Jessica S.

Well, eBay has managed to earn the dubious distinction of the absolute worst website ever in my experience. Even Amazon at least took steps to amend the situation, even though it took a lot of time and headache on my part.

My husband had placed an item for bid, but found a local buyer, which was obviously more convenient. However, a buyer had already made a bid and sent money, even after my husband had said the item was no longer available. He was completely upfront with both the buyer and eBay, and did not accept the money. Ultimately, the guy got his money back... no harm, no foul, right? Wrong. He filed a case with eBay and they took $103 out of our account. When my husband contacted the website, it was a customer service nightmare. Every email was from a different representative, and every time he thought he had answered the questions and sent them the proof they asked for, they would say that they needed "more information". They also kept claiming to not be able to view the files, and told my husband to post them using photo sharing sites that were not free. They had said they would keep the case open for five days after that, but not even two days later, informed him that they would not issue a refund to us.

Taking $103 from us for a sale that never happened... I believe the word for that is thievery. This is in addition to fees they charged for using the site. So they are making a profit without having provided any service. We will never use the site again.

First, the annual membership fee~ yes, they are quick to charge it. So much that there has been at least two times so far that I was double-charged for a year... because when I had forgotten the password I had used for sign up, I clicked on the option to log in through Facebook (where I use a different e-mail address). You would think since it is under the same mailing address and name that they would have noted that I was already in their system. However, when I notified customer service, they did promptly refund the money from the overcharges both times.

There are many deals to be found, but they don't always have the lowest prices on specific items... so I shop around, and just buy certain items from Thrive consistently.

What makes the membership worth it (in my opinion) is that they regularly offer a bonus item or items with a minimum purchase. The items generally range in price from $12 to $25 or more. So it's a nice way to save on something I like or have wanted to try. However, I have noted that since I first joined about two years ago, they seem to often raise the minimum purchase amount. There was also one time I did not receive the bonus item after making the purchase amount, because they said they had run out. They do warn that there is limited quantity, so now I make sure to order earlier in the day.

I also like the e-mails they send that not only inform you of new/different items, but also include ideas and even video tutorials for healthy recipes you can make. This is what I think makes Thrive stand out from other places that you can shop for these items.

Overall, I think $5 a month is reasonable for what the site offers.

I really used to like Amazon, but a few recent experiences are making me reconsider my Prime membership, or doing much business with them at all. First, I had ordered some items for Christmas~ I ordered on December 18th, and they were due on the 20th. Then I get an e-mail saying the package would be delayed, and they were due on the 22nd. Christmas Eve morning, I contact them by chat and tell them I am hosting a holiday party in a few hours and still don't have the package. They again tell me that it is "delayed", that it is "lost in transit" but they assure that I will get the package by the end of the day (I did not), and they will refund the amount. I ask if I will still get the items if I am refunded, and that representative says that I will. Christmas morning, I contact them again and they say the package was lost, and that I need to reorder the items, but that negates the refund I was credited. I ask what they are going to do about the fact that my original package was never received, and the Christmas items we were waiting for will be arriving well after Christmas. They tell me that they will give me a credit of $5 to use towards my next order (then they say they will make it a $15 credit). However, we just recently placed an order, and I'm pretty sure they did not apply any credit to it.

The second issue is that they charged our daughter's student card (which she had registered under our account so she could get things she needs for school) for our Hulu subscription. I asked why her card was suddenly charged when it has always been charged to the same card. They tried to say that there was not sufficient funds on our card, so that is when they charged hers. I checked our account and there were enough funds in our account when they charged her card. I told them that they should have given us notice if there were insufficient funds instead of going ahead and using her card, and that they should refund the amount to her, which they said they were going to do. But today they send an e-mail saying they are not able to refund the amount to her card! I told them that is not acceptable, so we shall see what happens after this.

I definitely notice a decline in their customer service from previous years. It used to be if there were any issues (which were rare), they were resolved quickly and with limited contact. Now I've had two negative experiences in less than a month of each other, I got bounced around between at least 5 different representatives last time, and the representatives try to placate you while telling you they cannot really help you (and it is not easy to understand what they are saying, the messages are in broken English). I have seen several people on other review sites saying that they have been told that 2- Day Shipping no longer applies (even though that is what they advertise and you pay for)... if that is the case, what is the point of having a Prime membership?

I have been able to redeem multiple gift cards since I've been a member... what's not to like about that? Sure, there are glitches sometimes and minor issues here and there, but overall it is an easy way to get rewarded.

To update, the thread that prompted this review is dated 6-17-13, titled "Support Increased, No Deviation Allowed" and is under the Child Custody, Support and Visitation forum. My username for the site was JustIs. You will see that I was banned, and no, I did not spam or abuse anyone in my posts. Several of the posts (both from myself and the senior members) were edited and/or removed, for what purpose? It appears as though Aaron L. Came here to discredit any negative reviewers, instead of acknowledging any wrongdoing from their site and seeking to make amends. For the record, the issue I posted about was resolved in my favor. For anyone who looks at the original post, you will clearly see that Mr. KnowItAll (ha) and Dogmatique never mentioned that option~ they repeatedly make comments that I am a "fraud" and "only want money". So I ask~ how was that "positive and helpful", Aaron? Why was I banned for simply daring to question your senior members statements, but it is okay for them to make character assassinations as much as they please? I've seen other businesses and services respond to negative remarks by trying to remedy the complaint(s), but I don't think that's what you're trying to do. It seems like you want to excuse the actions of the senior members. I hope I'm wrong, but time will tell.

*Update 9/23 Since the thread in question still has not been removed, and Aaron has now come here to justify the negative actions of the senior members, I will shine a light on the facts of my experience with the site. The issue was that several members made a gross assumption that I intended to live with my husband while claiming to be separated, even though I did not once make that statement. Even after repeating several times that I would not file for separation or divorce, members continued to repeatedly state that it was what I wanted. When I tried to direct the conversation back to getting their legal advice, that is when I was banned. Thankfully, the questions I had posted about were resolved with an appeal hearing and we did not need an attorney. With a little research of our own, we were able to get the order modified. If I had taken the "advice" from ExpertLaw, nothing would have gotten changed. I am wondering why, four years after the fact, Aaron has decided to comment on this old business.

I am never going to this website again and will be advising everyone I know to seek legal advice elsewhere. In response to legal questions, I witnessed other site members making repeated derogatory comments and remarks that could arguably be named as outright libelous. Members would not take the time to thoroughly read and understand what was being asked and/or said before offering their assumptions. Member responses are on par with what you would read if you posted your question on Yahoo Answers, Twitter or as your Facebook status... what good is a so-called legal forum rife with critics on the kind of person you are in real-life? The only action I saw being taken by the site moderator(s) was to lock the thread when they felt the answers were sufficiently good (even when the advice-seekers would say they had still not gotten a clear and non-judgemental answer). Yet they freely allow other site members (especially those with the most posts) to type whatever they feel ( non-legal chitchat, vulgar terms, name-calling). I am personally appalled that the site is run that way. If I were looking for legal advice off-line and received that kind of treatment, I would promptly be looking elsewhere! It is a wonder to me why the volunteers want to and are allowed to use that site to verbally berate others instead of helping with legal matters. Unless you like being cyberbullied, please spare yourself the visit. I hope that the offending members of that site are banned for their behavior.