[dmcginty]

When I first read this I was 100% on the author's side, but after visiting CookUnity's site I have some reservations. Unless CU changed their website since this was posted (which was about an hour ago according to Github), they mention quite a few times that it's a subscription service. The banner at the very top of the page say "Subscribe now". One of the four entries in the FAQ is "My Subscription". The "How it works" page talks about how you can pause your subscription. Even the URL that the author links in the first paragraph is subscription.cookunity.com.

All this being said, the solution to "how to handle a user that hasn't chosen their meals" should be to email them with a reminder instead of just choosing random things and charging their card. Also, sending the email after the cutoff to cancel the order is irresponsible, if not outright malicious. I'm not sure if this was illegal, but it definitely seems immoral.

[sillycross]

Author here. I admit I might be missing the subscription part (perhaps because I don't know about how meal plan companies work). But my impression when I issued my first order is simply "this is just Amazon except that item is shipped weekly". That the company would "pick something for me" if I don't act is just beyond my imagination.

And as you have pointed out, they intentionally not email any notification and only emailed me when I cannot cancel the order is immoral, which is another reason I was annoyed.

[JimDabell]

You don’t really have to be familiar with meal plan services. Their website makes it 100% clear that it is a subscription. That’s how subscriptions work; they keep going periodically without intervention.

How did you arrive at “So I decided that I will not order again given the poor cost-efficiency. And I never logged back in to their account.” as the correct course of action for a subscription? You can’t cancel a subscription by just ignoring it.

[sillycross]

I did not realize it was a subscription, and I was expecting that even if it was a subscription, I wouldn't be charged since this subscription contains action items (the food item to buy), or at least I will have a chance to cancel. Which, both turns out to be wrong.

At the very least, if they just ship me my last week's selection, I wouldn't complain either.. But they choose to ship me random food.

[MisterBastahrd]

The signup form makes it clear it's a subscription.

The TOS makes it clear it's a subscription.

The "how it works" page makes it's clear it's a subscription.

And they tell you beforehand that they rotate meals in and out of the selection and pick for you if you do not select your meals by a certain date.

You're bent out of shape for not paying attention to what you were signing up for. You've brought negative attention to a company because you couldn't be bothered to pay attention to literally every customer facing page on the site.

[dangrossman]

That the company would "pick something for you" was explained under "How does CookUnity Work" on the first page of the signup flow. The same page that says it's a subscription multiple times.

[sillycross]

I just checked this "How does CookUnity Work" thing again [1] .. So you are right, "pick something for you" is there. But it's hidden in a bunch of text, and the phrasing is unclear to me:

> Our Chefs cook the meals available on each day’s menu in our community kitchen, every morning. Choose your meals or let our auto-pilot ordering select meals for you (you'll be notified of the selections in advance).

I actually recall I reading this sentence on my first order. And my impression is "what? they are using auto-piloted cars to do delivery? I should go watch how that works when it comes" and I just overlooked what it actually meant :)

[1] https://support.cookunity.com/en_us/how-does-cookunity-work-...