Amazon Dash Buttons Made Illegal in Germany

Amazon's Dash Buttons have been made illegal in Germany, following a court ruling that states Amazon does not provide customers with enough detail about the items they are purchasing.

Launched in the UK, Austria and Germany in 2016, the Amazon Dash Button is a Wi-Fi-connected device that reorders your favourite product with the press of a button. Each Dash Button is paired with a product of your choice, which is selected during the setup process. When you're running low on an item, you simply press the Dash Button to make an order.

Amazon initially partnered with more than 100 brands, offering a variety of products for purchase.  There are currently 81 Amazon Dash Buttons available on Amazon UK including pet food, toilet paper and clean product brands.

The German Consumer Bureau, Verbraucherzentrale NRW, challenged Amazon over terms and conditions which allow the online retail giant to change the original item ordered (established when setting up the device) and substitute it for an alternative or higher-priced product.

The court ruled that Amazon should be informing customers of item details and prices prior to taking the order, not afterwards, and agreed with Verbraucherzentrale NRW that Amazon did not provide customers with enough information about Dash Button purchases. 

Amazon spoke to online publication Tech Crunch, stating that the “decision is not only against innovation, it also prevents customers from making an informed choice for themselves about whether a service like Dash Button is a convenient way for them to shop”.

“We are convinced the Dash Button and the corresponding app are in line with German legislation,” it added.

“Therefore, we’re going to appeal.”

"We are always open to innovation," says Consumer Bureau Chief Wolfgang Schuldzinski: "But if innovation is to put consumers at a disadvantage and to make price comparisons more difficult, then we use all means against them, as in this case."

Source : Insight DIY Team

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