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Amazon no longer offers refunds for after-the-sale price drops
Say goodbye to the days when Amazon would cut you a break if the price of a product dropped right after you ordered it. Customers are reporting that Amazon has stopped offering partial refunds on orders if a price drop happens within 7 days -- if you pull the trigger shortly before a sale, you'll just have to live with your choice. Amazon tells Recode that it didn't officially have a policy like this outside of televisions, but it's now clear that the company no longer hands out exceptions like they were candy.
Google slips ads into its image search results
Google is going to extra lengths to make sure that you see its shopping links. The internet firm is introducing Shopping ads to image search results -- look for pictures of a nice couch and you may see a link to buy it. Google says this is largely about enabling more on-the-spot purchases, but there's no denying that this is partly about snubbing Amazon. After all, your first instinct may be to search Amazon when you spot that must-have item; you won't have to do that after today.
Amazon will sell its own food brands to Prime members
Amazon is no stranger to selling self-branded goods, whether they're tablets, USB cables or baby wipes. However, it's reportedly close to venturing into uncharted territory: food. Wall Street Journal sources understand that the internet shopping pioneer is weeks away from a "broad push" into selling its own brands of perishables. The Happy Belly label would offer everything from cooking oil to tea, while the Wickedly Prime badge would focus on snacks. There's also talk of a wider move into around-the-home products like the Presto line (things like laundry detergent) and Mama Bear (baby-oriented goods, including food).
Data breaches and spying fears are keeping people offline
Have countless data breaches and unfettered government surveillance left you nervous about doing things online? You're definitely not alone. The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration has conducted a survey revealing that nearly half of the Americans it surveyed (41,000 homes) have scaled back their internet activity over privacy and security fears. About 29 percent have avoided online finances, while 26 percent skipped online shopping. A similar amount decided against posting on social networks, and 19 percent even decided against offering "controversial" opinions online.
Pizza Hut gives you delivery estimates before you order online
You know the score: you order from an unfamiliar pizza place and have little idea as to when your food will arrive until you've already made a purchase. Wouldn't it be nice if you knew when that pie would show up before you spent your cash? Pizza Hut thinks it can help. It's offering an estimated "Visible Promise Time" that tells you when your online order is likely to reach your door (or, for carry-out, when it's ready) before you commit. The time varies based on the volume of orders, how many drivers are on hand and the typical drive time for your part of town. If you're not sure that ordering at 6PM on a Friday is a wise idea, you'll find out very quickly.
Yelp gives you quotes for home services
Yelp is normally the service you use when you want to escape the home, but now it's aiming to be your go-to source for help in the home. It just launched a feature that gives you price quotes for all kinds of services, ranging from car repairs to event planning to plumbers. The option highlights those businesses that are most likely to respond quickly, and you can even bulk-message companies to quickly find out who has the best deal. Quotes are available now on the web and in the iOS app, and they'll be accessible within the Android app very soon.
Brita's smart water pitcher orders its filters from Amazon
Amazon's automatic Dash refills are reaching all kinds of devices... and now, that includes the gadgets in your fridge. Brita has launched the Infinity water pitcher, a WiFi-equipped container that automatically orders replacement filters whenever your current purifier is near its limit. It's not cheap at $45, and that's not including the $6 you'll pay every time you need a new filter. However, it might be just the ticket if you can't imagine drinking from the tap (or heading to the store) for even a brief moment.
Imogen Heap is using digital currency tech to change music
Imogen Heap is no stranger to using bleeding-edge technology to perform music, but she's now using it to change how you buy music. Her Mycelia project not only lets artists sell music directly to fans, but uses blockchains (the same technology behind digital currencies like Bitcoin) to get the kind of data that would normally require the help of a label. It'd include credits and usage rights, and could track things such as where and when people play a given tune -- if a song is really popular with Australians, you'll know it without asking anyone else.
Amazon Dash is ready to refill your printer or washing machine
Amazon has been hyping up devices with built-in Dash refill ordering, and the first wave of those devices is finally here. As of today, you can use the Dash Replenishment Service to top up the ink or toner on compatible Brother printers. If you're willing to wait until the end of January, the option will also be available for both a General Electric washing machine and a Gmate blood glucose monitor. Whichever device you get, the only real requirement is that you turn on the service -- Amazon will automatically order resupplies whenever your device is running low.
Amazon Prime gives you 20 percent discounts on new games
If you're a big video game fan with an Amazon account, there's a real chance that you have a few games on pre-order. Wouldn't it be nice if you could get a break on those games without waiting for a special promo or (gasp) dealing with a traditional retailer? You can after today. Amazon has started a discount program that gives you 20 percent off of newly released (within 2 weeks) and upcoming games if you're a Prime subscriber. It's a bit like similar options at Best Buy and GameStop, but you're getting a bunch of extra services beyond gaming -- you can catch up on Mozart in the Jungle while you're waiting for Uncharted 4 to ship.
Amazon pulls some 'hoverboards' over safety concerns
Airlines aren't the only ones nervous about "hoverboards" catching fire -- Amazon is pulling some of the self-balancing scooters until they're proven to be safe. Swagway (one of the better-known manufacturers) tells The Verge that the internet retailer wants all sellers to demonstrate that their devices meet the right battery and charger safety standards. Needless to say, those boards that don't make the cut won't be coming back. Swagway maintains that its own models are safe, but rivals like CoolReall and PhunkeeDuck might not be so lucky.
