People regret buying Amazon smart displays after being bombarded with ads

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Predictable ad-driven behavior from Amazon

  • Many see ad-heavy Echo Shows as an obvious consequence of Amazon’s business model: cheap hardware subsidized by ads and data collection.
  • Some argue users “should have known” given Amazon’s history; others counter that non-technical consumers can’t be expected to track surveillance-capitalism trends.

“Normies vs nerds” and unfair expectations

  • One side wants to “shame” buyers for surprise at ads; another says people shouldn’t need specialist knowledge just to buy a TV or display.
  • Comparison to plumbing/electricity: you can easily find experts there, but there’s no obvious, trusted “tech consumer advocate” equivalent.

Smart devices as locked-down computers

  • Commenters stress that smart displays, TVs, fridges, etc. are computers disguised as appliances, but without user control (root, updates, telemetry control).
  • This enables gradual “bait and switch”: device launches with few/no ads, then updates turn it into an ad platform post-purchase.

Concrete Amazon device frustrations

  • Kindle/Fire: full-screen “Special Offers,” promotional tiles even after paying to remove ads, and difficulty backing up or extracting purchased books.
  • Audible: app opens to upsell instead of the user’s library.
  • Prime Video: launched as ad-free, then pre-rolls and now heavy ads despite paid membership.
  • Echo/Echo Show: loud, intrusive Alexa+ upsell ads; some users have literally buried or trashed devices.

Workarounds and alternatives

  • Strategies: never connect smart TVs to the network; use external boxes (Apple TV, HTPC), jailbreak Kindles, install KOReader, use DRM-free or Kobo/PocketBook readers, or fully self-host (e.g., Immich, Home Assistant).
  • Some try open hardware (Mycroft/Neon) or fantasize about “private AI in a box” with no ads.

Regulation, DMCA, and rights

  • Proposals include: abolishing or reforming DMCA anti-circumvention, requiring vendors to allow OS replacement, or mandating clear disclosure of ad load and post-sale changes.
  • GDPR is seen as insufficient: it can limit data use, not ads themselves.

Broader enshittification and ad saturation

  • Many connect Echo ads to a wider trend: everything “smart” becomes a vehicle for ads and tracking (TVs, cars, fridges, phones).
  • There’s debate over tolerable ad levels (US vs EU norms) and whether markets alone can fix this versus needing political/collective action.