Amazon focus on essentials sows panic, confusion among merchants


A truck with the logo of Amazon Prime Delivery arrives at the Amazon logistics center in Lauwin-Planque, northern France. Amazon is struggling to cope as the Covid-19 pandemic escalates in the US, forcing factory shutdowns and snarling logistics nationwide. — Reuters

Amazon.com Inc’s delivery delays of non-essential goods will extend for at least another month for many customers in the US and Europe, stirring panic among online merchants who rely on the web retailer for business.

The lengthening delivery times come on top of confusion over how the company identifies essential products, a task that appears to be performed by algorithms with little human oversight. Online merchants became alarmed Sunday when they saw delivery dates pushed into late April, meaning many of them will lose more than a month of sales in the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.

Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM5/month

Billed as RM5/month for the 1st 6 months then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

Amazon to invest $11 billion in Indiana to build data centers
IBM falls as enterprise-spending constraints choke consulting demand
US agency to vote to restore net neutrality rules
India's Tech Mahindra misses Q4 revenue view on weak communications segment
Explainer-Where are Wall Street's analyst notes on Trump's Truth Social?
AI spending worries cast gloom over Alphabet, Microsoft
Electric cars and digital connectivity dominate at Beijing auto show
Most global tech leaders see their companies unprepared for AI
India plans curbs on suspect bank accounts to fight cyber fraud, sources say
Tech companies plug into India's smaller cities for talent

Others Also Read