Walmart wants you to pay through its mobile app
Never mind Android Pay and Apple Pay -- Walmart would rather you use its own mobile payment service. It's launching Walmart Pay (how creative!), a payment system that has you scanning QR codes within its app to make purchases. It's not the most elegant method as a result, but the upshot is an approach that works on most phones, in any checkout lane, with any major payment card you have. And despite what it looks like, Walmart swears that this isn't meant to muscle out other mobile payment services -- they could be integrated "in the future."
China smashes sales records during its version of Black Friday
In the US there's Black Friday, but in China, they get all their big online shopping discounts on November 11 aka "Singles Day" instead. As of 4:28am ET today, Alibaba's Tmall, the Chinese equivalent of Amazon, has already made over $11 billion which broke last year's record of $8.97 billion. As reminded by our friends over at TechCrunch, both numbers from that platform alone beat the entire US' online sales of last year's Thanksgiving and Black Friday combined. It's no wonder Alibaba could afford to hire Frank Underwood Kevin Spacey and James Bond Daniel Craig to kick off this year's party.
Amazon tries to one-up Black Friday (again) with a 7-week sale
Remember how Amazon trumped Black Friday with its Prime Day sale? No? We can't blame you -- the offerings were so modest that you had a better chance finding bargains at a garage sale. That isn't stopping Amazon from giving it another shot, however. It's launching a Black Friday Deals page that will offer discounts from now until December 22nd. Yes, that's an attempt to spread one day of frenetic shopping across 7 weeks. Prime subscribers will get first crack, naturally.
Apple Pay comes to Australia and Canada this year
At last, Apple Pay will be available outside of the US and the UK... if you have the right credit card. Tim Cook used his company's fiscal results call to confirm that the tap-to-pay service will be available in Australia and Canada by the end of 2015, while Hong Kong, Singapore and Spain will get it in early 2016. However, it sounds as if you'll be limited to using an American Express card at first. Despite leaks, you probably won't be using any other account for iPhone-based purchases on launch. It's likely that other providers will get with the program, though, so don't despair if you prefer MasterCard or Visa.
Amazon's grocery service now requires a $299 yearly membership
Amazon warned late last year that it would eventually require a $299 yearly membership just to use its AmazonFresh grocery delivery service. And like or not, the internet giant is making good on its word: shoppers in New York City, Philadelphia and Seattle (and possibly other cities) are finding out that they need that pricey Prime Fresh subscription before they can go food shopping. The outlay gives you free delivery on all orders over $50, on top of the benefits of a regular Amazon Prime membership, but it's now considerably more expensive if you only occasionally want groceries shipped to your door. So far, tests that would open the door to standard Prime members (who'd always pay delivery fees) haven't led to anything concrete.
eBay's revamped apps are big for sellers, not just buyers
eBay may like the idea of serving as a storefront, but it knows that this only works if it helps you sell your wares at the same time. That's where the company's reworked, version 4.0 mobile apps come into play -- the version 4.0 update for both Android and iOS gives auctions higher priority than they've had in the past. It gives you more help when you're a first-timer, a dashboard for frequent sellers and an overall simpler, faster interface for selling your goods. It's an acknowledgment that many eBay auction holders might prefer to run most (if not all) of their businesses from their phones. You shouldn't have to retreat to a computer just to sell your old gear, should you?
Amazon's one-hour delivery service arrives in Seattle (updated)
You'd think that Amazon would have been quick to offer its super-fast Prime Now delivery service in its home territory of Seattle, but nope -- it's just getting around to correcting that seeming oversight. The company has confirmed part of a recent scoop by launching Prime Now in both Seattle as well as nearby locales like Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond (hi, Microsoft!). As before, how much you spend depends on just how urgently you need your order. It's free (outside of your Prime subscription, of course) if you can afford to wait up to two hours, while one-hour shipping will cost you $8. The expansion still leaves much of the US without Prime Now, but this is still a big step toward covering America's larger urban hubs. Update: It's important to note that this also marks Amazon's return to delivering alcohol -- you can get wine and other tipsy drinks through Prime Now.
Amazon's latest service test has you picking up orders
Amazon has jumped through hoops trying to speed up deliveries, but wouldn't it sometimes make sense to eliminate the last-mile shipping altogether and pick up orders yourself? That might just happen. GeekWire has discovered that Amazon is trying out a new service, Flex, that has you collecting your package from a facility. It's much like a visit to a government office, or Amazon's Purdue pickup spot -- you take a ticket and wait for your turn. The company isn't commenting on Flex (even the test building in Seattle is still in rough shape), but it's safe to say that this would be limited to areas where Amazon can set up distribution centers.
Amazon limits Prime sharing benefits to one other adult (updated)
For a long while, Amazon would let you share some of your Prime perks with four other people of any age -- handy if your roommates need to get an order in a hurry. However, it looks like the internet shopping pioneer is clamping down. A quiet rule change on July 31st has limited Prime sharing to one other adult as part of an "Amazon Household." Moreover, that other grown-up has to use the original member's credit card (update: not really true, see below). That's fine if you're sharing it with a significant other, but lousy for anyone else.
