Free Trial!

[Aos Si]

Not sure where to put this so move it if it's not apt.

Are you like me fed up of these companies that offer a free trial. So you sign up and then a month later, they take a years subscription off you or whatever without actually asking if you wanted to go for the package?

Shouldn't it be the other way around? Doesn't trial imply the result is not arbitrary and set in stone?

Am I being anal and overly concerned about this stuff or should I write to the OFT and complain or The Daily Mail..?

[Feck]

Was it a free trial for marmite ? I'm just wondering why Marmite do a subscription ! I want to try the XO stuff but it's too bloody expensive .

[Aos Si]

Was it a free trial for marmite ? I'm just wondering why Marmite do a subscription ! I want to try the XO stuff but it's too bloody expensive .

It's expensive because it lasts for ever and it takes years to go "off" it being mould mostly anyway or something like it.

And no it wasn't although that is such a fricking good idea...

Free trial for Amazon prime, I got one free delivery and then I was supposed to make up my mind, so I thought...

Doesn't matter I sent an email mentioning the OFT and they immediately refunded all my hard earned cash. Which I spent on gin incidentally, and some Marmite. Swear truth there, did the weekly shop with it.

[PsychoSerenity]

They nearly got me on that one - but there was a confirmation email with the order that said I'd started using prime, so I was able to cancel my order, get a full refund on prime, and then re-order without it. I agree it's a bit sneaky not making it more clear that you must opt out again if you don't want to continue with the full thing, but it was no real trouble so meh.

If they didn't have free delivery for almost everything it would be worth it - but I rarely need things next day.

[Aos Si]

They nearly got me on that one - but there was a confirmation email with the order that said I'd started using prime, so I was able to cancel my order, get a full refund on prime, and then re-order without it. I agree it's a bit sneaky not making it more clear that you must opt out again if you don't want to continue with the full thing, but it was no real trouble so meh.

If they didn't have free delivery for almost everything it would be worth it - but I rarely need things next day.

I agree it is sneaky, tricksy even.

[FBM]

A little OT, but I'm tired of downloading acquiring anti-virus and tune-up utilities only to find out that they only last 2 fricking weeks. And every time I start up my computer, I get a pop-up alerting me that I only have 10 days left and do I want to go ahead and upgrade to *read: pay for* the full monty now instead of waiting? Goddammit, when I steal something, I want quality stuff!

bacon

[Aos Si]

A little OT, but I'm tired of downloading acquiring anti-virus and tune-up utilities only to find out that they only last 2 fricking weeks. And every time I start up my computer, I get a pop-up alerting me that I only have 10 days left and do I want to go ahead and upgrade to *read: pay for* the full monty now instead of waiting? Goddammit, when I steal something, I want quality stuff!

bacon

It's not stealing its a legal agreement.

I'm just pissed of AVG has gone mercenary and is no longer free, asshole corporate big wigs got to them obviously.

Share ware and free ware are fading fast on the web. It's a shame, makes you sick.

[FBM]

P2P, on the other hand...should be quality stolen goods. When corporations begin to hedge in on stolen, pirated shit, the center cannot hold!

[Aos Si]

P2P, on the other hand...should be quality stolen goods. When corporations begin to hedge in on stolen, pirated shit, the center cannot hold!

Pirated shit I bet there's not one person on the web who hasn't got something that isn't 100% kosher. He says knowing that such a blanket statement cannot possibly be justified.

Not a big Pirater myself but I have dabbled, Southpark episodes. Maybe I shouldn't admit that but since Trey And Stone said that anyone could pirate their shit and they hoped they would, I fear no one, except our green scaly overlords of course.

[Coito ergo sum]

Not sure where to put this so move it if it's not apt.

Are you like me fed up of these companies that offer a free trial. So you sign up and then a month later, they take a years subscription off you or whatever without actually asking if you wanted to go for the package?

Shouldn't it be the other way around? Doesn't trial imply the result is not arbitrary and set in stone?

Am I being anal and overly concerned about this stuff or should I write to the OFT and complain or The Daily Mail..?

I suppose one ought to real the whole advertisement. If they say "free trial - sign up for a free month, and if you cancel by date X you have no obligation" then you're agreeing to make the affirmative cancellation move. If that term is not agreeable, don't get the free trial, and feel free to communicate your dissatisfaction with the offer to the company.

[Coito ergo sum]

I never heard of Marmite.

[Aos Si]

I never heard of Marmite.

[FBM]

P2P, on the other hand...should be quality stolen goods. When corporations begin to hedge in on stolen, pirated shit, the center cannot hold!

Pirated shit I bet there's not one person on the web who hasn't got something that isn't 100% kosher. He says knowing that such a blanket statement cannot possibly be justified.

Not a big Pirater myself but I have dabbled, Southpark episodes. Maybe I shouldn't admit that but since Trey And Stone said that anyone could pirate their shit and they hoped they would, I fear no one, except our green scaly overlords of course.

I'm in Korea (South, the good one). Nobody monitors English websites over here. We crackers are neither numerous nor important enough. The only legit software I have is that which came on the computer when I bought it. I'm not joking. I have never in my life bought a software program. It's an alien concept to me.

[egbert]

When someone offers something for FREE, BUT they want your credit card #, you KNOW they're up to no good! They know human nature well enough to play the game and win - you think "I'll beat the bastards, I'll get the free stuff, and then cancel", but then you'll get busy, or lazy, and forget.
If the ploy wasn't successful, it wouldn't be around for long.
Here in Canader, the Cable TV folks tried a variant - they didn't have freebies, they just invented what was called "negative option billing." IOW, they billed you for the maximum service unless you specified what you DIDN'T want. Imagine if your local grocer operated that way! The ensuing deluge of complaints let to the government stepping in and banning the practice.
But it continues elsewhere - cell phone contracts and energy contracts often contain an automatic renewal, unless you notify in advance that you do not want to renew. And, you better have proof of that notice, because they're not above denying you ever canceled.
Seth would be proud of such capitalist business ethics.

[Coito ergo sum]

A similar game is played with gift cards. They sell $100 worth of gift cards, and people cash in only $70 or $80 of that $10 overall. There is a built in 20-25% spread above the profit made on the merchandise itself.