Amazon makes it so tricky to cancel that the FTC sued – Here’s how to do it

Amazon increasing prices for Prime membership
© Mariusz Burcz | Dreamstime.com

Ever thought about everything Amazon knows about you? I don’t just mean your favorite shampoo and what food your dog eats. Use this link to get a copy of everything Amazon knows.

Amazon Clinic is a whole different level of data collection. Is it safe to use? Prepare to be shocked. Here’s my take.

Then there’s Prime. If trying to cancel your Amazon Prime membership feels like taking the SATs, it’s not just you. The Big Tech behemoth set it up like that on purpose. Let’s look at what you get, whether it’s worth it and how to cancel if it’s not right for you.

Operation … what now?

A Federal Trade Commission lawsuit claims Amazon hid its schemes from federal investigators. Regulators say Amazon execs delayed or rejected user experience changes that would’ve simplified the cancellation process.

It’s no wonder they did. Because of the confusing maze of instructions, Amazon reduced cancellations by 14%. The runaround includes four pages of deals, offers, snooze alarms and several other distractions.

Amazon codenamed its scheme “Iliad Flow,” a nod to Homer’s legendary epic about the Trojan War.

Is Prime worth your money?

Is Prime’s $139 yearly (or $14.99 monthly) fee worth it? Here are some of the top features that keep customers hooked:

  • Free two-day delivery on over 10 million items.
  • Free one-day or same-day shipping on some orders over $25.
  • Exclusive access to Prime Day deals.
  • Two-hour grocery delivery from Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh.
  • Access to stream music, movies and TV shows through Prime Music and Prime Video.

Prime probably isn’t worth it if you shop less than a few times a month and don’t care about extras like Prime Video. Chances are, the free shipping won’t outweigh the cost of your membership. Without Prime, shipping fees typically cost between $4 and $10.

Did you know: You can buy packages from Amazon that the buyer never claimed? Get shopping!

Only shop on Amazon sometimes?

You can get a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. If you only shop Amazon a couple of times a year, sign up for a monthly membership and be sure to cancel when you’re done.

How to get through the cancellation maze

Want to ditch your Prime membership? You can do it on your computer or smartphone. Here’s how:

Canceling Prime through the Amazon App:

  • Open the Amazon app. Click on the three lines in the bottom right corner for the shortcuts menu.
  • Click the Prime button in the upper left corner, then hit the blue Prime icon.
  • Click the Prime logo in the top left corner, then Manage My Membership.
  • From the dropdown menu options, click Manage Membership.
  • Click End Membership.
  • Scroll through the message that tells you how many days are left in your membership. Click Continue to cancel.
  • On the next page, click the End on [DATE] yellow button to complete the process.

Canceling Prime from your computer:

  • On the Amazon homepage, hover over the Account & Lists tab in the top right corner.
  • Click on Prime Membership from the dropdown menu to go to your personal membership page. Then, select Manage Membership on the right.
  • Select End Membership from the dropdown menu.
  • On the next page, view how many days are left in your billing cycle. Then, click the yellow Continue to cancel button.
  • On the next page, click the End on [DATE] yellow button to complete the process.

Phew, you’re done.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Tags: Amazon, Amazon Clinic, Amazon Fresh, data collection, Federal Trade Commission, free shipping, lawsuit, podcasts, Prime, Prime Video