by,

Suzanne Coleman, MD

So recently I’ve noticed that when trying to purchase items on Amazon that an item which might cost $5 elsewhere is now $20 dollars on Amazon (AMZN).  I’ve seen this type of manipulation of consumers by sellers before on their website  These sellers think someone will pay 400% of the value of an item due to ignorance or possibly desperation, but now what I’m finding is different.  Now Amazon is only allowing you to purchase certain staple items at the actual retail price if you join their club.  That is an abuse of consumers.

For example, just now trying to buy Softsoap aloe vera refill bottles, the actual price is $4-$5, but you can only get that price if you join Amazon’s delivery club, every other option is at least 200% the cost of the item.  The same thing has happened for other products on past searches.

This isn’t very intelligent, and possibly illegal.  Customers can now get delivery from Target, Walmart, Peapod, and even local grocery stores.  What is Amazon thinking?  I guess billions in profit wasn’t enough, they didn’t get the power and control over others that they needed to feel “successful,” so now they feel the need to abuse and control consumers?  This points to another example of the many apparent sociopaths who control the majority of our country (US).  They are truly everywhere, check out my expository articles on them as they roll out and you will see what I mean.

Note that Walmart is paying attention, at the top of their website, when I went there instead to spend my money, their banner reads “No membership fee!”  🙂  Somebody’s paying attention, good for them.