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Comment by wsc981 | Hacker News Reader

  The whole business was premised on this concept called negative option. 
  Which just sounds so creepy and draconian and weird, but the idea that if 
  you don’t say no, we’re going to send you shit. It’s going to fill your 
  mailbox, and we’re going to keep sending it unless you panic and beat 
  us back. That was how the money was getting generated.

Interesting article, but a bit too long. I think in The Netherlands (and perhaps Belgium) there was this 'book club' that shared the same 'negative option' business model.

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In the US it is Book of the Month Club (surprisingly still in business).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_the_Month_Club

Sounds like Blue Apron took notes.

Indeed, I joined Book of the Month Club to get the introductory offer of the two volume OED cheaply, and ended up leaving after paying $50 for stuff that I just didn't want. I still have the OED, but I couldn't tell you what the other books were. I do, however, remain the pain of writing the $50 check, which was a good deal of money for me then.

Yes, and the wiki is relevant... Columbia House, BMG and Bookspan were mashed together years ago. While Columbia House could a Dilbertesque nightmare, the Machiavellianism I watched unfold in Garden City was remarkable.

For extra examples, see the non advertising components of the revenue models behind the majority of adult entertainment companies charging subscriptions on the Internet.

There are a bunch of book clubs in Sweden still doing this to this day. I actually assumed it was common all over the world, but perhaps that isn't the case?

It's called a "dark pattern" these days. JustFab is a prominent example and has been discussed on HN.

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