Anyone Else Had Problems with Amazon's "Subscribe and Save"?
Ask a Question
It's only a small amount but I don't like being ripped off.
I thought that if you subscribed the price charged would be the price when repeat items were processed - but apparently not.
I subscribed for an item then costing £5.50 . The last day to cancel the first repeat order was yesterday (Saturday) I noticed the day before that (Friday) that the price had reduced to £5. I expected today that the existing price £5 less the 5% for subscribing would be charged. (£4.75). But instead today (Sunday) they've taken £5.22 from my Bank Account (well it's pending on my bank statement - although really it should have been taken from my Gift Card balance - but that's another matter). I've cancelled all my subscriptions if I'm expected to pay more for subscribing than I could buy for on Amazon normally.
Just wondering if anyone else has had problems with "Subscribe and Save". Perhaps better if they called it "Subscribe and Lose".
I notice they've stopped the delivery for Friday (5th March) just hope they return the £5.22 to my bank account. If they do I'll buy at the lower price of £5. But won't get the 5% discount.
I was given (not offered) a month of Prime a few months ago, although deliveries are OK I've had problem after problem with them. This time I'm very annoyed.
When I was GIVEN that free month of Prime - I could find no way to refuse it. I had already taken my order to over £20 for free delivery so had no need for it.
I don't even find Amazon prices competetive, just used them because of lockdown.
davidstockport Subscribe and save gives you the discount on subsequent orders (but on the going price at the time , not necessarily the original price ) .
About a week before your next delivery is due you will get an email to tell you what is coming and at what price . You can then skip that delivery or cancel the item and subsequent deliveries . This can also be done at any time by going to "Subscribe and Save" - manage my items .
Yes you have to keep your eye on it but bear in mind having , say , 5 items on S&S gives you 10% - 15% off all the items on your S&S list not just the one so may be worth either taking a small hit on one item (or skipping that delivery ) to retain the discount on other items .
For example I have a couple of boxes of crisps on my list (Walkers baked and Bovril ) They swing wildly in price from about £9 to £22 ! So they need to be watched .
It is a good way of saving on stuff you use a lot but you need to take note of the email that tells you your S&S delivery is due and act on it . So far I think I have let most run (I only have it every 2 or 3 months ) but skipped a few , and cancelled and reordered others when they drop in price again .
Golfforall The terms and conditions for "Subscribe and Save" do indicate the price charged will be the price at time order is processed.
The actual email to review my upcoming delivery does say "Prices may go up or down over time, but you'll always get your applicable Subscribe & Save discounts on top of the price on the day your order is processed."
I took that to mean (IMO not unreasonably reading that grammatically) that the price on the day the order was processed would be the price the 5% discount would be applied to. The "price on the day your order is processed" surely can not mean anything other than "price on the day your order is processed".
On the day my order was processed the price was £5 so logically that (less 5%) should be the amount they took from my bank account on the same day as my order was processed.
Golfforall thanks for sharing your experience and tips been wondering if it was a great idea or not to set up subs...
I think I'm with you now , must admit I only notice large discrepencies (like when the crisps are £20 not the £10 I expect ) . Perhaps I should check more carefully ! At least Amazon Customer service is good ,just get on live chat and they will sort it . They only get a bit shirty with these women who order 10 dresses every week and always return the lot . Because their "bum looks to big in them " .
I had noticed the reduction in price on the 26th (before the email) I can prove that if necessary. But how many people don't notice they've been overcharged. As I said it isn't the money but the principle. Just hope others watch out for such things.
It has occurred to me that where a thing has an inducement to "subscribe and save" with a large discount on the first order. (often 30%) Perhaps that initial discount could be claimed and then the subscription cancelled (they couldn't claim the discount back). I wouldn't normally mention such a dubious practice. But they've annoyed me!
davidstockport ... I'm with you! I assumed that you'd pay the 'going rate' ...in fact I feel as though that's what has happened to me ...but then I must remember wrong. I have to admit that I quite often extending the period between, or cancelling my subscription as I end up having some product left and can't be doing with having to remember to check.
Its like anything these days - you just have to be careful and keep an eye on things - there can be great savings to be made but its not guaranteed. I have about 10 items on subscribe and save and each month a few days before there are due I check them all out. I usually end up getting about 6-7 items each month as some of them are only needed every few months. But often you can get better deals at Tesco etc. We tend to stick to the bulkier items like cat and dog food and toilet rolls etc. I do also keep records of what I pay and save each month so I can spot any increase in costs.
didbygraham Quite true you do have to keep an eye on things, which I did. I noticed a few days before processing that the item price was LOWER than the previous price, according to Amazon they will use the price being charged on day of processing, but they don't. I assumed that because the price had dropped several days before processing that that would be the price used. (Their T&Cs say as much). I wonder, as do many other people around the web, how many people don't keep an eye on things and don't realise that for want of a better description they're being "ripped off".
