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Amazon rips off regular customers. Again

Pay more for Terry Pratchett's latest

Amazon is taxing its regular customers again.

Amazon.co.uk has targeted existing customers with a special direct email book offer for Terry Pratchett's latest book, but offered it at a price higher than it was charging on its site.

Amazon.co.uk offered a 20 per cent discount on Terry Pratchett's latest novel 'The Truth' to its regular customers. This meant the book was available for £13.59. The mailing went out just ahead of the book going on sale.

On the day the book launched Amazon offered the book at £10.19. A 40 per cent discount form the list price of £16.99.

In September it came to light that Amazon.com was varying the prices of DVDs, using cookies installed on a customer's computer to decide what percentage discount to offer. If you were a first-time visitor (or, incidentally, have turned your cookies off) you would frequently receive a higher discount that if you were not.

This is Amazon.co.uk's official statement on its Pratchett offer:
A mailing was sent to Amazon.co.uk customers informing them of the impending publication of Terry Pratchett's novel The Truth. This is part of our service to customers in letting them know about forthcoming releases, offering great value and ensuring despatch to their door on the day of release. Like all retailers Amazon.co.uk does amend its prices from time to time and this was the case with The Truth by Terry Pratchett.

Amazon told the Reg it would liase directly with customers who feel they've been ripped off. It might back down and offer refunds like it did in the US. You can phone Amazon.co.uk on 0208 636 9200 (then hang on the phone for quite a while waiting for a 'customer service specialist') or email them with your complaint.

Let us know if you've been caught out with this offer, or any other special Amazon has tried to tempt you with. ®

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