts: 30093
Full Member
 

Just come across this myself... item 90p free delivery... min quantity 2... once selected is £21.99 delivery.


 
Posted : 21/10/2023 3:28 pm
Posts: 44146
Full Member
 

don't use amazon is the answer.  Unethical company anyway 🙂


 
Posted : 21/10/2023 3:41 pm
leffeboy, zbonty, zbonty and 1 people reacted
Posts: 4626
Full Member
 

Sorry it seems I messed up the original link..
> https://www.amazon.co.uk/Loctite-Precision-Adhesive-High-Quality-Materials/dp/B0001GRVPK/ < Here’s what I meant.. 90p with free delivery until you select the minimum order quantity of 2 then the charges only appear on the last checkout page. Often the cheapest price from 3rd parties is the default option over Amazon’s listing, so it would be easy to be caught out.

I added two to my basket, still free with prime. Maybe it's something to do with the algorithm Amazon uses for shipping.


 
Posted : 21/10/2023 4:18 pm
Posts: 13916
Free Member
 

Sorry it seems I messed up the original link..

Dunno.... It's £2.98, I can buy just one and it's actual free delivery for me.
🤷🏻‍♂️


 
Posted : 21/10/2023 4:26 pm
Posts: 99
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Yeah, if buying directly from Amazon then it's fine - it's the 3rd party sellers that cause the issue.  The Super Glue listing keeps alternating between the Amazon price (£2.98) and the 3rd party seller (90p) as the default buying option.  If you buy 2 of the 90p Super Glues, the "free shipping" turns into a £21.99 charge, and this isn't revealed until the last checkout page.


 
Posted : 21/10/2023 4:47 pm
kelvin and kelvin reacted
Posts: 3231
Full Member
 

the only thing to do was to report the listing to Amazon

In case anyone else needs to, you can do this via the perhaps misnamed "Report incorrect product information." link under the product description.

I find it hard enough knowing that I’m even buying what I’m trying to buy off Amazon these days, let alone figuring out who is actually selling it and how much it costs. I try and avoid it as much as possible these days tbh.

Same. I decided to avoid using it as much as possible a few years ago for ethical reasons, but this pisses me off every time I come back. What pisses me off more is that they're intentionally deceitful about this and other things, they have people working to design the site so as to deceive me.


 
Posted : 21/10/2023 5:27 pm
Posts: 16216
Full Member
 

Yes!

I thought it was just me, I've had this a few times lately on a few cheap items. Luckily I noticed at checkout that the postage that was "free" was suddenly around £20 or similar.


 
Posted : 22/10/2023 10:42 pm
kelvin and kelvin reacted

6 DAYS LEFT
We are currently at 95% of our target!