I can't help but wonder if Amazon forget to use the price on day of processing if the price has increased.
BORDERJOE Utter confusion with this transaction, they've now changed the supposed delivery date - from the 5th to the 3rd. (I thought they'd cancelled it), I just hope I get it. They've already charged for it (OVERcharged actually). Perhaps I should have waited until the item had arrived to cancel the subscription, it would have been better to be over charged 47p than lose £5.22. It's obvious they have no idea what they're doing or what they're selling they actually think. Jakemans Throat and Chest Menthol Sweets are tea bags, I did inform them of this several weeks ago but they just ignored me. They say these sweets are Throat & Chest flavoured, very useful for anyone who wants to know what throat and chests taste like and could be in real trouble stating the weight as 0.26 pounds (4.16 ounces) when 100g is only 3.5ounces. (even Alexa, knows that - she appears to have more sense than the rest of them at Amazon.)
davidstockport what a flippin nightmare! Have to admit that I've been ok with Amazon. I just ordered from a deal here and took ages looking for a catch ....got my fingers crossed! I usually do Live Chat like Golfforall ...and they are brilliant.
BORDERJOE Things have changed since the aforementioned, the delivery initially scheduled for Friday then changed by Amazon to Wednesday was changed again to today (Tuesday) for after 4.30pm. I am 99% certain it won't be, you might wonder how I'm so certain: It's because it was delivered just a short time ago at 2:09pm. If you're wondering about the other 1% of my certainty - I haven't entirely ruled out more arriiving in a few hours.
When this morning I asked Alexa "Where's my parcel?" she was the first to let me know it would be delivered today. She even reminded me I needed to reorder, I did explain, very politely, that when I need any more I'd go to Poundland. They don't mess me about.
Should explain I'm not too worried about the 47p (overcharge) - I'll get it back some other way.
davidstockport .... I know it's not funny when it happens to you....but it's the way you write it ..... really made me grin
BORDERJOE I do try to see the funny side of things and don't mind in the least when others do too. Incidentally no more turned up after 4.30pm (but I did try not to rule out any possibility). Just realised tomorrow is the initial delivery date, who knows It's not too late to give us another laugh.
(I've not tried to make a cup of tea with them yet)
I set up a subscribe and save last week, so haven't had any issues but i will be checking and if its not the cheapest price on the day then I wont be carrying on with it.
I cancelled immediately I discovered I was being overcharged, they did imply they would try to stop the delivery, instead they've brought the delivery date forward twice.
Initially Friday 5th March, then changed to Wednesday 3rd, and this morning changed to Tuesday after 4.30pm. Delivered at 2.09pm Tuesday 2nd March a few hours ago.
Couldn't make this up!
davidstockport what happens when your free month end on prime that we never signed up for i ve had nowt but chew with em authorities ng things that have been in my basket for days the cheeky so sos took
I have noticed that and always watch the price of my subscribe and save so usually end up cancelled after a month or two
David what happens when your free month ends that we did not get an option over i ve had so much chew with Amazon this week
I am being ripp off by Amazon subscribe and save. But Amazon customer service refuse to help
I must admit I've only used subscribe and save to get a discount there and then and then cancelled before the next delivery. I personally don't see the point of the service. There isn't much where I need to have a regular delivery of something. I can't think of anything where I need the same item delivered every month. Something like a prescription I guess where you have to use a set amount in a month but thats it. Even vitamins I don't take daily I tend to change when I take them a bit. When I do need something replenished I look at that time and often it could be a different supplier. Some of the vitamin companies sell on their own website and its cheaper there than when they sell on Amazon as they have to pay Amazon fees. I seem to remember a time when there was some vitamins which were somethiing like £12 on Amazon but £10 on the seller's own site and on the seller's own site there was a 3 for 2 offer so almost £6 each compared to £12 on Amazon. Also buying from Amazon is so environmentally and economically damaging. I only do it if its the best price for me. I would never pay more to buy from Amazon.
I use subscribe and save a lot. Prices are increasing like elsewhere. They cancelled one of my items as they decided it wasn't good value for money anymore. The price jump was over a tenner. Fair enough and glad they did.
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter